Laura Jane Grace has dropped the latest single, ‘Birds Talk Too’, lifted from Grace’s highly anticipated new album, Hole In My Head.
“10 years ago I started getting tattooed by a Japanese tattoo artist named Gakkin,” Grace says. “I traveled all around the world getting the work done literally starting with my feet and ending with getting my head tattooed in Amsterdam in July of 2022. At the end of our session, Gakkin gifted me a hand-painted Gretsch guitar, covered in beautiful, intricate, swirling design. I took the guitar back to my hotel room and immediately wrote ‘Birds Talk Too’. The lyrical references are all Amsterdam: Schipol is the airport, Rookies is my favourite cannabis cafe and Champagne Haze is my favourite strain.”
The absolute legendary Laura Jane Grace has announced their new record, ‘Hole In My Head’
Recorded at Native Sound in St. Louis, MO with David Beeman and mixed by Matt Allison (The Lawrence Arms, Rise Against), Hole In My Head is a sonic curio cabinet containing multitudes — a showcase that features warm, ‘50s rock-influenced guitar riffs, saved-for-later lyrics, love letters to new surroundings, and thoughtful reflections on a punk life lived. Grace’s commanding vocals are backed predominately by her performances on guitar and drums, and bolstered by Drive-By Truckers bassist Matt Patton, whose presence rounds out a full-band sound on over half the album.
Having already dropped the acclaimed fan favourite “Dysphoria Hoodie,” Grace’s raw ode to a particular type of armour, now she offers the title track to the album in the form of a thrilling music video directed by actor and photographer Gilbert Trejo (Machete, From a Son).
Check out the Cover Art and Tracklisting for the upcoming record as well as the music video for ‘Hole In My Head’ as well as pre-order options below.
Hole In My Head
I’m Not A Cop
Dysphoria Hoodie
Birds Talk Too
Punk Rock In Basements
Cuffing Season
Tacos and Toast
Mercenary
Keeping Your Wheels Straight
Hard Feelings
Give Up The Ghost
Pre-orders for ‘Hole In My Head’ are available via the following link.
Laura Jane Grace has shared the first track from her forthcoming studio album.
Although details are scarce about the forthcoming album, it is set to be Grace’s first project since 2021’s ‘At War With The Silverfish’.
The new track ‘Dysphoria Hoodie’, is an ode to a particular type of armor, as the punk icon has shared:
“This is a song about gender dysphoria and your favourite hooded sweatshirt.
“Any trans person out there knows what a dysphoria hoodie is — it’s the hoodie you wear when feeling low and dysphoric and you don’t want the world reading your gender.
“Hide your body shape, hide your head, disappear as much as you can. Wrap yourself up in it like a blanket anywhere you go. Make your flesh become cotton. Instant protection from the outside world.
“My dysphoria hoodie happens to be an Adidas hoodie, so yes, this is in fact really just a tribute song to my favourite Adidas hoodie.”
Check out the Cover Art and have a listen to the track below.
After hoping and hoping festivals would be returning in 2021, 2000trees have announced that they are postponing until 2022.
In a very honest statement as well as one that’s quite lengthy, the organisers of the festival have said that a combination of overseas bands unable to come over and a lack of insurance-based support from the UK government has meant that the best option is to come back next year.
But there’s some good news, they have also confirmed the first batch of bands who will be returning.
You can read it in full below:
“Over the last two weeks, it has become clear that, due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, bands based outside of the UK will not be able to travel to 2000trees in 2021.
We’ve had confirmation that around 20 of the biggest bands from our line up will not be coming to Upcote Farm this summer. This list, which is growing every week, includes our headliners Jimmy Eat World & Thrice, plus Knocked Loose, Young Guns, The Get Up Kids, Laura Jane Grace, Anti-Flag and Stray From The Path.
As a result, we have been forced to take the absolutely heart-breaking decision to postpone 2000trees to July 6-10 2022. Up until a week ago we were still furiously working behind the scenes to try make the festival happen. We really wanted (& needed) a party just as much as you this year. But after losing these bands, it’s clear that we are unable to give you the award-winning Trees experience that you know and love this year.
LACK OF GOVERNMENT BACK CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Bands dropping out is one thing, but to make matters worse, the UK government have repeatedly refused to provide any COVID cancellation insurance for the I’ve events industry.
Hundred of festivals have been asking for months for a Government-backed insurance policy allowing us to confidently host the event this year. We were hopeful that this insurance would be in place by now. Although they’ve provided a similar scheme for film & TV, the Government have completely let the live music industry down by refusing to back a simple insurance policy.
This would have cost them next to nothing unless the roadmap dates are changed (or we are put into another lockdown), & it’s the single most effective thing that could have done to get festivals back up and running this summer. Many independent festivals have already postponed because of this and we know of many other events that will shortly be announcing their postponement.
