Last week, John Garcia and the Band of Gold announced that a lone US appearance would take place in Las Vegas on Nov. 29. As presented by Vegas Rock Revolution, that show will be the first of a three-evening event called the Planet Desert Rock Weekend, also featuring headlining spots from Scott “Wino” Weinrich and Texas fuzz-blues stalwarts Wo Fat, as well as support from the likes of House of Broken Promises, Freedom Hawk, Sasquatch, Powered Wig Machine, Valley of the Sun, The Heavy Eyes, and so on. The venue changes each night, but there’s no question what’s happening here: It’s a festival.

Look. I can’t tell you how to live your life. Well, I could — eat right, try to get some exercise, love everybody, etc. — but I can’t tell you where to go on any given day. Even aside from this being a rare chance to catch John Garcia in the States, this lineup is pretty much unfuckwithable. Vegas may be known as the land of Psycho, but without a doubt, Planet Desert Rock is looking to make an impact of its own in underground heavy. If you were there to see it, I can’t imagine you’d have regrets later.

Awesome posters by Joey Rudell, full lineup and info follow, courtesy of the fest’s social medias:

Planet Desert Rock Weekend

A Desert Rock Weekend Experience of amazing music from all over the country. Each band hand selected to ensure amazing relevant lineups daily. No fillers just got music.

3 nights of amazing Heavy Rock lineups

Night 1 starts off with legendary vocalist John Garcia of Kyuss. This is a exclusive evening that has never happened before. He will be singing songs from all his bands including Kyuss, Unida (Arthur Seay on guitar) , Hermano (Dave Angstrom on guitar) and Slo Burn (Chris Hale on Guitar). Former Kyuss bandmate Nick Oliveri will also be playing a song or two with John. Luna Sol featuring Angstrom also on the bill as well as Nick Oliveri and Arthur Seay’s Death in Pretty Wrapping with Unida/House of Broken Promises bandmate Mike Cancino on drums. This will be John Garcia only show in the U.S. in 2018. Vinyl at Hard Rock Casino is home to this very special one time event Thursday night.

Night 2 The Bunkhouse Saloon in Downtown Las Vegas hosts headliner Scott “Wino” Weinrich. Longtime heavy rock vocalist with such iconic underground bands as The Obsessed, Spirit Caravan , Saint Vitus and Shrinebuilder. Also joining on the bill will be heavy rock veterans Valley of the Sun who is rising from the ashes and gearing up for a big 2019 with a new album. The Heavy Eyes comes in from blues town Memphis with their psychedelic bluesy rock style and their own very unique catchy sound. House of Broken Promises featuring Arthur Seay and Mike Cancino of Unida fame will be representing Indio CA with riff rocking madness. War Cloud out of Oakland revs up with a late 70s/early 80s high energy styled metal/rock. King Chiefs (formerly Chiefs) gives a 90s grunge era style to this stacked lineup.

Night 3 is highlighted by a rare west coast appearance by Wo-Fat out of Dallas Texas. This power trio has played all over the world at many of the top festivals including DesertFest. Thick Bluesy psychedelic explosion of heavy rock would be a start to describing their incredible sound. World travelled Sasquatch joins the party as one of the premier bands poised for next level breakthrough. Freedom Hawk flies over from Virginia Beach bringing with them catchy rocking songs with duel guitar action. One of the most consistent bands in the stoner rock genre. Powered Wig Machine gets its motor running again after a little layoff as Wayne and Joey Rudell of Fuzz Evil play the epitome of desert rock style blended with retro rock influences. Blackwulf flies down from Oakland on the heals of their last highly acclaimed album which featured former Pentagram member Geoff O’Keefe. Heavy riff rocking live band. Red Desert makes a special appearance coming all the way from Minnesota as they prepare for a big 2019 with a new album/EP. Desert rock sound blended with stoner and doom. Beauty Bar downtown on Fremont street is home to this all star lineup.

We are very proud of these lineups and will only have a limited amount of tickets to sale as each of the last 2 locations have only room from 270 or so……snag those tickets as this is first come first serve. Cool vibe and stacked lineups will be happening each and every night. Our hopes is to develop this into something heavy rock bands and fans can flourish in for future shows. See you soon !

