Posted in Whathaveyou on July 9th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Well, they’ll miss this year’s Fall festival season, but something tells me the month-long stint rescheduled for Jan.-Feb. 2019 won’t be the last time John Garcia and the Band of Gold tour Europe in support of their impending new album. I’m curious as to whether or not Garcia‘s new outfit will release that album via Napalm Records or through another outlet. Garcia‘s Kyuss/Vista Chino bandmate Brant Bjork and his Low Desert Punk Band recently finished their three-album deal, and I think this would make three releases for Garcia on the same label behind last year’s The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues (review here) and his 2014 self-titled solo debut (review here), so it would make sense. But the nature of plans is to change, as evidenced by the fact that the tour’s been rescheduled in the first place, so who knows?
Not me, in any case. But through ups and downs with the aforementioned Kyuss and Vista Chino, as well as his sundry other outfits Slo Burn, Unida and Hermano, Garcia‘s proven he’s nothing if not a survivor. I look forward to hearing John Garcia and the Band of Gold‘s debut LP, however and whenever it might arrive.
Rescheduled tour dates follow here, as hoisted from thee social medias:
JOHN GARCIA & THE BAND OF GOLD reschedule all European headline shows to 2019. The performances at Desertfest, Up In Smoke and Into The Void are cancelled. Dates in Zürich (CH), Gothenburg (SE), Leuven (BE) and Tilburg (NL) were added to the touring schedule.
JOHN GARCIA states: “Although the Ocotober / November has been postponed, I’m pleased to announce the release of the new dates and shows in January and February of 2019. It was essential for the health of my new record which will be out this fall that we postponed the tour. I will never give up on my band, my team and the love of music for a lack luster record. Myself and my Band of Gold have big plans for 2019 and it all starts with this tour. Stoked and shaka till death!!”
All purchased tickets remain valid for the re-scheduled dates. If anyone can’t make it to the new dates, please contact your place of purchase.
John Garcia and the Band of Gold tour dates: 01.23 Paris FR Le Trabendo 01.24 Bordeaux FR Le Krakatoa 01.25 Madrid ES Caracol 01.26 Barcelona ES Razzamatazz 2 01.28 Lyon FR Le Kao 01.29 Zurich CH Bogen F. 01.30 Milan IT Santeria Club 01.31 Munich DE Backstage Halle 02.02 Graz AT Explosiv 02.03 Budapest HU A38 02.04 Prague CZ Rock Cafe 02.05 Nurnberg DE Hirsch 02.07 Jena DE F-Haus 02.08 Berlin DE SO36 02.09 Copenhagan DK Loppen 02.10 Oslo NO John Dee 02.12 Helsinki FI Tavastia 02.14 Stockholm SE Debaser Strand 02.15 Gothenburg SE Sticky Fingers 02.16 Hamburg DE Gruenspan 02.17 Cologne DE Helios 36 02.19 Leuven BE Het Depot 02.20 Aschaffenburg DE Colos-Sal 02.21 Essen DE Turock 02.22 Tilburg NL 013 02.23 London UK 02 Academy Islington
Posted in audiObelisk on July 3rd, 2018 by JJ Koczan
One of desert rock’s principal architects, Brant Bjork will release his new album, Mankind Woman, on Sept. 14 through Heavy Psych Sounds and I couldn’t possibly be more thrilled to host the premiere of the first audio from the record. Preorders go up in about two hours’ time through the labels website. “Chocolatize” is the opening track of the 11-song outing, which could easily be considered the beginning of a new era for Bjork, who’s spent the last five-plus years signed to Napalm Records, resulting in two studio LPs in 2014’s Black Power Flower (review here) and 2016’s Tao of the Devil (review here) as well as the 2017 live outing Europe ’16 (review here). In addition to the forthcoming Mankind Woman, his new label home has hopped on board for reissues of his entire catalog from his 1999 solo debut Jalamanta (discussed here; also here) to 2010’s Gods and Goddesses (review here), bringing new artwork and new vinyl to albums that have long gone underrated as Bjork has, along with his Low Desert Punk Band, jammed his way into hearts and minds throughout the US, Europe and elsewhere, earning consideration as one of the Californian desert’s chief practitioners of groove. I’ve called him the Godfather of Desert Rock more times than I can count, but I’ve yet to come up with anything more fitting for the position he holds in the genre.
