Today we’re psyched to tell you that OLE-981 is the Matador Records & True Panther Sounds’ 2012 Intended Play Samplerhits shelves on January 14. This (insanely) budget-priced vinyl sampler showcases new tracks and now-classics from the Matador/True Panther syndicate circa 2011-2012, and much like the Cherry Red sampler from which this LP finds inspiration, is destined to rank at #1 on all music retail charts.
Revisit your favorites from 2011, and get a preview of 2012 from your friends at Matador Records and True
Panther Sounds for under two dollars!
1 THE YOUNG – Don’t Hustle For Love*
2 KURT VILE – Life’s A Beach
3 GIRLS – My Ma
4 CEREMONY – Hysteria*
5 TANLINES – TBA
6 LEE RANALDO – Off The Wall*
7 FUCKED UP – Into The Light
8 ESBEN & THE WITCH – Hexagons II
9 PERFUME GENIUS – All Waters*
10 COLD CAVE – Confetti (edit)
11 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS – Polvo*
* unreleased
Pre-order it HERE or find it in your favorite vinyl retailer on 1/17)
We’ve already teased you with the new material coming your way in November from Esben and the Witch. We announced the release of the Hexagons EP and that the band would be a special event happening on November 4th, but just to keep you all on your toes here’s the jump on what’ll be starting next Friday.
Lasting for 6 days, with 6 showings per day, Esben and the Witch present the Hexagons cinema – an online event featuring the band showcasing the upcoming EP in full and for free. The footage was shot in the Duke of York’s cinema in Esben’s hometown of Brighton, which also happend to be the oldest continually operating cinema in the UK.
Tickets for this online treat are free, but limited, so to grab your seat in one of the performance you’ll need to head over to The Hexagons Cinema and book now.
You can pre-order the Hexagons EP on the Matador Store, the remaining 2011 tour dates are:
November 16th – Corsica Studios, London, UK
November 18th – Festival Saint-Ghetto, Bern, Switzerland
November 19th – Amalgame, Yverdon, Switzerland
Following a teasing video posted last week, we’re happy to reveal details of the new Esben and the Witch digital EP Hexagons which we’re unleashing on November 7th. Following their debut album Violet Cries that came out earlier this year, Hexagons acts as a standalone 6-track EP, seeing the band expand upon album track ’Hexagons IV’ and with these new recordings they come closer to replicating the clarity and intensity of their impassioned live shows.
Listen to the track ‘Hexagons II’ below and keep your eyes peeled for a special event happening on November 4th, the band round up the year with a few European shows including a night they’re curating at Corsica Studios on November 16th.
Tracklisting:
Hexagons I (The Fall)
Hexagons II (The Flight)
Hexagons III (The Surge)
Hexagons IV (The Still)
Hexagons V (The Cast)
Hexagons VI (The Thaw)
Upcoming live shows:
October 22nd – Swn, Cardiff, UK
November 16th – Corsica Studios, London, UK
November 18th – Festival Saint-Ghetto, Bern, Switzerland
Photo of Dan and Rachel nicked from M4DW0RK‘s Flickr
Starting this weekend at the legendary Glastonbury festival, Esben and the Witch will be playing at a host of festivals across Europe this Summer, plus taking their first steps into Japan at Summersonic in August. Whilst you’re perusing the dates, why not check out the new remix of Marching Song by Mark van Hoen (Locust, Seefeel) on the YouTube link below.
June
26th – Glastonbury Festival, UK
July
6th – Teatro Lara / Estrella Galicia party, Madrid, Spain
9th – Pohoda Festival, Trencin, Slovakia
10th – Volksbühne, Berlin, Germany w/ Deerhunter
15th – Latitude Festival, Southwold, UK
16th – Rock’n Coke Festival, Istanbul, Turkey
August
5th – Stuck Festival, Salzburg, Austria
6th – Piazza Castello, Castelbuono, Sicily
13th – Summersonic Festival, Tokyo, Japan
18th – Paredes De Coura, Porto, Portugal
19th – Pukklepop, Hasselt, Belgium.
September
4th – Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Ireland
9th – Bestival, Isle of Wight, UK
As well as these, E&TW are also featured at a couple of film festivals this Summer. The incredible video for Marching Song is up for awards at the following film festivals in July.