Tickets available on each of these links for the individual days

Night 1 –John Garcia and Friends – NOV. 29
https://www.facebook.com/events/2217039788574233/

Night 2 –Wino/ Valley of the Sun/ The Heavy Eyes/ House of Broken Promises/ War Cloud/ King Chiefs – NOV. 30
https://www.facebook.com/events/734357036916015/

Night 3 — Wo-Fat / Sasquatch/ Freedom Hawk/ Powered Wig Machine/ Blackwülf/ Red Desert – DEC. 1
https://www.facebook.com/events/296321447858932/

https://www.facebook.com/VRRProductions/
https://www.facebook.com/vegasrockrevolution/

Wo Fat, Live in Oklahoma City, OK, Aug. 10, 2018

With their having already been announced for Desertfest Belgium 2018, Keep it Low 2018 and Into the Void 2018, a European tour announcement from Texas swampriffers Wo Fat isn’t entirely unexpected. Still welcome news to just about anyone in their path who’s ever nodded to a riff, though, which always seems to be more and more people in their path. The veteran three-piece are two years removed from their most recent studio offering, Midnight Cometh (review here), which for them is about on pace — see 2014’s The Conjuring (review here) and 2012’s The Black Code (reviews here and here), each out with a two-year split between — but I haven’t heard anything yet about a new record. Does that mean it’s not happening? Shit no. Not like I friggin’ know anything. But if it’s coming this year, well, album announcements are into October already, so it would be getting here late. Not to say it can’t happen, just that 2019 seems more likely to my addled, baby-chasing, no-sleep-getting, feeble-to-start-with brain.

Either way, their touring Europe is more than enough excuse to revisit Midnight Cometh, so you’ll find that at the bottom of this post, courtesy of Ripple Music‘s Bandcamp. News comes from the PR wire:

Texan heavy rock legends WO FAT announce “Electric Conjure Man Tour” across UK/Europe this October

To purchase tickets for available dates, please click HERE

Having already secured their legendary status within the stoner rock community over a sonic odyssey of six studio albums, Wo Fat has stayed true to the deep, dark blues that wail from within. Following on from the critical success of their last album, Midnight Cometh, and continuing their partnership with the equally formidable California-based record label Ripple Music, European fans that have yet to experience the full force of the Wo Fat experience will be able to get a taste of what they’ve been missing this October.

“Playing in Europe is always an amazing experience for us and it’s been a couple years since we last made the trip, so we’re really excited to be coming back,” explains Wo Fat’s vocalist/guitarist, Kent Stump.

“We are particularly stoked to be able to play three different festivals, all killer, on this run; Desertfest Belgium, Into the Void and Keep It Low. We’ll also be playing some new places as well as returning to some favourites, like The Underworld in London and Le Glazart in Paris. And even better, about half the shows will be with the mighty Sasquatch along with shows with Elder and The Devil and the Almighty Blues. We’ll be rolling out some new songs on this tour and it will be our first European trip with Zack playing bass so I think our fans in Europe will really dig the heavy groove he brings.”

Brought to you by Ripple Music and Sound of Liberation, Wo Fat’s “Electric Conjure Man European Tour 2018” will kick off on 11th October 2018 at The Underworld, London. For a complete list of dates, see below.

Wo Fat “Electric Conjure Man European Tour 2018”

11/10/18 – The Underworld, London, UK [w. The Devil & the Almighty Blues]
12/10/18 – Desertfest Belgium, Antwerp, BEL
13/10/18 – Engelsburg, Erfurt, DE Stoned From the Underground [w. Sasquatch]
14/10/18 – Cassiopeia, Berlin, DE
15/10/18 – Schlachthof, Wiesbaden, DE [w. Sasquatch]
16/10/18 – Fabrik, Zurich, CH [w. Sasquatch]
17/10/18 – Les Caves Du Manoir, Martigny, CH [w. Sasquatch]
18/10/18 – Le Glazart, Paris, FRA [w. Elder and Sasquatch]
19/10/18 – Into the Void Festival, Leuwaarden, NL
20/10/18 – Keep It Low Festival, Munich, DE

https://www.facebook.com/wofatriffage/
https://twitter.com/HouseOfWoFat
https://www.instagram.com/wofatriffage/
https://wofat.bandcamp.com/
ripple-music.com

