Thursday, October 27, 2016

Handgrenades announces first batch of tour dates supporting “Tunnels”; Produced by Zach Shipps of ​​Electric Six, new album arrives Nov. 4th.

Detroit area-based band contrasts bright melodies with dark lyrics on latest single, “The Watcher;” Hear it streaming now via Atwood Magazine.

+++


Handgrenades (L-R): Andrew Pawelski, Joby Kaslowski, Jesse Shepherd-Bates, Nick Chevillet, Joel Sanders. Photo credit: Doug Coombe.

+++

PLAY, POST & SHARE

“A brighter, catchy melody serves as the background to the song’s fairly dark lyrics.” – Atwood Magazine on “The Watcher.”




+++

Handgrenades – On Tour

11/04 Bay City, MI @ Bemo’s
11/05 Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch Record Release Show
11/17 Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn
11/18 Chicago, IL @ The Elbo Room
12/01 Saginaw, MI @ White’s
12/02 Muncie, IN @ Be Here Now
12/08 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk’s
12/09 New York, NY @ Cake Shop
12/16 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection

+++

​​​​ Handgrenades was formed by high school friends Andrew Pawelski and Nick Chevillet in “Downriver,” the unofficial name of a collection of suburban cities south of Detroit. The band released its debut full-length in 2012, produced at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit by Jim Diamond, best-known for his work on the first two albums by The White Stripes.

Now, a more refined, five-piece version of Handgrenades has arrived, including Detroit-based guitar stalwart, Jesse Shepherd-Bates, and another Detroit-area veteran, keyboardist, Joel Sanders. This sonically evolved version of the band will release its second full-length Tunnels on Nov. 4th, 2016, the same day it kicks off a series of tour dates to round out the year.

Produced by Zach Shipps of Electric Six, the songs on Tunnels could only have emerged from this veritable cauldron of the Detroit music scene, simmering, and now boiling over with one catchy tune after another. Click to hear the first two singles, “Daily Routine” and “The Watcher.”

 “It doesn’t sound like a rehash of someone else. Zach made this record sound like us,” Sanders says, with Shepherd-Bates adding, “Zach brings a lot of insight, and he really improved the structure of our songs. We adhered to a philosophy when making this record: Every idea, we’re going to see through, every idea, it will be attempted. These songs are a group effort, and nobody ever got shot down.”

In addition to the Beatles-esque melodies, three-part vocal harmonies, guitar rock edges, and Motown flavors that Handgrenades had already established as part of its musical identity, Tunnels shows off modern influences such as The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and The National.

Oh, and David Lynch.

“A lot of David Lynch,” Chevillet says of the inspiration for “Daily Routine,” the lead single from Tunnels which AllMusic recently described as “urgent and harmonious.” “I’ve never really liked anything creepy or dark before Lynch,” Chevillet explains. “This was the first time I’ve been able to avoid direct lyrics like ‘I love you,’ and ‘You broke my heart.’”

​​Tunnels arrives on ​​Nov. 4th, 2016, preceded by the singles “Daily Routine,” and “The Watcher.” The band launches a tour that same day.  Members of Handgrenades are available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

+++

Handgrenades
Tunnels
Nov, 4th, 2016
  

Track Listing:

01. Settle For You
02. Daily Routine (STREAM | MP3)
03. The Watcher (STREAM | MP3)
04. Denial
05. Suffocating
06. A Heart Like Yours
07. Interloper
08. In Absentia
09. Wrapped In Plastic
10. Daydream
11. Green Eyes (Bonus Track)
12. See You Around (Bonus Track)

+++

Handgrenades Links


+++

Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Monday, October 24, 2016

The March Divide to release latest EP, launch fall tour in Austin on Nov. 4th. “Bribing Jace” follows-up three LP, three EP releases in three years.

San Antonio-based Jared Putnam joins Garrett Klahn of Texas Is The Reason as support on trio of dates, New “I Might” single streaming now.

