The Artisanals are coming over! First European tour in February 2019
28-11-2018Somewhere on a dusty road or a well traveled interstate, right at this very moment, a rock n’ roll band is pounding the rock. They’re probably wearing the same clothes they had on yesterday, and reminiscing about last night’s gig. Inspired by a guitar lick that cuts to the bone or a melody that lingers on refrain, this band is following a path forged by countless other musicians who’ve lived and died in dive bars or ‘made it’ with their posters taped to bedroom walls. What makes this band of brothers any different? This band is The Artisanals.
Johnny Delaware grew up in a small South Dakota town surrounded by cornfields and dirt roads. For 19 years, he lived in a wide-eyed perspective baptized in the setting of a John Mellencamp song. In order to personally evolve and carry out his musical destiny, Delaware knew that the heartland wind would have to blow him around the country. Eventually, Delaware would move to Charleston, SC and team up with guitarist Clay Houle, and bassist Eric Mixon to form The Artisanals in late 2016. Within a year of forming, The Artisanals dropped their four-track debut EP, Literally, Anywhere, and promptly received critical acclaim from Huffington Post, Paste Magazine, Daytrotter, PopMatters.
Now, with drummer Nick Recio, and keyboardist Ian Klin rounding out the group, The Artisanals are dropping their debut self-titled full length album. Produced by Wolfgang Zimmerman and set to release on AWAL on September 21, 2018, The Artisanals, is the first ever record to come out of the Magic Barn - an Iowa studio-converted-barn that features the Neve console and gear from NYC’s now defunct Magic Shop Studio which recorded David Bowie’s last two albums, Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs, and can be seen on Dave Grohl’s Sonic Highways.
With sonic influences ranging from the heartland rock of Bruce Springsteen (“Angel 42”), and neo-psychedelia anthems of My Morning Jacket (“Pound The Rock”), to the dream-pop work of The Cars and The War On Drugs (“Drag”), The Artisanals 10-track LP showcases Delaware and Houle’s knack for writing hooks as well as their ear for quality production. The album utilizes everything from a gong, organ, piano, sitar, french horn, trombone, and koto, to a string section sourced from the nearby University of Iowa. Mastered by Howie Weinberg, (Spoon, Ryan Adams, Nirvana), there’s no filler on The Artisanals. From start to finish, this record is a straight banger.
Dylan LeBlanc introduced us to this band and we immediately fell in love! The result is their first ever European tour which is announced today:
03/02: Hilversum (NL) @ Americana Rising
05/02: Norderstedt (DE) @ Music Star
06/02: Flensburg (DE) @ Volksbad
07/02: Mannheim (DE) @ Kulturbrucken
08/02: Bad Saulgau (DE) @ Franziskaner
09/02: Stuttgart (DE) @ Galao
13/02: Nottingham (UK) @ Maze
15/02: Dublin (IRL) @ Sin É
16/02: Kilkenny (IRL) @ Cleeres
17/02: Diss (UK) @ Burston Crown
19/02: London (UK) @ o2 Academy 2 Islington
20/02: Deventer (NL) @ Burgerweeshuis
21/02: Malmö (SWE) @ Folk å Rock
22/02: Falkenberg (SWE) @ Tryckhallen
23/02: Oslo (NO) @ Revolver
24/02: Stockholm (SWE) @ The Southside Cavern
25/02: Nynäshamn (SWE) @ Folkets Hus
26/02: Gränna (SWE) @ Fiket
28/02: Amsterdam (NL) @ Q-Factory