This happened November 19 at the Ottobar, and will be Future Islands last Baltimore show until 2011. The recently dropped peach-colored vinyl features the single above.
Take a look at Valerie's full set from the packed affair after the jump.
This Saturday night, November 20th, the Ottobar hosts a late show (doors at 10 PM) that includes Future Islands, Lonnie Walker, Winks, and the dance collective Bobby.
This is the release party for a split 7" record with new singles from Future Islands and Lonnie Walker, dubbed "The Ink Well" and "Love Turn". The release is now available via our very own Friends Records, and comes on silky smooth peach-colored vinyl and a download code for those who prefer digital sounds.
Lonnie Walker are close friends of Future Islands from their hometown of Raleigh, but have played in Future Islands newfound home of Baltimore enough to earn a spot in Charm City's young hearts and minds. "Love Turn" is a sedated country punk ballad from the mind of singer Brian Corum, a heart-wrenching tale of when things go sour.
The Future Islands track features the glimmering synths, poignantly irresistible bass lines, and guttural vocals that have caused folks all over the world to fall in love with this band. This 7" is the last release of what has been a banner 2010 for the trio - touring the world and releasing their highly-acclaimed second LP with Thrill Jockey.
Winks will open, another Friends Records alum who is on the heels of releasing their next record. The new full length is to be titled She's Done, and steps in a more focused and polished direction than the old karaoke machine recordings of Winks' stellar debut cassette. Look for the track above, "She Cums in Colors", to appear on the new album, and stay tuned for more info on that release.
The show on Saturday starts at 10 PM at the Ottobar, and costs just $7.
Since we announced the inception of our local vinyl/tape record label, Friend Records, we've told you about our seven inch record with Future Islands and Lonnie Walker. This release sparked the idea of the label, and the peach colored vinyl of "The Ink Well" and "Love Turn" will hit turntables worldwide this week.
Above is the new Future Islands track for the the release, which was premiered yesterday by Altered Zones and the North Carolina based blog Get Off The Coast. Jheri Evans spoke of a track that "glistens and sparkles like few others, tugging at your heart and begging you to follow along as it floats off into the fog", while AZ said that band was "winning hearts with dramatic vocal delivery and minimal electronics."
This is the fourth and final vinyl release for Future Islands this year, capping off what has been a banner year for the trio. "The Ink Well" was written just before their tour in support of their debut LP with Thrill Jockey, and recorded right after the two month trek earlier this year. At the end of the week the limited addition vinyl will be available on their tour, right here online, and in stores.
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Lonnie Walker and Future Islands grew up together in North Carolina, and some members even went off to college together. While Brian Corum's country punk sounds weren't steadily aligned with the synth pop of William, Gerrit, and Sam... there was at least one collaboration that took place.
William Cashion called this their "inspirational karate-kid metal song". He also stated it was "recorded during the Pangea sessions back in April 2006 at the Bonque house in Greenville, NC." This was their first proper session with Chester Gwazda, which spawned "Follow You (Pangea version)" and "Pangea 1" from Wave Like Home. Brian Corum was on vocals, while Gerrit Welmers played guitar for this one.
Their tour starts on Thursday at the Black Cat down in D.C, and hits Baltimore November 20 with Winks. All dates for the 18-day North Americam tour are after the jump.
The Ottobar has a trio of shows in October/November that each feature a different local headliner, and all of which have put out some of our favorite releases thus far this year.
Starting with next week, Lower Dens headlines the Ottobar on October 19 in what will be their last Baltimore show of 2010. They play with the much-hyped garage pop of Frankie Rose and the Outs and Woven Bones, and locals Junkers will be opening. Lower Dens just finished up a massive North American tour, complete with visits to NPR's Tiny Desk and Daytrotter, both of which are worth checking out.
On Friday, November 5th, Wye Oak headlines the venue. This one is supported by two other local bands that have always come recommended by us - Height with Friends and The Art Department. The local indie hip hop mainstay Height and the quirky and angsty poppers of the Art Department have both dropped excellent full lengths on vinyl this year.