So, the time of Primavera and ATP festival (sadly their last ever May weekender) rolls around again and a ton of our bands decide it’d also be a good time to visit our (at the moment, rather sunny) shores. Just like last year.
With 3 European tours starting over this weekend, plus more to come over the next we have the following shows taking place over the next 25 days….. (though I’m not sure how much Golf they’ll have time for)
Esben and the Witch
9th – Manufaktur, Schorndorf, Germany
10th – Mascotte, Zurich, Switzerland
11th – Spazio 211, Turin, Italy
12th – Circolo degli Artisti, Rome, Italy
13th – Plastic, Milan, Italy
14th – Covo, Bologna, Italy
16th – Palace, St Gallen, Switzerland
17th – Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany
18th – Doornroosje, Groningen, Netherlands
19th – Bitterzoet Club, Amsterdam, Netherlands
20th – Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
21st – Charlatan, Ghent, Belgium
22nd – Les Nuits Botanique (Orangerie), Brussels, Belgium
24th – Gleiss 22, Munster, Germany
25th – Karlstorbahnhof, Heidleburg, Germany
26th – Atomic Cafe, Munich, Germany
27th – B72, Vienna, Austria
28th – Seewiesen Festival, Linz, Austria
29th – K4, Nurnberg, Germany
Kurt Vile (& The Violators)
8th : King Georg, Koln
9th : Feierwerk, Munich (+ O’Death)
10th : Chelsea Club, Vienna
11th : Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
12th : Vega (Small Hall), Copenhagen
13th : Voxhall, Aarhus
14th : All Tomorrow’s Parties. Minehead (curated by Animal Collective)
15th : Tivoli, Utrecht
16th : Bitterzoet, Amsterdam
17th : Les Nuits de Botanique (Rotunde), Brussels
18th : Charlatan, Gent
19th : Rough Trade East, London (free in-store, 1pm)
19th : Corsica Studio, London SOLD OUT
20th : Kazimier, Liverpool (Sound City)
21st : Captain’s Rest, Glasgow (Stag and Dagger Festival)
Photo by Magnus Aske Blikeng from the show at St Phillips Church in Manchester, UK
The new Esben and the Witch video premiered yesterday on Pitchfork with several awkward figures shot on location around the Sussex coast by Brighton, England where the band reside when not on tour. The video provides both a visual representation of the Chorea affliction and a link to their Chorea EP artwork.
The Chorea EP is released tomorrow as part of Record Store Day and features a remix of ‘Eumenides’ by Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai, along with the 18-minute long track ‘Corridors’ from their installation with Karl Sadler.
The band also tour mainland Europe next month, dates for those shows are below:
May
9th – Manufaktur, Schorndorf, Germany
10th – Mascotte, Zurich, Switzerland
11th – Spazio 211, Turin, Italy
12th – Circolo degli Artisti, Rome, Italy
13th – Plastic, Milan, Italy
14th – Covo, Bologna, Italy
16th – Palace, St Gallen, Switzerland
17th – Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany
18th – Doornroosje, Groningen, Netherlands
19th – Bitterzoet Club, Amsterdam, Netherlands
20th – Rotown, Rotterdam, Netherlands
21st – Charlatan, Ghent, Belgium
22nd – Les Nuits Botanique (Orangerie), Brussels, Belgium
Having just arrived back from a string of North American dates, including several well-recieved shows at SXSW festival, Esben and The Witch embark on a second UK & Ireland tour in support of their debut album, Violet Cries. Starting tonight, the Brighton 3-piece are playing towns and cities that they haven’t visited for some time ahead of their Record Store Day release of the Chorea EP, a limited edition 12″ record featuring 3 new and exclusive tracks, including a remix of album track ‘Eumenidies’ remixed by Mogwai.
To be perfectly frank, we thought about blowing off Record Store Day this year. It’s not that we don’t support record stores – far from it, it’s what 37 of 38 employees prefer – but the huge glut of supposedly limited-edition releases, the scrum to get to the counter in the morning, and then the instant reappearance of many of the records on eBay at inflated sums are all an unintended and unwelcome side-effect of the event.