Wo Fat, Midnight Cometh (2016)

This past weekend the Desertfests in Berlin and London took place. The Spring Desertfests. The timing, then makes perfect sense for Desertfest Belgium 2018 to make its first lineup announcement for this October. One imagines Desertfest Athens 2018 won’t be far behind if it hasn’t already put word out. Either way, the Antwerp lineup is already a doozy, with four acts added any of whom coul serve as a headliner if the fest so desired: YOB, Acid King, John Garcia and Wo Fat.

Garcia is of particular note here since it seems he’s got a new — or at least re-branded — band backing him. That seems to make it likely he’ll take on tracks from a variety of his projects over the last two-plus decades — Hermano, Slo Burn, Kyuss, Unida, etc. — but I’m more curious to know if there will be original material as well, if John Garcia an the Band of Gold have been writing. Call me greedy. I like information.

Here’s some from the fest:

Last week we had a resounding start of this year’s event, with the Early Bird tickets selling out in less than 24 hours, and not a single name announced. We hear you loud and clear, people of Desertfest! And this is why we are excited to announce the FIRST NAMES confirmed for this year’s edition.

Few bands embody the spirit of Desertfest more than the mighty Yob: intense and heavy, yet full of love. It is only fitting that we invite them back after the release of their eighth studio album. Another scene legend that surprisingly has never played our fest before is John Garcia – so we decided to fix that. He’ll be playing the fest with his new outfit The Band of Gold.

One more name that needs no introduction is Acid King – who may or may not have new material ready by the time they reach our shores. And finally, we are glad to have Wo Fat returning to the festival, as their last passage was charged with emotion and passion.

So there we are – four names that just ooze awesomeness. And with that, we also start selling the REDUCED COMBI TICKETS, 3 days at the price of €95 which is an absolute steal. If you missed out on the Early Birds, don’t make the same mistake twice! This edition is gonna be red hot. In fact, we’d say it already is!

http://www.desertfest.be/tickets
https://www.facebook.com/desertfestbelgium/
https://www.facebook.com/events/364607267372737/
https://twitter.com/DesertfestBE

YOB, “The Screen”

Three bands, three different continents. Wo Fat, from Texas (a continent unto itself), Supersoul from Athens, and Child from Melbourne. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat, and that’s pretty much where I am as regards the latest round of adds to Keep it Low 2018. The festival, set for Oct. 19 and 20 in Munich, Germany, features familiar faces like Colour Haze and Acid King, and has its annual skatepark and biergarten going for it, but I think a pretty clear message is being sent here about scope as well. Like I said, three bands, three continents. That’s an impressive amount of reach.

I’ll be curious to see if Wo Fat announce a Fall 2018 European tour and, if they do, if it coincides with a new album release. They’re about due for a next record, and while I’d believe they might just fly over for one show, if they’re doing an entire European run, it might be to mark the occasion of a new LP. I’m not saying I know that, because I don’t, but it’s just something that makes sense to me.

Speaking of new material, Child have a new EP out. And I know nothing about Supersoul beyond the fact that they’re named after a badass Dozer song, but according to the fest, their first record came out in Sept. 2017.

Get yourself informed:

We’re thrilled to unveil three more band confirmed Keep It Low – Festival 2018 today: Dallas swampadelic fuzz monsters Wo Fat, Melbourne heavy blues rockers CHILD (who release their new EP “I” 2 weeks ago) and Athens rock’n’roll trio SuperSoul (whose debut album “Faith Bender” came out last September)!

Once again, Keep It Low – Festival is going to be rad, and tickets are selling faster than ever, so better be quick and get yours while you still can!

KEEP IT LOW FESTIVAL 2018

2 days of Heavy Rock, Stoner, Doom, Psych fest featuring about 20 bands on 3 stages + Beergarden, Outdoor skate park, Rock Art Exhibit… So, all you Riffers, Rockers and friends of the low tunes, don´t miss Munich`s best Heavy Rock Fest! October 19th & 20th 2018!

