contact: u.s. booking: lisa@slovenly

contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
in the stream of commerce
Subsonics frontman Clay Reed, and Drummer Buffi Aguero have been knocking out records with a revolving cast of Bassists for over 2 decades now. ‘In The
Black Spot’ is the Seventh Subsonics full length offering and , stylistically, this is business as usual. Subsonics play
no frills, rough around the edges, Garage Rock’n’Roll, and there is something about ‘In The Black Spot’ that is utterly
charming. This is music that is completely honest and without pretension. 15 songs flash by in just over 30 minutes
but that’s not to say this album sounds rushed. On the contrary Subsonics do things at their own pace and sound like
a band completely at home with their sound.
Like all Garage bands Subsonics wear their influences on their sleeves. The first impression is something akin to
The Velvet Underground plays Bo Diddley, whilst ‘Haywire’ and ‘Lime Lime’ both use a fair few of the same tricks
The Cramps mastered in their heyday. The real challenge for Subsonics is to carve out their own sound from some
pretty well worn influences. Repeated listening shows that this is exactly what they have done. With time the songs
reveal themselves as fully formed Bubblegum Garage nuggets. It’s minimalist but only because Subsonics realise that
anything you can’t say with a Guitar, a Bass, a basic Trap Kit (No Hi-Hats or Cymbals here), and a drawled sneer is
not worth saying. This along with the refreshingly simple arrangements serve to make it all the more exciting when
standout track. the aforementioned, ‘Lime Lime’ adds an Organ flourish or ‘Far And Be Some Of Me’ makes good use
of a Harmonic Female backing vocal. Yes it’s unashamedly retro but the very nature of the Genre Subsonics are working within ensure this and when you write songs as timeless as ‘Dubious Charms’ (the title itself a hand description of
Subsonics appeal) it hardly seems to matter.
Subsonics are the coolest band you’ve never heard of. This is no Garage Rock Revival. This is Rock’n’Roll in it’s base
form, take it or leave it, although I highly recommend that you take it.- In The Stream of Commerce
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
one chord progression
SUBSONICS - In The Black Spot LP REVIEW
Subsonics - In the Black Spot (Slovenly Records) (SLICE OF LIFE part of the review)
I’m going to save a lot of you a lot of reading time. Subsonics’ In The Black Spot is my album of the year. Period. So, if
you’re easily impressed, it shouldn’t take you more than that to go buy this album.
For you jaded hipsters, listen to this: The Black Lips, YOUR favorite band, said that Subsonics are the BEST band in
Atlanta. So, again, it shouldn’t take you more than that to buy this album, right?
For the rest of the readers that have a longer attention spam (DAMN YOU), let’s talk, shall we? First of all, this is Subsonics’ first album in seven years!!! You don’t release anything after seven years unless it’s an amazing record. That’s
one of the first signs of a great album, in my opinion. Here are three simple questions I ask myself when I’m wondering, is this a good album?
1 - Is it the band’s first album in seven years? And if so, does it rock? Well, yes it is! And it does, indeed, rock.
2 - Can I stop listening to this album? I (being the listener) CAN’T STOP listening to it.
3 - Can I change the mind of someone who doesn’t like this album, by making him (violently or not) listen to this album?
True story: I was sitting in my living room with a friend, minding my own business, talking about ”rock n roll” and
”music” and maybe ”drinking”. I said to this person in the room (for the purpose of this essay, let’s call him ”a friend”),
”Have you heard the new Subsonics album? It’s great.” The friend said, ”Bah! Subsonics! Never really liked them.” (I’d
like to point out that the ”friend” in this story is well over 45 years old, listened to punk and rock n roll all of his life,
and NEVER CHANGED HIS OPINION ABOUT ANYTHING…what an asshole, really). ”Well,” I told him, “let’s give it a listen, shall we?” And then I put on the record. And guess what? He loved it! Here are his exact words: ”I’m always looking
for a great mid-tempo rock n roll album, and this, my friend, is a great mid-tempo rock n roll album”. And he bought it.