That said, we couldn’t help ourselves, and neither could three of our artists, so we proudly announce the following limited-edition items. They’re all awesome, they’re all limited, and if you don’t succeed on getting your hands on them on Record Store Day, just remember that the prices on eBay will (most likely) come down over time.
SO, on Saturday, April 16, Matador will have the following RSD exclusives:
From Byrdesdale Garden City in the UK comes the compilation album DAVID’S TOWN. Featuring 11 unreleased tracks from local bands including Gacy and the Boys, Animal Man, Grain and Hateful Coil, in styles varying from DIY to post-punk to power pop, this limited edition from FU-Discs was recorded in Byrdesdale between 1976 and 1979 and not released until now. An essential document of a thriving scene.
Next comes the new 7″ single from THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, “Moves.” Currently moving up the radio charts, and of course featured in Tom Scharpling’s genius video for the track, it comes with the unreleased B-side “Drug Deal Of The Heart,” recorded at the sessions for the album Together. (Note: the band is playing Coachella on RSD weekend, and then will tour out of there through April and May.)
Finally we have the new 12″ from ESBEN AND THE WITCH, the great trio from Brighton, UK – many of you will have seen one of their great shows at SXSW this month. They just wrapped up their US tour and returned to their homeland. The single is the radio edit of “Chorea” and features a remix of their pounding classic “Eumenides” by Stuart Braithwaite of MOGWAI, along with an entirely unreleased 18-minute version of “Corridors” recorded for The Creators Project and only played at a special installation in London for Karl Sadler‘s Lit Forest. (Note: Esben return to the road in the UK starting this Friday.)
As usual, we will be taking down our webstore in observation of Record Store Day. Get out there, get in line, and spend some money, goddammit!!!
More from sturdy PM Todd Netter on the SXSW action. Here he reports on hard-working Brightonians Esben and the Witch, who in addition to playing NINE shows are doing tons of interviews, playing to adoring audiences and facing off hostile hip hop fans at the FADER Fort.
We couldn’t be happier to have Esben and the Witch in Austin for SXSW. If you haven’t seen them perform before then the following parties, showcases, etc are your chance. For those not attending SXSW the band will be keeping track of their daily experience via WFUV’s “The Alternate Side” blog. Click here to read their first entry and follow along throughout the week. Admittedly it sounds like there off to a tough start in Texas but you know what they say, what doesn’t kill you at SXSW might just create some industry “buzz”, and well that should ultimately do you in.
For real though, don’t miss your chance to see Esben and the Witch in Austin! And for all things Esben and the Witch please visit their site.
Esben and the Witch :
Tuesday, March 15, 10pm, M for Montreal Showcase, Spill, 212 E. 6th St. (SXSWi event)
Wednesday, March 16, 2:30pm Flavorpill / I Rock I Roll Day Party, Lipstick, 24, 606 E. 7th St. (RSVP)
Wednesday, March 16, 8pm, Windish Booking Showcase*, ND Studios, 501 N. Highway I-35 (5th St. and Brushy Avenue)
Thursday, March 17, 2:30pm, Pop Montreal Party, Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th St.
Thursday, March 17, 6:45pm, FADER Fort, 1101 E. 5th St. (RSVP)
Friday, March 18, 3:15pm, Windish Agency Party, Emo’s Jr., 603 Red River
Friday, March 18, midnight, BBC/Huw Stephens Showcase *, Latitude 30, 215 San Jacinto
Saturday, March 19, 2:40pm, Mess With Texas, Eastside Drive, 1001 E. 6th St. (RSVP)
(scenes from SXSW 2005 : Matador co-owner, Austin resident for all of 15 minutes politely instructs a motorist to “go the fuck back where you came from” before recognizing his dog’s veterinarian)
It’s that time of year, when the fair of city of Austin is besieged by thousands of aspiring musicians, label creeps, bloggers, tech pimps, cinema parasites and self-styled marketing reptiles, all of ‘em urinating in my front garden on their way to and from some dubious “showcase” or launch party designed to appeal to their MOST CRAVEN INSTINCTS. I watch all of this from my front porch, my air rifle sitting atop a cooler of Guyaki Yerba Matte, wondering exactly how much jail time I’d serve for shooting the bluetooth earpiece off the skull of a gentleman trying to negotiate a contract at the foot of my driveway.