Because it’s not just about riffs with Brant Bjork, and I think you can hear this in “Chocolatize.” Since the days of Jalamanta — now nearly 20 years ago; wow — he’s been more about the vibe. He’s got elements of punk and psychedelia and classic heavy rock, to be sure, but all of this is in conversation with influences from funk and soul, drawing from an entirely different kind of heavy ’70s. He’s toyed with this side of his sound to varying degrees throughout his career, but even his most subdued outings — 2007’s mostly acoustic Tres Dias, for example, which will begin Heavy Psych Sounds‘ reissue series — carried that foundation in soul. His signature riffing style, his smooth vocals, the sleek and swinging rhythms he brought to drumming in Kyuss and Fu Manchu: all of it comes together to create something that is Brant Bjork‘s own and largely inimitable, however broad his influence may have an in fact has become over the last two decades. One looks forward all the more to Mankind Woman with “Chocolatize” as a quick preview of what might be in store in terms of a natural production and a more intimate mood than some of what the last couple records have had on offer.
I won’t delay further, except to say that I’m looking forward to putting up a full review of the album closer to the release in September. Brant Bjork has European tour dates scheduled to begin in November that include a stop at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest, which is being held this year in Austria. You can find all of those below, as well as some more particulars about Mankind Woman, which, again, is due Sept. 14.
Please enjoy. Then put it on repeat and enjoy again.
And again:
Focusing on personal sensitivities, elite hypocrisies, racism, sexism and the daily struggle to find peace, love and understanding in today’s American society. Once again, BRANT BJORK created a record that reminds the listener that it is the ingredients of the jazz, blues and funk, that makes rock music taste so good. A must-have for all collectors, genre-fans and beyond!
BRANT BJORK New album “Mankind Woman” Out September 14th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records – Vinyl and CD preorder start July 3rd here –
TRACK LISTING: 1. Chocolatize 2. Lazy Wizards 3. Charlie Gin 4. Mankind Woman 5. Pisces 6. Swagger & Sway 7. Somebody 8. Pretty Hairy 9. Brand New Old Times 10. 1968 11. Nation Of Indica Album Art by Robin Gnista
“Mankind Woman” will be available in the following formats: – 50 Test Pressing Vinyl (Only on Heavy Psych Sounds webshop) – Limited edition “Colour in Colour” Brown in Orange Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “3 colours A/B side Burst” Yellow / Red / Brown Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “3 Colour Segment” Orange / Purple / Yellow Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “Splatter Version” Transp. Background / Yellow, Purple, Orange, Red, Brown – Black Vinyl – CD Digipak and Digital Download
BRANT BJORK EUROPEAN TOUR 2018 02.11.18 NO Drammen |Union Scene 03.11.18 SW Stockholm | Debaser Strand 04.11.18 SW Göteborg | Sticky Fingers 05.11.18 SW Malmö | Kulturbolaget 06.11.18 DE Hamburg | Fabrik 07.11.18 NL Amsterdam | Melkweg 08.11.18 BE Leuven | Het Depot 09.11.18 UK London | Garage 10.11.18 FR Paris | Petit Bain 11.11.18 NL Tilburg | O13 12.11.18 DE Wiesbaden | Schlachthof 13.11.18 CH Zürich | Rote Fabrik 14.11.18 CH Martigny | Caves Du Manoir 15.11.18 IT Turin | Spazio 211 16.11.18 AT Innsbruck | Hafen (Heavy Psych Sounds Festival) 17.11.18 DE Munich | Feierwerk 18.11.18 AT Vienna | Arena 19.11.18 DE Dresden | Beatpol 20.11.18 DE Berlin | Festsaal Kreuzberg
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 2nd, 2018 by JJ Koczan
I gotta say, I think it’s frickin’ awesome that Heavy Psych Sounds is starting with the two mellowest Brant Bjork albums as it makes its way through reissuing his catalog from 1999-2010. His fifth album, the mostly acoustic Tres Dias, was announced just over a week ago as being set for release on Sept. 21, and one week after that, the second in the series will be his fourth album, the also-way-subdued Local Angel (discussed here). Originally released in 2004, it’s a record to which I still return on not infrequent occasions, and as it’s going to be available with new artwork by Maarten Donders, it’s even more of a win than it would’ve been anyway. Available in two versions seen below (click them to enlarge), I think you’ll agree it looks pretty badass.
Info from the PR wire:
BRANT BJORK TO RE-RELEASE ‘LOCAL ANGEL’
COMING THIS SEPTEMBER ON HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS!
Local Angel is the fourth solo album by desert rock musician Brant Bjork. It is considered his most intimate and laid back record, mixing acoustic guitars and simple melodies. Produced by Brant Bjork and Tony Mason. Engineered by Tony Mason. Recorded and mixed at Rancho de la Luna, February 6-15 2004. Mastered by Mathias Cornelius von Schneeberger at Donnor & Blitzen. All songs and music written, arranged, and performed by Brant Bjork.