The obvious concern is that there may still be delays or changes to the COVID restrictions at the last minute. Without this vital COVID cancellation insurance, going ahead with this year’s event would simply be a huge financial risk, potentially jeopardising our long-term survival. So we were left with no other choice than to pull the plus before it was too late.
THE GOOD NEWS
The GOOD NEWS is that things are already looking amazing for 2000trees 2022. As not stands, we’ve very nearly sold out for next year and we are very excited to announce that the following bands from this year are now confirmed for 2022:
Jimmy Eat World Thrice The Amazons Dinosaur Pile Up Knocked Loose The Get Up Kids Dream State Laura Jane Grace Anti-Flag Lonely The Brave Stick To Your Guns Deez Nuts No Devotion Dragged Under
We also have a super exciting 3rd headliner to tell you all about real soon as well as over 100 more of the best bands playing across our 6 wonderful stages.
TICKETS
All 2021 tickets are automatically valid for next year’s festival and if you already have your ticket, you do not have to do anything to reserve your place. Your existing ticket is now your ticket to 2022.
As a small, independent business that’s been hit extremely hard by the pandemic, we really need as many people as possible to roll their tickets to next year, just so we can keep paying our staff and secure the long-term survival of 2000trees.
You kept us alive in 2020 when over 95% of you rolled your tickets to this year. If you could do the same for us again by holding onto your tickets until 2022, not only will uni get next year’s festival at 2019, but we will love you forever & promise to make the 2022 festival one to remember.
Thanks for reading and for your continued support, it means the world to us & we look forward to partying extra hard with you all next year.
James, Bren, Si, Andy, Mark and Rob”
🌳 Hi everyone – please read. We've got good news and we've got bad news.
Laura Jane Grace has released a video for ‘SuperNatural Possession’.
It’s a track from her recent surprise-dropped album ‘Stay Alive’, which was recorded over just a few days at Steve Albini‘s studio in July.
“We came home from the Against Me! tour we were on in March, and right before we left, we had been in the studio working on songs, and I had been working on them for months prior,” she explains of the record’s conception, just before lockdown hit.
“I sat around for a month-and-a-half at a home just being shell-shocked being like, ‘What the fuck happened and what the fuck is happening with the world?’ As I started to get my bearings, I just came to the realization that waiting was going to kill the record and kill the songs. I spent two years working on all these songs, and the idea of throwing them away didn’t sit well with me. But then I was like, ‘What am I waiting for?’ All I have to do is adjust my scope. I can sit here on my fucking ass and do nothing, or I can work.”
Hello everyone welcome back to the New Music Roundup! We’re here for a roundup of five of the best recently released tracks. They’re not all within the same genre and they’re all different in some way or another but that means that there’s a little something for everyone here but come on, let’s get down to the music!First up this week we have the Canadian Singer/Songwriter Lights with her cover of the classic festival tune, ‘Deck The Halls’.
First up this week is Laura Jane Grace. The musician offered up a visual for ‘The Swimming Pool Song’, which was the opening track from her surprise solo release, ‘Stay Alive’.
On the track she says:
“Like how in a dream, sometimes whatever fear it is that you’re running from isn’t actually anything to be afraid of at all. Or like how in life sometimes we couldn’t be more wrong about first impressions and the way things will turn out.”
“Go 2 Sleep” is COBI’s biggest song since “Don’t You Cry For Me” (70 million streams). Inspired by the purity of his newborn, COBI wrote this song for his daughter, Kaia. A very simple lullaby that is relatable to every young parent, anywhere in the world. “The song is about giving solace and feeling safe,” states COBI. “Bringing a child into this world can be really scary. This next generation is going to have unfathomable problems to solve. But for now they should be able to rest easy and be free of worry.”
This is a very simple lullaby that showcases COBI’s otherworldly voice and features his dreamy, finger-picking guitar playing, painting a perfectly designed dream landscape. The song reaches its high point near the end of the less-than-3-minute track with beautifully produced and majestically-layered backing vocals that complete this magical journey.
Next we move onto the Melbourne newcomers Stuck Out whom have recently shared ‘Inverse’, the latest choice of single to come from their upcoming ‘Lie Through Your Teeth’ EP.
Vocalist Josh Walker had this to say of the track.
“This song looks at self-destructive behaviour and the lies we tell ourselves to excuse harmful choices. It’s very easy to shift and project blame onto things around us when we’re facing a problem and ignore our own negative contribution to the issue. I’ve had an on-and-off problem with alcohol and this song voices the struggle between my own self-awareness and blissful ignorance.”
The band’s second EP, ‘Lie Through Your Teeth’, is out on December 18th 2020 through Greyscale Records/SharpTone Records.
Last month Jamie Bower revealed that his band COUNTERFEIT was now no more and he would be continuing as a solo artist.