And lastly, Future Islands will headline the Ottobar on Saturday, November 20th. This is the seven inch release party for a split they are putting out with Lonnie Walker, which contains the forthcoming Future Islands single "The Ink Well". The limited split is pressed to peach-colored vinyl and comes via Friends Records. Nov. 20 will be the last stop on a 17-date November tour that both bands are a part of. Opening the Baltimore release party will be Winks, a project that has a new full length coming soon.
Future Islands are currently finishing up in Europe, where they ran into Dan Deacon...
Last week we shared the details on the Future Islands half of their split with Lonnie Walker, today we've got the B-side ready for your ears. Check out "Love Turn".
"Love Turn" is a whiskey-soaked ballad full of the free-range Americana the group has made a name for. While residing down in North Carolina, Lonnie Walker have played a heap of shows up here in Baltimore over the last few years. Much like their longtime Raleigh friends on the other side of this disc, their live performances make you bob up and down while your emotions are pulled in every which direction (but mostly just down). These dudes craft southern gems that are laced with infectiously jaded melodies, and tangled with nostalgically blunt lyrics.
Look for "Love Turn" and "The Ink Well" to pop up on the radio this Fall, and the peach-colored vinyl seven inch is available now for pre-order right here from Friends Records. The two bands will also tour together in November, details coming soon.
Just announced - Future Islands will playThe Cherch in DCthis Saturday, September 4th with Microkingdom, Dope Body, and Weekends. BBQ at 5 PM, music starts at 7.
Last week we had the privilege of announcing Celebration's forthcoming LP, and this week we've got another release from one of my favorite bands in Baltimore. This November, Friends Records is releasing a split seven inch from Future Islands, backed with their hometown friends Lonnie Walker.
The Future Islands single is a brand new song written this year after their Thrill Jockey LP, and recorded/produced this summer by Chester Endersby Gwazda. Rob Girardi mastered the brand new song, which is called "The Ink Well". The new single will premiere tomorrow on North Carolina's WKNC, and remain a radio-only single until closer to the release date.
This is a release that is bonded by friendship, as core members of both bands have been lifelong friends. It is also the release that sparked Friends Records, as it originally came into works last Fall after a fun night at the Future Islands residence in Mt. Vernon.
The seven inch will be released on peach-colored vinyl, and pressed by the legendary Erika Records. The artwork for the Future Islands side is by the always amazing Elena Johnston. Check back soon for the Lonnie Walker track, and look for a Future Islands/Lonnie Walker November tour announcement to come in the next few weeks.
Pre order the limited seven inch vinyl right here. FR003 Future Islands / Lonnie Walker Split "The Ink Well" / "Love Turn" Out November 2, 2010 on Friends Records Limited Release on Peach-colored Vinyl
Tonight some of our favorite North Carolina fellows are coming to town, playing a show at the Annex Theatre. Lonnie Walker's These Times Old Times finds its way to my ears more often than not when I'm in need of some good old fashioned punked-out country music, and we were more than thankful for their killer contribution to the Friends and Friends of Friends compilation.
The show tonight starts at 10, and also features Connect the Dots, Hume, and more. Peep a video of Hume in India after the jump compliments of Sockets Records.
Lonnie Walker is a country punk band with a knack for crafting songs drenched in Americana, along with a knack for a putting on one hell of a fun live show. They are based out of North Carolina, and grew up with the fellows of Future Islands.
Future Islands and Lonnie Walker are set to put out a split seven inch with Friends Records sometime this year (with a new Future Islands song that was written this month), but for now Brian Corum sent over a new track not off their stellar debut LP. The country-washed Pavement sounds of "Feels Like Right" will likely show up on the band's next release.
Check out a brand new track from B&P after the jump. B&P is the solo project of Chris Day, a resident of Open Space and the creator of Lost Ghosts Records - one of the finest local proprietors of hand made musical collages and soundscapes. Chris had been dubbed Bear & Pieces up until a week or so ago, when he passed along "Greminals" and let me know he wanted to be called B&P from now on.
