The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.
September 15th, 2020 at 10:01 am by The Management
Stephen Malkmus presents “Juliefuckingette,” an A-side-worthy B-side off Traditional Techniques, his album released earlier this year. Additionally, he announces a rescheduled North American tour slated for March and April 2021. As with Traditional Techniques, “Juliefuckingette” is new phase folk music for new phase folks. Malkmus’ wry lyricism unwinds over his 12-string acoustic guitar: “Abolish the fanfiction set // I don’t wanna clean up the logorrhea mess // It’s the last brand standing // You know you wanna kill it but you can’t kill that quite yet.”
Traditional Techniques presents Malkmus as attuned as ever to the rhythms of the ever-evolving lingual slipstream. Informed by a half-century of folk-rock reference points, Malkmus drew from a whole new musical palette for Traditional Techniques--including a variety of Afghani instruments--to support an ache both quizzical and contemporary. Alongside gorgeous folk music, Traditional Techniques presents occasional bursts of flute-laced swagger, straight-up commune rock, and mind-bending fuzz. He’s joined throughout by Matt Sweeney and Chris Funk.
Today Algiers announce a batch of rescheduled European tour dates for quarter one of 2021. Nary ones to shy away from hitting the road, the band will be performing twenty seven shows across twenty different territories throughout February and March next year. Tickets go on-sale at 10:00 local times on Friday, July 17th.
Accompanying today's announce, the band have released a live and improvised version of 'Animals' - a track that featured on their second studio record 'The Underside of Power'. 'Animals (Redux)' was performed and recorded in Atlanta last month, and you can watch that new transmogrified take below:
Due to prevailing global events, the previously announced Kurt Vile / Cate Le Bon US tour scheduled to start this April has been delayed until September. All tickets for the original dates remain good, save for the Austin Paramount Theatre date, as that's been moved to the Scoot Inn on September 18 (see below).
King Krule's postponed North American and EU dates in support of the newly released Man Alive! have been rescheduled for September, October and December 2020. Tickets purchased for the shows' original dates will be honored. More info can be found at respective venues, linked below.
A day prior to the start of their North American tour in support of 'There Is No Year', Algiers have released a live video of their cover of Outkast's "Liberation" (above). Though the recent cancelation of SXSW has seen official events wiped from the band's scheduled, Algiers will be hitting Austin in two weeks' time (see below) with an additional show likely to be added.
Wednesday, March 11 Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA Thursday, March 12 Black Cat, Washington DC Friday, March 13 Mothlight, Asheville NC Saturday, March 14 529, Atlanta GA Tuesday, March 17, Cheer Up Charlies, Austin TX (1pm) Tuesday, March 17, End Of An Ear, Austin TX (4pm) Thursday, March 19, Hotel Vegas, Austin TX (2:45pm) Friday, March 20 Club Congress, Tucson AZ Saturday, March 21 Casbah, San Diego CA Tuesday, March 24 The Echo, Los Angeles CA Wednesday, March 25 Slim’s, San Francisco CA Saturday, March 28 Polaris Hall, Portland OR Sunday, March 29 The Crocodile, Seattle WA Wednesday, April 1 Turf Club, St. Paul MN Thursday, April 2 Cactus Club, Milwaukee WI Friday, April 3 Empty Bottle, Chicago IL Saturday, April 4 Rumba Club, Columbus OH Sunday, April 5 Deluxx Fluxx, Detroit MI Monday, April 6 The Baby G, Toronto ON Tuesday, April 7 Bar Le Ritz, Montreal QC Thursday, April 9 Saint Vitus, Brooklyn NY (SOLD OUT) Friday, April 10 Saint Vitus, Brooklyn NY Tuesday, April 21 Knust, Hamburg DE Friday, April 24 Nalen Klubb, Stockholm SE Saturday, April 25 Mejeriet, Lund SE Monday, April 27 Lido, Berlin DE Wednesday, April 29 Morze, St. Petersberg RU Thursday, April 30 Aglomerat, Moscow RU Sunday, May 3rd ISC, Bern CH Monday, May 4th Bogen F, Zurich CH
This weekend Kim Gordon laid down a firm indication of what's in store for the upcoming EU & North American tour dates with a blistering set streamed live from BBC 6 Music Festival in Camden, UK.
