You know what part I like? I like the part where Ruben Romano plays drums. I like that part. I like the part where Ed Mundell rips a solo while Jonathan Hall holds down the rhythm on guitar. That part is pretty sweet too. I like the part where Ray Piller throws a little funk into the bassline. Oh yeah, and I like that part too where Craig Riggs is on vocals.

I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m on board for hearing more from the new incarnation of Los Angeles-based heavy rockers The Freeks, who were seemingly all set to unveil their five-piece lineup at the L.A. edition of the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest a few nights ago. Obviously that didn’t happen, what with the certainty that there would be more than three people there or however many California has allowed to gather in a single place at the moment.

To be sure, “Yesterday’s Sweetheart” — a new song, at least so far as I know — is a rehearsal. They note as well it was Riggs‘ first time sitting in with the band — one has to wonder as to the logistics of that, if he’s still based in the Boston area, where his bands Kind and the kinda-not-really-semi-active-but-still-put-out-a-killer-record-last-year Roadsaw are, or if he’s gone west, where Sasquatch and now The Freeks are based; hell of a commute, either way — but of course he seems right at home alongside everyone else, even though there apparently aren’t proper lyrics to the song yet. “Hey Riggs, wanna just bust out a killer melody and wing it and we’ll make a video?” “Yeah sure, why not?”

Not many bands would make that choice, let alone pull it off. The Freeks circa 2020 do both. Keep writing, dudes. Write faster. Then record.

You know, as soon as more than three people can legally be in the same space, anyhow.

Enjoy the video:

The Freeks, “Yesterday’s Sweetheart” rehearsal, March 4, 2020

Because a lot of you have asked, we decided to take some rehearsal footage, add in some freeky trees and psychedelia to share with all of you during these times of trouble! Please note, This is a raw rehearsal recording for use as the bands audio review only and was not intended for public video, so, heads are cut off (but not bad for a one camera only edit). This is also Riggs’s first rehearsal with us and he kills it with some improvisational vocality. We hope you dig it as we feel we are putting our guts on the table and exposing our balls for y’all to give us a big kick.

The Freeks are:
Ed Mundell – Guitar
Jonathan Hall – Guitar
Ray Piller – bass
Craig Riggs – vocals
Ruben Romano – Drums

The Freeks on Thee Facebooks

The Freeks on Instagram

The Freeks website

Heavy Psych Sounds store

Still ostensibly based in Los Angeles, The Freeks have nonetheless amassed a new lineup that spans both coasts and in between. Coming off of 2018’s Crazy World (review here), the group has shifted Ruben Romano from guitar/vocals to drums and brought in Ed Mundell — known for his work in prior work in Monster Magnet and The Atomic Bitchwax as well as the more recent The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic — and Craig Riggs, vocalist of Boston’s Roadsaw and Kind and drummer for L.A.’s own Sasquatch, to take on guitarist and frontman duties, respectively.

In the meantime, Romano and returning guitarist Jonathan Hall have also picked up bassist Ray Piller of Ohio weirdos Biblical Proof of UFOs, completing a new five-piece that needs to shut up and go make a record immediately. Like, hey guys, stop what you’re doing today and go fucking record. You say you don’t have songs yet? Doesn’t matter. Get in the studio for two days, jam out, piece it together later and hand it to Riggs to throw vocals on. Dude’s good for it. Just make it happen. I want a June release date, and I want to hear a completed master by, let’s say, three weeks from now. If you wanted to shoot some raw mixes over in the interim, that’s acceptable as well. Chop-chop. Time’s a-wastin’.

Their actual plans involve making a stage debut at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest on March 28 in Los Angeles, which Earthless will headline. I guess if they wanted to record that set and put that out the first week of April or thereabouts, that’d be fine too. Just something. The sooner the better. Make it happen.

From the PR wire:

The Freeks New Lineup! Feat. Ed Mundell!

The Freeks have recently been laying low, sinking themselves neck deep in a songwriting frenzy, while at the same time refreshing itself with rearranging some positions and transferring in some new blood.