Chris designed and screen printed the poster for our first show back in January at the G Spot, and he is currently working on the inserts for the the new Sri Aurobindo LP. "Greminals" is an and eight and a half behemoth of a journey through moments and sounds, and is certainly the darkest moment of the cassette. Look for some more excellent new B&P sounds to come this year.
Friends Records is a project by Brett Yale (me) and Jimmy MacMillan (the Sound Garden). We are launching today, and you can find us over at friendsrecordsbaltimore.com. Our first four releases are all set, here's what's to come:
FR001 WEEKENDS – Strange Cultures (Spring 2010) FR002 SRI AUROBINDO – Cave Painting (Spring 2010) FR003 FUTURE ISLANDS / LONNIE WALKER - split (August 2010) FR004 HEIGHT WITH FRIENDS – Bed of Seeds (Spring 2010)
All will be on vinyl, with our first three Spring releases limited to 500 copies - of which are at pressing plants as we speak. The screen printed concept by Neal Reinalda for the new Weekends album is above, and here's the first premiere off of Strange Cultures.
This is the short version of "Raingirls", while the vinyl will feature an exclusive seven minute version. Strange Cultures was mixed and mastered by Rob Girardi. Check out art and brand new tracks from our other two Spring releases below. Sri Aurobindo's Cave Painting will be pressed to green colored vinyl, and will be available in May. Above is the label sticker for side A of the vinyl, and the cover art will be ready very soon. Today we are premiering "Soul Vibrations of Man" (below), and look for another new track to surface over at Aural States later this week.
Height with Friends' Bed of Seeds will be available in early May, and sounds have already been readily flowing. The artwork for this one is finished, designed by Emily Slaughter with font/type set by Nolen Strales. Here's another new track, "Dreams Don't Always Come True".
While we here at Bmore Musically Informed promise to keep bringing you the same news and opinions on all things Baltimore music, expect the occasional updates on our Friends Records releases and artists. We've got a lot more planned with the label, so stay tuned for news on a compilation, a debut party, and much more.
Last Friday night The Good Son hosted a North Carolina invasion of sorts. Lonnie Walker and Veelee both call North Carolina home, and Gerrit Welmers of Moss of Aura is originally from the state.
All three acts made for a super fun Friday evening, and each brought something different to the table. Moss of Aura's dramatic synth bangers continue to impress me, and look for some thoughts on the CDR he's been offering coming here soon. I dug Lonnie Walker back when they played the Zodiac with Future Islands, and they rocked their whiskey-soaked Americana just as hard this go around. Veelee were a welcome surprise, a duo with a pretty big sound that's got a free EP you can snag right here.
Peep Chrissy's set of these three acts after the jump. Moss of Aura
Zodiac had a nice one last Thursday, with the very busy Future Islands headlining the affair. Some fellow Carolina boys dubbed Lonnie Walker performed, along with local talents Small Sur and Jared Paolini.
Chrissy captured the last three acts below, in what was an incredibly solid show. Bob Keal's Small Sur was yet again comfort music at it's best, painting tales of nature ideal for an early fall night. Andy Abelow's accompanying sax shined through quite a bit, and the new tracks played were certainly promising.
Having never heard these guys before, Lonnie Walker were a more than welcome surprise to the evening. They rocked country drenched Americana with a heavy guitar presence.
Aural States dug them too, and I couldn't help but notice the heavy Pavement influence in some of the songwriting and vocals. But, I guess not too many artists aren't influenced by Pavement these days. Look for more good stuff to come from these guys. Another Future Islands show, and another hell of a good time. These guys continue to grow tighter as a three piece, and continue to be one of the more fun local bands to catch live. It's impossible to stand still as they pair their ridiculously catchy synth beats with Sam's totally theatrical vocals. Disco ball and all, this was just another stellar performance under their belt.
Look for a ton to come from Future Islands in the near future, some of which we're hoping to premiere right here. Dudes are working on a remix project, a split release with Lonnie Walker, and are right in the middle of churning out their next full length.