Taking to the stage on Sunday evening, Kim and her band tore through a set list defined by the uprorious 'Air BnB', 'Hungry Baby' and 'Murdered Out'. See below for a clip of 'Air BnB':
In addition to previously announced European festival dates, Kim Gordon will be embarking on her first solo tour in support of 2019's widely hailed, 'No Home Record' starting with London's 6Music Festival and continuing with North American shows commencing July 17 in Minneapolis. In addition, Gordon will be one of the keynote speakers for the music portion of South By Southwest as part of a conversation with author Rachel Kushner.
The touring band features Kim on guitar on vocals, Yves Rothman as music director, Sarah Register on guitar, Emily Retsas on bass, and Sterling Laws on drums.
Gordon recently wrapped up a solo art exhibition of new work at 303 Gallery in New York, titled “The Bonfire.” The show opened January 10th and featured a series of works on canvas and a film titled "Los Angeles June 6, 2019.” Artnet News noted the works “present a world of safety and intimacy but beneath which lurk darker unseen forces...these images reflect our current reality where it seems no image is uncaptured, as well as the fact that even the most ordinary events are packaged and elevated as though they have more monumental meanings.” Last week Kim also participated at LA’s The Broad “The Un-Private Collection” series in conversation with NY-based artist Christopher Wool, moderated by music curator, critic, author, and gallerist John Corbett.
Following the recent announcement of solo headlining dates in The United Kingdom and Europe, Lucy Dacus has announced further touring through North America in Spring and Summer 2020. The newly announced dates are in support of Bright Eyes and The National, respectively. General on-sale for all dates begins on Friday, February 21st. 10am local time for dates with The National and Noon local time for dates with Bright Eyes.
Stephen Malkmus will release his new album, Traditional Techniques, on March 6th. Today, he extends his North American tour and announces shows throughout the southwest and west coast. In addition to a previously-announced run including Chicago’s Thalia Hall, New York’s Webster Hall, and more, Malkmus will appear at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre, San Francisco’s The Fillmore, plus others. He will be joined by a brand new live band of Chris Funk (pedal steel, keys), Matt Sweeney (guitar), Brad Truax (bass), and Jake Morris (drums), and at times by Qais Essar (rabab) and Eric Zang (kaval, udu, daf). Tickets for newly-announced dates go on sale this Friday, February 21st at 10am local time.
Additionally, Malkmus offers a further glimpse into Traditional Techniques via the La Blogothèque performance of new song, “Brainwashed.” Directed by Thibaut Charlut with sound direction by Henri d’Armancourt, the solo, acoustic performance was filmed in the midst of Parisian café La Fontaine de Belleville.
Lucy Dacus has this morning announced a run of European tour dates to take place over April & May this year.
Following a whirlwhind end to the decade which saw Lucy release her '2019' series, perform to packed crowds in Australia & New Zealand as well as playing at incredible festivals the world over, Lucy will return to Europe for shows in France, Switzerland, Germany, The UK, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Ireland and Austria
Tickets go on sale at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday, February 5th.
(L to R: Stephen Malkmus, Chris Funk, Matt Sweeney. Photo by Samuel Gehrke and Chris Shonting.)
(Album artwork by Jan Lankisch)
Stephen Malkmus has announced his new album, Traditional Techniques, out March 6th via Matador, lead single “Xian Man,” and a North American tour. Traditional Techniques, Malkmus’ third solo LP without the Jicks (or Pavement), is new phase folk music for new phase folks, with Malkmus as attuned as ever to the rhythms of the ever-evolving lingual slipstream. It’s packed with handmade arrangements, modern folklore, and 10 songs written and performed in his singular voice. An adventurous new album in an instantly familiar mode, Traditional Techniques creates a serendipitous trilogy with the loose fuzz of the Jicks’ Sparkle Hard (2018) and the solo bedroom experiments of Groove Denied (2019). Taken together, these three very different full-lengths in three years highlight an ever-curious songwriter committed to finding untouched territory.