Ruben has never really stopped playing drums but now after nine years of fronting the band vocally with guitar in hand, he has returned to rightfully regain his reign, deep seated once again on his drum throne! To excite the matter thus even more, enter Ed Mundell on guitar! Yes Mundell! Guitar hero from the likes of Monster Magnet, Atomic Bitchwax and The Ultra Electric Mega Galactic. The two have been longtime friends since they toured together on a shared Monster Magnet/Fu Manchu bill that traveled throughout the East Coast, MidWest and Canada back in the late 90’s.

Holding the groovest(sic) rhythm section alongside Ruben is Ray Piller on bass, who still sometimes rumbles with 25-plus year old original Cleveland, Ohio noise makers Biblical Proof of UFOs. Still in the mix is Freeks longtime guitar slinger Jonathan Hall who together with Ed can only summon the most exciting duel lead guitar action since Wayne Kramer and Fred “Sonic” Smith did with the MC5. This lineup is destined to be legendary and from the way things have been coming together during rehearsal it is most definitely something that should be not only heard but witnessed!

This new band of FREEKS debuts this line up on Saturday March 28th as openers for the now heralded “HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST” in Los Angeles at “The Moroccan Lounge”.

Joining them on stage to lend a growling hand will be Vocalist Craig Riggs from the Boston based band ROADSAW who also tackled a lot of miles touring with both Ruben and Ed during their Nebula and The Atomic Bitchwax periods.

The HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST, L.A. is an incredible one night bill with the lineup being:
Earthless
Danava
Crypt Trip
High Reeper
The Freeks

The Freeks are:
Ed Mundell – Guitar
Jonathan Hall – Guitar
Ray Piller – bass
Craig Riggs – vocals
Ruben Romano – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/TheFreeks/
https://www.instagram.com/the_freeks/
http://www.thefreeks.com/
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/

With a poster that would seem to honor the Frank Kozik heavy rock works of yore — and by “yore,” I mean about 20-25 years ago — Heavy Psych Sounds Fest will return to California for the second time in 2020, bringing the mightiest Golden State trio Earthless as headliners for stops in San Francisco and Los Angeles, while none other than desert ultra-pioneers Yawning Man will headline a second night in SF with a totally different lineup at a totally different venue. So it works out to be two nights in San Fran, one night in L.A., and the first San Fran show and the L.A. show are the same four bands — Earthless, Danava, High Reeper and Crypt Trip. Meanwhile, as that bill heads south along the coast to L.A., moving into SF is the five-pack of Yawning Man, Brant Bjork — who’ll do a solo acoustic show! — Hot Lunch, Turn Me on Dead Man and recent Heavy Psych Sounds label signees Disastroid.

Not frickin’ shabby, as the kids might (not) say.

You had to know Heavy Psych Sounds Fest would be back in Cali in 2020 after the successful West Coast stint earlier this year, so now where know where and when and with whom it’s happening. Ticket presales are on as of today, so do it up.

Here’s the info:

Earthless, Brant Bjork, Yawning Man and More to Team Up for Heavy Psych Sounds U.S. Festival Dates

Influential Italian Rock ‘N’ Roll Record Label Continues to Expand Its Sphere into North America; Spring 2020 Showcases in Los Angeles and San Francisco Announced

Respected underground rock record label Heavy Psych Sounds is proud to announce details of its 2020 U.S. ‘Heavy Psych Sounds Fest’ live events. Set for March 27 in San Francisco and March 28 in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, the special shows will spotlight an exclusive selection of Heavy Psych Sounds’ blue-chip roster, including live sets from acts such as ex-Kyuss musician Brant Bjork, Yawning Man, High Reeper and Crypt Trip, as well as special guests Earthless, Danava and more.

Headquartered in Rome, Italy, Heavy Psych Sounds specializes in presenting the best artists in the global heavy psych, doom, fuzz blues and space rock realms, and the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest series is no exception, spotlighting the ever-growing label’s dedication to its craft. Earlier this year, the label launched the U.S. festival series with shows in Austin, Dallas, LA and San Francisco; the events met to shining acclaim.