At which point, I’m reminded that he’s actually a guest in my home and our conference call that I’ve been ignoring is already 10 minutes old. Where are my manners? Sure, Austin’s chock-a-block with SCHMUCKS ON THE MAKE this week, but who am I to point an accusatory finger at these lovely visitors when they provide this label with such a fabulous opportunity to hawk our wares? The following Matador artists are playing (too many times) in Austin this week. Shows marked * will require an SXSW badge or wristband for priority entry ; happily, such gigs are in the overwhelming minority compared to the open-to-the-great unwashed public events listed below. I look forward to seeing you around town this week, and thank you again for keeping Austin, TX’s property values well above the national average.
Esben and the Witch :
Tuesday, March 15, 10pm, M for Montreal Showcase, Spill, 212 E. 6th St. (SXSWi event)
Wednesday, March 16, 2:30pm Flavorpill / I Rock I Roll Day Party, Lipstick, 24, 606 E. 7th St. (RSVP)
Wednesday, March 16, 8pm, Windish Booking Showcase*, ND Studios, 501 N. Highway I-35 (5th St. and Brushy Avenue)
Thursday, March 17, 2:30pm, Pop Montreal Party, Beauty Bar, 617 E. 7th St.
Thursday, March 17, 6:45pm, FADER Fort, 1101 E. 5th St. (RSVP)
Friday, March 18, 3:15pm, Windish Agency Party, Emo’s Jr., 603 Red River
Friday, March 18, midnight, BBC/Huw Stephens Showcase *, Latitude 30, 215 San Jacinto
Saturday, March 19, 2:40pm, Mess With Texas, Eastside Drive, 1001 E. 6th St. (RSVP)
Saturday, March 19, 4:40pm, Dazed & Confused party, Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. 6th St.
Ted Leo (solo)
Wednesday, March 16, 10pm, Brooklyn Vegan Showcase*, The Swan Dive, 651 Red River,
Thursday, March 17, 5:30pm, Other Music/Dig For Fire present, French Legation, 802 San Marcos
Friday, March 18, 3pm, Flower Booking/Onion AV Club Party, Mohawk, 912 Red River
Saturday, March 19, 4:55pm, Mess With Texas, Eastside Drive, 1001 E. 6th St. (RSVP)
Glasser
Thursday, March 17, 10pm Pitchfork presents *, Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. 8th St.
Friday, March 18, Rhapsody Pary, Club Deville, 900 Red River (RSVP)
Kurt Vile & The Violators
Friday, March 18, Rhapsody Party, Club Deville, 900 Red River (RSVP)
Saturday, March 19, 3:30pm, Auditorium Shores, 950 W. Riverside Drive, free, all ages
Saturday, March 19, 6pm, Waterloo Records parking lot, 600 N. Lamar Blvd.
During their recent visit to New York, Brighton nightmare pop trio Esben And The Witch paid a visit to the WNYU studio (pictured above) to record a session for the New Afternoon Show. That session airs today, and at the risk of stating the obvious, it is essential listening. The session airs around 5:00PM EST, but the show goes from 4:00PM to 7:30PM EST so why not check out the whole thing? It’s good, I promise. The greater New York area can listen at 89.1FM, those elsewhere can get their fix at wnyu.org.
If you’re in the latter group, you may want to peruse the list below to see if Esben And The Witch will be playing soon in your town. Austin residents/visitors, please note those four days the band will be spending there; more details to come.
A striking clip of Eumenides premiered today via Fader. It was captured in early February from Esben and the Witch’s album release show in their hometown of Brighton, UK. And for those who haven’t seen them live this is simply a taste of the dark, moody, and loud experience that is Esben and the Witch live.
Luckily for those of us in the US with a real appetite for Esben and the Witch, they start their first headline tour tonight in our nation’s capitol. With a major stop in Austin for SXSW (3/16-3/19, more details on that to come shortly) they’ll be crossing our vast continent making the following major stops.
