Brother-sister duo Charlie Belle to make NYC live debut next week; Scheduled to appear on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” on Sun., Dec. 27th.

17-year-old songwriter Jendayi Bonds, 15-year-old brother Gyasi to play free holiday show at Rockwood Music Hall next Wednesday.

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Charlie Belle (L-R): Gyasi Bonds, Jendayi Bonds. Photo Credit: Barclay Ice & Coal.

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Charlie Belle – In The Press

“Infectious, Brit-flavored indie pop.” – NPR

“Charlie Belle is outstanding.” – KUTX

“Wanna feel good? Press play.” – Noisey

“Some of the raddest kids around.” – NYLON

“The most infectious kind of power-pop.” – Wired

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Hear “I Don’t Want To Be Alone” from Charlie Belle at NPR Music and see the video via Yahoo! or at the links below!

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/charlie-belle-i-dont-want-to-be-alone

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/charliebelle-idwtba/mp3/charliebelle-idontwanttobealone.mp3

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[VIDEO]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZWjwF7tjO8

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NYC! See Charlie Belle live at Rockwood Music Hall on Weds., Dec. 23^rd at 8PM.  Free show!

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“It’s pretty R&B inspired,” Jendayi Bonds, the 17-year-old singer-songwriter of Charlie Belle explains about “I Don’t Want To Be Alone,” the duo’s new EP, out now.  “I’ve really been feeling the groove and trying to figure out a way to put that into Charlie Belle without taking away from who we are.”

The groove Jendayi is feeling hits home and is immediate on the EP’s title track, recently premiered by NPR, which will also air a piece about the band Sunday, December 27^th on its “Weekend Edition” program.  Miss the summer?  The video for “I Don’t Want To Be Alone” will bring you right back.  See it now via Yahoo!

New York-based fans of Charlie Belle can catch the band’s first NYC live appearance next Wednesday, December 23^rd at Rockwood Music Hall (196 Allen St.) at 8PM.  Admission is free!

The Bonds siblings, who began playing together as a duo in 2011 (promptly landing in USA Today with a cover of “Strange Powers” by Magnetic Fields), made a splash earlier this year with the breezy debut EP “Get To Know,” which recalled the English “alternapop” sound of the 90’s in a succinct and memorable handful of songs that reflected Jendayi’s mature-beyond-her-years songwriting.

Displaying a style that Jendayi began to hone starting with her first songwriting attempts at only 10-years-old (brother Gyasi started on drums at four), the “Get To Know” EP earned Jendayi’s songs their first bit of national attention.  The “I Don’t Want To Be Alone” EP shows off a major step forward in the young lyricist’s songwriting and abilities with a hook.

“I Don’t Want To Be Alone,” the latest EP from Charlie Belle, is out now. Jendayi and Gyasi are available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Charlie Belle

“I Don’t Want To Be Alone” EP

(Fanatic Records)

Out Now

  

Track Listing:

01. I Don’t Want To Be Alone  (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)

02. Petting Zoo (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)

03. Speak Your Mind

04. You Don’t Know Me

05. Find You

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Charlie Belle Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL

Broken Gold, led by Riverboat Gamblers guitarist Ian MacDougall, announces January tour, New EP out now.

Hear title track from Austin-based foursome’s “Turning Blue” streaming now via NPR member station KUTX.

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Broken Gold (L-R): Ben Lance, Rich Cali, Ian MacDougall, Rob Marchant. Photo Credit: Justin Wilson.

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Check out the title track from the “Turning Blue” EP by Broken Gold via KUTX, Austin or at the links below!

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/broken-gold-turning-blue

[MP3]: https://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/brokengold/mp3/brokengold-turningblue.mp3

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Pick up the “Turning Blue” EP on 7-inch vinyl and download the “Meet Broken Gold” sampler via Noisetrade!

