We’re very excited to announce that we will be touring the US for 2 months this fall supporting first Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s and then Dredg. So if you’ve been waiting for us to come to your town, this is it. Help us spread the word!

Tour Dates

I felt like writing something in anticipation of our show (with DESA and 187 Calm at Bottom of the Hill at 10PM for $10 all ages!) tomorrow night, so i thought i might share my thoughts on a topic everyone can get behind: classical concertos!!!

Anne Akiko playing Barber Concerto First Movement. (sorry. couldn’t find a video of Kyoko).

Right now i’m listening to Kyoko Takezawa play the Barber violin concerto, and i think i should just share that i think this is some fantastic music. its full of great meldoies, beautiful harmonies and some fiery violin work. it’s huge and intimate at the same time, which can be a powerful feature that the concerto form is particularly goot at.

Brahms Violin 3rd movt. played by Kremer Berstein (this guy is funny) 

Another great concerto on my mind lately is Brahms‘ violin concerto (the 3rd movement of which was in “there will be blood”). it has all those same qualities that i love about the barber concerto. there are moments where the soloist reachs out to the audience and plays to each person individually, and then, before you know what’s happening, he is soaring above an orchestra and he’s taking you with him. these concertos are good showcases for violin playing, but more importantly, they are great music. sometimes i get jealous of violinists because they get the best music. that being said, the barber cello concerto is also very good. the music is some of his wierdest, so it takes some attentive listening to really get into it, but i think it’s worth it. i don’t think its too bold to say that these two barber concertos are among America’s greatest achievements in music.

Li-Wei Qin plays Barber Cello Concerto 1st movt. (hand held camera. sorry).

So come to our show tomorrow night! it makes sense. we’ll try to be huge, but we’ll also try to reach out to you personally. we’re leaving for tour soon so this the last time we get to play for people that have heard of us for a while.

also let me just say that i think DESA was brilliant to spell their name in all caps. it really pops

lp
jd
stringmetal.com

This week we went on the “Break this City” podcast. Basically it’s a talk show that talks about all of the murders and robberies in Oakland and in the process manages to offend…. everyone. If you are offended by harsh language or homicide jokes definitely DO NOT tune in. Otherwise, check out Anton and Lewis talking about drive-by’s and playing an acoustic version of “Cobra Strike” and an improvised soundtrack to a murder sentencing:

BREAK THIS CITY – EPISODE 20

Videos from the Podcast:

COBRA STRIKE (acoustic)

HANS REISER SENTENCING SOUNDTRACK

HANS REISER SENTENCING NEWS CLIP
Directions: First start the “Soundtrack” video and turn the volume on it down as low as it can go without being off. Next start the “News Clip” video with the volume up all of the way. Get ready to be creeped out!
[brightcove vid=1762088229&exp=1612844765&w=300&h=260]

Finally, we’ve got one more big show left at Bottom of the Hill before we leave for a two month tour. Come out and send us off in style! It’s also an EP release show for DESA and there will be free zines for the first 100 people that want them.

Judgement Day's last big show before tour + Desa's EP release + 100 free zines