“We are so delighted to announce the second edition of the Heavy Psych Sounds Fests set for this coming spring in California,” says Heavy Psych Sounds label owner Gabriele Fiore. “We are excited to get so many cool bands on board as these line-ups look incredibly rad. Heavy Psych Sounds Records is so proud to have a growing roster of both trendsetting and up-and-coming U.S. based bands and these special shows will prove exactly why.”

HPS FEST CALIFORNIA

Friday 27 March
San Francisco – Rickshaw Stop
EARTHLESS
DANAVA
HIGH REEPER
CRYPT TRIP

TICKETS PRESALE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/83735662621

Saturday 28 March
San Francisco – Bottom of the Hill
YAWNING MAN
BRANT BJORK solo acoustic show
HOT LUNCH
TURN ME ON DEAD MAN
DISASTROID

TICKETS PRESALE: http://www.bottomofthehill.com/stubmatic/event20200328.html

Saturday 28 March
Los Angeles – The House of Machines
EARTHLESS
DANANVA
HIGH REEPER
CRYPT TRIP
THE FREEKS

TICKETS PRESALE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/heavy-psych-sounds-fest-california-at-the-house-of-machines-tickets-84274821259

heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS/

Yawning Man, Macedonian Lines (2019)

I should’ve seen this one coming when Heavy Psych Sounds announced multiple venues for its Heavy Psych Sounds Fest this month in Europe — was it this weekend? — playing in three different cities with a changing lineup. Should’ve guessed this was going to be the direction it took. Even if I did though, I don’t think I’d have called a lineup badass enough to bring together Duel, Fatso Jetson, Nebula, Greenbeard, Heavy Temple, Mothership and The Freeks. Among others. Heavy Psych Sounds has become a powerhouse in Europe, promoting bands through the label, booking tours, hosting its fest, whatever it might be. A US package tour under the banner of Heavy Psych Sounds Fest isn’t a small step, but it’s a natural one for an imprint that’s doing such crucial work.

I hope it all goes off without a hitch and they do it on the regular.

From the PR wire:

Red Fang, Yawning Man, Mothership and more team up for inaugural HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST tour in the United States!

Influential heavy rock label HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS expands its sphere into North America, with live shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Austin.

Respected underground rock record label Heavy Psych Sounds is proud to announce the inaugural U.S. iteration of its ‘Heavy Psych Sounds Fest’ series. Set to kick off this May in Los Angeles (May 3), San Francisco (May 4-5), Dallas (May 10) and Austin, TX (May 11), the label tour will feature four separate mini-festivals in the four cities, each spotlighting an exclusive selection of Heavy Psych Sounds’ blue-chip roster, including live sets from trailblazing acts Fatso Jetson, Nebula and Yawning Man, as well as special guests Red Fang and more.

Headquartered in Rome, Italy, Heavy Psych Sounds specializes in presenting the best artists in the global heavy psych, doom, fuzz blues and space rock realms, and the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest series will be no exception, spotlighting the ever-growing label’s dedication to its craft. While the first HPS fests were held in Italy, the label has since extended its live reach into the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands with festivals in those territories. Now, Heavy Psych Sounds is set to bring the ROCK to the U.S. with the just-announced special shows. Each stop of the traveling festival tour will feature diverse lineups including both genre leaders and fast-rising acts, all ready to prove their place among the world’s best.

“Being able to finally launch the U.S. version of Heavy Psych Sounds Fest is a dream true,”says label owner Gabriele Fiori. “We’ve been working for a long time to properly break into the U.S. market and this is a clear sign that the hard work is paying off. We have so many great U.S. based bands on our roster that we needed this to happen for all of us. This tour run is a celebration of our growing U.S. presence, which we hope will keep continue to grow. We’re also very happy to have Red Fang as guests, headlining in two of the cities. We hope music fans will come out, support and enjoy these very special shows!”