If your answers to those questions are YES, NO, YES, then, my friend, you have a GREAT musical artifact in your hand.
(Granted, this only works with bands that release albums every seven years).
(REVIEW part of the review)
First things first: the album cover. Love the colors: purple and black. Love Clay’s (singer/guitar) hair. Love the fact that
Buffi (drum/back vox) seems to have tons of hair and just one eye. Not sure about Rob (bass) though…is he playing
bass with his fingers or a pick? Bass players playing with their fingers make me feel uneasy…
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
one chord progression
Next is the actual music. I’m a big fan of the early New
York punk scene in the 70’s, especially because of its diversity. You had the likes of The Ramones, The New York
Dolls, Television, The Dictators and Suicide, all sounding different and all sharing the same stages. And when I listen to
Subsonics, I can totally picture them sharing the stage with these bands. They sound like a bunch of twenty-something
weirdos who listened to 50’s rock n roll, 60’s garage, went to the first couple of Velvet Underground shows and decided to do that crazy thing called punk, too.
Picture a singer with an androgynous voice (think Lou Reed or Atlanta’s Marc Bolan), backed up by a Mo Tucker drumming style, part Bo Diddley-like guitar and some good steady bass playing, playing some mean rock n roll, sounding
like a meaner version of The Modern Lovers.
Even though they’re from Atlanta, Subsonics recorded In The Black Spot in New York with Matt Verta-Ray (of Speedball
Baby and Heavy Trash). I would also like to note the participation on the album of one Johnny ”Vendetta” Vignault,
an excellent guitar player who played with Subsonics’ drummer Buffi in Atlanta’s The Vendettas and also in New York
super group The Lost Crusaders, who included in their ranks people like Chandler from The Raunch Hands, Matt VertaRay, Jon Spencer and, surprise, Subsonics’ own drummer, Buffi. You should also check out Buffi’s great other band,
Tiger! Tiger!
-Tony LoFi
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
black milk
E tanti saluti allo zio Lou…Subsonics – In The Black Spot (Slovenly, 2012)
Mi preoccupo un po’ anche se faccio finta di niente. Perché mi rendo conto che l’età avanza e non fa sconti a nessuno,
men che meno a me. Ad esempio il fatto che io abbia impiegato circa tre brani a capire che i Subsonics sono praticamente i Velvet Underground degli anni Dieci (si dirà degli anni dieci? Credo di sì, ma che cazzo, era tutto più facile nel
secolo scorso, insomma…) è indicativo del mio declino.
All’inizio ho pensato: “Mah… che roba fanno questi? Un po’ troppo allegrotta”. Poi sono passato al “Beh, però son
bravi dai”. E alla fine, mentre buttavo via una borsata di plastica nell’apposito contenitore sono rimasto folgorato, con
le mutande in testa e i calzini nelle orecchie… “Questi sono i nipotini Velvet Underground”. Punto. Nel bene e nel male
– nel senso che la somiglianza è quasi sconcertante.
Hanno tutto, compreso il cantante che sembra Lou Reed e ne ha il medesimo tono di voce bizzarro. Uguale dico, non
simile. Uguale. E poi c’è la batterista che si potrebbe chiamare Moe Tucker senza problemi e suona nel medesimo
modo tribale, praticamente senza usare i piatti.
Insomma, avete capito bene, spero – altrimenti vuol dire che mi cadete sulle basi. Questo è protopunk newyorkese
anni Sessanta, con quel tipico sound elettrico ma pulito, melodie un po’ pop e a tratti country, ma livore e cupezza
tossici a infettare il tutto.
Rispolveriamo gli occhiali da sole notturni, i giubbotti di pelle, i coloriti verdastri, le nausee da roba e le bocche impastate dagli psicofarmaci. Sono sempre utili…-Black Milk
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
musikknyheter.no
Subsonics debuterte i 1992 og har blitt betegnet som det beste bandet i Atlanta, Georgia, av sine medborgere i Black Lips. Ikke umulig, det er i hvert fall en hyggelig overraskelse å lytte
til bandets syvende album, utgitt på Slovenly Recordings, det første på fem år.
