Mike Dillon has announced the release of his new studio album Band of Outsiders due April 1 via The Royal Potato Family. A Texas-native currently based in New Orleans, Dillon has set his own standard for 25 years now. Hailed a “punk rock provocateur,” “jazz vibraphone visionary” and “percussion virtuoso,” Dillon’s affiliation with artists like Les Claypool, Brave Combo and Ani DiFranco, collaborations such as Garage A Trois, The Dead Kenny Gs and Critters Buggin,and bands he’s fronted, including Billy Goat and Hairy Apes BMX, have led to a rabid cult fan-base.
With this latest effort Band of Outsiders, Mike Dillon has conjured the perfect storm of all these past endeavors. His manic creative vision met its match in three young musicians from New Orleans: Carly Meyers—whom Dillon describes as “a High Priestess of Trombone who channels the energy of Iggy Pop through the chops of JJ Johnson in second-line”—provides harmonic counterpoint to his vibes and percussion (“All Walks of Life”) as she simultaneously ups the band’s art-rock ante (“Carly Hates The Dubstep”). The rhythm section of bassist Patrick McDevitt and drummer Adam Gertner turns on a dime between snarling punk rock assaults (“Homeland Insecurity”), deep funky go-go (“Head”), ska grooves (“Hero The Burro”) and experimental hip-hop beats (“7AM At The Jazzfest”) with all points covered in between.
“Two tours of Mexico and a steady dose of Brazilian music was the jumping off point for these new songs,” explains Dillon. “Add our love for The Melvins, Deerhoof, Bad Brains, Dead Kennedys, Trouble Funk and all things New Orleans and this album surpasses our intention to make the freakiest, most vibrant dance music on the planet.”
Dillon and his band relentlessly toured the country in 2013, both headlining and opening for artists like Fishbone, Clutch, Primus and Galactic. As a result, the album’s 13 songs bristle with a group mind, spill over the sides with the visions invoked during countless dead-of-night drives crisscrossing the country in a van and hit their target with a sonic assault only possible from a unit that’s played 400-plus shows over the last two years. Heard in its entirety, Band of Outsiders is a snapshot of four musicians in full stride.
“People are always trying to figure out how to describe our music. Maybe we should call it New Orleans punk jazz Brazilian math rock,” concludes Dillon. “But you know, I really don’t care what you call it. We kick out the jams harder than anyone, but we also know when to heed the lessons of The Minutemen’s Double Nickels On The Dime and keep things straight to the point. There’s a reason we called the record what we did. We’re the living, breathing definition of a band of outsiders, yet together we deliver a simple majestic freaky kind of beauty.”
Listen/Download First Single “ALL WALKS OF LIFE”
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BAND OF OUTSIDERS
Track Listing:
1. Head
2. Hand of God
3. Homeland Insecurity
4. Hero The Burro
5. Carly Hates The Dubstep
6. Great Lakes Tuna
7. Missing
8. All Walks of Life
9. Celebrate the Hate
10. 7AM at the Jazzfest
11. So Long Pal
12. Baby Flint Talk
13. Dauphine & Desire
The Mike Dillon Band plays four shows this week. A full U.S. tour in support of Band of Outsiders will be announced shortly.
February 12 – Nashville, TN – 12th & Porter
February 13 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
February 14 – Charleston, SC – The Pour House
February 15 – Live Oak, FL – Aura Music Festival
http://www.mikedillonvibes.com/