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS FEST U.S. tour dates:

May 3 – Los Angeles, CA at The House of Machines
Red Fang (special guest) + Nebula + Yawning Man + Duel + Fatso Jetson + House Of Broken Promises

May 4 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Red Fang (special guest) + Yawning Man + Duel + The Freeks + Glitter Wizard

May 5 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
Nebula + Hot Lunch + Fatso Jetson + Banquet + Turn Me On Dead Man

May 10 – Dallas, TX at Lola’s
Mothership + Duel + Ecstatic Vision + Crypt Trip + Wo Fat + Heavy Temple

May 11 – Austin, TX at The Lost Well
Duel + Ecstatic Vision + Mothership + Crypt Trip + Greenbeard + Wo Fat + Heavy Temple

Tickets for the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest shows in Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin are on sale now.
Tickets for the San Francisco HPS event will go on sale February 28.

https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com

Nebula, “Giant” live at SonicBlast Moledo 2018

With their apropos-of-everything Crazy World (review here) album still fresh in minds hip enough to get down in the first place, The Freeks will leave their Californian confines and head into the Midwest for a five-date run that starts in St. Louis on Oct. 3. The desert-blues-punker-whatever-else rockers go with the hearty encouragement of Heavy Psych Sounds, which issued Crazy World as the follow-up to 2016’s Shattered (review here), which was their third album.

The Freeks have done regular gigs around Los Angeles and the Pacific Coast, but as multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Ruben Romano (ex-Nebula) notes in his comments below, it’s been a little bit since he was last in the neighborhood. All the better then that they’re getting back out.

The PR wire puts it like this:

*** THE FREEKS – MIDWEST TOUR 2018***

THE FREEKS announce Midwest fall tour; new album “Crazy World” still available on HPS Records!

L.A. heavy rock ’n’ rollers The Freeks have just confirmed five Midwest shows taking place from October 5th to October 9th.

Says head Freek Ruben Romano: “I haven’t played a show in the Midwest since about 2006 when Nebula toured with the Hellacopters. Only this time I’ll be showing up with a bunch of FREEKS! So, Hell Yeah! I’m really looking forward to this and I am so amazed at the venues we got booked into. It’s not just returning to the region to get loud but also to have the pleasure of reuniting with all the great people I have met in the past, with further intentions on meeting many many more. I have always had such a great time in these cities!”

Come and join the party on one of the dates below:

The Freeks Midwest Tour:
03/10 – Fubar – St Louis, MO
04/10 – Reggie’s Music Joint – Chicago, IL
05/10 – The Nightshop – Bloomington, IL
06/10 – The Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
07/10 – Small’s Bar – Detroit, MI

The band recently released their fourth full-length “Crazy World” via Heavy Psych Sounds Records. You can stream it and order it at this location: https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-freeks-crazy-world or https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS077

Los Angeles’ THE FREEKS know that as the Earth revolves, the Sun and the Universe infinitely expand, it must be shared with as many different kinds of life as there are stars. A bold statement coming from a bunch of Freeks. This is not a new concept, however, an ever recurring one, dating back to Ezekiel’s biblical account to even further back with evidence from ancient Egypt and Mayan times. After 4,000 years, the theory continues strong as we enter 2018.

THE FREEKS ARE:
Ruben Romano – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums, Percussion
Jonathan Hall – Vocals, Guitar, Bass,
Esteban Chavez – Keys, Synth
Ray Piller – Bass
Bob Lee – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/TheFreeks/
https://twitter.com/The_Freeks
http://www.thefreeks.com/
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS044

[Click play above to stream Crazy World by The Freeks in full. Album is out April 27 on Heavy Psych Sounds.]

In the second cut ‘This is Love’ from The Freeks‘ fourth album, Crazy World, there is PJ Harvey‘s standout lyric, “I can’t believe that the axis turns on suffering when you taste so good.” And say whatever you want to about “Chronic Abduction” toward the record’s end or opener “American Lightning” before, to me, it’s that line in that cover summing up the central driving force of classically-derived heavy rock lust and thrust driving the Los Angeles five-piece’s second release on Heavy Psych Sounds, the eight tracks of which span a vast but still hyper-manageable 30 minutes.

