I once received a type-written missive from a PR flack that read: “IF YOU LOVE BLONDE REDHEAD SO MUCH, WHY DON’T YOU MARRY THEM?” A fine rhetorical question, indeed. At the time (Volvo Soundtest-era) I was really besotted with their DNA-influenced brand of melodic discordance. There was something chaotic and anguished about them —something coiled up and dark, a little desperate. They were hypnotic too, alternating the squalls of razor-sharp feedback with blurred, eerie lullabies.
I lost track of them a little bit in the intervening years. Since then they’ve pared down from a quartet to a trio, shedding some of the more overtly atonal qualities along the way. But the echoes are still pronounced in this shimmering, sing-song single off their upcoming album “23” called, incidentally, “23.” (Thankfully, it has absolutely nothing to do with the craptastic Carrey-Schumacher abomination currently stinking up theatres.)
“Jetstar” is a song off an early Smells Like Records single. This version was recorded live at the late, great Threadwaxing Space. It appeared on the comp “Threadwaxing Space Live —The Presidential” that came out on Zero Hour back in 1995. (There are some other great tracks on there too, including GBV doing “I Am A Scientist,” Slant 6, Guv’ner, Slim Moon, and a lovely, languorous “St. Nowhere” from Miss Azalia Snail.)
“23” will be out in the US on April 10th. Blonde Redhead’s tour will start at SXSW (4AD showcase) and will continue throughout the US as follows:
March 14 Austin, TX Emo’s (SXSW 4AD SHOWCASE)
April 5 Nasa, Reykjavik Iceland (with Kristin Hersh)
April 7 Aldrei For Eg Sudur Festival, Isafjordur, Iceland
April 13 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
April 14 Chicago, IL Metro
April 15 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
April 19 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
April 20 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
April 21 Seattle, WA The Showbox
April 23 San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s
April 24 San Francisco, CA Bimbo’s
April 25 Pomona, CA Glasshouse
April 27 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
April 28 Indio, CA Coachella Valley Music Festival
May 1 Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room
May 2 Austin, TX Stubbs
May 4 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
May 5 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
May 6 Washington, D.C. 9:30 Club
May 8 New York, NY Webster Hall
May 9 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
May 11 Toronto, ON The Opera House
May 12 Montreal, QC Club Soda
For more info, check the band’s website. The album can be pre-ordered via AmpCamp.com.
Blonde Redhead, “Jetsar” (Live at Threadwaxing Space)
PHOTO BY SEBASTIAN MLYNARSKI