Earlier this week Esben and the Witch released Violet Cries in the UK and Europe, started their UK tour and played their first home-town show in the past 9 months at the Brighton Pavilion Theatre, which was filmed by the guys over at Tactful-Cactus. As a taster of what to expect on their upcoming UK/EU/US tour dates, have a look at the live video below for ‘Marching Song’. To pick up a copy of Violet Cries head to either the Matador Store or the band’s Big Cartel page, for some cheaper shipping if you’re outside America.
Today you’ll find Esben and the Witch occupying Drowned In Sound in one of the more peaceful takeovers currently taking place. The band are all over the website with essays discussing a range of influences, from the location of the photo shoot for the Violet Cries artwork, to the power of lyrics and creative writing, memories of their favourite film scores and their personal discovery of the great Scott Walker.
The band started their UK tour last night in Bristol to a sell-out crowd and tonight they play their hometown show in Brighton, before continuing around the UK and Europe, then crossing the pond for shows around the US and Canada, including a stop at SXSW in March.
Violet Cries was released yesterday in the UK and Europe and is available as of Feb 8th everywhere else. If you’re still waiting for its release you can still get yourself the album on pre-order for just $10 over at the Matador store or check a preview of the album at the bands website.
Today you have the chance to learn all about Esben and the Witch’s upcoming debut album that we’ve been telling you about for a little while now. Hopefully you’ve heard the record via one of the streams we linked the other day or have maybe even caught a glimpse of them in one of their sinister music videos, but you might still be left wondering “When did you learn about Argyria?”, or “What are those Light Streams you’re talking about in track 4?” or maybe you’re just what thinking “What the hell did they make of that Jack Black video?!”, well worry no longer as you can now find out by following this link.
You’re also in luck if you’d like to see them play one of their upcoming UK shows, at the Quietus are giving away a pair of tickets, just for answering the question “Which song features the lyrics ‘Violet Cries’?”. Easy right? Well get over to the Quietus and grab yourself a pair of tickets!
The UK tour starts next Monday (upon the release date of the album in the UK), followed by shows around Europe and then the USA and Canada. Long list of upcoming shows below…
so it was 6 degrees F (-14 Celsius) when I left for the office this morning. A crisp, bright, and beautiful winter morning. Admittedly I’m in quite a positive head space for a frigid, January, Monday morning but I digress. Esben & The Witch appear to be in an equally friendly mood this winter’s day and have premiered their debut album Violet Cries, in full,via Stereogum
and if you missed it last week, please be sure to check out Esben & The Witch’s second music video “Warpath” and remember they’ll be touring throughout Europe and the US this February + March.
Mon, 1/31 Bristol, UK The Louisana
Tue, 2/1 Brighton, UK Pavillion Theatre
Tue, 2/8 Birmingham, UK Hare & Hounds
Wed, 2/9 London, UK XOYO
Fri, 2/11 Brussels, BE Botanique/Rotonde
Sat, 2/12 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
Mon, 2/14 Hamburg, DE Molotow
Wed, 2/16 Copenhagen, SE Loppen
Thu, 2/17 Berlin, DE Comet
Sat, 2/19 Saint Malo, FR Route Du Rock Festival
Mon, 2/21 Paris, FR Point Ephemere
Thu, 3/3 Washington, DC Red Palace
Fri, 3/4 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House
Sat, 3/5 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Sun, 3/6 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
Mon, 3/7 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
Tue, 3/8 Pittsburgh, OH Brillobox
Wed, 3/9 Akron, OH Musica
Thu, 3/10 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Fri, 3/11 Toronto, ON Wrongbar
Sat, 3/12 Denton, TX 35 Conferette
Sat, 3/19 Austin, TX Mess With Texas
Tue, 3/22 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Theater
Wed, 3/23 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
Thu, 3/24 Portland, OR Mississippi Studios
Fri, 3/25 Seattle, WA Sunset Tavern
Sat, 3/26 Vancouver, BC The Waldorf Hotel
As anticipation continues to grow for Esben and the Witch’s debut full-length Violet Cries (album out Jan 31 in UK/Feb 8 in US/Feb 23 in Japan, pre-order it here), Pitchfork brings us the band’s second breathtaking video (following last year’s awesome “Marching Song” clip). Both videos were directed by David Procter and Peter King of The Agenda Collective.