That’s runtime is noteworthy because The Freeks‘ prior offering, 2016’s Shattered (review here), was 48, so the new collection is a significant drop in duration; one that brings it more in line with 2013’s sophomore LP, Full On (review here), though as seems to be the case with everything The Freeks have done going back to their 2008 Cargo Records self-titled debut, Crazy World has a mind of its own. It just so happens that that mind sounds like it’s been blown to bits on some obscure desert lysergic, and with a bit of Take it to the Stage mingled in with its Fun House and Superjudge, it offers listeners a quick but ultra-engaging sense of outward voyage, holding to an element of rawness with the vocals of Jonathan Hall (also guitar and bass) and Ruben Romano (also guitar, bass, drums and percussion). They are not, however, simply aping the tenets of classic punk or classic rock of any kind, and Crazy World sounds thoroughly modern in its presentation. But neither are they shy in showing off where their foundation comes from.

Come to think of it, “shy” isn’t a word I’d use for The Freeks on any aesthetic level. Romano and Hall are joined in the band by newcomer bassist Ray Piller, returning drummer Bob Lee, who debuted on Shattered, and keyboardist/synthesist Esteban Chavez, whose work once again proves crucial to evoking a psychedelic atmosphere across Crazy World‘s manic landscape. Not only in the two interludes “Take 9” and the noise and manipulated sample piece “Thank You, Mr. Downing” — a reference perhaps to early LSD researcher Jack Downing; the name comes up again in the finale — that leads and plays into the closing duo of “Chronic Abduction” and “Mothership to Mother Earth,” but also in the strutting Rolling Stones-style piano line of “Easy Way Out” and the low-mixed organ and swirl of “American Lightning,” which sets Crazy World‘s consuming forward momentum in motion.

There is little time wasted throughout the record, the longest song being “Mothership to Mother Earth” capping at 7:53. Nothing else hits the five-minute mark — “Hypnotize My Heart”” comes closest at 4:34 — and along with the straightforward structures in which most of the cuts operate, be it “This is Love” hammering its hook via sheer repetition or “Chronic Abduction” worming its way into the consciousness of the listener via easy nod and ambience surrounding its sleazy stonerist verses, the general tightness of the material’s construction helps maintain the momentum that “American Lightning” flashes forth. It would be a quick listen one way or another at a half-hour, but with the deft turns of style and mood between its opening salvo of “American Lightning,” “This is Love,” and “Easy Way Out,” the two, very different interludes with “Hypnotiize My Heart” sandwiched between them, and the final culminating pair, Crazy World sees The Freeks operating in top form and, at times, top pace, to keep a current of motion running through their material. Thus, it’s the kind of record that, when it’s over, you have little choice but to go back to the beginning and start again.

Perhaps one of the most fortunate aspects of Crazy World is that it lives up to that standard of warranting repeat listens. It’s not the kind of record that will take multiple visits to sink in necessarily, because that would kind of run counter to its punker side, but there’s enough depth in the mix even of the most straightforward songs — witness the midsection break in “American Lightning,” for example — that it manages to deliver something new each time out. The band employed a number of guests throughout, whether it’s Ray Hanson adding guitar scorch to that opener, Sara Loera putting backing vocals on “This is Love,” Rainer Fraenkel on bass for “Take 9” and “Mothership to Mother Earth” or Glenn Slater adding synth and keys to those same two songs as well as “Hypnotize My Heart.” That track, likely the side B opener, introduces some of the darker-toned fuzz that will reemerge following the noise wash of “Thank You, Mr. Downing” and add to the sense of relative lurch in “Chronic Abduction,” but the acoustic and swirl and dynamic jam that emerges in “Mothership to Mother Earth” is the ultimate earmark of the band’s triumph over the forces of squaredom.

Its near-eight-minutes are a thrill of minor-key ebbs and flows, classic psych and desert idolatry sharing space in, well, space. Heady vibe? You best believe it, but that’s the idea, and as big a fan as I am of opening records with their longest tracks — always a bold move; always good for bonus points in my book — the inclusion of “Mothership to Mother Earth” anywhere on Crazy World is brazen enough. And one might say the same of the record as a whole: brazen. The Freeks have never exactly been subtle, whether it was the funk-punk of their debut or the psychedelia that’s emerged in their work since, but there’s no question that Crazy World puts their delivery in a new echelon in terms of songwriting and execution. They’ve never lacked confidence, but the poise with which they hurl their rawer side forth here isn’t to be ignored, and though at times the outing may seem unhinged, one should never doubt that the controls are in the hands of masters. This band is so much better than people know. Tell two friends.

