On today’s installment of WNYU’s New Afternoon Show, Perfume Genius stops by to play a few songs from the upcoming sophomore album Put Your Back N 2 It. The show starts at 4:00PM EST, which conveniently enough is also when the set starts. Tune in from NYC at 89.1FM, or listen online at wnyu.org. If you like what you hear, might I suggest you pre-order the album?
With the release of Put Your Back N 2 It just around the corner, Perfume Genius has confirmed a string of rare live dates across the UK and Europe in May. Support may or may not come from Arpad Miklos.
May
7 – Lantern Theatre, Sheffield
8 – Captain’s Rest, Glasgow
9 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
10 – St Pancras Old Church, London
12 – Unitarian Church @ The Great Escape, Brighton
13 – Chapel Arts, Bath
14 – St Pancras Old Church, London
16 – Botanique, Brussels
17 – Amstekkerk, Amsterdam
19 – Paradijs Chrich, Rotterdam
20 – Gebaude 9, Cologne
21 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
22 – Privat Club, Berlin
24 – Divan Du Monde, Paris
And if you haven’t taken the time to watch the outstanding video for “Hood”, make sure you know what all the fuss is about.
Connoisseurs of live radio performance have a great deal on their plate today, and you have us to thank for it.
Seattle singer/songwriter (and star of the year’s most controversial ad so far) Perfume Genius performs live on hometown station KEXP today at 2:00PM EST/11:00AM PST. Listen at 90.3FM or online at kexp.org, and pre-order the new Perfume Genius album, Put Your Back N 2 It, here.
Also this afternoon, Girls return to the World Cafe studios to play some songs from last year’s world-beating sophomore album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost. The show starts at 2:00PM EST/11:00AM PST, and can be heard at 88.5FM in Philadelphia, or online at xpn.org. Can’t catch the session when it airs? It’ll be on NPR’s website later in the day, and you can also find out when your local public radio station airs World Cafe at this link. And while you’re here, you might as well pick up a copy of Father, Son, Holy Ghost for yourself, or for a treasured friend.
We’re excited to show you the first video from Perfume Genius’ second album Put Your Back N 2 It (out Feb 21, pre-order here), directed by Mata-friend Winston H. Case (video credits below). Pitchfork spoke to PG headman Mike Hadreas about the video, his co-star and more.
Also, if you missed it in December, check out the first “look” from PYBN2I, the gorgeous “All Waters“.
Perfume Genius will hit the road in March and April:
March
Wednesday 21 - San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord
Thursday 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
Friday 23 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
Saturday 24 – Tuscon, AZ – Solar Culture
Monday 26 – Denton, TX – Dan’s Silverleaf
Tuesday 27 – Austin, TX – Lambert’s
Thursday 29 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
Friday 30 – Durham, NC – The Garage at Motorco
Saturday 31 – Arlington, VA – IOTA Club & Cafe
April
Monday 02 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
Tuesday 03 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Thursday 05 – Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands
Friday 06 – Northampton, MA – Iron Horse Music Hall
Saturday 07 – Montreal, QC – Le Divan Orange
Sunday 08 – Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel
Monday 09 – Seattle, WA -The Crocodile
Tuesday 10 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Wednesday 11 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
Friday 13 - Denver, CO – Hi Dive
Saturday 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Tuesday 17 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
Wednesday 18 - Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
Thursday 19 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
Video credits:
Featuring Arpad Miklos
Director / Editor – Winston H. Case
Directory of Photography – William Colby
2nd Camera Operator – John Strong
Producers – Greg Finch & Nils Bernstein
Associate Producers – Taylor Higgins, Ahbra Perry & Rye Curtis
Dolly Operator – Brad Oberhofer
Post FX – Stephen McNally
Colorist – Michael Garber
A Palo Duro Production
Thanks to Lulu Soni, Sam Heesen, Jordan Romero, Augustus Muller & Erez Avissar
In support of the February 21 release of Put Your Back N 2 Itwe’re happy to report that Perfume Genius will be hitting the US & Canadian road this March and April.
See below for all tour dates and ticketing information.
And be sure to check out Put Your Back N 2 It track, “All Waters” here
Wed 3/21 – Cafe Du Nord – San Francisco, CA – Tickets
Thu 3/22 – Bootleg Theater – Los Angeles, CA – Tickets (on-sale Jan 9)
Fri, 3/23 – Casbah – San Diego, CA – Tickets (on-sale Jan 13)
Sat 3/24 – Solar Culture – Tucson, AZ (no advance tickets)
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)
COMING FEBRUARY 21: The second album from Seattle’s PERFUME GENIUS, entitled Put Your Back N 2 It. Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, is a Seattle singer-songwriter whose 2010 debut Learning established him as one of the most endearing and quietly forceful performers today.