+++


Jared Putnam of The March Divide as photographed by Greg Gabrisch

+++

The March Divide – In The Press

“Impressively hooky.” – American Songwriter

“Catchy hooks and memorable lines.” – Innocent Words

“A lovely surprise.” – Independent Clauses

Big Star-informed, strummy acoustic reverie.” – BLURT

“Completely clever.” – Performer

“Gifted with a serious set of pipes.” – The Aquarian

“Quality pop at its best.” – Popdose

“All about lyrics and melodies.” – Babysue

+++


PLAY, POST & SHARE

The March Divide launches a fall tour in Austin on Nov. 4th. Hear “I Might” from the “Bribing Jace” EP via Austin Town Hall or at the links below!



+++

San Antonio, TX – Jared Putnam, the main man behind the The March Divide, will launch a string of fall tour dates in Austin, Texas on Friday, November 4th, the same day he releases the five-song “Bribing Jace,” which represents the prolific songwriter’s fourth EP, in addition three full-length releases, in just over three years.

Saturdays, the most recent album by The March Divide album, arrived in May, 2016.  The upcoming run of dates will take Putnam throughout Texas (including shows with Texas Is The Reason’s, Garrett Klahn) and out west to California.

“There’s an untapped type of pop music that I’ve been on a quest to make,” ​​Putnam says, explaining the sound of ​​“Bribing Jace,” and going on to further describe it as, “not redefined, just redesigned.” ​​Putnam continues, saying, “While I’ve never really been willing to sacrifice a song to an experiment, I went as close to all-in as I could this time. Chasing this white whale was a lot of fun!”

​​“Bribing Jace” contains three songs recorded during the ​​Saturdays sessions that ​​Putnam loved, but felt didn’t quite fit the feel of the album, and two brand-new tracks,​ ​including the single, ​​“I Might.”

 “‘​I Might’ is a very different song for me,” ​​Putnam says. “When I initially came up with the riff, I had several changes that worked, but for whatever reason, just playing that one riff over and over was the thing that felt right.” Listen to “I Might” from “Bribing Jace” via Austin Town Hall now.

​​“Bribing Jace,” the latest EP from ​​The March Divide arrives on ​​Nov. 4th, 2016. It is available for pre-order here. Saturdays, the latest album from The March Divide is out now. Jared Putnam is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

+++

The March Divide – Live

11/04 Austin, TX @ Hole In The Wall Full band, 8PM
11/05 Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar Full band, 8PM
11/06 San Antonio, TX @ Limelight w/ Garrett Klahn (Texas Is The Reason)
11/07 El Paso, TX @ Bowie Feathers w/ Garrett Klahn (Texas Is The Reason)
11/08 Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar w/ Garrett Klahn (Texas Is The Reason)
11/09 San Diego, CA @ The Merrow Solo acoustic, 8PM
11/10 Anaheim, CA @ World Famous Doll Hut Solo acoustic, 7PM
11/12 Long Beach, CA @ The Prospector
11/13 Reno, NV @ Spectre Records
11/14 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Dawg Pound w/ Paint The Woods, The Wicked Notions, 21+, 8PM
11/15 Elko, NV @ DLC Gallery Bar
11/17 Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits
11/18 Lubbock, TX @ Depot Obar
11/19 Austin, TX @ House Show E-mail info@themarchdivide.com for info

+++

The March Divide – “Bribing Jace” EP
(S/R – Nov. 4th, 2016)


Track Listing:

01. That Song I Wrote For You
02. It’s Easy
03. Here I Go Again
04. Push My Luck
05. I Might (STREAM | MP3)

+++

The March Divide – Saturdays
(S/R – Out Now)
  

Track Listing:

1. Exit Signs (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)
2. What Will I Do
3. Take Me Out
4. Take Your Chances
5. Who Are You (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)
6. I Give Up
7. Kathrine Loves The Fall
8. Go To Sleep (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)
9. I Don’t Recall
10. Because I Wanted To
11. This Infatuation
12. Over and Over
13. Stacey
14. This Argument

+++

The March Divide Links


+++

Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Sunday, October 16, 2016

J Hacha De Zola joined in studio by Frank London of The Klezmatics, Dana Colley of Morphine, shares “film noir” video for “Falling Out of Chairs.”

Rahway-based “urban junkyard” artist expands cast as London, Colley accompany Tom Waits collaborators Ralph Carney, David Coulter on latest sessions.