The Freeks on Thee Facebooks

The Freeks on Twitter

The Freeks website

Heavy Psych Sounds webstore

We’re mere days — hours! minutes! — away from preorders opening for Crazy World the new album from Los Angeles heavy rockers The Freeks. The band, who if you missed it were just added to Freak Valley 2018 and presumably will announce more European dates on either side of that appearance, have set March 6 as the opening bell for their new record’s availability, and while the actual release won’t follow until April 27, I’d imagine that for just about anyone who heard their 2016 album, Shattered (review here), this follow-up is a pretty easy sell. Especially with that front cover. Looks frickin’ awesome.

With the announcement of the title, preorders, release date, artwork and tracklisting — seems like plenty for one press release, I suppose — we move into the next stage of pre-release hype. You know that means audio isn’t far behind. I’m gonna try to get in on some of that if I can, so stay tuned, but either way, if you’re a believer in what’s righteous and good in rock and roll, keep an eye out for these Freeks. They do not disappoint.

Info, etc. from the usual source:

THE FREEKS – CRAZY WORLD

HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records & Booking is happy to unveil cover & details of the upcoming album *** THE FREEKS – CRAZY WORLD ***

RELEASE DATE: April 27th
PRESALE STARTS: March 6th

AVAILABLE IN
LTD PURPLE VINYL
BLACK VINYL
DIGIPAK
DIGITAL

Los Angeles band, THE FREEKS, know that as the Earth revolves the sun and the Universe infinitely expands, it must be shared with as many different kinds of life as there are stars. A bold statement coming from a bunch of FREEKS. This is not a new concept, however, an ever recurring one dating back to Ezekiel’s biblical account to even further back with evidence from ancient Egypt and Mayan times. After 4,000 years the theory continues strong as we enter 2018.

THE FREEKS also enter 2018 with the completion of “CRAZY WORLD”, their fourth full length “LP” and second release for Italian based HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS RECORDS. A studio record with eight songs that take you on a psychedelic journey from hidden moonlit distilleries all the way up to the Mothership and back down to Mother Earth. It could have happened in 2700 BC and it’s definitely happening again now as THE FREEKS continue to ferment their ethanol infused fuzz rock, bead their songwriting to reflect a heavier content and extract added amounts of psychoactive chemicals from the minds of their listeners.

RUBEN ROMANO (founding member of Fu Manchu and Nebula) returns at the helm supported by BOB LEE on drums (Claw Hammer, Mike Watt), ESTEBAN CHAVEZ on Keys, JONATHAN HALL on Guitar (Backbiter) and introducing the latest Freek on Bass, RAY PILLER (Biblical Proof of U.F.O.’s). “Crazy World” also features some amazing musical guests that add to the insanity and continue THE FREEKS “All Are Welcome” legacy. It has ripping guitar leads by RAY HANSON (from legendary THEE HYPNOTICS), added keys and synth from returning Freek alumni GLENN SLATER (The Walkabouts and Wellwater Conspiracy), added bass lines by “CRAZY WORLD” producer RAINER FRAENKEL (The Miracle Mongers) plus backing vocals by singer/model SARA LOERA.

All together to create THE FREEKS CRAZY WORLD!

TRACKLIST
1. American Lightning
2. This Is Love
3. Easy Way Out
4. Take 9
5. Hypnotize My Heart
6. Thank You Mr. Downing
7. Chronic Abduction
8. Mothership to Mother Earth

THE FREEKS are
Ruben Romano – guitar/vocals
Bob Lee – drums
Esteban Chavez – keys
Jonathan Hall – guitars

https://www.facebook.com/TheFreeks/
https://twitter.com/The_Freeks
http://www.thefreeks.com/
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS044

The Freeks, Shattered (2016)

How do I know the following announcement from Freak Valley 2018 is awesome? Well, for starters I wrote the frickin’ thing. That might put me in something of a position of authority on the subject, but even if not, you don’t really need to look any further than the bands themselves to realize there’s righteousness afoot. Karma to Burn — always greeted as liberators — will make an appearance, and L.A.’s The Freeks will head to Germany supporting their yet-to-be-released new album.