Det er ikke helt enkelt å plassere Subsonics. Trioen spiller en snodig form for punkrock, med intrikat gitarspill, skranglete rytme fra en stående trommis og en passe sløv vokal med syrlige tekster som er både maskulin og feminin på
samme tid. Litt ensformig til tider, men det fungerer og klarer å skape nysgjerrighet hos lytteren.
Flesteparten av de 15 låtene på In the Black Spot varer i knappe to minutter, men bærer ikke avsted i samme tempo
som man kan forvente av et punkrock-band. Det er ikke “one, two, three, four, let´s go” vi har med å gjøre her. Subsonics stresser ikke nevneverdig, har ikke hastverk med å bli ferdige selv om varigheten på låtene er relativ knapp. Likevel
betyr ikke det at det går tregt, at det er noe uforløst over Subsonics´ materiale. På den ene siden er det seigt, men
ikke tungt, og på den annen side et godt driv, men ikke overdrevent energisk. Skjønner?
Bandet har helt klart øre for å skrive gode melodier, evne til å lage interessante og morsomme låter. Det er bare å
høre på for eksempel She´s Not Dead Yet, Dubious Charms, PeanutsTeach Me How To Play God. Disse og flere andre
låter er utøvet i en slags barnslig entusiasme og viser at fem års pause har gitt resultater.- Musikknyheter.no
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
el país - la ruta norteamericana
El fascinante veneno rock de los
Subsonics Por: Fernando Navarro | 17 de octubre de 2012
Andan de gira por España y es un momento idóneo para traerlos por esta ruta sonora. Se trata de una formación que
a mí se me escapó durante años pero en la que ando sumergido últimamente con verdadero gozo. Los Subsonics
están de tour por estas tierras con su fascinante veneno rock. No se puede desaprovechar la ocasión, más ahora que
acaban de publicar un nuevo trabajo después de cinco años de sequía desde A Lot To Forget.
Ahora que Wilco han vuelto a demostrar con su recién acabada gira por España, otra más por suerte para todos, que
lo suyo es una aventura esplendorosa al galope entre la tradición y la experimentación, esta formación de Atlanta
merece ser reivindicada y escuchada con toda la atención posible. Y eso que, estilísticamente hablando, apuntan a
horizontes bien distintos. Pero conviene hacerlo porque hablamos de un grupo que, partiendo las raíces del rock’n’roll
primigenio y el garage clásico, es capaz de estallar en verdadera vanguardia, sonar tan reales pero extraños, tan
cortantes pero pletóricos como los grandes avanzadillas.
Conocidos como los padres putativos de los Black Lips y de mucho de lo que se ha cocido en Atlanta en las dos
últimas décadas, los Subsonics han vuelto a la carga con In The Black Spot (Slovenly Recordings). Sus señas de
identidad son claras, en esa salvaje y oscura mezcla de rock, pop y garage, orquestada con distorsiones acertadas y
minimalismo abrumador, y elevada a lo trascendente en la voz rebelde y furiosa de Clay Reed.
En una de sus reseñas en Ruta 66, el amigo y maestro Eduardo Ranedo, posiblemente una de las personas con
mejores oídos y criterio en este país, escribía de ellos: “Su pócima burbujea rock&roll primitivo, sudor de garito mal
ventilado, glam de la señorita Pepis y, obviamente, todo lo que convirtió al sonido de la Velvet Undreground un punto
de referencia ineludible en la historia del rock”. Y sus palabras son una estupenda definición de los callejones que
transita este grupo subterráneo.
Escuchando sus composiciones epilépticas, de chiflados grandiosos, supervivientes urbanos, noctámbulos benditos,
los Subsonics, ciertamente, recuerdan a la Velvet Undreground. Tienen ese punto sexual, rebelde, chulo, callejero, que
vibra en historias de pérdida, traición y crueldad mientras descargan canciones impactantes, sin trucos, que giran del
pop psicodélico al garage glam o el rock’n’roll lo-fi.