Reissue by Heavy Psych Sounds Records in September 2018. New reissue Art by Maarten Donders.
TRACK LISTING: 1. Too Many Chiefs… 2. Love Is My Revolution 3. Chinarosa 4. The Native Tongue 5. Video 6. Right Time 7. The Messengers 8. The Knight Surrenders Today
New artwork by Marcello “Rise Above” Crescenzi
BRANT BJORK has spent over a quarter-century at the epicenter of Californian desert rock. From cutting his teeth alongside Fatso Jetson’s Mario Lalli in hardcore punkers De-Con to drumming and composing on Kyuss’ landmark early albums, to propelling the seminal fuzz of Fu Manchu from 1994-2001 while producing other bands, putting together offshoot projects like Ché, embarking on his solo career as a singer, guitarist and bandleader, founding his own record label and more, his history is a winding narrative of relentless, unflinching creativity.
Catch the BRANT BJORK live on the following dates in Europe this Fall, with very special guest Sean Wheeler:
EUROPEAN TOUR 2018 02.11.18 NO Drammen |Union Scene 03.11.18 SW Stockholm | Debaser Strand 04.11.18 SW Göteborg | Sticky Fingers 05.11.18 SW Malmö | Kulturbolaget 06.11.18 DE Hamburg | Fabrik 07.11.18 NL Amsterdam | Melkweg 08.11.18 BE Leuven | Het Depot 09.11.18 UK London | Garage 10.11.18 FR Paris | Petit Bain 11.11.18 NL Tilburg | O13 12.11.18 DE Wiesbaden | Schlachthof 13.11.18 CH Zürich | Rote Fabrik 14.11.18 CH Martigny | Caves Du Manoir 15.11.18 IT Turin | Spazio 211 16.11.18 AT Innsbruck | Hafen (Heavy Psych Sounds Festival) 17.11.18 DE Munich | Feierwerk 18.11.18 AT Vienna | Arena 19.11.18 DE Dresden | Beatpol 20.11.18 DE Berlin | Festsaal Kreuzberg
[Click play above to stream Yawning Man’s new album, The Revolt Against Tired Noises, in its entirety. It’s out July 6 on Heavy Psych Sounds.]
The California desert is fortunate to have Yawning Man as its soundtrack. For over 30 years in varying forms and degrees of activity, the instrumentalist outfit have been an entity unto themselves. Their sound today seems like the foundation for the laid back groove that is essential to desert rock as a style even in its most aggressive forms, and the tone of founding guitarist Gary Arce is a monument to open spaces. Together with bassist Mario Lalli — also guitarist/vocalist for Fatso Jetson, who are no slouches themselves when it comes to being desert rock legends — Arce resides at the foundation of the style, bringing elements of indie, punk, goth rock and more together into a brew that’s still potent these decades later. They’ve spent the better part of the 2010s touring periodically through Europe, and offered a surprise release in 2015’s Historical Graffiti (review here), which was something of an anomaly studio session in South America with an expanded lineup, but also the band’s first full-length since 2010’s Nomadic Pursuits (review here), so certainly more than a one-off or stopgap in reality.
Their new album, The Revolt Against Tired Noises, is their first release through Heavy Psych Sounds, which also issued Fatso Jetson‘s 2016 LP, Idle Hands (review here), and while its title is confrontational, the revolt Yawning Man — Arce, Lalli and drummer Bill Stinson — are ultimately leading is peaceful, rife with serene melodies in the guitar and unmitigated fluidity rife with purpose but carrying nonetheless an air of spontaneity, the in-deep-jam feeling that a track like side B opener “Violent Lights” can and will go anywhere its chemistry will allow, which is just about anywhere, period. The Revolt Against Tired Noises also includes vocals for the first time on a Yawning Man album from Lalli on the side A closer “Grant’s Heart” and the later “Catamaran” — the latter which was never recorded by Yawning Man but covered by Kyuss on 1995’s …And the Circus Leaves Town, thus codifying Yawning Man‘s influence on that seminal act. The singing turns out to be something of a footnote in the sphere of the entire eight-song/39-minute release, but it’s one more nuance to their work and provides listeners an anchor to each half of the album, so as not to simply drift into the ether, carried away by otherworldly tones and engaging, hypnotic rhythm.
