“Gauntlet Hair has reached its end. Thank you all for your support these past 4 years”, the status read earlier on their Facebook. It’s since been confirmed by a band rep (via Pitchfork), all I can say as “wow”. I just reviewed their new album a couple of weeks ago, and was interested to see how the new sound played out in their fall dates. Ended before they even began, too bad. Move back to Denver!
Former Denver residents Gauntlet Hair have a new album coming out, and even though they live in Chicago now, people are still crazy about their brand of dark noise pop here. The new album starts with an easily accessible bang with “Human Nature”, a solid dance song with steady industrial beats. The album continues in the same vein with haunting overlapping vocals and discordant tones and notes, giving some songs like “Simple” a great tension and release once you get to the bridge. This album has a heavier influence and sound, at times reminding me of Joy Division and Jesus and Mary Chain, which may be a little off-putting at first to casual listeners of their previous, more pop/dance driven album, but it also sounds more mature and I enjoy seeing growth and progression in a band. Though it is harder to listen too, this often proves more rewarding in the end. With lyrics about falling out of love and the death of emotion towards each other, this music is not meant to be so easy.
Watch the video for “Human Nature”: Gauntlet Hair video
Don’t let the band name deter you, these guys are not 80’s hair metal like I thought the first time I saw their name. They have a big tour schedule, check them out:
07/27/13 Cleveland, OH – Happy Dog
07/28/13 Hamilton, ON – The Casbah Lounge BUY TICKETS
07/30/13 Washington, DC – Black Cat w/ Jackson Scott BUY TICKETS
07/31/13 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s w/ Jackson Scott BUY TICKETS
08/01/13 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge w/ Dinowalrus BUY TICKETS
08/02/13 Brooklyn, NY – Glasslands w/ Jackson Scott & EULA BUY TICKETS
08/03/13 Boston, MA – Church of Boston w/ Jackson Scott BUY TICKETS
08/05/13 Toronto, ON – Drake Hotel BUY TICKETS
08/09/13 Chicago , IL – Empty Bottle BUY TICKETS
09/29/13 Atlanta, GA – Terminal West w/ Surfer Blood BUY TICKETS
09/30/13 Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theater w/ Surfer Blood
10/01/13 Carrboro, NC – Cats Cradle w/ Surfer Blood
10/03/13 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel w/ Surfer Blood
10/04/13 Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of Living Arts w/ Surfer Blood
10/05/13 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Surfer Blood
10/06/13 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom w/ Surfer Blood
10/07/13 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall w/ Surfer Blood
10/09/13 Toronto, CAN – Lee’s Place w/ Surfer Blood
10/10/13 Columbus, OH – The Basement w/ Surfer Blood
10/11/13 Chicago , IL – Bottom Lounge w/ Surfer Blood
10/12/13 Iowa City, IA – Gabes w/ Surfer Blood
10/13/13 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club w/ Surfer Blood
10/15/13 Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room w/ Surfer Blood
10/16/13 Denver , CO – Larimer Lounge w/ Surfer Blood
10/17/13 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge w/ Surfer Blood
10/18/13 Las Vegas, NV – Beauty Bar w/ Surfer Blood
10/19/13 San Diego, CA – The Irenic w/ Surfer Blood
10/21/13 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre w/ Surfer Blood
10/22/13 San Francisco, CA – The Independent w/ Surfer Blood
10/24/13 Phoenix, AZ – The Crescent Ballroom w/ Surfer Blood
10/26/13 Dallas, TX – Trees w/ Surfer Blood
10/27/13 Austin, TX – Red 7 w/ Surfer Blood
10/28/13 Houston, TX – Fitzgerald’s w/ Surfer Blood
10/29/13 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks w/ Surfer Blood
10/30/13 Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box w/ Surfer Blood
10/31/13 Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder w/ Surfer Blood
photo by leslieloudspeaker
Last night at Larimer Lounge in Denver, Akron/Family played to a packed and excited crowd. It was the second date of the tour for the new album, and the new material sounds amazing live! Extremely loud, beautiful, they create great solid songs wrapped in noise, and at times the audience was told to sing certain notes, being used as yet another instrument. The front was packed with girls NOT giving up their spot right next to the lead singer, Miles Seaton, didn’t know he was such a heartthrob, but for good reason. He’s cute and very nice. One girl begged him for anything from his pockets, he gave her rosemary dust. If you are a fan of the new album Sub-Verses, this show is a must see. Opener Princess Music were great too, as a friend said “he’s got a David Byrne thing going on”. That’s a good good thing.
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
photo by leslieloudspeaker
Akron/Family just released the video for “Samurai” off their new release Sub-Verses, and it’s pretty hauntingly awesome. Check them out tomorrow in Denver at Larimer Lounge, I’m beyond excited to see this stuff live.
photo by leslieloudspeaker
Phosphorescent (boy do I question my spelling every time) from Dead Oceans mesmerized the audience when I saw them at sxsw, slow layering of beautiful sounds, they are very good at creating soundscapes and making you forget the world around you. They released their video for “Song for Zula” today, and it’s even more mesmerizing now. I feel like reading Clan of the Cave Bear.
Akron/Family – This crazy experimental rock band from indie label Dead Oceans is famous for their wild, high energy live shows. The new album captures the joy and fun you feel at the shows perfectly. Layered and hypnotic, this album gets you to that blissful level. It kicks off with a bang with “No Room”, linked below, and the album blends so cohesively all the way to “Samurai”, leaving you with a feeling of peaceful calm. Fans of their earlier work are going to love this. They will be playing in Denver at the Larimer Lounge on 4/10, buy your ticket now, it will sell out.
photo by dlanderson
leslieloudspeaker 