Merge Records

Let's Wrestle

Let's Wrestle
In the Court of the Wrestling Let's, the debut album by England's Let's Wrestle, was recorded in a basement in Whitechapel, underneath the only ukulele shop in Europe, by three young bucks - Wesley Patrick Gonzalez (vocals and guitar), Mike Lightning (bass and vocals) and Darkus Bishop (drums)-and studio engineer Simon Trought.

Let's Wrestle met years ago and bonded over meat and records, and after a while, a band was formed. Let's Wrestle have influences as vast as Black Flag, Faust, and Edith Piaf but are ultimately trying to be as raw as possible. They aim to write songs that make your soul crumble as well as make you smile, sing along, and clap your hands.

The songs for In the Court of the Wrestling Let's were written in bedrooms and arranged at soundchecks over a period of two years. Though originally intended as a punk record, it developed into more than that, with songs influenced by rock-and-roll ballads by Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly ("In Dreams," "My Schedule") and the psychedelic rock of Barrett-era Pink Floyd ("In the Court of the Wrestling Let's"). But overall, it still remains a punk rock record.

Let's Wrestle tend to write about strange subjects. This album includes songs about:
- a faceless woman inside your head that you are in love with;
- getting a job so you can buy girls drinks at clubs;
- how bass player Mike Lightning's hair looks like Princess Diana's from the point of view of a homosexual man who is in love with the dead princess; and
- a really famous crack addict.

Dr. Gavin Sparks, aka singer/guitarist Wesley Patrick Gonzalez, issued the following statement upon being signed to Merge Records:

"As I sit here watching Richie Rich on Halloween, I think of the exciting Merge release of Let's Wrestle. They are Big Rock Stars in England, fighting off girls and suing all the other pop stars (they once sued Seal and Heidi Klum for custody of their children), but are relatively unknown in the US. Let's Wrestle are getting ready to play poker with the Yankee big dogs. Now when I say 'Yankee big dogs,' I mean 'Great fucking Danes,' which is something you have probably heard about Merge. These guys are ruthless! We don't know if Merge has a motto, but I imagine it might be 'don't play with wasps if you don't want to get stung by wasps.' The future looks pretty Mergetastic and Wrestlerific! I think you'll agree!"

Let's Wrestle is Wesley Patrick Gonzalez (vocals and guitar), Mike Lightning (bass and vocals), and Darkus Bishop (drums).
06/17/10
Let’s Wrestle premiered their new video for “I’m So Lazy” today at Pitchfork.tv. “I’m So Lazy” can be found on the limited-edition split 7-inch with The Love Language featuring art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez.

Let’s Wrestle will return to the US in September for dates with Man Man including MusicfestNW in Portland in support of their Merge Records debut, In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s available now on CD and digital download in the Merge store.

Let’s Wrestle on tour with Man Man:
9/05 Santa Barbara, CA SOhO Restaurant and Music
9/06 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
9/08 Seattle, WA Neumos
9/09 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
9/10 Portland, OR MusicfestNW

05/04/10
Spring has sprung and it is time for a new free Merge sampler! Featuring hit songs from the latest albums of Radar Brothers, Spoon, Let’s Wrestle, She & Him and more, visit amazon.com now to download all fourteen free songs with special cover art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez!

As always, you can find new albums from all of these artists and more in our handy Merge store.

Free Merge 2010 digital sampler track listing:
1. Radar Brothers – Horses Warriors (from The Illustrated Garden)
2. Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You (from In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s)
3. Destroyer – The Very Modern Dance (from Streethawk: A Seduction)
4. Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (from Work)
5. Spoon – Written in Reverse (from Transference)
6. Lou Barlow – Don’t Apologize (from Goodnight Unknown)
7. She & Him – Thieves (from Volume Two)
8. Superchunk – Learned to Surf (from Leaves in the Gutter)
9. Alec Bathgate – Glide (from Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox)
10. The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are (from Bonfires on the Heath)
11. Caribou – Odessa (from Swim)
12. The Clean – In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul (from Mister Pop)
13. Wye Oak – I Hope You Die (from My Neighbor / My Creator)
14. Lambchop – Give It (from Live at XX Merge)

04/22/10
Missed out on Record Store Day? Never fear! Two limited edition 7-inches with brand new songs from Telekinesis, The Love Language, and Let’s Wrestle are available now exclusively on 7-inch vinyl in the Merge store!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.”

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”

With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language!

Thank you for helping to make Record Store Day a rousing success!