Much of what’s included is nothing less than gorgeous. With Mathias Schneeberger (Fatso Jetson, Goatsnake, earthlings?, Earth, Yawning Man, The Obsessed, so many others) helming the recording, opener “Black Kite” provides a genuine shimmer leading into the record, and even has a bit of an instrumental hook in its later going, its long fadeout giving way to the title-track, which seems to work in subtle layers but brings Lalli‘s bass and Stinson‘s drums forward along with the guitar, so that all three players stand toe-to-toe in the mix. That has an effect of making “Revolt Against Tired Noises” (which seems to have dropped the “the” from the name of the album) a heavier overall sound, but it’s still consistent with the rest of its surroundings in tone and overall approach, including a midsection that’s as trance-inducing as I’ve ever heard Yawning Man get and an evocative finish that emerges, bringing one back to semi-consciousness for the start of “Skyline Pressure,” which is an extended redux of the title-track to Yawning Man side-project Ten East‘s 2016 album (review here), though also has its origins in Yawning Man proper. At 7:40, it’s the longest inclusion on the record and builds to a head just before four-minutes in — I’d swear I hear keys in there too; anything’s possible — and then drops out to cycle through again, the second journey different and even more pleasing than the first as the song meanders to its ending.
As noted, there are two songs with Lalli singing on them, and they just happen to be the two shortest tracks on The Revolt Against Tired Noises: “Grant’s Heart” (3:18) and “Catamaran” (3:03). On linear formats — CD/DL — they appear with the six-minute “Violent Lights” between them, but they were clearly divided up to be included one on each vinyl side as well. Whether the origins of “Grant’s Heart” go back as far as those of “Catamaran,” I don’t know, but neither piece is out of place, and Lalli‘s voice is hardly jarring when it shows up, either for those who know the context of who these players are and what they do or for those who don’t. As riotous as Fatso Jetson can sometimes be, Yawning Man‘s vocals are more subdued, holding a melodic kinship to the guitar beneath them, and in “Grant’s Heart,” giving way to that guitar at about two minutes in, only to return in the fadeout a minute later. And while “Catamaran” will be familiar to desert rock heads from the John Garcia-fronted version, in Lalli‘s hands, it still has its chorus kick, but is more about flow than crunch, and very much Yawning Man‘s own, which is odd to say because it was their own in the first place. Especially coming out of the engrossing “Violent Lights,” which has some sense of foreboding in the low end around its halfway point but is otherwise much more about its howling wisps of floating guitar, “Catamaran” is something of a grounding force, but still coherent atmospherically with its surroundings.
“Misfortune Cookies,” which follows, isn’t much longer at 3:31, but reignites the album’s wandering-but-not-lost spirit and brings the guitar back as the center of the melody. An improvised-sounding jam, its run is linear and stretches outward, a long fade leading one to wonder just how much longer it might’ve gone before actually petering out. It leaves like a dream giving way to consciousness as it is, and as Stinson‘s drums start closer “Ghost Beach,” there’s all the more a sense of interaction between the real and the unreal. The Revolt Against Tired Noises may be fostering some kind of rebellion, but it’s doing so with the approach that Yawning Man trademarked a long time ago, and even if it takes them to new places, the paths they use to get there will be familiar and welcoming to longtime listeners and newcomers alike, the bouncing bassline of “Ghost Beach” and Arce‘s wailing, echoing leads both punctuated by the snare as the finale works its way toward dropping out the drums and letting Lalli‘s bass and Arce‘s guitar close out the last minute on their own, which is fair enough. Yawning Man have been perpetually underrated for 30 years. Any acclaim that The Revolt Against Tired Noises can bring them, they’ve long since deserved, but the album is more than just a showcase of legacy. It proves not only that Yawning Man‘s sound is timeless, but that it’s still growing, and that turns out to be its most righteous aspect.
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 27th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
On July 12, instrumental desert rock legends Yawning Man will play the release show for their new album, The Revolt Against Tired Noises, which officially lands next week via Heavy Psych Sounds. The gig is at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown, California. Out in the desert, which is about right. It’s the last of a couple shows in California around the release date for the record, two of which will be with Dead Meadow and all of which precede an utterly massive European tour set to kick off on July 25 in the Netherlands. Seven weeks. Not a minor stint. They’ve got killer dates lined up with slots at Lake on Fire, Riff Ritual and a whole bunch of other festival-type doings, but of particular note as well are some of the UK dates like Bristol, where Yawning Man will hook up with instrumentalist compatriots Sons of Alpha Centauri, with whom guitarist Gary Arce has collaborated in the past as Yawning Sons.
