Dutch art rock band Oh Hazar will be playing two "Cinema Obscur" shows @ Concordia in Enschede (April 17-18) as part of the Booster Festival. The first one is preceded by a screening of the classic silent movie Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari - the band loves German expressionism. The shows themselves are free, but a ticket is needed for the movie.
Noise rock quartet BLKE have used a motorik back beat underneath Heat, a dark psych soundscape, a track from their forthcoming self-titled album. It is unrelenting, shimmering song, as if it is rising from the embers of a forest fire. It will be smash in clubs that cater to the underground, with the crowd gently swaying to the twin guitars settting up a conversation with the rhythm section.
When you get guys coming up to you in clubs or restaurants or somewhere, and they say how much they've enjoyed your playing on records, then that pays off dividends every day; every time they say it, you think, 'I'm glad I did that.'
Jeff Beck
Chris Neville (vocals, B3 organ), John Fournier (saxophone), Jon Paul (bass), Fran Banish (guitar), and Kevin Brunson (drums) have been bringing the funk, soul and old school R&B to the windy city for longer than they care to remember. They got together and started recording an album in fits and starts as The Meadowlark Lemons.
Now, after five years their self-titled album is finally good to go and it will be released on March 27. Lead single Meet Me At The Sidebar is a sunny-side up invitation to forget about everyday worries and dance the night away on a Friday night, with the band playing up a storm on a cramped stage.
English indie darlings The Wedding Present will playing their Seamonsters album in full during their upcoming North American tour, plus a deep dive into their extensive back catalog. They also have a new EP, Maxi, with six high energy songs about driving. The title is a nod to their Mini EP, with tracks about automoiles that was released in 1996.
Maxi will get a Stateside release on April 3rd via Happy Happy Birthday to Me records (vinyl, CD, digital).