En ellos hay primitivismo pero también hay ondas expansivas de experimentación, como pasaba con la Velvet, pero
dando señales de algo propio. Su punto de partida, en cualquier caso, su epicentro, se halla en la costa Este, en la
escena neoyorquina urbana. De esta forma, por sus composiciones pululan los espíritus de New York Dolls, Richard
Hell o Cramps. Es esa osadía sonora a la que se deben. A nosotros solo nos queda escucharlo como si fuésemos
espectadores silenciosos y maravillosamente abrumados de un cuento de Edgar Allan Poe o H.P. Lovecraft.
Gira:
Miércoles 17 - LEÓN - EL GRAN CAFÉ - Calle Cervantes, 9 - León
Jueves 18 - GUADALAJARA - PUB HENRY CHINASKI - Plaza de San Esteban, Guadalajara
Viernes 19 - MADRID - SIROCO - C/ San Dimas, 5, Madrid
Sábado 20 - TOMELLOSO - SALA BEAT - C/ Monte, 27, Tomelloso (Ciudad Real)
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
el país - la ruta norteamericana
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
masquecine.es
Los mundos de Subsonics Octubre 16, 2012 by Masquecine Archivado en
musica Deja un comentario
“En un mundo perfecto serían estrellas”, me escribe Francisco en un mail en el que me habla de Subsonics, la banda
de Atlanta que tras cinco años se ha decidido a sacar su nuevo álbum, “In the black spot”. Tiene razón, en un mundo
perfecto serían ricos, les sobraría el dinero y las mujeres. Serían arrogantes, insoportables. Todo y nada. Hay otras
vidas, caras B, éxitos paralelos a los que definen una época. Subsonics pueden ser la mejor banda de Atlanta, eso al
menos dicen los chicos de The Black Lips. Tampoco importa, aunque sea un reconocimiento. Su carrera ha caminado
tranquila, cerca de los focos pero alejados de la fama. Desde allí, desde ese rincón iluminado pero sin brillo, han
levantado una carrera que para sí la quisieran muchas de sus bandas coetáneas.
Han pasado veinte años desde su irrupción en la escena local, su música ya apuntaba maneras cercanas al punk, al
garaje, al rock de guitarras, al glam. Sus letras son surrealistas, alejadas de cualquier convencionalismo. Clay Reed,
guitarrista, cantante y compositor de la banda, es una exhibición, una voz atormentada que descarga su energía de
principio a fin como quien grita desesperado con la intención de quedar redimido. Buffi Agüero se encarga de la batería, tocando de pie con la fuerza de quien clama venganza.
“In the black spot”, editado este mes, es un regreso genial o un descubrimiento brutal de su obra. Temas como
“Peanuts”, “Too Damage”, “Albert Lee” o “Bus 16” tienen ese sonido que hace que sientas que estás escuchando
algo especial. Nada que no hayas oído antes, pero facturado de un modo que resulta personal, diferente. El grupo se
encuentra de gira española presentando el nuevo disco, una buena ocasión para disfrutar de su regreso discográfico,
han vuelto bien provistos de canciones.
Entrevista a Subsonics en El Sótano de Radio 3
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sonicwave
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
sonicwave
Subsonics de gira por España en Octubre
SUBSONICS, el genial grupo garajero de Atlanta, padres putativos de los Black Lips y de casi todo lo que de calidad
ha salido de allí en dos décadas, presentan en directo su nuevo disco. Celebran así su regreso al mercado discográfico (“In The Black Spot”, Slovenly Recordings), cuando se cumplen cinco años desde su anterior larga duración.
Vuelven ahora a la carga con quince canciones de pop retorcido, garaje y rock and roll pantanoso y oxidado que sigue
poniendo los pelos de punta como si por ellos no pasase el tiempo. Estarán presentándolas en directo en Octubre...
¡no te lo pierdas!
In the black spot TOUR!
contact: [email protected]
u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
diario vasco
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la crónica de león
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periodico diagonal
diario de levante
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u.s. booking: [email protected] | euro booking: [email protected]
diario de león
diario el correo
contact: [email protected]
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el confidencial
[email protected] | 678.668.4546