Does that mean it’s going to happen this time? Not necessarily, but Sons of Alpha Centauri might bring Arce out on stage during their set or something like that. It’s an intriguing possibility, in any case.
Updated dates for the tour follow here, as posted by Sound of Liberation on the social medias. Still a couple TBAs in there, so there might be another update before they head over:
Desert-rock legends Yawning Man will hit the European roads for a 7-week tour! They will be supporting their upcoming album “The Revolt Against Tired Noises”, which will be released in July via HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS!
New dates have been added lately, so check-out the updated list below:
YAWNING MAN in California: 7/5 CASBAH, San Diego CA with Dead Meadow 7/6 CAFE NELA, Cypress Park LA 7/7 TERAGRAM BALLROOM, LA with Dead Meadow 7/12 PAPPY and HARRIETS, Pioneertown CA
YAWNING MAN in Europe: 25.07 (NL) Utrecht – Db’s 27.07 (UK) Manchester – The Rebellion 28.07 (UK) Bristol – The Louisiana 29.07 (UK) London – The Black Heart 30.07 (FR) Paris – Glazart (NEW DATE!) 31.07 (D) Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 03.08 (IT) Osoppo – Pietra Sonica Festival 04.08 (A) Waldhausen – Lake On Fire Festival 05.08 (PL) Chorzow – Red & Black 06.08 (PL) Warsaw – Chmury 07.08 (D) Berlin – Toast Hawaii (NEW DATE!) 08.08 (SWE) Malmö – Norra Gränges (NEW DATE!) 09.08 (DK) Copenhagen – KB 18 (NEW DATE!) 11.08 (A) Döbriach – Sauzipf Rocks 13.08 (IT) Brescia – Festa Radio Onda D’Urto 14.08 (IT) Treviso – Benicio Live Gigs (NEW DATE!) 15.08 (IT) Porto Recanati – Copacabana Pulp Beach 16.08 (IT) Pescara – Frantic Fest 17.08 (IT) Molfetta – Eremo Club (NEW DATE!) 18.08 (IT) Galatone – Sagra Del Diavolo 19.08 (IT) Potenza – Pipistrello Pub (NEW DATE!) 21.08 (IT) Savignano – Sidro Club (NEW DATE!) 22.08 (IT) Como – TBA (NEW DATE!) 23.08 (IT) Vinadio – Balla Coi Cinghiali Festival (NEW DATE!) 24.08 (CH) Luzern – Sedel 25.08 (IT) Bolzano – Mountain Sessions 27.08 (HU) Budapest – Robot (NEW DATE!) 30.08 (GR) Thessaloniki – Street Mode Festival 31.08 (RO) Timisoara – Reflektor (NEW DATE!) 01.09 (RS) Belgrade – Atom Akademija (NEW DATE!) 02.09 (BU) Sofia – Mixtape 5 03.09 (HR) Zupanja – MKC 04.09 (SI) Ljubljana – Dvorana Rog 06.09 (FR) Clermont-Ferrand – Raymond Bar 07.09 (FR) Montpellier – Le Black Sheep 08.09 (SP) Barcelona – Riff Ritual fest 09.09 (SP) San Sebastian – Dabadaba 10.09 (SP) Gijon – Sala Memphis 11.09 (PO) Porto – Woodstock 69 12.09 (SP) Madrid – Wurlitzer Ballroom 13.09 (SP) Bilbao – Maritime Museum Bar
YAWNING MAN IS Gary Arce – Guitar Mario Lalli – Bass Bill Stinson – Drums
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 21st, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Well, it’s been several minutes — upwards of eight! — since the last time I posted an update about the many doings of desert rock legend Brant Bjork, so it seems only fair that news should come down the PR wire heralding word that, one week after the release of his new album, Mankind Woman (info here), he’ll be reissuing 2007’s Tres Dias through Heavy Psych Sounds as the beginning point of a series that will see his entire catalog from 1999 through 2010 — that’s Jalamanta (discussed here) through Gods and Goddesses (review here), by my count — to the general benefit of humanity at large. Interesting that the series would start with Tres Dias, which is the largely-unplugged predecessor to 2007’s Somera Sól (discussed here), since it is arguably Brant ‘s most minimal and intimate record, but I guess it’s more fascinating than either starting at the beginning and working up or starting with the newest one and going back. Mix and match. Should be fun.
And of course, Bjork will head over to Europe for a sizable tour this Fall, the dates for which you can also see below, along with the revamped Tres Dias cover art.