Traditional Techniques 01 ACC Kirtan 02 Xian Man 03 The Greatest Own in Legal History 04 Cash Up 05 Shadowbanned 06 What Kind Of Person 07 Flowin’ Robes 08 Brainwashed 09 Signal Western 10 Amberjack
Traditional Techniques will be available in a standard CD/black LP format, and as a red vinyl stamp-numbered edition limited to 500 with risographed red, white, and black alternate cover.
Malkmus will embark on a North American tour this spring with an entirely new band (more shows will be announced in the weeks to come). The Traditional Techniques live band is Malkmus (vocals, guitar), Funk (pedal steel, keys), Sweeney (guitar), Brad Truax (bass), and Jake Morris (drums), joined at times by Qais Essar (rabab) and Eric Zang (kaval, udu, daf). A full list of dates can be found below and tickets are on sale Friday, January 24th at 10am local time.
Is that a goddamn bouzouki? you may ask. A pedal steel guitar? What kind of Stephen Malkmus album is this, anyway?
It’s called folk music, and it’s taking the country by storm. Stephen Malkmus is only the latest popular artist to apply this old new approach to their rock and roll sounds.
Take the name Traditional Techniques with as much salt as you’d like or dig the Adorno reference, Malkmus’s third solo LP without the Jicks (or Pavement) is as organic as they come. It’s packed with handmade arrangements, modern folklore, and 10 songs written and performed in Malkmus’s singular voice. An adventurous new album in an instantly familiar mode, Traditional Techniques creates a serendipitous trilogy with the loose fuzz of the Jicks’ Sparkle Hard (Matador, 2018) and the solo bedroom experiments of Groove Denied (Matador, 2019). Taken together, these three very different full-lengths in three years highlight an ever-curious songwriter committed to finding untouched territory. Perhaps some of these “folk” musicians could take a lesson or two.
Created in the spontaneous west coast style adopted so infectiously by young American musicians in this time of global turmoil, Malkmus took on Traditional Techniques as a kind of self-dare. Conceived while recording Sparkle Hard with the Jicks at Portland’s Halfling Studio, Malkmus had observed the variety of acoustic instruments available for use. The idea escalated within a matter of weeks into a full set of songs and shortly thereafter into a realized and fully committed album. When he returned to Halfling, Malkmus drew from a whole new musical palette--including a variety of Afghani instruments--to support an ache both quizzical and contemporary. Stephen Malkmus isn’t one of those “hung up” musicians one reads about so frequently these days, sequestered in a jungle room of the heart. The jukebox in Malkmus’s private grotto remains fully updated. Not only is the artist present, but he’s on Twitter.
Traditional Techniques is new phase folk music for new phase folks, with Malkmus as attuned as ever to the rhythms of the ever-evolving lingual slipstream. Instead of roses, briars, and long black veils, prepare for owns, cracked emojis, and shadowbans. Centered around the songwriter’s 12-string acoustic guitar, and informed by a half-century of folk-rock reference points, Traditional Techniques is the product of Malkmus and Halfling engineer/arranger-in-residence Chris Funk (The Decemberists). Playing guitar is friend-to-all-heads Matt Sweeney (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Chavez, and too many other to count), who’d previously crossed paths with Malkmus on the opposite end of the longhairs’ map of the world, most lately gnarling out together back east in the jam conglomerate Endless Boogie.
But, buyer beware, no matter how these recordings might be tagged by your nearest algorithm, the expansive and thrilling folk-rock sounds of Traditional Techniques aren’t SM Unplugged. One might even question his commitment to acoustic instruments, but we’ll leave that for somebody else’s hot take. All we’re saying is watch your head. Because alongside all that gorgeous folk music (“The Greatest Own in Legal History,” “Cash Up”), there are also occasional bursts of flute-laced swagger (“Shadowbanned”), straight-up commune rock (“Xian Man”), and mind-bending fuzz in places you least expect it (“Brainwashed”).
