Hello,
1. We are now taking pre-orders for The Grey‘s full-length CD, Asleep at the Wheel, and Haram‘s S/T full-length LP/CD! If you order both of the full-lengths, it will cost you just $18 ($4 off the normal $22). Just use the code haramgrey at checkout at the Lovitt store. The offer is good until March 11th. The official release date of both releases is March 12th.
Here are some descriptions of the two records and groups for those who are unfamiliar:
Haram comprises seasoned veterans whose foray into territory most reminiscent of Drive Like Jehu and Sonic Youth is informed by the urgent ferocity of their previous bands (Majority Rule, Pg. 99, and the Out_Circuit). Jim Siegel recorded their first, self-titled LP, in Stoughton, Massachusetts. On this spectacular debut, Haram mines disparate facets of punk and noise to conjure something wholly cohesive and engaging. Unrelenting and forward, Haram possesses a mature, tempered confidence that only comes with experience and do-it-yourself resolve. Their first full-length effort is truly a moody and atmospheric masterpiece. The vinyl covers are all hand-screened (with different art than the CD cover) by Matt the guitarist and the LP was pressed on clear vinyl. The CD is a 6-panel digipak. Haram will tour with US for five weeks starting Feb. 25th (full tour date listing is in the shows section at lovitt.com). They also plan on hitting Europe in late summer and hopefully Japan later in the year.
Asleep at the Wheel, the Grey‘s full-length, is an energetic blast of raw feeling and forward thinking. One of the highlights of The Grey’s full-length is their ability to meld effortlessly different musical elements and influences into something wholly satisfying and engaging. The Grey’s music on Asleep at the Wheel is at once cerebral and violently passionate, a quality often sorely lacked by their musical peers. Previously, members were in bands such as Shotmaker, Three Penny Opera, and Buried Inside. The band will be playing shows throughout Canada this Spring and Summer and will be touring Europe from Sept. 29th to Oct. 21st.
2. The Denali Pinnacle DVD came out February 7th. The DVD contains over 85 minutes of content, including 44 minutes of concert footage, videos for "Hold Your Breath" and "Relief," alternate angles for "The Instinct" and "Normal Days," over 150 pictures of the band members, two home movies shot by guitarist Cam, and a hidden Easter egg. We have a trailer of the DVD up on the media section of lovitt.com for preview. Alternative Press had this to say about the DVD: “Besides featuring two members of Engine Down, Denali boasted a front woman (in Maura Davis) whose voice has yet to be matched by anyone in indie rock. Savor her pipes as you get to watch a live set recorded at the pinnacle (get it?) of their all-too-brief-career.”
3. A 12″ of Navies‘ An Estate was just released on Yosada Records. We have some available in our web store or you can purchase them directly from Yosada . We will be releasing a new two-song 7″ from Navies at some point this year.
4. Pinebender has been busy writing new songs and will be recording a new record starting in March, which we are very excited about. We expect it to be nothing less than epic. We hope for a fall release and will keep you updated as we get more details on it.
5. Fin Fang Foom is going in the studio this weekend to record an EP for the Japanese label Stiffslack. The EP should be released in late summer and the band plans on touring Japan to support the release in the fall. The band has also recently added a new member, Cynthia, who plays cello.
6. Unfortunately, the Ben Davis / Rosebuds split we have been talking about forever is not going to happen. The Rosebuds were not able to complete their recording for us and had to bow out. The good news from this, though, is that Ben Davis will do the split now with des_ark. Aimee has been playing solo mostly recently. The stuff she will be recording for the split will be some of that material and some more rocking stuff with drums. Jonathan Fuller is going to help produce her songs and might even play drums on the recording. Ben and des_ark will collaborate on two songs together for the split, in addition to the four to five songs they will each submit separately. All of us are really excited that this came together so perfectly; it’s only appropriate that Aimee be involved since she was such a large part of Ben’s last record.
7. The new Rah Bras full-length CD, WHOHM, is out now and getting positive write-ups (and rightly so) from Spin and Pitchfork to other publications:
Venus – “So damn refreshing”
Alternative Press – “We promise you will not confuse Rah Bras with any other band in your lifetime.”
Giant Robot – “Rah Bras have no problem cutting loose with rock beats that inspire stomping, gyrating, and dizziness.”
Both bizarre and strangely accessible, WHOHM achieves the rare genius of genuine creation in a realm fraught with endless reference and carbon copy replication of tired ideas. The band will be playing shows throughout the winter to support the release and will be touring Europe in late spring 2006 (some of the dates have been posted on our site all ready). Make sure to see them when they come to your town.
8. Bats & Mice have been doing a lot of writing and hopes to record a full-length at some point this year.
9. The Engine Down DVD is coming along. We posted a trailer of it in the media section. The trailer will also appear in a DVD being given away with a future issue of Vice magazine. We are hoping the DVD will be released at some point this year.
10. We are still looking for more footage for the next Lovitt DVD. If you have any footage of any of our bands, especially Pinebender, Navies, Haram, The Grey, Supine to Sit, or the Rah Bras, please get in touch. You can email info@lovitt.com with the subject "footage for next DVD!" for more information on how to get stuff to us. We can use anything you have!
11. Lastly, a few months ago, a joint compilation between Lovitt and Saddle Creek entitled Saddle Up and Love It was released. It is available at Hot Topic stores and can also be purchased online at Hot Topics webstore . It includes material from a variety of our bands and theirs including Bright Eyes, Cursive, Engine Down, Decahedron, Division of Laura Lee, Criteria, Rah Bras, and more. There are 73 mins. of music on the CD and is well worth the $6.99 price.
Talk to you soon,
Team Lovitt
