Selling Out The Night Beats Generation

Seattle-via-Texas garage psychers Night Beats are on the cusp of releasing their 3rd album Who Sold Our Generation through Heavenly Recordings. As 'Sunday Mourning' and especially 'No Cops' attests, the trio's boots are still firmly entrenched in the hallucinogenic, dust-swirling, blues-trapped spaces of the Lone Star State, their psych rock about finding sun-blasted rhythms and ripping them to shreds. If this doesn't warm the cockles, build a thirst and lose yourself in the smoke, nothing will. Pre-order the LP here.

Night Cults Of Reverberation

Saw The Black Angels at The Tivoli a couple months ago. I was only saying at the beginning of the year that the ex-theatre with the stellar sound hadn't been catering to good bands in recent years, then BAM! Dirty Three play there, Godspeed play there, My Bloody Valentine play there, and now the Texan psych giants. It was a typically amazing show, especially the light show, Alex Maas' iconic vocals and Stephanie Bailey's drumming... There is nothing about this band live that doesn't appeal to me.

So why not focus on some of the latest releases to come out of their Reverberation Appreciation Society label. The eponymous debut from Nottingham's The Cult of Dom Keller is one (albeit tiny) reason to heed my fiance's imploring to move to the land of Robin Hood - these languorous psychic jams death-march straight into my soul. From the insistent crawl of 'Swamp Heron', the laced languid spike of 'Eyes', the trance of 'Worlds' which then explodes in fury, the black dirge that is the excellent 'Black Pullet Blues' - it's no wonder they on the Black Angels label - it's like Passover all over again. You can (and really should) buy the album here.

Then there is the incumbent album from Seattle garage dwellers Night Beats, Sonic Bloom. It's been in the making for some time, and whilst I haven't heard it there is 'Outta Mind', a short stomping stab of garage psych that oozes out of the time capsule and demands to have your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle. Impassioned wailing ensues.Night Beats have always been more about the rock side of vintage psych sounds, and Sonic Bloom looks set to build on their template. Can't wait to hear it. They are touring Europe in September/October - don't miss them.

Feeling The TRMRS

Costa Mesa band TRMRS (pronounced Tremors for those of you used to vowels) sent me their 7" split with Night Beats (coming out on Volcom Entertainment & Resurrection Records), and its pretty kick arse. Their side of it contains 'Goodtime Blues', which so goddamned dirty and fun that I can't help but love it. It would go down a treat here in Brisbane I reckon... Deliberately straddling the bedroom surf pop, sludgy guitar and murky psych borders, the band are adept at eschewing conventions. Expect to hear more from TRMRS as they launch 2012 and their split with shows alongside the aforementioned Night Beats, but also SM faves The Growlers and White Fence! Grab the Split here. Look out for an album later in the year.

Dialling The Number of the Beats

Seattle's Night Beats have been on our radar ever since Chicago's Trouble In Mind label put out their EP last year. And they are heating up for another aural obliteration with 'Dial 666', the single from their forthcoming longplayer that will also be put out by Trouble In Mind. Its more of the same lean as fuck blues rock ephemera, which is more than we have the right to ask for.

Night Beats - Dial 666

H-Bomb hits Seattle via Texas

Seattle has been a mecca for grunge worshippers ever since the heady days of the late 80s. It is funny that many music 'gurus' can be so dismissive of the genre - it was integral in injecting a refreshing burst of energy (ok, via angst...) into the rock scene. Besides a good grunge band simply fucking rocks.

Night Beats aren't what you would label as a grunge band per se. Having more in common with psych-blues-rock compatriots The Black Angels than Nirvana, nevertheless the band has set about tearing their new home (they originally hail from Austin Texas) a new whiskey filled arsehole. What they offer that sets them apart is purely distilled psychedelic liquid gold - the foundation of the blues trip fest, cut of all its (admittedly brilliant) trimmings to create a lean mean rocking beast.

Put out by Trouble In Mind in July, their first official EP contains the epitome of concise rock 'H-Bomb', a true showcase of Night Beats. They have just played Austin Psych Fest (what a brilliant festival - The Black Angels, Raveonettes, and Warpaint amongst others). They are big news. And they are shaking down Seattle town once more.

Night Beats - H-Bomb

Night Beats - Rabbit Hole from NIGHT BEATS on Vimeo.