Dig:
BRANT BJORK to reissue “Tres Dias” album on September 21st through Heavy Psych Sounds Records
Heavy Psych Sounds Records is proud to start the reissuing of BRANT BJORK’s solo back catalogue from 1999 to 2010! First reissue is “Tres Dias”, coming along a brand new artwork and special and limited vinyl editions.
“Tres Dias” is the fifth solo album released by the godfather of desert rock BRANT BJORK. The album was recorded in Joshua Tree, California, before Christmas 2006. This 8-track album is a mix of old and new tracks.
BRANT BJORK has spent over a quarter-century at the epicenter of Californian desert rock. From cutting his teeth alongside Fatso Jetson’s Mario Lalli in hardcore punkers De-Con to drumming and composing on Kyuss’ landmark early albums, to propelling the seminal fuzz of Fu Manchu from 1994-2001 while producing other bands, putting together offshoot projects like Ché, embarking on his solo career as a singer, guitarist and bandleader, founding his own record label and more, his history is a winding narrative of relentless, unflinching creativity.
For someone so outwardly laid back, he’s never really taken a break. And while BRANT BJORK has shown different sides of himself on an album like his 2007’s mostly-acoustic Tres Dias, when you’re listening to Brant Bjork, you know it, because there’s no one else who sounds quite like him. He comments: “Been a long time since i celebrated these recordings. Couldnt think of a better time to re-release. Fresh art to represent “brand new old times”. Enjoy!”
“Tres Dias” was produced, recorded, and mixed by Tony Mason at Back of the Moon Studios, Joshua Tree, CA in 2007. The original artwork has been designed by Bunker/Bjork, the re-issued artwork comes by Marcello “Rise Above” Crescenzi.
The “Tres Dias” reissue on HPS Records will be available as: – 30 Test Press (only on HPS webstore) – 250 LTD Vinyl in Green/Yellow Quad (only on HPS webstore) – 500 LTD Vinyl in Gold – Black Vinyl – CD and digital
BRANT BJORK “Tres Dias” reissue Out September 21st on Heavy Psych Sounds Records – Vinyl and CD preorder start July 3rd here –
TRACK LISTING: 1. Too Many Chiefs… 2. Love Is My Revolution 3. Chinarosa 4. The Native Tongue 5. Video 6. Right Time 7. The Messengers 8. The Knight Surrenders Today
Catch the BRANT BJORK live on the following dates in Europe this Fall, with very special guest Sean Wheeler:
EUROPEAN TOUR 2018 02.11.18 NO Drammen |Union Scene 03.11.18 SW Stockholm | Debaser Strand 04.11.18 SW Göteborg | Sticky Fingers 05.11.18 SW Malmö | Kulturbolaget 06.11.18 DE Hamburg | Fabrik 07.11.18 NL Amsterdam | Melkweg 08.11.18 BE Leuven | Het Depot 09.11.18 UK London | Garage 10.11.18 FR Paris | Petit Bain 11.11.18 NL Tilburg | O13 12.11.18 DE Wiesbaden | Schlachthof 13.11.18 CH Zürich | Rote Fabrik 14.11.18 CH Martigny | Caves Du Manoir 15.11.18 IT Turin | Spazio 211 16.11.18 AT Innsbruck | Hafen (Heavy Psych Sounds Festival) 17.11.18 DE Munich | Feierwerk 18.11.18 AT Vienna | Arena 19.11.18 DE Dresden | Beatpol 20.11.18 DE Berlin | Festsaal Kreuzberg
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 12th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Desert rock legend Brant Bjork has announce his new album, Mankind Woman, will be released Sept. 14 through Heavy Psych Sounds, with preorders starting July 3. European tour dates are set to kick off in November. You don’t need me to tell you both of these make for awesome news. Brant Bjork has been on fire the last several years as he launched the Low Desert Punk Band, hit the road and put out three offerings through Napalm Records in the form of last year’s live album, Europe ’16 (review here), and the two studio records, 2014’s Black Power Flower (review here) and 2016’s Tao of the Devil (review here), and even with the label switch it doesn’t seem like he’s missing a beat in terms of getting new material out and going back on tour. As if Brant Bjork could miss a fucking beat.
This one just came in on the PR wire and I posted it all “OMG gotta get this up right away” style. Because it’s Brant Bjork and some things take priority:
BRANT BJORK unveil new album details & European tour dates ; “Mankind Woman” due out September 14th on Heavy Psych Sounds
Kyuss and Fu Manchu legend BRANT BJORK is back with a brand new record! Today, the godfather of Desert Rock unveils the hotly anticipated details about his thirteenth solo album titled “Mankind Woman”, set to be released September 14th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records!
