Matt Adams releases so many damned records (and CDs and tapes) as The Blank Tapes that it’s hardly news whenever he releases something new. As a matter of fact, since 2010 we have seen the release of no less than two full length studio albums, two EPs, and one live album, not to mention both a standard vinyl 7″³ single and a flexi disc single. Who knows, I might have missed something along the way… actually yeah, there was also a cassette of instrumental jams that just came out a couple months back too. See what I mean?
Anyway, while most of this material has been good to very good, and some of it has even been great, Matt has been holding back a masterpiece for a while, waiting for the right time and the right opportunity to let it loose. The masterpiece in question is a full length album called Vacation, and it will be the first Blank Tapes album to be released on the venerable San Francisco Bay Area indie label Antenna Farm Records (home to such artists as Bart Davenport, Foxtails Brigade, Agent Ribbons, Sugar and Gold, and a whole host of others).
Most of the songs on Vacation have been well honed through many hours of live performances over the years, so die hard fans will already know quite a few of these tunes. The first single, however, is a tune that is relatively new to the Blank Tapes canon of favorites, though it’s no less infectious. Like the rest of the album, ”Coast to Coast” was recorded at New, Improved Recording in Oakland, California — a first for Matt, who until these recordings had been known exclusively as a master of home 8-track recordings on cassette tapes, using all his own gear.
Matt’s laid back surf rock tendencies are in full force on ”Coast to Coast,” while his Beach Boys-Beatles-Kinks-Creedence allegiances are ever present as always. In short, it’s an instant classic.
Vacation is released in May, and The Blank Tapes will be on tour across the U.S. in April and May in support of the album.
The Blank Tapes April/May Tour Dates:
02.27.13 — San Francisco, CA @ The Hemlock (Noise Pop)
03.02.13 — Vancouver, BC @ The Electric Owl (early show)
03.03.13 — Seattle, WA @ The High Dive
03.04.13 — Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
03.08.13 — San Diego, CA @ The Void
03.09.13 — Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
03.12.13 — Austin, TX @ Valhalla (Antenna Farm Presents SXSW)
03.12 thru 03.16 — Austin, TX @ SXSW
03.21.13 — Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
03.22.13 — Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater Lounge
03.23.13 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
03.24.13 — Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Festival
03.25.13 — Portland, OR @ Holocene
+++
04.04.13 — Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club *
04.05.13 — Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon *
04.06.13 — Chicago, IL @ Schubas *
04.07.13 — Ann Arbor, MI @ the Blind Pig *
04.09.13 — Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom *
04.11.13 — Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club *
04.12.13 — Montreal, QC @ Le Petit Campus *
04.14.13 — Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
04.15.13 — Manhattan, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom *
04.17.13 — Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s *
04.18.13 — Shepherdstown, WV @ Opera House Live *
04.19.13 — Washington, DC @ U St. Music Hall *
04.20.13 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
04.21.13 — Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl *
04.22.13 — Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge *
04.24.13 — St. Louis, MO @ Firebird *
04.25.13 — Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
04.26.13 — Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom *
04.27.13 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *
04.28.13 — Austin, TX @ Stubb’s *
04.29.13 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues *
05.05.13 — Santa Ana, CA @ Proof Bar (Psycho De Mayo 2013)
* w/Matt Costa
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