KEEP IT LOW #6 (2018) COLOUR HAZE – ACID KING – WO FAT – THE PICTUREBOOKS – SASQUATCH – CHILD – THE GREAT MACHINE – SUPERSOUL – SUNDOG

Hard Tickets & Print-at-home Tickets available on:
www.keepitlow.de/tickets-keep-it-low

https://www.facebook.com/keepitlowfestival/
https://www.facebook.com/events/300578407135232/
https://www.facebook.com/Soundofliberation/
https://www.soundofliberation.com/news

Wo Fat, Midnight Cometh (2016)

While one could hardly at all argue that the title Bow to Your Masters is in any way inappropriate for a tribute to Irish heavy rock legends Thin Lizzy, it seems the intention on the part of Glory or Death Records is to make it an ongoing series, perhaps featuring different acts along the way in the spirit of Magnetic Eye‘s homages to Jimi Hendrix, Helmet and Pink Floyd? That’s of course if I’m correctly reading the preorder info — and hey, I’m pretty much a clueless moron so there’s always a chance I’m not — below for the first LP of the two currently slated to arrive for Bow to Your Masters: Thin Lizzy early this year and including a special screenprint of the album art and immediate streaming option.

You can see the LP1 and LP2 tracklistings below. They, uh, rule.

No really, I mean it. Killer assemblage:

Welcome to the first release from Glory or Death Records Bow to Your Masters series of tribute albums. For this first release we chose something special: Thin Lizzy, one of the most influential rock-and-roll bands of all time.

There are two vinyl options:
-“Glory” green LP1 vinyl and “Death” colored/patterned LP2 vinyl
-“Death” orange/black splatter LP1 vinyl and “Death” colored/patterned LP2 vinyl

There is also a tri-fold CD option!

All editions come with a 12×12 screen print of the album cover. Final shipping date TBD-likely early 2018.

LP1 live for preorder buyers now. Preorder on Big Cartel and we’ll send a link to listen to the entire first LP. You know you want it! Just to clarify, the preorder includes physical and digital files for both LPs!

Track Listing for LP1 (available to stream for preorder buyers)

Are you Ready – Mothership
Massacre – Mos Generator
Don’t Believe a Word – White Dog
Suicide – Egypt
Chinatown – Red Wizard
Thunder and Lightning – KOOK
She Knows – Slow Season
Cold Sweat – Great Electric Quest
Cowboy Song – Goya

Track Listing for LP 2 (not available to stream yet)

It’s Only Money – Wo Fat
Johnny – Worshipper
Jailbreak – DUEL
Emerald – Gygax
Still in Love with You – Isaiah Mitchell (Earthless)
Opium Trail – Jeff Matz (High on Fire), Mark Yalowitz (Zeke), Mike Scheidt (Yob), and more
The Rocker – Bow to Your Masters Supergroup
????? – High On Fire
And more…

http://gloryordeathrecords.bigcartel.com/product/bow-to-your-masters-volume-i-thin-lizzy
https://www.facebook.com/Gloryordeathrecords/

Thin Lizzy, “Cowboy Song”

Few things in life are better than spending a full day at a fest with a killer lineup, and so I’m happy as hell to have The Obelisk stand among the presenters for the inaugural Heavy Mash on Sept. 23 in Arlington, Texas. The all-dayer-type event features 10 bands from all around Arlington and Fort Worth, as well as one from Monroe and one from — because, hey, why not? — Adelaide, Australia, but a good swath of Lone Star heavy is represented, and anytime you get Wo Fat on board to headline, you know choice-cut groove will be had. The Dallas trio don’t do it any other way.

Heavy Mash will be held at Division Brewing, so one imagines all the more of a party atmosphere as the day plays out amid fine beers and good times from band to band, and with the likes of jam-psych duo Stone Machine Electric, classic style stoner rockers Boudain, and more aggressive groove-rollers like Cursus on the bill — not to mention the swaggering two-piece Filthy Lucre, who will make that journey across the Pacific to get there — it’s a sonically diverse lineup to which I’m proud to have this site’s name attached. I don’t think I’ll get to Arlington for it, because money, and money, and money, but if you’re either in the area or can make the trip, doing so seems like a total no-brainer. Hopefully it’ll be recorded one way or another, video and/or audio.