I wasn’t as familiar with Ouzo Bazooka, though I’d seen the name (and once you see that name, you remember it), but checked out their stuff and found it wanting nothing in its blend of psychedelia and classic surf, but I think it’s Toke who are really going to surprise a lot of people when they take the Freak Valley stage. I’ve said before that the North Carolina trio are the inheritors of a Southern sludge legacy going back to Buzzov*en and other such early/mid-90s noisemakers, but they deliver their sound with a next-generation energy and have toured hard the last couple years to refine their attack. I would not be surprised if they come back from Europe a significantly bigger band.

Just my thoughts. Here’s that announcement, which, again, I wrote, as posted by the fest on the social medias:

Freaks, gather!

The time is coming ever closer, and we’ve already announced so many killer acts from OM and Yuri Gagarin to Russian Circles, Nap, and Year of the Cobra. We could not possibly be prouder of the fact that Freak Valley 2018 is already sold out, and we thank you so much for your support both this year and in festivals past. It’s the community of freaks that lets this thing happen year after year and keep getting bigger, so thank you!

Four new bands to welcome today and they’re awesome, so pay attention! Please say hi to Karma To Burn, The Freeks, Toke, and Ouzo Bazooka!

KARMA TO BURN

Led by founding guitarist Will Mecum, KTB are pioneers of instrumental heavy rock and roll. Yeah, the first album had a singer, and they’ve brought in guests in the past – some dude named John Garcia, etc. – but as they are today, Mecum, bassist Eric Clutter and drummer Evan Devine have never been such a force from the stage, and after years and years of lineup changes, bad luck, more lineup changes and worse luck, it finally seems like Karma to Burn are ready to take their place among the top league of riffers worldwide.

THE FREEKS

Welcome to Freek Valley! Los Angeles classic heavy rockers The Freeks – with none other than Ruben Romano (Nebula, Fu Manchu) behind the kit – recently announced they’ll release a third full-length this year through Heavy Psych Sounds. Could we wait to hear what was in store after loving their 2016 offering, Shattered, so much? Obviously not. We booked them, didn’t we? Get ready for punk-funk-psych-boogie-blues like none other, because – hey, big surprise – The Freeks feel no need to fit in with the expected fare.

TOKE

These North Carolinian sludge bastards are pucking up the next generation of a legacy for filth-coated riffing and heavy-ass-those-bass-cabinets groove begun by the likes of Buzzov*en, Eyehategod, and Sourvein. Yes, that’s the league of bands we’re talking about. Their Orange LP was released earlier this year, and you might not know it yet, but Toke are very quickly getting ready to conquer every stage onto which they set their collective foot. Don’t miss the opportunity to see them prove the power of truly unhinged sludge riffing.

OUZO BAZOOKA

Look. We’re not saying you’re going to watch about 30 seconds of Ouzo Bazooka’s set and then immediately decide you need to hit the merch table as soon as they’re done and purchase everything they have for sale – but yes, that is exactly what’s going to happen. The Tel Aviv-based psych-surf four-piece issued their latest EP, Songs from 1001 Nights, at the start of 2018, and further refined their blend of Western and Middle Eastern influences to sound like nothing else out there – nuanced but familiar like a dance in some lost otherworldly dream.

Freak Valley Festival 2018 // No Fillers – Just Killers

Line-up 2018:
OM, Russian Circles, Karma To Burn, My Sleeping Karma, My Baby, Mars Red Sky, Sumac, Lucifer, Yuri Gagarin, Dýse, The Freeks, Sacri Monti, Black Bombaim, Year of the Cobra, Purple Hill Witch, Ouzo Bazooka, Ruff Majik, Toke, Humulus, Kaleidobolt, Rage of Samedi, Nap
More tba soon

Have a freaky time – your Rock Freaks

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://www.facebook.com/events/738782742996668/
https://twitter.com/FreakValley

Karma to Burn, Live in Paris, Dec. 23, 2017