In other Esben news, the band is touring the US in March (with a couple of dips into Canada – see the just-announced dates below), as well as the UK and Europe in February. Tickets are hyper-linked where possible:
January
31st – The Louisiana – Bristol
February
1st – Pavilion Theatre – Brighton
2nd – Marc Riley Manchester Radio Show
3rd – Other Rooms – Newcastle
4th – Sneaky Pete’s – Edinburgh
5th – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
7th – The Harley – Sheffield
8th – Hare & Hounds – Birmingham
9th – XOYO – London
11th – Botanique/Rotonde – Brussels, Belgium
12th – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands
13th – Gebäude – Cologne, Germany
14th – Molotow – Hamburg, Germany
16th – Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark
17th – Comet – Berlin, Germany
19th – Route Du Rock Festival – Saint Malo, France
21st – Point Ephemere – Paris, France
Currently on the promo tour for his abomination of Jonathan Swift’s classic Gulliver’s Travels, Jack Black recently visited the offices of the great Intro magazine in Germany for an interview. Our very own Esben and the Witch are currently the cover stars for the magazine, so they asked Mr Black to offer his thoughts on the record and the band.
We’d like to thank Jack for supplying us with our lead quote for the album : “Someone may be going for a music Oscar here.” Jack Black, 2011. Perhaps we’ll ask Rachel, Thomas and Daniel to review Gulliver’s Travels once it reaches UK screens. Enjoy !
Though we’re just getting started with the new year we’ve already started counting down days again here as we eagerly await the street date of the debut Esben and the Witch album, Violet Cries, out on January 31st (UK/Europe) and February 8th (US, Rest of World). We’re so eager in fact, that we’ve got a great offer on at the Matador store where you can pre-order the CD or LP for just $10 which also includes a free poster!
Whilst we’ve been arranging that the band have been busy working on a new website that is now up at www.esbenandthewitch.co.uk, offering not only a glimpse to the booklet artwork but also a free download of an exclusive remix of ‘Marching Song’ by Snorkel.
The band start their UK and European tour on January 31st, with a full list of dates below.
Embracing the spirit of the festive season, Esben and the Witch have merrily handed over a free-download to the Drowned in Sound website, which is available for download here. Fellow Brits Worried About Satan remixed ‘Skeleton Swoon’ which originally featured on the very first Demo/EP which the band self released last year. Daniel from the band also passed on these words about the remix:
“It was not really too much of a decision asking worriedaboutsatan to do a remix, I bought Arrivals when it came out and the atmospherics and pacing were just beautiful and the job they have done on this remix is wonderful, I think they managed to make it sound even more macabre. We were fortunate enough to have them play with us in London recently and not only were they lovely gents but they were absolutely captivating. I imagine this wont be the last time our paths cross creatively (or at least we hope not).”
Following on from last week’s short stint of dates around the UK, Esben and the Witch will return next year with live shows starting the same day as the release of their debut album, Violet Cries, on January 31st. The band’s most recent UK shows were hailed as “strangely beautiful… a masterclass in sustaining an audiences attention” (Spoonfed) and at least one writer’s “gig of the year” (High Voltage).
You can see the band playing at the following UK dates:
The band have also now shared the track-listing for Violet Cries, the previously released EP track ‘Marching Song’ and free download ‘Warpath’ feature, along with a re-working of ‘Eumenidies’, an early track taken from their very first ’33′ EP.
(from left to right, Thomas Fisher, Daniel Copeman, Rachel Davies. Photography by Adam Kola)
On the heels of their recent “Marching Song” 12″ EP and first US tour (culminating in tonight’s show at Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory), Esben and the Witch will be releasing their debut full-length LP/CD/digital album on January 31, 2011 (February 8 in North America ). The Brighton trio, recently nominated for a Q Award, found themselves nearly drowning in plaudits following “Marching Song”‘s release “teetering on the edge of explosive emotion”, raved one observer, while the assessment, “thoroughly mesmerizing” came to mind for another.