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Broken Gold – Live

12/18 Austin, TX @ Barracuda

12/19 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves

01/03 Austin, TX @ The Belmont

01/07 Austin, TX @ Stubbs

01/09 Austin, TX @ Ground Floor Theatre

01/13 El Paso, TX @ Low Brow Palace

01/14 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Taproom

01/15 San Diego, CA @ Til Two Club

01/16 Fullerton, CA @ Slide Bar

01/17 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern

01/19 Las Vegas, NV @ Dive Bar

01/20 Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits

01/21 Dallas, TX @ Three Links

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“Recalls the Replacements or Hüsker Dü, equal parts rousing and reflective” – KUTX, Austin on Broken Gold

The new “Turning Blue” EP by Broken Gold (hear the title track streaming via KUTX, Austin) is the latest from the Austin-based foursome led by The Riverboat Gamblers guitarist Ian MacDougall.  Today, Broken Gold announces a series of tour dates in the west and southwest in support of the EP, out now digitally and on limited 7-inch vinyl via Chicken Ranch Records.

The new songs ask some big, hard questions; concerns that have arisen organically within the band.  In 2009, MacDougall was in a serious car accident. He lost a year to recuperation, a year in which it was unclear if he would be physically be able to return to playing music. For MacDougall, who joined The Riverboat Gamblers fresh out of high school, there was no “Plan B,” and knowing the fastest way through darkness is just to drive right through it, he’s continued his pursuit of Broken Gold, galvanized by what he’s endured.

Supported by Ben Lance on guitar, fellow Riverboat Gambler Rob Marchant on bass, and Rich Cali on drums, MacDougall has written and recorded his best songs to date, mature and thoughtful without losing the jittery anxiousness of his youth. Broken Gold invites comparisons to some of the indie rock legends –  Superchunk in ‘89, Dinosaur Jr in ‘87, The Replacements in ’84 –while still sounding totally their own.

While MacDougall has already logged a solid decade with The Riverboat Gamblers, don’t misunderstand Broken Gold as a lesser version of the Austin party punk legends.  If the Gamblers represent beer-drenched, Saturday night anarchy-euphoria-oblivion, Broken Gold is the urgent desperation after the party’s over.

Like the “Turning Blue” EP itself, Broken Gold’s very existence asks the questions: How do we make sense of the chaos we’ve enjoyed? Are we responsible for the mess we’ve made, the destruction we’ve caused, and the people we’ve hurt? How are we even going to make it home?

The “Turning Blue” EP by Broken Gold is out now via Chicken Ranch Records digitally and on limited 7-inch vinyl. Ian MacDougall is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Broken Gold

“Turning Blue” EP

(Chicken Ranch Records)

Out Now

  

Track Listing:

01. Turning Blue (STREAM | MP3)

02. Groundwork

03. Harm/Joy

04. Nov/Dec

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Broken Gold Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : INSTAGRAM

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL

Myopic records “Playground” in one take in Montessori school playground. Two-song “Two Pieces” single out today.

Dallas–based multi–instrumentalist Jeff Ryan’s credits include work with St. Vincent, The War on Drugs, Sarah Jaffe. 

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Jeff Ryan of Myopic as photographed by Jerome Brock.

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PLAY, POST & SHARE

Grab a download of “Playground” by Myopic courtesy of Popmatters and check out the video via Northern Transmissions.

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/myopic-playground

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/myopic-twopieces/mp3/myopic-playground.mp3

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[VIDEO]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqp8NkBXncs

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Dallas–based drummer and multi–instrumentalist Jeff Ryan – his credits include work with St. Vincent, The War on Drugs, Daniel Johnston, Sarah Jaffe, The New Year and many more – presents “Two Pieces” (UPClose Recording Co., Dec. 11^th), his latest release under the Myopic banner.  The new tracks are each named for the settings in which they were made, recorded with minimal instrumentation and no overdubs, and then mixed by Grammy award–winning producer, Stuart Sikes.

“The idea was to capture a moment and not spend any time in post-production,” Ryan says of the concept. “Whatever happened in the moment, happened.”  The first track, “Playground,” was recorded in the playground of White Rock Montessori where Ryan’s children go to school. “A lot of the teachers are already playing it for their students, and getting them inspired to make more music.”

“I was dropping by the school, and I realized I was in the playground, totally alone, for the first time,” Ryan explains. “Even though I’d always noticed the vibes and bells that were built into the playground, I just never really had the chance to play them.”  A few weeks later, Ryan replicated the melody he came up with that day along with minimal accompaniment.