04/15/10
Merge will join in the celebration of Record Store Day on Saturday, April 17, with the release of three exclusive 7-inches from Telekinesis, Superchunk, and a split 7-inch from The Love Language & Let’s Wrestle.

Superchunk – “Misfits and Mistakes” b/w “Misfits and Mistakes” (Meatwad Version)
Originally released in 2007 in extremely limited quantity, “Misfits and Mistakes” is the first and only picture disc we have ever produced. Recorded for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, “Misfits and Mistakes” is performed by Superchunk and covered on side B by Meatwad himself!  Each 7-inch picture disc arrives in stores autographed by all four members of Superchunk and is available at a special price exclusively for Record Store Day!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.” These three tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”
With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language! Featuring brand new songs from both bands, these tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Record Store Day is a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.

For more information on Record Store Day and where you can find a store near you, visit recordstoreday.com.

03/15/10
Merge will be well-represented at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin this year with eight bands and two special Our Noise events. Our bands will be playing all over the city during the festival, so if you will be in Austin, keep your eyes peeled for all of the cool daytime parties being announced daily.

Our helpful flyer is below – click to make it larger & to print it to take with you! Share the link on your twitter & Facebook, too!

Spoon are headlining the NPR show at Stubbs BBQ on Wednesday, March 17 (12:15 am) and She & Him are playing a free, open to the public show at Auditorium Shores on Saturday March 20 (8 pm).  Superchunk are playing a free Village Voice day party at La Zona Rosa on March 19 (3 pm).

Merge Showcase @ Cedar Street Courtyard
208 West 4th St b/t Colorado & Lavaca
Thursday, March 18th
7 PM
(from first to last)
Special Guest
Let’s Wrestle
Radar Brothers
She & Him
Wye Oak
Lou Barlow + the missingmen
The Love Language


Merge @ Homeslice Pizza’s “Music by the Slice” Party
1415 Congress Ave.
Free & Open to the public

Thursday, March 18:
1:30 pm The Love Language
2:15 pm Radar Brothers

Friday, March 19:
Noon Let’s Wrestle
3:45  Wye Oak
6:45  Lou Barlow

Also, book events!

Our Noise event @ Book People (603 N. Lamar Blvd)
Wednesday, March 17 at 6PM
Free & Open to the Public
Mac & Laura will read selections from their book, Our Noise, and will perform covers of songs from selected bands mentioned in the book. They’ll be available to sign books afterwards, too.

Our Noise panel @ SXSW Convention Center
Thursday, March 18 at 2PM
Open to convention registrants only
Michael Azerrad will moderate a Q&A-style event with Mac & Laura about Our Noise and 20 years of Merge Records.



03/01/10
Let’s Wrestle will release their debut album, In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s, later this month and will celebrate this momentous occasion with an action-packed visit to Austin for SXSW. Kicking off their spring tour with a Brooklyn Vegan pre-SXSW show on 3/15 at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, Let’s Wrestle will continue from SXSW out west playing shows with Titus Andronicus before meeting up with Quasi in April.

“. . . such exuberance is irresistible” ~ Pitchfork

Preview and pre-order In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s now in the Merge store.

Let’s Wrestle on tour!
% 3.21-3.31 w/ Titus Andronicus
^ 4.15-5.01 w/ Quasi
03.15.10     Brooklyn, NY  Knitting Factory *Brooklyn Vegan pre-SXSW show!
03.18.10     Austin, TX  Cedar St. Courtyard *Merge Records SXSW showcase (with Radar Brothers, Wye Oak, Lou Barlow + the missingmen, She & Him, & The Love Language)
03.21.10     El Paso, TX Black Market %
03.22.10     Scottsdale, AZ  Chyro Arts %
03.23.10     Los Angeles, CA  Bootleg Theater %
03.25.10     San Luis Obispo, CA SLO Art Center %
03.26.10     Visalia, CA  Cellar Door %
03.27.10     Sacramento, CA  Fungarden %
03.28.10     San Francisco, CA  Slim’s %
03.30.10     Seattle, WA  The Vera Project %
03.31.10     Portland, OR Mississippi Studios %
04.15.10     St. Paul, MN    Turf Club^
04.16.10     Madison, WI    Annex^
04.17.10     Detroit, MI    Magic Stick^
04.18.10     Toronto, ON    Horseshoe Tavern^
04.19.10     Montreal, QC    Il Motore^
04.20.10     Cambridge, MA    Middle East Downstairs^
04.22.10     New York, NY    Bowery Ballroom^
04.23.10     Philadelphia, PA    Johnny Brenda’s^
04.24.10     Washington, DC    Black Cat^
04.26.10     Carrboro, NC    Cat’s Cradle^
04.27.10     Atlanta, GA    529^
04.28.10     Birmingham, AL    The Bottletree^
04.29.10     Nashville, TN    Mercy Lounge^
04.30.10     Newport, KY    The Southgate House^
05.01.10     Chicago, IL    Lincoln Hall^