You already saw the awesomeness of the poster above, the Thee Facebooks event page is here, but here’s the full lineup and more info:

—

Heavy Mash 2017 featuring Wo Fat and more!

Arlington, TX Heavy Music Festival – Sept. 23, 2017

Division Brewing
506 E Main St, Arlington, Texas 76010

In conjunction with Division Brewing in Arlington, TX, we are pleased to announce this small fest sponsored by Division Brewing, The Obelisk, Off the Record Label, and Fistful of Doom Radio! It will be held at Division Brewing in Arlington, TX on September 23rd from 2pm to midnight. Below is our full line-up, starting with the headlining act:

Wo Fat – the veteran swampadelic trio from Dallas, TX
Filthy Lucre – desert blues from Adelaide, South Australia
Stone Machine Electric – weird doom-jazz duo from Fort Worth, TX
Cursus – psychedelic sludge from San Antonio, TX
Orcanaut – heavy/progressive shit from Denton, TX
Boudain – stoner-groove four-piece from Monroe, LA
FTW – heavy blues trio from Fort Worth, TX
The Dirty Seeds – face melting stoner rock from Houston, TX
Black on High – three true thugs from Fort Worth, TX
Justinian – stoner metal from Arlington, TX

Wo Fat, Live at Maryland Doom Fest 2017

Heavy Mash 2017 event page on Thee Facebooks

Heavy Mash on Thee Facebooks

Division Brewing website

Appropriately enough, the Calgary 420 Fest starts on April 20 and will feature a host of stoner and other heavy types of acts across its three-day stretch. Among the notables is Wo Fat (above), who’ll be making their debut appearance in Canada as headliners for the final evening, along with Black Mastiff and Anciients on the nights preceding, and a slew of native Canadian bands to go along with, from Mammoth Grove and Chron Goblin to the sludgy likes of Lavagoat and the classic heavy rock of La Chinga. There’s also a bunch of weedian whathaveyou going on as a part of it, as the PR wire details below, food trucks and a beard contest, so seems like a good time on any number of levels.

Details follow:

Calgary’s 420 Music & Arts Festival Announce Concert Line Up w/ Wo Fat, Anciients, Black Mastiff and more!

April 20, 21, 22 @ Distortion
3828 MacLeod Trail S., Calgary, Alberta T2G 2R2

Big Rock Brewery & METALHEADS UNITED Presents the 420 Music & Arts Festival at Distortion – Live Music Venue in Calgary, AB, Canada, April 20, 21 and 22, 2017.

The 420 Music & Arts Festival is a three day celebration featuring 22 Stoner Rock, Desert Rock, Doom & Sludge Metal and Fuzzy, Kick Ass Rock n Roll bands surrounding the culture that is 420. Headlining this inaugural year all the way from Dallas, TX for their first Canadian performance, stoner legends WO FAT, Vancouver’s ANCIIENTS and Edmonton/ Vancouver based BLACK MASTIFF.

In addition to all the rad music, festival attendees will have the opportunity to view and purchase the work of select local artists, artisans and craftsman at the 420 Expo, Saturday, April 22 at Distortion from 10am-4pm. Interspersed with vendors of interesting and eclectic wares will be information on medical marijuana and hemp products and even more 420 enthusiasts. Select vendors, artists and marijuana related companies will be available in the evenings at the festival as well. NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) will be in attendance to answer questions.

You will be able to indulge your desire for munchies with a variety delectable culinary creations from some of Southern Alberta’s best food trucks. If that isn’t enough, each night of the festival there will be an opportunity to show off your glorious facial hair in our beard contest. Celebrity judges will decide who moves onto the final round on the last night of the festival where one beard will rule them all!

