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In late 2020, Alex Maas - best known as the frontman for psych rock powerhouse The Black Angels - released Luca, an album of mellow psychedelia named after his son. With tours on hold, Alex and his band decamped to Bastrop, TX to bring the live show they had developed for the album to the world via this performance film, shot in the city’s historic downtown.

Alex explains,  “We shot this down in an old opera house built in 1889 and a 100 year old German tailor mercantile building in historic downtown, which is now Astro Records.  This session is a glimpse of what a tour on Luca would look like had we not been in a pandemic. It was a joy to get out and get back with the friends and collaborators I created this album with, and bring these songs to life. For now this is the world tour, and a look at what we’re looking forward to being able to do on stage when we are back up and rolling! Thank you to Jonas Wilson of Mr. Pink records who asked me originally to film this in the beautiful city of Bastrop." 

The performance film premieres Saturday, March 27 at 7PM CST and features selects from Luca, along with three new tracks from his songbook, seen here for the first time, and performed with some of the collaborators he created the album with: Bryan Richie, Jake Garcia, Rob Kidd. These songs have been crafted over a decade in quiet moments between tours and albums with The Black Angels, are finally being released in the live setting on Levitation Sessions. Today you can catch a sneak peek of the session and one of the new songs -- “Too Much Hate”.

Alex on “Too Much Hate”: "I tried to touch on a few things on this song that would attempt to identify things that make the world more beautiful. I’ve been trying to give solutions and not just speak about the cancer that is eating our culture. Some problems of society are rooted in how we raise our children, how we treat each other and quick uninformed decisions when people shoot from the hip as opposed to sitting back and thinking rationally about how to act instead of reacting."

To purchase tickets to the full performance, visit Levitation.

Consider the power of the vibe. After all, the power of positive vibes transcends simple categorization or a Sopranos meme. A good vibe is a cool breeze and ice cream on a sweltering afternoon. It is the athlete whose sixth sense and unselfishness makes everyone on the court play better. It is those Bob Ross videos where with a gentle voice and a few quick brush strokes, the painter conjures arcadian beauty. Good vibes are something that the modern world desperately needs. Enter Lionel Boy and his new single “Flower Girl'' released today via Innovative Leisure. The song’s cool and melodic bass lines slow things down, creating a mood that allows you take a deep breath and simply enjoy the moment. Lionel Boy tells us “This was the first track that Jonny and I worked on. It’s about watching someone close to you become who they’re meant to be. I get to witness my partner grow everyday and succeed in places that bring her joy. It feels a lot like watching a flower blossom. She’s my flower girl.”

JIMMY EDGAR releases his first solo album in 9 years, CHEETAH BEND.  The album includes features from Danny Brown, Hudson Mohawke, SOPHIE, Millie Go Lightly, 24HRS, Rochelle Jordan, Matt Ox & more.  

“Detroit experimentalist and texture king Jimmy Edgar is the kind of producer that opens a doorway in your mind.” - BILLBOARD

"A full-dive into his hybridised vision of modern hip-hop — a world where shape-shifting, liquid-metal Cyberdyne Systems beats are clothed in the fur coat of virtuoso West Coast funk." - DJ MAG (named CHEETAH BEND Album of the Month)

“Assisted by like-minded electronic vanguards like Hudson Mohawke and the late, great visionary SOPHIE, Edgar expands on the sound he’s established while working in the hip-hop world over the last several years.” - BANDCAMP

“Confident, bold and head-turning music” - CRACK

“No one does music like JIMMY EDGAR. He’s constantly explore new sounds and throwing everything we thought we knew about music into the wind, and we absolutely love it. We’ve been tracking this forward-thinking wizard as he’s steadily rolled out single after single, and today that work comes to a head with the release of his new album, CHEETAH BEND.” - THIS SONG IS SICK

 

Nick Waterhouse unveils a Valentine's Day weekend release "Very Blue / Medicine" both from the upcoming album Promenade Blue (April 9th). 

As Under The Radar reports: "LA-based singer/songwriter Nick Waterhouse sounds like a man out of time, almost as if he was transported straight from the ‘50s and ‘60s era he takes such deep influence from. Melding together strains of soul, jazz, R&B, and garage rock, Waterhouse, over the course of several albums, has hit on a tight vintage style, putting a modern twist on sounds of the past. On his fourth album, Promenade Blue, Waterhouse once again looks into the past, but this time rooted in his own life and memories, from career highs and lows to loves lost and found. Waterhouse has returned with two new singles from the project, “Very Blue” and “Medicine,” premiering with Under the Radar. "

Jimmy Edgar has shared “NOTICE,” a new single featuring Atlanta rapper 24HRS, from his fast impending new solo album CHEETAH BEND (out on February 26 via Innovative Leisure). Recorded in Atlanta, the cosmic R&B tune pulls hook friendly chants from 24HRS over the silk laden waves of Jimmy’s Detroit-inspired hot beats. One of music's most versatile producers, Jimmy Edgar is drawing on both his vibrant discography as a producer on the bleeding edge of electronic music (including collaborations with Hudson Mohawk and Machinedrum) as well as his increasing presence in rap circles (including recent productions for Dawn Richards, Vince Staples, OG Maco, and more) to craft a wholly unique sonic space.

CHEETAH BEND is a stunning synthesis of what might seem like disparate styles, unspooling fresh perspectives and glistening sound design that flaunts rules while respecting genre spirit. “The value I bring is hybridization,” Jimmy explains of his approach. “I think about different universes of sound coming together to create an entirely new domain of knowing.” The culmination of a catalog brimming with high points, CHEETAH BEND rewards fans who’ve gladly stuck with him over the years, and invites a new batch of listeners to dive into his world.

Read more at Line of Best Fit, Dancing Astronaut & Revolt and check the playlist over at New York Times.