“I heard violin and another set of bells accentuating my foundational melody,” he says.  “I had Scott Danbom from Centro–Matic, and a few other players along to accompany me. You can hear planes flying overhead, a bit of the wind, and the instruments resonating naturally outside.” The music video for “Playground,” shot by John Dufhilo, captures the session just as it took place that day.

“I’ve been on the periphery of the electronic world for a while, so I thought it would be interesting to try something completely different,” Ryan says of the new music. The second of the “Two Pieces” is “Home” which was recorded in the house where Ryan grew up in rural Texas. “To go there that day and track this idea in the same living room where I’ve had hundreds of family gatherings was pretty special,” he says.

Jeff Ryan of Myopic is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Myopic

“Two Pieces” Single

(UPClose Recording Co.)

December 11^th, 2015

Track Listing:

01. Playground (STREAM | MP3 | VIDEO)

02. Home

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Myopic Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL

Cotton Mather harnesses the wisdom of the I Ching for massive 64-song, multi-album undertaking.

Austin-based power-pop maven Robert Harrison explains “The Book of Too Late Changes” single.

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Robert Harrison of Cotton Mather. Photo Credit: Valerie Fremin.

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Check out the premiere of “The Book of Too Late Changes” by Cotton Mather via Texas Monthly or listen at the links below!

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/cotton-mather-the-book-of-too-late-changes

[MP3]: https://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/cottonmather/cottonmather-thebookoftoolatechanges.mp3

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Cotton Mather’s much revered album Kontiki – originally issued in 1997, and then again as a deluxe edition in 2012 – was heavily influenced by Chinese philosophy, and the band’s mastermind, Robert Harrison is mining that subject matter again with his ambitious new project which represents the first all-new Cotton Mather music in more than a decade.

“I’ve always been spiritually curious,” Harrison says of the subject matter.  “I studied the I Ching in college but didn’t delve deep until later.”  Delving is putting it mildly as Harrison intends to record one song for each of the ancient book of Chinese wisdom and advice’s 64 hexagrams, eventually packaging the tracks into several vinyl releases, but making them available digitally along the way.

The first track, “The Book of Too Late Changes,” was premiered by Texas Monthly in November as part of a larger feature about the project, and two more songs will become available before the close of 2015.  Harrison explains that he consults the I Ching “at the beginning of most days,” but it wasn’t until recently that he decided to let it motivate his songwriting and birth this massive project.

“I wrote a song titled ‘Call Me The Witch’ for Nicole Atkins,” Harrison tells Texas Monthly. “I got the idea for the song after consulting the I Ching.  I began to ask myself, ‘Should I do a project based around the I Ching?’ I’d get a gentle ‘No,’ but this spring I was in Europe and realized it was burning in me to do the whole cycle, because I’d already written a dozen or so songs in this method.  I realized attempting all 64 at once wouldn’t be true. So the songs are my responses to the readings as I receive them, happening in real time and real weather.”

This thinking explains Harrison’s choice to release the tracks one by one, sharing the material in an organic, non-contrived way.  Harrison says that 18 of the 64 songs have already been written, and the process of recording them is ongoing.  The first tune to surface, “The Book of Too Late Changes,” is actually about surfacing itself.  Or re-surfacing in this case.

“The question was, where do I begin?,” Harrison tells Texas Monthly. “One problem is you have to convince people you’re worth hearing again. I knew it had to be  something explosive. I consulted the I Ching and got hexagram 24, ‘The Return,’ which is about turning back onto the path. So I thought, I’ll make it about the return of Cotton Mather.”

Robert Harrison of Cotton Mather is available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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More about Cotton Mather:

Cotton Mather was founded by Robert Harrison in Austin, Texas in the early 1990’s with an experimental sound that soon evolved into guitar driven pop defined by accessible melodies, strong vocal harmonies and lyrical wit. The group released its debut album Cotton Is King in 1994, but it was the follow-up album Kontiki, famously recorded on four-track cassette, that drew praise from critics and rock-stars alike.

Uncut Magazine gave the album five stars calling the record “music to smile yourself to death to.” Mojo said the songs were “brought to life with daring vitality,” and in its own five-star review, The Guardian called Kontiki “a bewildering, dizzy thrill.” It wasn’t just the press either.  Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher fell in love with Kontiki soon after discovering it. When Noel was asked “What are you listening to these days?” in the pages of Mojo, he answered: “Cotton Mather, Kontiki,” and went on to say, “I thought if that isn’t the best record I’ve heard in ten years, then I don’t know what is.” Brother Liam left his praise for the record in the pages of GQ, admitting “I fucking wish it was ours! I play it all day at home.”