Though Learning’s voyeuristic window into Hadreas’s experiences resonated intensely with many people, Put Your Back N 2 It is much more universal, addressing intimacy, power, family, secrecy, and hope, not just through his impressionistic lyrics, but the music itself, which is as lush as Learning was stark.
Track list:
1. Awol Marine
2. Normal Song
3. No Tear
4. 17
5. Take Me Home
6. Dirge
7. Dark Parts
8. All Waters
9. Hood
10. Put Your Back N2 It
11. Floating Spit
12. Sister Song
Check out the song “All Waters” at the link below:
As previously reported, Perfume Genius is gearing up to head on the road with Beirut in just about a week’s time. Get your tickets & be sure to keep it here for further information about the brand new Perfume Genius album coming out in 2012….
Saturday 11/26 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s (with Beirut) tickets
Monday 11/28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues (with Beirut) tickets
Wednesday 11/30 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall (with Beirut) tickets
Friday 12/02 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue (with Beirut) SOLD OUT
In preparation for a BRAND NEW FULL LENGTH coming in 2012, Perfume Genius will be debuting new songs (as well as favorites from ‘Learning‘) across North America with none other than Beirut in November/December. Seattle, catch a hometown show with EMA and Wild Beasts next week.
Friday 10/7 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre (with EMA + Wild Beasts)
Saturday 11/26 – Providence, RI – Lupo’s (with Beirut)
Monday 11/28 – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues (with Beirut)
Wednesday 11/30 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall (with Beirut)
Friday 12/02 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue (with Beirut)
Sunday 12/04 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre (with Beirut)
Monday 12/05 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel (with Beirut)
Wednesday 12/07 – Athens, GA – The Georgia Theatre (with Beirut)
Thursday 12/08 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (with Beirut)
Saturday 12/10 – Pittsburgh, PA – Altar (with Beirut)
Tuesday 12/13 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (with Beirut)
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)
This May will see Perfume Genius returning to Europe to play dates, which will be the first of the year for Mike. It’ll see them playing their biggest venues in the UK to date and will end at Primavera Sound festival (where you’ll also catch Glasser and Kurt Vile).
Bring on the May (touring madness). Dates listed below.
May
14 – Sheffield City Hall (Grand Ballroom), Sheffield
Doubt continues to evaporate around the assertion that Perfume Genius is one of the most significant new voices in songwriting and performance.
Further evidence here, on “Dreem” – a bonus track from the recently-released special edition of Learning (buy it here) – brought to us by our friends at Yours Truly:
Click above to watch the first proper video for Perfume Genius, for the song “Lookout, Lookout” (via Pitchfork). Directed by Patrick Sher and shot in Portland.
Perfume Genius has also just announced one more NYC show before the end of the year, supporting Light Asylum at a secret space in Bushwick next Wednesday, December 15. The $28 tickets include free hors d’oeuvres and three free drinks. Go to envelopefamily to buy tickets; location information will be included with purchase confirmation.
For those of you who missed it, yesterday we re-released the Learning album in a special slipcase edition with new artwork and three new tracks. You can buy it from us:
Just in time for the holidays, we’re reissuing the devastating debut album from Seattle’s Perfume Genius, aka Mike Hadreas, in a new slipcase edition. If you missed ‘Learning’ when it came out last June, now is your chance to explore the most critically acclaimed album Matador released this year. Get one for yourself, then get another for your loved one.
The new version of the CD comes in a cardboard slipcase with new artwork (above), along with a coupon entitling you to downloads of three new tracks: “Dreeem,” “Your Drum” and “Divine Faxes.” The new version of the LP is stickered with information about the new tracks, which have been added to the standard download coupon inside.
Perfume Genius will be playing one more show this year, in Seattle this Saturday December 4, at the Healthy Times Fun Club.
The first proper video for Perfume Genius, “Lookout Lookout,” directed by Patrick Sher, will premiere next week. Keep your eye on this space for further information.