It’s hard to call Traditional Techniques “long awaited,” because Stephen Malkmus just put out an album last year, but it’s also exactly that. While he may have taken his sweet time in jumping on the folk music boom, surely there are those among us who have fantasized about how lovely it might sound if SM would just get with the times. And it sounds like all that and beyond. Set a day or two aside to transcribe the lyrics like the Dylanlogists of yore (though please keep your garbology to yourself) and vibe on the shape of folk to come with Stephen Malkmus.
It's been six years since Kurt Vile played a solo show in Europe. That's soon to change as the Philadelphian songsmith announced this morning a run of 9 dates to take place across May & June of this year.
Tickets go on sale at 10:00 CET on Wednesday, January 15th
Tickets for Kurt Vile's 2020 spring tour with Cate Le Bon go on sale this Friday (December 20) at 10am local time (links below). The shows -- featuring the accompaniment of Stella Mozgawa and Stephen Black --- are billed as "solo and together" and that seems self-explanatory but perhaps you might inquire with Reddit or the Maytag repair person in your neighborhood if you need to know more.
After mesmerizing audiences with his recent performances as part of ?'The Sun Still Burns Here?', Perfume Genius (Mike Hadreas)? is excited to announce North American 2020 tour dates as the direct support for ?Tame Impala?. T?ickets go on-sale Friday, December 13 at 10:00 AM local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets for select shows before the general pub?lic ?beginning? ?Wednesday, December 11 at 10?:00 AM local time ?through? ?Thursday, December 12 at 10:00? PM local time. A new Perfume Genius album is due in 2020.
Perfume Genius has spent much of 2019 co-creating and performing in? "The Sun Still Burns Here", ?a collaboration between ?Hadreas? and Seattle-based choreographer ?Kate Wallich? and her company ?The YC?. The show is an evening-length dance and music work and was commissioned by Seattle Theatre Group, The Joyce Theater and Mass MoCA. ?"The Sun Still Burns Here" d?ebuted? i?n Seattle and had multi-night performances at New York City’s Joyce Theater and Minneapolis'The Walker Center. ?"The Sun Still Burns Here"? heads to Boston for a 2-night run at Boston on January 17 and 18. Perfume Genius released two of the project’s songs earlier this year, the eight-minute trance-like meditation, “?Eye In The Wall?,” and the show’s climactic “?Pop Song?.”
Perfume Genius on Tour, New Dates in Bold On Sale This Friday at 10am Local Time
Today, Algiers release "Void", the second track, from the forthcoming album 'There Is No Year' , following Tuesday's premiere via the Adult Swim Singles Club. The song is also available as a flexi-disc as part of the vinyl edition of 'There Is No Year', out January 17
To mark the release of 'There Is No Year', Algiers will perform in several U.S. record stores including Atlanta’s Criminal Records, Philadelphia’s Repo and Brooklyn’s Rough Trade in mid January. See below and visit algierstheband.com/instoretour for further details. In February, the band will kick off a European tour, returning stateside in March.