On our shores, the bounce back of influence from across the pond was finally felt with Britt Daniel of Spoon being just one artist to say “Kontiki gave me something to shoot for.” In addition to the deluxe reissue of Kontiki on Valentine’s Day, 2012, Cotton Mather reunited that year for a special performance of full album at South By Southwest, marking the first time in a decade since the band last performed together.

In the years since Cotton Mather went on hiatus, Harrison stayed busy producing other artists, in addition to forming and fronting a new band, Future Clouds and Radar which was acknowledged for its “sprawling orchestral pop” by The New Yorker and named “Debut Artist of The Year” by Harp Magazine.  Harrison expects that with so many I Ching songs to record, Future Clouds and Radar will also be making an appearance on the project. 

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Cotton Mather Links

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL

Dan Hubbard reinvents his sound in Nashville with Wilco co-founder behind the boards. Hear “February” single now.

Upcoming self-titled album from Midwest-based songwriter produced by three-time Grammy nominee, Ken Coomer.

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Dan Hubbard as photographed by Karen Bridges (Beyond The Well)

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PLAY, POST & SHARE

Check out the premiere of “February” by Dan Hubbard via Groundsounds or at the links below!

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/dan-hubbard-february

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com/projects/danhubbard/mp3/danhubbard-february.mp3

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“Ranks alongside the likes of Ryan Adams as one of the finest contemporary country-rock front men.” –R2 Magazine (UK)

Bloomington, Illinois-based songwriter Dan Hubbard has been cultivating a Midwestern rock n’ roll sound for over a decade.  Until now.

Starting with his first album under the name The Hubbards in 2003, through to 2011’s The Love Show with his band, The Humadors, Hubbard never felt the urge to change things up, but when he did, he had to make some big choices.

“Everyone had their reasons for wanting to end the band, but changing my sound, which was something I never cared about before, was my reason,” Hubbard says. It was a precarious move for an artist who had already built a small, but devoted fan base.  The risk paid off.

Hubbard’s upcoming, naturally self-titled, solo album (out Feb. 5^th) is all the proof that’s needed. Where the Humadors rocked, and rocked very well, Hubbard’s new songs, and his performance of them, sound less rave-up and more settled in – real, relatable, roots-driven music that sticks.

Armed with a batch of some of the best songs he’d written in his life, Hubbard recently headed to Nashville to work with producer Ken Coomer, a co-founder of Wilco and a three-time Grammy nominee.

“Ken played drums on Wilco’s Being There and Summerteeth albums – two of my favorite records of all time,” Hubbard exclaims of this dream-come-true scenario. Coomer brought in a who’s who of local talent to round out Hubbard’s studio band, including Dave Roe (long-time bassist with Johnny Cash), Adam Ollendorff (guitarist with Kacey Musgraves), and Tyson Rogers (pianist with Don Williams). Of course, Coomer himself joined in behind the drums.

“I know it’s the best thing I’ve done,” Hubbard says of the album. “I hope a lot of people enjoy it.”

Dan Hubbard’s self-titled new album arrives on February 5^th, 2016 with a tour launching that same day.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Dan Hubbard

S/T

(S/R – Feb. 5^th, 2016)

  

Track Listing:

01. February (STREAM | MP3)

02. More I Live, Less I Know

03. Johnny

04. Straw Hat

05. And The Music

06. She Gives It Everything

07. All Night, Alright

08. Tired of Loving You

09. Come Tomorrow

10. The Turning Point

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Dan Hubbard – Live

02/05 Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theater

02/06 Springfield, IL @ The Legacy Theater

02/11 Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern

02/12 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway

02/19 Davenport, IA @ Redstone Room

02/20 Cedar Rapids, IA @ Artisans Sanctuary

02/27 Champaign, IL @ Cowboy Monkey

03/03 Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi

03/04 Louisville, KY @ Third Street Dive

03/05 Nashville, TN @ The Basement

03/11 Fort Myers, FL @ Yabo

03/26 Emporia, KS @ Emporia Granada Theater

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Dan Hubbard Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL

Dallas based “indie rock heroes,” Pleasant Grove reunite to complete album started almost a decade ago, EU tour forthcoming.