Although this is indeed a BRANT BJORK record, it is the first record Brant so closely collaborates with a producer and co-writer: his Low Desert Punk Band guitarist and friend, Bubba Dupree. Brant and Bubba wrote and performed the music along with guest appearances by bass player Armand Secco Sabal, Nick Oliveri and vocalist Sean Wheeler who has been a touring member of the Low Desert Punk Band. The recording took place in March of 2018 at Zainaland, a creative villa owned by Brant’s wife Zaina Alwan, in the California desert town of 29 Palms. The record was recorded and engineered by Yosef Sanborn who also owns and operates Massive FX pedals in Los Angeles. Multiple pedals designed by Yosef were used by Brant and Bubba for this record. Additional tracks were recorded by Bubba Dupree at Brant Bjork’s home studio in Venice Beach, California.
BRANT BJORK and Bubba describe the sound of “Mankind Woman” as modern classic. It is evidently clear that both Bjork and Dupree specialize in the craft of the sound and feel of the music spawned in the 60’s and 70’s. This record is inspired by this great era, however the intention was not to try to recapture or mimic in retro terms these influences but to strive for a contemporary quality. Brant Bjork might have gone deeper in the lyrics than on any record before.
Focusing on personal sensitivities, elite hypocrisies, racism, sexism and the daily struggle to find peace, love and understanding in today’s American society. Once again, BRANT BJORK created a record that reminds the listener that it is the ingredients of the jazz, blues and funk, that makes rock music taste so good. A must-have for all collectors, genre-fans and beyond!
BRANT BJORK New album “Mankind Woman” Out September 14th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records – Vinyl and CD preorder start July 3rd here –
TRACK LISTING: 1. Chocolatize 2. Lazy Wizards 3. Charlie Gin 4. Mankind Woman 5. Pisces 6. Swagger & Sway 7. Somebody 8. Pretty Hairy 9. Brand New Old Times 10. 1968 11. Nation Of Indica Album Art by Robin Gnista
“Mankind Woman” will be available in the following formats: – 50 Test Pressing Vinyl (Only on Heavy Psych Sounds webshop) – Limited edition “Colour in Colour” Brown in Orange Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “3 colours A/B side Burst” Yellow / Red / Brown Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “3 Colour Segment” Orange / Purple / Yellow Vinyl (Only on HPS webshop) – Limited edition “Splatter Version” Transp. Background / Yellow, Purple, Orange, Red, Brown – Black Vinyl – CD Digipak and Digital Download
In support of his new album, BRANT BJORK will be heavily hitting the road again this year, with very special guest Sean Wheeler. The desert rock legend comments: “Looking forward to returning to Europe in November and bringing all the European fans some of our fresh jams along with the classics. Mankind Woman is our new record and we can’t wait to turn Europe on! See you all soon!”
EUROPEAN TOUR 2018 02.11.18 NO Drammen |Union Scene 03.11.18 SW Stockholm | Debaser Strand 04.11.18 SW Göteborg | Sticky Fingers 05.11.18 SW Malmö | Kulturbolaget 06.11.18 DE Hamburg | Fabrik 07.11.18 NL Amsterdam | Melkweg 08.11.18 BE Leuven | Het Depot 09.11.18 UK London | Garage 10.11.18 FR Paris | Petit Bain 11.11.18 NL Tilburg | O13 12.11.18 DE Wiesbaden | Schlachthof 13.11.18 CH Zürich | Rote Fabrik 14.11.18 CH Martigny | Caves Du Manoir 15.11.18 IT Turin | Spazio 211 16.11.18 AT Innsbruck | Hafen (Heavy Psych Sounds Festival) 17.11.18 DE Munich | Feierwerk 18.11.18 AT Vienna | Arena 19.11.18 DE Dresden | Beatpol 20.11.18 DE Berlin | Festsaal Kreuzberg
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 18th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Preorders start May 22. I’m not really sure what else you need to know. It’s a new Yawning Man album, so a bigtime covet is a given, and it’s out in July and you can preorder it starting next week. Oh, I suppose you’ll probably be interested to know they’ll be touring for it, that Heavy Psych Sounds is putting it out, that Mathias Schneeberger recorded, and that it’s been given the punk-as-hell title The Revolt Against Tired Noises. The follow-up to 2016’s Historical Graffiti (review here), which was pressed to vinyl by Lay Bare Recordings, it will mark the desert rock legends’ first collaboration with Heavy Psych Sounds, which also counts Yawning Man bassist Mario Lalli‘s other long-running band, Fatso Jetson, on its roster.