Wednesday, February 5 Village Underground, London UK Thursday, February 6 YES, Manchester UK Friday, February 7 Stereo, Glasgow UK Saturday, February 8 Whelans, Dublin IE Monday, February 10 Brudenell, Leeds UK Wednesday, February 12 Botanique Rotonde, Brussels BE Thursday, February 13 Paradiso Upstairs, Amsterdam NE Friday, February 14 Club Volta, Cologne DE Saturday, February 15 Manufaktur, Schorndorf DE Monday, February 17 Zoom, Frankfurt DE Tuesday, February 18 Beatpol, Dresden DE Thursday, February 20 Hybrydy, Warsaw PO Friday, February 21 Lucerna Music Bar, Prague CZ Saturday, February 22 Flex, Vienna AU Monday, February 24 Strom, Munich DE Wednesday, February 26 Monk, Rome IT Thursday, February 27 Ohibo, Milan IT Saturday, February 29 La 3 Razzmatazz, Barcelona ES Sunday, March 1 Cafe Berlin, Madrid ES Tuesday, March 3 Rock School Barbey, Bordeaux FR Wednesday, March 4 Stereolux, Nantes FR Thursday, March 5 La Maroquinerie, Paris FR Wednesday, March 11 Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA Thursday, March 12 Black Cat, Washington DC Friday, March 13 Mothlight, Asheville NC Saturday, March 14 529, Atlanta GA Friday, March 20 Club Congress, Tucson AZ Saturday, March 21 Casbah, San Diego CA Tuesday, March 24 The Echo, Los Angeles CA Wednesday, March 25 Slim’s, San Francisco CA Saturday, March 28 Polaris Hall, Portland OR Sunday, March 29 The Crocodile, Seattle WA Wednesday, April 1 Turf Club, St. Paul MN Thursday, April 2 Cactus Club, Milwaukee WI Friday, April 3 Empty Bottle, Chicago IL Saturday, April 4 Rumba Club, Columbus OH Sunday, April 5 Deluxx Fluxx, Detroit MI Monday, April 6 The Baby G, Toronto ON Tuesday, April 7 Bar Le Ritz, Montreal QC Thursday, April 9 Saint Vitus, Brooklyn NY Tuesday, April 21 Knust, Hamburg DE Friday, April 24 Nalen Klubb, Stockholm SE Saturday, April 25 Mejeriet, Lund SE Monday, April 27 Lido, Berlin DE Wednesday, April 29 Morze, St. Petersberg RU Thursday, April 30 Aglomerat, Moscow RU Sunday, May 3rd ISC, Bern CH Monday, May 4th Bogen F, Zurich CH
After announcing two January 2020 Southern Californian dates last week, Steve Gunn has announced a co-headlining North American tour alongside Mary Lattimore and William Tyler in March 2020. Tickets for those dates, leading into Big Ears Festival in Knoxville TN, are on sale this Friday at 11am EST.
Gunn begins Australian touring this weekend, following his first ever performance in Japan earlier this month and dates in New Zealand ending tonight in Hawkes Bay.
March 26-28 Big Ears Festival, Knoxville TN * + w/ Tiny Ruins * with Kim Gordon, Bill Nace and John Truscinski performing "Sounds for Andy Warhol's Kiss"
Augmenting their already lengthy trip around Europe scheduled for February and March 2020, Algiers have announced this morning an extra clutch of dates taking them back onto the continent in April & May.
The band will revisit Germany, and add stops in Sweden, Switzerland and Russia.
Venue information and ticket links available below, with new dates in bold
Monday, February 3 The Haunt, Brighton UK Wednesday, February 5 Village Underground, London UK Thursday, February 6 YES, Manchester UK Friday, February 7 Stereo, Glasgow UK Saturday, February 8 Whelans, Dublin IE Monday, February 10 Brudenell, Leeds UK Wednesday, February 12 Botanique Rotonde, Brussels BE Thursday, February 13 Paradiso Upstairs, Amsterdam NE Friday, February 14 Club Volta, Cologne DE Saturday, February 15 Manufaktur, Schorndorf DE Monday, February 17 Zoom, Frankfurt DE Tuesday, February 18 Beatpol, Dresden DE Thursday, February 20 Hybrydy, Warsaw PO Friday, February 21 Lucerna Music Bar, Prague CZ Saturday, February 22 Flex, Vienna AU Monday, February 24 Strom, Munich DE Wednesday, February 26 Monk, Rome IT Thursday, February 27 