+++


J Hacha De Zola as photographed by Miguel Peralta

+++

J Hacha De Zola – In The Press

 “The kind of alluring character found in old children’s books.” – UTNE

“The main influence is that of Tom Waits. But if Zola has influences, he also has talent.” – VOIR

“To say that De Zola’s creative process and musical style are unique is an understatement.” – SLUG

“Cranks and curdles and clomps around his slithery croon tunes.” – CMJ

“A twisted, dystopian narrative straight from the mind of John Carpenter.” – ELMORE

“Visionary.” – BLURT

+++


PLAY, POST & SHARE

“I like to say this silly video is in the style of ‘Le Gallus Film Noir’ or ‘Le Chicken Film Noir’” – J Hacha De Zola.


+++

“The beauty of working with silhouettes is that they are perfectly amorphous,” says J Hacha De Zola of the music video for “Falling Out of Chairs,” a deep cut from Picaro Obscuro, the Rahway, New Jersey-based artist’s second album of 2016. “You can become any shape or size through a simple movement.” The clip was shot by Stefan Zeniuk of Brooklyn’s “Psycho Mambo” ensemble, Gato Loco. “I am a particularly big fan of ‘film noir’ genres,” Hacha De Zola explains. “We like to dub this style of video ‘Le Gallus Film Noir’ or ‘Le Chicken Film Noir’ ala ‘Nosferatu.’

Even in the midst of promoting Picaro Obscuro, along with taking a side street to cover an Ariana Grande jam (see below), Hacha De Zola is already deep into recording his third album. This time around, Hacha De Zola will be joined by trumpet player, Frank London, a Grammy-winner as a member of The Klezmatics (and a collaborator with David Byrne, John Cale, and Itzhak Perlman), as well as Dana Colley, co-founder of the dark spirited blues-rock band, Morphine.

“He’s like a codeine cough syrup dream on the train to Zurich,” is how another Hacha De Zola collaborator, legendary sax man Ralph Carney, describes him. Carney, who made his bones with Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, The B-52s, They Might Be Giants, and Frank Black (and who is also the uncle of The Black Keys co-founder, Patrick Carney), makes his tenor and baritone horns an omnipresent force on Picaro Obscuro, and will join Hacha De Zola again on his as-yet-untitled third album.

Multi-instrumentalist, David Coulter is heard throughout Picaro Obscuro, as well.  Coulter, who has recorded, performed and toured with artists as diverse as Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker, Laurie Anderson, Kronos Quartet, Yoko Ono, and Beck among many other notables, shares a common compatriot with Carney in Waits, as both men performed on the Waits album The Black Rider, a collection of the songs from the theater piece of the same name for which Coulter served as Associate Musical Director.

Other influences on the sound of Picaro Obscuro according to Hacha De Zola include: Perez Prado, Captain Beefheart, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Danil Kharms, Arthur Rimbaud, Frank Zappa, Nick Cave, and Syd Barrett.

Picaro Obscuro, the second album by J Hacha De Zola is out now. His cover of the Ariana Grande song “Bad Decisions” is also streaming now. Hacha De Zola is available for interviews. Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

+++


PLAY, POST & SHARE


J Hacha De Zola turns Ariana Grande’s “Bad Decisions” into a “Tom Waits-Esq Barroom Roar,” says Cover Me in its track premiere.



+++

“Recording this cover, I realized how truly amazing of a singer Ariana Grande is,” says Rahway, New Jersey-based musician J Hacha De Zola. “She can sing her butt off.” Of course, Hacha De Zola brings a decidedly unique take to the tune, premiered via cover song website, Cover Me. “I’m not much of a singer, I’m probably more of a crooner,” he says. His style has been called “baroque pop,” “avant indie,” “boozegaze,” and “urban junkyard” – imaginative descriptions that turn out to be pretty on point.

“I really wanted to see if I could cover, or more accurately, ‘re-make’ a pop tune and have it sound like me,” Hacha De Zola says “I connected with the slightly dark connotations that could be drawn from it. It’s also in the “dark” key of E minor.” Ultimately, the song is pretty unrecognizable from its original version until it hits the chorus. “At that point, I hope the listener says, ‘Holy shit, this is an Ariana Grande cover?!’”