“The Heart Contortionists,” recorded by Grammy-winners John Congleton, Stuart Sikes arrives February 5^th. Hear “Lava” now.

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Pleasant Grove (L-R): Chris Mayes, Marcus Striplin, Tony Hormillosa, Bret Egner & Jeff Ryan. Photo credit: Ian Berry.

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PLAY, POST & SHARE

Read about the return of Pleasant Grove via Texas Monthly and hear the new single “Lava” here or at the links below.

[STREAM]: https://soundcloud.com/fanaticpro/pleasant-grove-lava

[MP3]: http://www.fanaticpromotion.com//projects/pleasantgrove/mp3/pleasantgrove-lava.mp3

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One of the most beloved bands from Dallas has reunited to complete and tour on an album that they started recording almost a decade ago.  Referred to as “indie rock heroes” this week by Texas Monthly, Pleasant Grove will release The Heart Contortionists via We Know Better Records on February 5^th, 2016.  Named for the Dallas suburb, Pleasant Grove was originally formed in 1998 by co-vocalists and guitarists Marcus Striplin and Bret Egner who were drawn together by a common vision to write and perform songs that captured raw, melancholy melodies laid out over slow, spacious harmonies.

“We have been down a difficult road,” explains Striplin of the near-decade that has passed between commencing work on The Heart Contortionists, Pleasant Grove’s untimely dissolution, and the album’s ultimate completion.  Recorded by Grammy-award winners John Congleton (St. Vincent, Modest Mouse, The War On Drugs) and Stuart Sikes (Loretta Lynn, White Stripes, Cat Power), The Heart Contortionists will remind listeners of what they loved about the Pleasant Grove sound – a folk band’s command of melody and a psych band’s command of reverb – while also giving clues to what led to the group’s departure from the scene.

“In short, The Heart Contortionists is a divorce record,” says Striplin. “And through all the hazy days, I had completely forgotten that we had recorded it.”  Indeed, Striplin survived drink, divorce, and a two-year case of writer’s block to get here. An eventual move to Austin by way of NYC, and a new relationship led him back to musical projects, but he says “it was nothing close to what Pleasant Grove could make me feel.”

So, in late 2012, Striplin and Egner went back and listened to the old sessions with open hearts and minds and found that they had made a contemporary album that happened to be recorded ten years ago.  With Striplin’s newly rehabilitated state, Pleasant Grove decided to move forward, spending much of 2014 putting finishing touches on the album.  The result is The Heart Contortionists, a classic-sounding record that reflects the sonic maturity of a band that released its first recording of “shimmering majestic pop and lethargic country music” in 1999, and should be rightly recognized as an architect of that sound today.

Pleasant Grove is currently plotting European dates surrounding an already-announced appearance at Germany’s Orange Blossom Special Festival, and has also just announced three record release shows in Texas for February. Nearly ten years in the making, The Heart Contortionists arrives on February 5^th, 2016 from We Know Better Records.    The album’s first single “Lava” is streaming now.

Members of Pleasant Grove are available for interviews.  Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic for more information.

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Pleasant Grove – Record Release Shows

02/05 Austin, TX @ Mohawk

02/06 Fort Worth, TX @ Fred’s

02/07 Dallas, TX @ Twilight Lounge

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Pleasant Grove

The Heart Contortionists

(We Know Better Records)

February 5^th, 2016

  

Track Listing:

01. Why Did You Butcher Your Father?

02. The Pessimist Clique

03. Lava (STREAM | MP3)

04. Atoms

05. Disintegration (Consider Your Brother)

The Heart Contortionists Suite:

06. Fishing In Spain

07. The Devil Is In Our House

08. The Heart Contortionists

9. Donor

10. Margaret’s Alone Sitting Quite Still

11. We Lost The Maps (Bonus Track)

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Pleasant Grove Links

ASSETS : WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER

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Contact Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion

WEBSITE : FACEBOOK : TWITTER : YOUTUBE : INSTAGRAM : TUMBLR : SOUNDCLOUD : SPOTIFY : LAST.FM : BLOG : E-MAIL