And while the currently available “Marching Song” 12″ is as impressive as advertised, ‘Violet Cries’, recorded by produced by the band’s Daniel Copeman, easily ranks amongst the more audacious and ambitious debut albums, whether in recent memory or in this label’s very long run. While we’re occupied petitioning retailers to add an “Uneasy Listening” bin card to their sales floor, here’s just a hint of what you’re in for next February ;
“Warpath” [192kbps mp3] (from ‘Violet Cries’, OLE 939)
Esben and the Witch will be touring Europe and North America in early 2011 ; though if you’re based in one of the relevant cities below, you’ll not want to miss out.
Remaing 2010 Tour dates
26th October – The Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY
- – - – - – - – - – - -
4th November – Paris, La Boule Noir
10th November – London, Electrowerkz
11th November – Manchester, Deaf Institute
12th November – Glasgow – Captains Rest
14th November – Leeds - Constellations Festival
27th November – Le Guess Who Festival, Utrecht – Netherlands
First off, if these changes have left anyone disappointed or inconvenienced, we’re truly sorry. I’ve been watching videos of the guys in the BP commercials all week trying to strike the right tone for this post, and wouldn’t you know it, MY VIDEO CAMERA IS BROKEN. Bullet dodged.
On the bright side, hey, DEAD MEADOW are playing. The opening VIP gala is still happening at 4pm Friday in the Hardwood Suite with dj sets by Ted Leo and myself. Same room becomes a VIP lounge Friday and Saturday nights, plus late night dj action on Friday (James McNew, Dean Bein) and Saturday (Dave Martin, Robby Morris). Here’s the live entertainment schedule of events. Much like real life, everything is subject to change.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1st
THE PEARL
Pavement: 12:00am – 1:00am
Sonic Youth: 10:40pm – 11:30am
Fucked Up: 9:35pm – 10:15pm
Chavez: 8:30pm – 9:10pm
Guitar Wolf: 7:30pm – 8:10pm
Doors: 7:00pm
MC : Jeff Jensen
LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Fucked Up Vs. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 1:30am – 2:30am
(One stage. Two bands. At once. They’re supposed to take turns, song by song…but who knows?)
Doors: 1:00am
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2nd
THE PEARL
Belle & Sebastian: 11:45pm – 1:00am
Spoon: 10:25pm – 11:15pm
Superchunk: 9:20pm – 10:00pm
Cat Power: 8:15pm – 8:55pm
Perfume Genius: 7:55pm – 8:15pm
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: 6:50pm – 7:30pm
Come: 5:45pm – 6:25pm
Girls: 4:40pm – 5:20pm
Doors 4:00pm
MC : Bob Nastanovich
MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Dead Meadow: 2:30pm – 3:15pm
Harlem: 1:30pm – 2:05pm
Doors: 1:00pm
LATE NIGHT PARTY IN PALMS BALLROOM (LIMITED CAPACITY)
Cold Cave: 2:25am – 3:15am
Esben and The Witch: 1:30am – 2:00am
Doors: 1:00am
THE PEARL
Guided By Voices: 11:30pm – 1:00am
Yo La Tengo: 10:10pm – 11:05pm
Liz Phair: 9:50pm – 10:10pm
The New Pornographers: 8:40pm – 9:25pm
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists: 7:35pm – 8:15pm
Shearwater: 6:30pm – 7:10pm
Doors: 6:00pm
MC’s : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
MATINEE IN THE PALMS BALLROOM
The Clean: 4:30pm – 5:15pm
Times New Viking: 3:30pm – 4:05pm
Kurt Vile: 2:30pm – 3:05pm
Doors: 2:00pm
First of all, we know you’ve been waiting patiently for the information below, and we sincerely apologize for the length of time it took to get it together. But if wanting to put together an even sicker bill than previously announced is a crime, PLEASE LOCK US UP.
1) 50 additional pairs of tickets priced at $250.00 per person (not including taxes and fees) will be available via a public lottery sometime next week. We’ll announce the details here and on the 21 site beforehand.
2) Details regarding a limited number of room upgrades will be available at that time.
3) We regret to announce that at present, our supply of VIP tickets has been exhausted. If that situation changes, we’ll let you know.