The PR wire has the specifics like this, but really, everything you need to know is in the first sentence above:
Desert heavy psych godfathers YAWNING MAN to issue new album “The Revolt Against Tired Noises” on July 6th via Heavy Psych Sounds.
Experimental desert rock legends YAWNING MAN announce the release of their new album “The Revolt Against Tired Noises” this July 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.
The aural experience of YAWNING MAN summarizes as an intense yet graceful kaleidoscope of polyphonic musical textures. Dramatic and flowing, dark, intense and emotional. July 2018 finds the band releasing their most musically exciting recording to date with their 6th full length LP, “The Revolt Against Tired Noises” on the ambitious up and coming independent label, HPS Records. The songs on this release are described as “an emotional and visceral expression of pure melodic darkness and beauty”, the album was recorded at Gato Trail Studios in Joshua Tree, CA and produced and engineered by friend and long time collaborator, Mathias Schneeberger (Mark Lanegan, Greg Duli, SUNN O))), Earth, The Obsessed).
The eight songs offered here are the results of a conscious focus to the poetry in melody, finding new sounds and melodic passages that conjure visuals and express emotion and movement. Six of the eight songs are in the instrumental tradition the band is mostly know for however two tracks feature the rare appearance of a vocalist (bassist Mario Lalli) alongside Gary Arce’s dream weaving guitar work. One of these tracks of notable mention is the song “Catamaran”, a Yawning Man song made popular by the legendary influential desert rock band Kyuss on the 1995 Elektra release “And the Circus Leaves Town”. The song was never released by YAWNING MAN, however the Kyuss cover of the song proved to be a favorite among Kyuss fans. Spreading the word about Yawning Man’s unique rock music. Yawning Man will finally release this classic, properly recorded for the first time in 30 years. “The Revolt Against Tired Noises” is just that , a statement of a unique creative chemistry that’s always changing and evolving.
A full European, UK, North American / Canadian and South American tour is in planned to support the release. The album will be available on LTD “Half-Half” Red Clear Blue Viny, Ultra Ltd 200 “Cornetto Version” Transparent & Blue Special Colouring (Only From HPS Website), 30 Test Press (Only From HPS website), Black Vinyl, Digipak and Digital.
YAWNING MAN “The Revolt Against Tired Noises” Out July 6th on Heavy Psych Sounds Records Pre-order from May 22nd
TRACK LISTING: 1. The Black Kite 2. The Revolt Against Tired Noises 3. Skyline Pressure 4. Grant’s Heart 5. Violent Lights 6 Catamaran 7. Misfortune Cookies 8. Ghost Beach
YAWNING MAN IS Gary Arce – Guitar Mario Lalli – Bass Bill Stinson – Drums
Yawning Man on tour: 25.07.18 | NL | Utrecht | Db’s 27.07.18 | UK | Manchester | The Rebellion 28.07.18 | UK | Bristol | The Louisiana 29.07.18 | UK | London | The Blackheart 31.07.18 | DE | Wiesbaden | Schlachthof 03.08.18 | IT | Osoppo | Pietra Sonica Festival 04.08.18 | AT | Waldhausen | Lake On Fire Festival 05.08.18 | PL | Chorzow | Red & Black 06.08.18 | PL | Warsaw | Chmury 11.08.18 | AT | Döbriach | Sauzipf Rocks Festival 13.08.18 | IT | Brescia | Festa Radio Onda D’Urto (*) 15.08.18 | IT | Ancona | Go Down Beach Fest (*) 16.08.18 | IT | Pescara | Frantic Fest (*) 17.08.18 | IT | Bari | Go Down Beach Fest (*) 18.08.18 | IT | Galatone | Sagra Del Diavolo (*) 24.08.18 | CH | Luzern | Sedel 25.08.18 | IT | Bolzano | Mountain Session 30.08.18 | GR | Thessaloniki | Street Mode Fest 02.09.18 | BU | Sofia | Mixtape 5 03.09.18 | HR | Zupanja | MKC 04.09.18 | SI | Ljubljana | Dvorana Rog 06.09.18 | FR | Clermont-Ferrand | Raymond Bar 07.09.18 | FR | Montpellier | Le Black Sheep 08.09.18 | SP | Barcelona | Rocksound 09.09.18 | SP | San Sebastian | Dabadaba 10.09.18 | SP | Gijon | Sala Memphis 11.09.18 | PO | Porto | Woodstock 69 12.09.18 | SP | Madrid | Wurlitzer Ballroom 13.09.18 | SP | Bilbao | Maritime Museum Bar