Ohibo, Milan IT Saturday, February 29 La 3 Razzmatazz, Barcelona ES Sunday, March 1 Cafe Berlin, Madrid ES Tuesday, March 3 Rock School Barbey, Bordeaux FR Wednesday, March 4 Stereolux, Nantes FR Thursday, March 5 La Maroquinerie, Paris FR Wednesday, March 11 Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia PA Thursday, March 12 Black Cat, Washington DC Friday, March 13 Mothlight, Asheville NC Saturday, March 14 529, Atlanta GA Friday, March 20 Club Congress, Tucson AZ Saturday, March 21 Casbah, San Diego CA Tuesday, March 24 The Echo, Los Angeles CA Wednesday, March 25 Slim’s, San Francisco CA Saturday, March 28 Polaris Hall, Portland OR Sunday, March 29 The Crocodile, Seattle WA Wednesday, April 1 Turf Club, St. Paul MN Thursday, April 2 Cactus Club, Milwaukee WI Friday, April 3 Empty Bottle, Chicago IL Saturday, April 4 Rumba Club, Columbus OH Sunday, April 5 Deluxx Fluxx, Detroit MI Monday, April 6 The Baby G, Toronto ON Tuesday, April 7 Bar Le Ritz, Montreal QC Thursday, April 9 Saint Vitus, Brooklyn NY Tuesday, April 21 Knust, Hamburg DE Friday, April 24 Nalen Klubb, Stockholm SE Saturday, April 25 Mejeriet, Lund SE Monday, April 27 Lido, Berlin DE Wednesday, April 29 Morze, St. Petersberg RU Thursday, April 30 Aglomerat, Moscow RU Sunday, May 3rd ISC, Bern CH Monday, May 4th Bogen F, Zurich CH
Following November's visits to Japan and New Zealand, Steve Gunn returns to Australia for 7 shows - tickets go on sale at 10 am local time tomorrow (September 26). Watch this space for news about more post-'The Unseen In Between' material being made available very soon.
Friday, October 18 Lambert’s, Austin TX % Sunday, October 20 Duet Jazz ,The Bob Dylan Center Presents: An Evening with Steve Gunn, Tulsa OK Wednesday, October 23 Showbox Theater, Seattle WA @% Thursday, October 24 Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC @% Friday, October 25 Wild Buffalo, Bellingham WA @% Saturday, October 26 Wonder Ballroom, Portland OR @% Monday, October 28 Slim’s, San Francisco CA @% Tuesday, October 29 Slim’s, San Francisco CA @% Wednesday, October 30 Slim’s, San Francisco CA @% Sunday, November 3 Shibuya 7th Floor Tokyo JP % Wednesday, November 6 Tuning Fork, Auckland NZ % Thursday, November 7 Blue Smoke, Christchurch NZ % Friday, November 8 Dog With Two Tails, Dunedin NZ % Saturday, November 9 The Plant, Blenheim NZ % Sunday, November 10 Moon, Wellington NZ % Wednesday, November 13 Sitting Room Session, Hawkes Bay NZ % November 16 + 17 Mullum Music Festival % Monday, November 18 Junk Bar, Brisbane AU % Wednesday, November 20 Altar, Hobart AU % Thursday, November 21 Theatre Royal, Castlemaine AU + % Friday, November 22 Melbourne Music Week, State Library, Melbourne AU + % Saturday, November 23 Coalchella, Wombarra Bowlo, Wombarra AU % Sunday, November 24 Red Rattler, Sydney AU + %
% indicates solo performance @ w/ Dinosaur Jr. + w/ Tiny Ruins
Yo La Tengo continue their (nearly) annual series of Hanukkah shows for selected charities this December at New York's Bowery Ballroom, December 22-29, with tickets on sale this Friday (September 6) at noon eastern. No-fee tickets will also be available at the Mercury Lounge box office at noon ($50, cash only).
The MataBlog is edited by Matador Records’ co-moaner Gerard Cosloy and individual entries are the work of whoever’s name is next to them. If you enjoyed something in the MataBlog, thank you very much! If there was something you found particularly troubling, please be advised that a) maybe you should read it again and b) the contents of this blog do not necessarily represent the opinions of Matador Records, Beggars Group, the combined staff of either company, nor the Matador artist roster. Opinions are like friends — hardly anyone has one worth listening to.