4) As rumored in a bunch of places (including this very blog), we’re very happy to confirm the following additions to The Lost Weekend Bill ; Liz Phair, Times New Viking, Esben and the Witch, Perfume Genius, The Clean, MC’s Jeff Jensen, Bob Nastanovich, Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster, and a late Friday evening presentation by Austin’s Karaoke Underground. The rough schedule can be found below, and is very much subject to change :
Friday:
4 PM: Gala opening party, Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders, limited capacity)
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
doors open 6 PM, first band (Guitar Wolf) on at 7 PM
Pavement
Sonic Youth
Fucked Up
Chavez
Cold Cave
Guitar Wolf
MC : Jeff Jensen
2am onwards : Superchunk/Fucked Up/bands TBC, Hardwood Suite (VIP ticketholders only, capacity limited)
2am onwards : Karaoke Underground at Little Buddha (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)
Saturday:
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
Belle and Sebastian
Spoon
Superchunk
Cat Power
Perfume Genius
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Come
Girls
MC : Bob Nastanovich
2am : Esben and the Witch, Harlem, Key West Ballroom (open to all ticketholders, space permitting)
Sunday (MATINEE, in Key West Ballroom, open to all ticketholders, capacity limited):
The Clean
Times New Viking
Kurt Vile
Sunday evening :
MAIN STAGE (The Pearl):
Guided By Voices
Yo La Tengo
Liz Phair
The New Pornographers
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
Shearwater
MC’s : Tom Scharpling & Jon Wurster
Matador at 21: The Lost Weekend takes place at the Palms Resort and Casino in Las Vegas from October 1-3, 2010. This event is sponsored by MySpace Music, Altamont and Incase.
(Left to Right: Rachel Davies, Daniel Copeman, Thomas Fisher. Photo by Adam Kola)
It’s with considerable excitement that we’re able to reveal the addition of the Brighton trio Esben and the Witch to the Matador roster. Our first UK based signing in over 6 years, a pair of the band’s recordings — the self released ’33′ and the Too Pure Singles Club-issued 7″, “Lucia, at the Precipice” (the latter already trading for excessive sums on eBay) generated no small amount of global curiosity (not the least of which coming from our offices). Hailed by The Quietus for their “opulent mixture of brooding electronics, crackling guitars and mythological rhetoric”, though Esben and the Witch’s early work is equally brooding and beautiful, we’re pretty confident Rachel, Daniel and Thomas had only skimmed the surface of what they’re capable of. Their debut Matador EP, the limited 12″, ‘Marching Song’, is scheduled for release on October 11th (October 12 in North America), augmented by two new songs, ‘Done Because We Are Too Menny’ and ‘Souvenirs’. The band’s first full length album is tentatively scheduled for release in early 2011.
The accompanying video for ‘Marching Song’ was directed by David Procter and Peter King from the The Agenda Collective.
Esben and the Witch will make their US debut this September touring in support of Mercury Prize nominees Foals along with participating in Matador At 21 : The Lost Weekend in Las Vegas. A subsequent UK tour will begin in November.
SEPTEMBER
23 Minneapolis 7th Street Entry *
24 Chicago Lincoln Hall *
25 Detroit Magic Stick *
27 Toronto Lee’s Palace *
28 Montreal La Sala Rossa *
29 Boston Paradise *
30 Philadelphia, Johnny Brenda’s (w/Efterklang)
OCTOBER
1 New York Bowery Ballroom *
3 Las Vegas The Palms Casino & Hotel **
5 Atlanta Masquerade *
6 Tallahassee Club Downunder *
8 Houston Walters on Washington *
9 Austin The Mohawk ***
10 Dallas The Nightmare *
12 Denver Larimer Lounge *
14 San Diego Casbah *
18 Los Angeles El Ray Theatre *
19 San Jose The Blank Club *
20 San Francisco Bottom of the Hill ****
21 Portland Doug Fir Lounge *
22 Vancouver Venue *
23 Seattle Neumos City Arts Music *
26 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory (with A Sunny Day In Glasgow)
NOVEMBER
4 Paris Inrockuptibles @ La Boule Noir
10 London Electrowerkz
11 Manchester Deaf Institute
12 Glasgow Captains Rest
14 Leeds Constellations Festival
* with Foals
** Matador At 21 / The Lost Weekend
*** with School of Seven Bells
**** with Scout Niblett