This was his full statement:
“Dear Friends I did not imagine myself ever having to write this letter to you all. But here we are. It is with deepest sympathies that I must announce that Counterfeit as a band have entered into the shadows of past projects. During lockdown and Covid I received a number of phone calls from members of the band who stated that they no longer wish to participate in either this project or live music in general. I was, like you, disappointed by this news. As such I have come to the decision that it is time to lay Counterfeit to rest.
I started this project alone in my living room and it seems fitting that, that is where we say goodbye to it. In time all things must die. But from the ashes we must rise which is why I am delighted to tell you that I will be continuing to make music and tour the world for and with you all under Jamie Bower, we rise again and I am very excited to announce the first offering from this new project. In the shadows I have always dwelled and this project is an offering from there. As our dear friend Gerard once said “Throw on the black dress mix in with the lot”. Like summer to winter seasons change but my friends the song remains.
Come join me. Take my hand Do not be afraid of the dark. It is time. Jamie.”
Well now the time has come to hear what he has been working on, and it’s absolutely beautiful.
‘Paralysed’ is the name of the track and it is a wonderfully heartfelt piano ballad, bolstered by stirring strings. Delivered to you ‘Live From The Altar’, It’s a wonderful example of storytelling through song and a fitting start to this new chapter for Jamie.
And finally this week, we have the Now we have the main Wolfheads, the masters of noise and the amazingly influential Man With A Mission.
All You Need’, which also soundtracks (and I’m assuming is a collaboration) the new Japanese mobile gaming app, A.I.M.$〜All You need is money.
It’s a wonderfully fast paced hard hitting but more Poppy sounding track. Still though, you’ll be wanting to listen to the blaring guitar again and again because it’s that beautiful.
And that’s it for another week of a roundup of the best new tracks out in the world in the last week. Be sure to check back next-time for another round of great music videos. If you have any suggestions for me to check out, be sure to send an email or message us via the socials on Facebook, Twitter or send us an email!
There’s a brand new release, a surprise release from Laura Jane Grace today!
That’s right, an entire record of material was dropped by the frontperson of Against Me! where ‘Stay Alive’ is Grace’s second studio record as a solo artist.
Grace didn’t initially plan to release the material this year but to release a new Against Me! album until the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic derailed things. She explains how and why ‘Stay Alive’ came to be and how its title resonates with the current status of the live music industry.
“We came home from the Against Me! tour we were on in March, and right before we left, we had been in the studio working on songs, and I had been working on them for months prior.
I sat around for a month-and-a-half at a home just being shell-shocked being like, ‘What the fuck happened and what the fuck is happening with the world?’ As I started to get my bearings, I just came to the realization that waiting was going to kill the record and kill the songs. I spent two years working on all these songs, and the idea of throwing them away didn’t sit well with me. But then I was like, ‘What am I waiting for?’ All I have to do is adjust my scope. I can sit here on my fucking ass and do nothing, or I can work.
By putting the songs out, that puts the label in work, that puts a photographer in work, that puts a graphic designer in work, that puts a merch company in work, that keeps it alive. You hear on the news every day about people losing their jobs and everything collapsing, and I want to fight against that. The only way I can think to fight against that is to work.”
‘Stay Alive’ is available to stream and download digitally right now which physical copies set to be released on December 11th 2020 via Big Scary Monsters Polyvinyl Record Co. .
Check out the Cover Artwork, Tracklisting and Links to the Stream / Pre-Order below.
01.) The Swimming Pool Song 02.) The Calendar Song 03.) Shelter In Place 04.) Return To Oz 05.) The Mountain Song SuperNatural Possession 06.) Hanging Tree 07.) Please Leave 08.) Why Kant I Be You? 09.) Ice Cream Song 10.) The Magic Point 11.) Blood & Thunder 12.) So Long, Farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, Fuck Off 13.) Old Friend (Stay Alive)
Frank Iero is set to return to the UK with the latest iteration of his band, this being the Future Violents as well as co-headlining the tour with Laura Jane Grace And The Devouring Mothers.
Frank Iero is set to play 2000 Trees Festival in July but will return for the tour in August 2019.
Now this is something new I didn’t expect because I haven’t heard of yet.
Led by Against Me!’s frontwoman Laura Jane Grace, The Devouring Mothers have announced their debut record as a group! The record is going to be called ‘Bought To Rot’.
Here’s all the information available at the time of writing.
China Beach
Born In Black
The Airplane Song
Apocalypse Now (& Later)
Reality Bites
Amsterdam Hotel Room
The Friendship Song
I Hate Chicago
Screamy Dreamy
Manic Depression
The Acid Test Song
The Hotel Song
Valeria Golina
The Apology Song
The first track released from the record is ‘Apocalypse Now (& Later) and can be streamed below.
Almost Anything Music 