+++

J Hacha De Zola
Picaro Obscuro
Out Now
  

Track Listing:

01. A Curious Thing (STREAM | MP3)
02. Bad Fiction
03. Bubble Gum (STREAM | MP3)
04. In Curtains (STREAM | MP3)
05. Falling Out of Chairs (VIDEO)
06. Picaro Obscuro
07. Black Water
08. Taking Names
09. On Your Own
10. Dead End Street
11. Tears of Summer

+++

J Hacha De Zola Links


+++

Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion


Friday, October 7, 2016

Straight outta Downriver: High school friends in Handgrenades emerge from Detroit outskirts with new album “Tunnels,” arriving Nov. 4th.

Produced by ​​Zach Shipps of ​​Electric Six, new album features one “urgent and harmonious” tune after another. Hear single “Daily Routine” now.

+++


Handgrenades (L-R): Andrew Pawelski, Joel Sanders, Nick Chevillet, Jesse Shepherd-Bates, Joby Kaslowski. Photo credit: Doug Coombe.

+++

PLAY, POST & SHARE


AllMusic calls “Daily Routine” by Handgrenades, “urgent and harmonious.” Listen here or via the links below!



+++

​​​​ Handgrenades was formed by high school friends Andrew Pawelski and Nick Chevillet in “Downriver,” the unofficial name of a collection of suburban cities south of Detroit. Bonding over a shared love of The Beatles, the pair began performing together in 2008 as The HandGrenades (“The band wasn’t a joke, but the name was,” says Pawelski.)

A variety of additional musicians came and went (including Andrew’s brother, Tom Pawelski, who was key in developing the band’s signature vocal style), until the band added drummer, Joby Kaslowski, and released a debut EP in 2011. A full-length was released in 2012, produced at Ghetto Recorders in Detroit by Jim Diamond, best-known for his work on the first two albums by The White Stripes, and a second EP followed in 2014.

Now, a more refined, five-piece version of Handgrenades has arrived, including Detroit-based guitar stalwart, Jesse Shepherd-Bates, and another Detroit-area veteran, keyboardist, Joel Sanders. This evolution of the band is not only noted in the sleeker presentation of the its name, but also in the sound of Tunnels, the second full-length Handgrenades album, scheduled for release on Nov. 4th, 2016.

Produced by Zach Shipps (Electric Six), the songs on Tunnels could only have emerged from this veritable cauldron of the Detroit music scene, simmering for a decade, and now boiling over with one catchy tune after another.

For the recording of Tunnels, with three singers and three writers now in the band, the members of Handgrenades knew they’d need a strong leader in the studio, not only to fulfill the potential of the songs, but also to retain the distinctive elements that the guys had honed over the years. For this, they turned once again to Shipps, who had produced the most recent Handgrenades EP.

“It doesn’t sound like a rehash of someone else. Zach made this record sound like us,” Sanders says.

Shepherd-Bates adds, “Zach brings a lot of insight, and he really improved the structure of our songs. We adhered to a philosophy when making this record: Every idea, we’re going to see through, every idea, it will be attempted. These songs are a group effort, and nobody ever got shot down.”

In addition to the Beatles-esque melodies, three-part vocal harmonies, guitar rock edges, and Motown flavors that Handgrenades had already established as part of its music identity, Tunnels shows off modern influences such as The Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and The National.

Oh, and David Lynch.

“A lot of David Lynch was watched,” Chevillet says of the inspiration for “Daily Routine,” the lead single from Tunnels. “I’ve never really liked anything creepy or dark before Lynch,” he explains. “This was the first time I’ve been able to avoid direct lyrics like ‘I love you,’ and ‘You broke my heart.’”

The term “dark” becomes pretty relative when listening to the upbeat, silvery vocals on the upcoming new album from Handgrenades, anyway.  What you’ll hear are five good guys who are, essentially, the mitten state’s most energetic group of ruffians.

​​Tunnels arrives on ​​Nov. 4th, 2016, preceded by the lead single ​​“Daily Routine​.​” Members of Handgrenades are available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

+++

Handgrenades
Tunnels
Nov, 4th, 2016
  

Track Listing:

01. Settle For You
02. Daily Routine (STREAM | MP3)
03. The Watcher
04. Denial
05. Suffocating
06. A Heart Like Yours
07. Interloper
08. In Absentia
09. Wrapped In Plastic
10. Daydream
11. Green Eyes (Bonus Track)
12. See You Around (Bonus Track)
+++

Handgrenades Links


+++

Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion