Tag: Album Release

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Super Low Releases Self-Titled Debut at B-Side

Tiger Adams (left) and John Lewandowski of Super Low

Bluff City fans of melodic pop songs with jangly guitars, ear-worm hooks, and layers of piano, strings, and piano have new reason to rejoice: Memphis-based Super Low will release their self-titled debut album at B-Side inside Minglewood Hall on Friday, July 12th.

Formerly China Gate, Super Low has undergone a name change and some lineup shifts, but the core of the band remains. Singer/guitarist Tiger Adams leads the band, with support from drummer John Lewandowski, bassist Conner Booth, and a rotating cast of additional musicians. It should be noted, also, that Adams’ Super Low is not to be confused with fellow Bluff City band, Super-Lo, which includes members of the now-legendary Memphis punk outfit The Klitz.

In advance of the upcoming album release show, Super Low has debuted two singles from the upcoming album, “Unlimited Data” and “Runners Up.” The singles are sunny and warm, with bright guitars and impeccable arrangements highlighting the band’s penchant for instrumental hooks — like the catchy organ fill in “Runners Up.”

“Unlimited Data” is manna from heaven for listeners who appreciate layers upon layers of clean electric and acoustic guitars. Think Scottish indie rockers Camera Obscura, but with a Southern man in glasses and baseball cap behind the microphone instead of Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell. Another comparison that comes to mind is French garage-pop wunderkind En Attendant Ana, the undisputed break-out stars of Gonerfest 15. As with En Attendant Ana and Camera Obscura, on Super Low, the rhythms are up-tempo, the melodies are memorable, and the layers of guitar are seemingly unending. Put simply, this is pop done right.

The upcoming concert at B-Side will kick off a tour with stops in Nashville, Baltimore, Atlanta, and New York.


Super Low perform at B-Side, Friday, July 12th, 9 p.m.


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Music Music Features

Nights Like These Release New Album

CREDIT: Nick Hall

One of the biggest metal bands to come out of Memphis in the past 10 years is releasing a new album this Friday, despite the fact that one of their key members is moving to California later this month. Since forming in the early 2000s, Nights Like These has been synonymous with the Memphis underground metal scene. They were the first group from the Caravan scene to sign a contract with a major label and the first to tour extensively around the country. After releasing two albums on Victory Records, the band went on hiatus for nearly five years before playing a handful of reunion shows last year.

Shortly after the reunion gigs, rumors of a new album from Nights Like These started surfacing, and in the spring of 2015, Nights Like These entered Ardent Studios to record Old Youth Culture with guitarist Matt Qualls manning the control board. Qualls describes Old Youth Culture as their most accessible album to date, with a more “mature and down-to-earth sound.”

Nick Hall

Nights Like These

“This album has the most straightforward song structure we’ve ever had,” Qualls said.

“When we were writing songs for The Faithless (the band’s debut album that sold 30,000 copies), we were just coming up with riff after riff. The song would go riff, riff riff, breakdown. Now we are more concerned with writing actual songs.”

With eight songs clocking in at the 40-minute mark, Old Youth Culture is a major departure from the band’s first two albums, but according to Qualls, it’s still a metal album.

“We feel like this album features some of the heaviest songs we’ve ever written,” Qualls said.

“This was going to be the final album, but we ended up being so happy with it that I doubt this will be the end of us making music together.”

Old Youth Culture will be available for download this Friday, with plans for a physical LP currently in the works.

Nights Like These Release New Album

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Music Music Blog

Orion, Werwulf, and Hombres at the Buccaneer Saturday

If you are a fan of the almighty riff, make plans to be at the Buccaner this Saturday for Orion, Werwulf and Hombres. Orion is a newish stoner metal band, featuring William Stull, but a lot heavier than the solo material Stull’s been cranking out for the past few years. Saturday’s gig will also serve as Orion’s album release show, but you can check out a song from the album early by clicking the soundcloud below.

Orion Werwulf and Hombres at the Buccaneer Saturday

Also on the bill is Werwulf, a rock and roll trio featuring members of Nights Like These.  Stream the band’s debut album below, or watch this hilarious video. Hell, why don’t you live on the edge and do both?

Orion Werwulf and Hombres at the Buccaneer Saturday (2)

Rounding out the bill is Hombres, another new band that cranks out loud, fast and heavy rock and roll. Check out a track from Hombres below.

Orion Werwulf and Hombres at the Buccaneer Saturday (3)

With all these new bands popping up, 2015 seems to be off to a great start! Support local music and head to the Buccaneer this Saturday at 9 p.m. $5 bucks gets you in.