09.04.2010 Los Angeles, CA FYF Fest w/ Man Man
09.05.2010 Santa Barbara, CA Club Mercy Presents
09.06.2010 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
09.08.2010 Seattle, WA Neumo's
09.09.2010 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
09.10.2010 Portland, OR MusicFestNW
09.15.2010 Chapel Hill, NC Nightlight w/ Elf Power
09.17.2010 Washington, 9:30 Club w/ Superchunk & Tommy Keene
09.18.2010 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ Superchunk
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On Tour

Arcade Fire [+]

September
02 Bologna Arena Parco Nord
10 Mexico City Palacio de los Deportes
22 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
23 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
25 Saskatoon Credit Union Centre
[see all]

Lou Barlow [+]

September
02 Cambridge, MA Middle East
03 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
04 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's

Richard Buckner [+]

September
07 Charlottesville, VA The Southern
08 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle
09 Columbia, SC Columbia Museum of Art
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Music Festival
11 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse
[see all]

Caribou [+]

September
14 Guelph, ON Ebar
15 Ottawa, ON Babylon
16 Montreal, QC Le National
17 Toronto, ON The Drake
17 Toronto, ON Phoenix Theatre
[see all]

The Clean [+]

September
28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
29 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
30 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
October
02 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater - SCION Festival
04 San Francisco, CA The Independent
[see all]

The Clientele [+]

September
06 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot
07 Portland, OR Doug Fir
09 Oakland, CA New Parish
10 San Francisco, CA Independent
11 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
[see all]

Fucked Up [+]

September
05 Monticello, NY All Tomorrow's Parties
09 Washington, DC Rock n' Roll Hotel
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival
11 Atlanta, GA The Drunken Unicorn
12 Charlotte, NC Amos Southend
[see all]

Lambchop [+]

November
11 Berlin Admiralspalast - 20 Years of City Slang
22 Katowice Ars Cameralis Festival
24 Zagreb Kino SC
25 Munich Amerikahaus
27 Copenhagen DR Concert House
[see all]

Let's Wrestle [+]

September
04 Los Angeles, CA FYF Fest
05 Santa Barbara, CA Club Mercy Presents
06 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
08 Seattle, WA Neumo's
09 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
[see all]

The Love Language [+]

September
03 Atlanta, GA The Earl
03 Atlanta, GA Criminal Records
04 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
09 Winston Salem, NC Earshot Records
09 Winston Salem, NC Krankies
[see all]

Conor Oberst [+]

September
28 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriets
30 Santa Barbara, CA Soho in SB
October
01 Big Sur, CA Fernwood
02 San Francisco, CA Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Polvo [+]

November
05 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
06 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's Downstairs
07 Austin, TX Fun Fun Fun Fest at Waterloo

Radar Bros. [+]

September
24 Montreal, QC Le National
25 Boston, MA Royale
27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
October
01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre
[see all]

The Rosebuds [+]

September
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival

Shark Quest [+]

October
09 Carrboro, NC Carrboro ArtsCenter

She & Him [+]

September
05 Los Angeles, CA Paramount Studios
October
17 San Francisco, CA Treasure Island
22 Portland, OR Schnitzer Hall
23 Seattle, WA City Arts Music Festival - 5th Avenue Theatre
24 Vancouver, BC The Orpheum

Spoon [+]

September
11 Harrisburg, PA The Forum
12 Clark, NJ Oak Ridge Park
13 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium
October
01 San Diego, CA Soma
[see all]

Superchunk [+]

September
16 Durham, NC The Nasher Museum of Art
17 Washington 9:30 Club
18 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
19 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
21 Boston, MA Royale
[see all]

Teenage Fanclub [+]

September
22 Toronto, ON The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
23 Toronto, ON The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
24 Montreal, QC Le National
25 Boston, MA Royale
27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
[see all]

Telekinesis [+]

September
02 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
03 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
04 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
06 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo
07 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear's
[see all]

Versus [+]

September
21 Boston, MA Royale
22 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre

Wye Oak [+]

September
02 Cambridge, MA Middle East
03 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
04 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
October
04 Lawrence, KS Bottleneck
05 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
[see all]
see all tour dates

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