* Big Rock Beer is exclusive beer for the 420 Music & Arts Festival

* 420 Music & Arts Festival will be the very first Canadian performance by Dallas, TX stoner rock legends Wo Fat

Festival Lineup:

Overall Festival Event Link (Main Link) www.facebook.com/events/226953177757584/

Wednesday, April 19 – Pre-Fest – FREE SHOW + Advance Pass Pick Up

Ten Dead Crow
Terminal Human Condition

Thursday, April 20
FB Event www.facebook.com/events/240616399708945/

Black Mastiff (Edmonton, AB/Vancouver, BC)
HighKicks (Calgary, AB)
La Chinga (Vancouver, BC)
The Electric Revival (Calgary, AB)
Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary, AB)
Hypnopilot (Calgary, AB)
Set & Stoned (Crossfield, AB)

Friday, April 21
FB event www.facebook.com/events/1702426476734012/

Anciients (Vancouver, BC)
Dead Quiet (Vancouver, BC)
Lavagoat (Saskatoon, SK)
Orbital Express (Regina, SK)
ChronoBot (Prince Albert, SK)
Lordosis (Calgary, AB)
Hunted By Ravens (Red Deer, AB)

Saturday, April 22
FB event www.facebook.com/events/795080193963870/

Wo Fat (Dallas, Texas, USA) First ever appearance in Canada
Chron Goblin (Calgary, AB)
Cowpuncher (Calgary, AB)
Mammoth Grove (Calgary, AB)
NVGR (Nikki Valentine & Gypsy Riders) (Calgary, AB)
Black Thunder (Regina, SK)
Brown Dwarf (Red Deer, AB)
Bazaraba (Calgary, AB)

Ticket links:

Available at http://www.420musicandartsfestival.ca/store-2/ and on FB page on the festival store https://store10885031.ecwid.com/.

https://www.facebook.com/events/226953177757584
http://www.420musicandartsfestival.ca/
http://www.twitter.com/420FestivalYYC
http://www.facebook.com/420MusicAndArtsFestival
http://www.instagram.com/420MusicandArtsFestival

Wo Fat, Midnight Cometh (2016)

For anyone who sat the results of or perhaps even voted in the 2016 Year-End Poll back in December, I don’t need to tell you that Wo Fat released something special in 2016’s Midnight Cometh (review here), bringing their swamp-fuzz to the fore of Texas’ mighty underground and stepping forward yet again as one of the American underground’s most resonant purveyors of riffs and jams. The character Wo Fat have developed in their sound, record by record, continues to set new standards, both for themselves and for those smart enough to pick up their influence. One expects the latter is a number that will keep growing.

This June, Wo Fat and compatriot Lone Star Staters The Well — who’ll spend much of 2017 back and forth between the US and Europe supporting their own 2016 release, Pagan Science (review here), will head east to play Maryland Doom Fest 2017 (info here), and it looks like they’re making a proper trip of it. Tour info came down the PR wire, and you can find it after the lanky poster for the run below:

WO FAT announce East Coast tour with The Well this June along with Maryland Doom Fest appearance

Midnight Cometh is out now on Ripple Music

Following the critical success of last year’s Midnight Cometh album on Ripple Music, Wo Fat will sling their Texas-sized psychedelic doom across the East Coast of America this June.

Over the course of a sonic odyssey which spans six studio albums, one live recording and two splits, they have stayed true to the deep, dark blues that wail from within and have continually infused their riffs with primal grooves. Having secured their legendary status within the stoner rock community by appearing on much coveted bills at Roadburn, Desertfest, Freak Valley Festival, HellFest and Psycho California, the band is currently readying themselves for a nine-date tour with fellow Texans The Well.

Kicking off the chaos in Oklahoma on the 17th, Wo Fat and The Well hit the road and will end their run at the annual Maryland Doom Fest on 24th June. For the full list of dates see below:

17th June – The Blue Note – Oklahoma City, OK
18th June – The Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
19th June – Reggies – Chicago, IL
20th June – Fifth Quarter – Indianapolis, IN
21st June – Northside Yacht Club – Cincinnati, OH
22nd June – KFN – Philadelphia, PA
23rd June – Saint Vitus (w. The Skull) – New York, NY
24th June – Maryland Doom Fest – Frederick, MD

https://www.facebook.com/wofatriffage/
https://twitter.com/HouseOfWoFat
https://wofat.bandcamp.com/
ripple-music.com
http://www.ripplemusic.bigcartel.com/product/wo-fat-midnight-cometh-gatefold-cd

Wo Fat, Midnight Cometh (2016)