Perfume Genius are currently showcasing tracks from this years debut album Learning alongside some new material at dates around Europe, which you should try and attend if they head your way. The upcoming dates are as follows:
21st October – The Cube, Bristol, UK
22nd October – The Hope, Brighton, UK
23rd October – Swn Festival, Cardiff, UK
25th October – Botanique, Brussels, Belgium
26th October – Le Point Emphere, Paris, France
27th October – Paradiso, Amsterdam, Netherlands
28th October – Prizenbar, Hamburg, Germany
If they’re not playing near you this time then you can always treat yourself to watching the Pitchfork session they did earlier this year.
Well into his first ever US tour, Perfume Genius will be stopping at the legendary Masonic Lodge at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles tonight. To catch a glimpse of the tracks from ‘Learning’ come to life, check out these videos and do yourself a favor and see Perfume Genius live.
September
Tuesday 28 Los Angeles, CA Masonic Lodge At Hollywood October
Saturday 02 Las Vegas, NV Palms Casino (Matador At 21)
Tuesday 05 Chicago, IL Schubas
Thursday 07 Toronto, ON Drake Hotel
Sunday 10 Brooklyn, NY Knitting Factory
Monday 11 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
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.
“Perfume Genius’s debut album ‘Learning’ is a bruised and suggestive affair; one of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.” –Drowned In Sound
Perfume Genius, the alias of Seattle songwriter Mike Hadreas, will be making eight rare live appearances this fall. His debut album “Learning” (Matador) was released in June and has been quietly accumulating a fanatical audience. The album puts harrowing personal stories to unshakable minor-key melodies that prove oddly hopeful despite the dark, painful tone. Recorded in his mother’s suburban home during a time of emotional and physical recovery, these gorgeous songs are as unaffected and memorable as you’re likely to hear all year.
Hadreas rarely plays live; as the New York Times noted, “memory is etched on the body…Hadreas squeezes out the words when singing, his neck tense, his muscles taut. It must hurt.” These shows will feature Hadreas and Alan Wyffels on just piano and vocals, with occasional guitar. For a glimpse of what to expect, check out the live video session here:
Sep 22 Seattle – Crocodile
Sep 23 Portland – Mississippi Studios
Sep 27 San Francisco – Bottom Of The Hill
Sep 28 Los Angeles – Masonic Lodge At Hollywood Forever
Oct 5 Chicago – Schuba’s
Oct 7 Toronto – Drake Hotel
Oct 10 Brooklyn – Knitting Factory
Oct 11 Philadelphia – First Unitarian Church
Today, with our friends at Pitchfork, we’re happy to bring you a series of live Perfume Genius video clips, shot last month in Seattle by Jason Reid, Darren Lund and Ian Connors. The session will live in its entirety here, forever. Below, please enjoy arresting takes on album tracks “Mr. Peterson”, “Learning”, “Lookout, Lookout” and “Never Did”:
Perfume Genius will perform two live dates in New York City this month, with more shows to follow shortly:
July
Tuesday 20 – New York, NY – 92Y Tribeca
Friday 23 – Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands
Yesterday, we dropped a bit of a bombshell (said in Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton voice), revealing the Monday release of the full length debut from Seattle songwriter/vocalist Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, ‘Learning’. It’s usually our habit to drop an MP3 or two prior to commercial availability and while we hardly regret embracing the element of surprise, at the end of the day, we are creatures of habit.
“Heartbreaking, rip-your-toenails out bleakness is part of the charm…a fragile, fucked-up little wonder.” (9/10), Camille Pia, NME
“‘Learning’ is a bruised and suggestive affair; of catharsis and rare, redemptive beauty, which ranks as one of the most uniquely endearing and quietly forceful debut albums of recent years.” (9/10), James Skinner, Drowned In Sound
Today, Monday June 21*, Matador is releasing the debut full-length album (LP/CD/digital) from Seattle’s Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius. ‘Learning’ is a home recording as stark, haunting and downright jarring as any we’ve heard ; harrowing personal stories laid atop unshakable minor-key melodies, we’ve been obsessed with Hadreas’ songs for months and have a sneaking suspicion more than a few of you will have a similar reaction. Actually, a cursory trip around the the internet reveals all sorts of reactions, and while it would be tempting to cobble together the long and varied list of iconic artists Perfume Genius has already been compared to, none of that means anything compared to laying in bed listening to ‘Learning’ at 2am. If you’d prefer to go for a drive while playing the album, that’s ok, too. We’re not here to police your activity.
You can stream ‘Learning’ starting today at the Perfume Genius MySpace page. There are a pair of Perfume Genius shows in NYC next month ;
Tue, July 20 – 92Y, Tribeca, NY, NY (tickets)
Fri, July 23 – Glasslands, Brooklyn, NY (with Melati Malay) (tickets)
