by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
The fine folks at King Pizza Records (The Royal They, The Mad Doctors, The Night Screams) wouldn't leave you without some spicy hot new garage punk for the summer. In addition to a split from The Rizzos and Top Nachos, the label will release the latest from Italy by way of New Jersey by way of Massachusetts' The Duke of Surl aka Will Brown. Out Of It is the project's sophomore full length, a wacky and explosive record of tape recorded garage rock both loose and fuzzy. The whole things blisters and shakes, with overdriven guitars and reverb aplenty, but it's Brown's personality that shines through the rock 'n' roll rubble, interjecting his charismatic attitude into every song.
The album's first single, "The Silk Cocoon" is like the sticky sweet center of The Duke of Surl. It's low key in the best ways, significantly less "Surly" and a more of a slow burn than Brown's usual animated garage-pop attack. Built on a breezy organ sound and a sharp groove, the song is a scorching ballad but it's ripe with fuzz and mellow cool. Brown sings "everybody knows, that's just how it goes," not in a defeatist way, but a sultry matter of fact quality. As the guitars ripple in the waves of reverb, it's a song that dares you to let go and break free of normalcy in the most casual and nonchalant kind of sarcasm.
The Duke of Surl's Out Of It is out August 9th via King Pizza Records. The band are touring in August, all dates below.
Tour Dates:
08/03 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Gutter
08/04 - Boston, MA @ PA's Lounge
08/05 - New London, CT @ The Oasis Pub
08/09 - Brooklyn, NY @ Our Wicked Lady Rooftop (Album Release Show)
08/10 - Clifton, NJ @ Clash Bar
08/11 - Harpersfield, NY @ Milestone Festival
08/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Fire
08/15 - Providence, RI @ AS220
08/16 - Southbridge, MA @ Starelite
08/17 - Manchester, NH @ The Bungalow
08/18 - Woodstock, NY @ The Station
08/19 - Allentown, PA @ Soft Machine Gallery
08/23 - Montclair, NJ @ The Meatlocker
08/24 - Queens, NY @ The Footlight