Telekinesis: A Factual, If Editorialized, Introduction
It's such an impossible thing, at this funny little point in history, to not look back: We're recording every little thing with our cameras that make the little noise like cameras used to make; we're measuring our actual selves against our online selves with hopeful resignation; we're rendering and retouching the record of our lives at every turn. If it can be perfect then let's make it so, goes the wisdom of the moment.
To be fair, there's a certain convenience about perfection. It's easy to wear and see and swallow and enjoy, and it leaves the heart light. It's also totally boring. And though occasionally friendly and welcoming, literal perfection in pop music is never, ever awesome.
Which is where Telekinesis comes in. On record, Michael Lerner is the sole member of Telekinesis, more or less. He writes, sings and plays the songs. His love of Japan knows no bounds, though he's never been. He's a fantastic drummer and a fearless singer, and he does not look back willingly.
I mean, you can forcibly crane his head around in a pinch (mortal danger and Seinfeld reruns qualify). But Michael's songs are ridiculously immediate, and he delivers them with blinding velocity. His approach to music isn't unlike those spikes at the rental car place: backing up deflates the tires, and not in a pleasant way.
It's reflected in Michael's writing, too, this philosophy of ever-forward motion. These are big-hearted songs, written quickly and from the gut. Telekinesis is the geography of dreams; a school year abroad; love letters from Liverpool coffee shops to the Carolina coastline and Tokyo and everywhere in between everywhere; a road trip waiting to happen. And it's absolutely perfect, but not because anyone went back to fix it. It just happened that way.
~Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), January 2009
Telekinesis is Michael Benjamin Lerner (drums, guitar & vocals) with Chris Staples (guitar), David Broecker (electric, acoustic & bass guitar), and Jonie Broecker (bass guitar & keyboards) joining him on tour. They all live in Seattle, WA. Telekinesis! (MRG344) was produced, engineered, and mixed by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Tegan & Sara). Walla and Lerner tracked and mixed each of its songs to analog tape in a single day before moving on to the next song, with the ambitious goal of never over-thinking or sabotaging the spontaneous enthusiasm of the music.
It's such an impossible thing, at this funny little point in history, to not look back: We're recording every little thing with our cameras that make the little noise like cameras used to make; we're measuring our actual selves against our online selves with hopeful resignation; we're rendering and retouching the record of our lives at every turn. If it can be perfect then let's make it so, goes the wisdom of the moment.
To be fair, there's a certain convenience about perfection. It's easy to wear and see and swallow and enjoy, and it leaves the heart light. It's also totally boring. And though occasionally friendly and welcoming, literal perfection in pop music is never, ever awesome.
Which is where Telekinesis comes in. On record, Michael Lerner is the sole member of Telekinesis, more or less. He writes, sings and plays the songs. His love of Japan knows no bounds, though he's never been. He's a fantastic drummer and a fearless singer, and he does not look back willingly.
I mean, you can forcibly crane his head around in a pinch (mortal danger and Seinfeld reruns qualify). But Michael's songs are ridiculously immediate, and he delivers them with blinding velocity. His approach to music isn't unlike those spikes at the rental car place: backing up deflates the tires, and not in a pleasant way.
It's reflected in Michael's writing, too, this philosophy of ever-forward motion. These are big-hearted songs, written quickly and from the gut. Telekinesis is the geography of dreams; a school year abroad; love letters from Liverpool coffee shops to the Carolina coastline and Tokyo and everywhere in between everywhere; a road trip waiting to happen. And it's absolutely perfect, but not because anyone went back to fix it. It just happened that way.
~Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), January 2009
Telekinesis is Michael Benjamin Lerner (drums, guitar & vocals) with Chris Staples (guitar), David Broecker (electric, acoustic & bass guitar), and Jonie Broecker (bass guitar & keyboards) joining him on tour. They all live in Seattle, WA. Telekinesis! (MRG344) was produced, engineered, and mixed by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists, Tegan & Sara). Walla and Lerner tracked and mixed each of its songs to analog tape in a single day before moving on to the next song, with the ambitious goal of never over-thinking or sabotaging the spontaneous enthusiasm of the music.
08/31/10
Telekinesis presents the Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP – available today from finer digital retailers, the Merge store and from the band in actual, physical format on their co-headline tour starting today in St. Louis with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. You can also pre-order the limited-edition CD version in the Merge store now!
The new release and tour are sure to get everyone all warmed up for Telekinesis’ 2011 full-length follow-up to the acclaimed debut Telekinesis! – the EP contains a full-band version of the first album’s “Calling All Doctors,” plus covers of Guided By Voices’ “Game of Pricks” and “The Drawback” (borrowed from the proto-Joy Division project Warsaw) and a dazzling new Michael Benjamin Lerner treat called “Dirty Thing” that just could be the summer hit you’ve been waiting for!
Watch the new and sprightly video for “Dirty Thing” now!
To complement the new Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP (and maybe even to begin previewing material that will appear on the upcoming full-length), a new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour starting today and finishing up on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Verbow) on bass and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers) on guitar, the new line-up will be delivering energy and fun nightly.
Telekinesis on tour:
(with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin unless noted)
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO Firebird
Sep 1 Urbana, IL Canopy Club
Sep 2 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sep 4 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
Sep 6 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
Sep 8 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sep 10 Washington, DC Black Cat
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA The Barbary
Sep 12 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
Sep 13 Columbus, OH The Basement
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Venue Nightclub w/ Superchunk
Oct 14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box w/ Superchunk
The new release and tour are sure to get everyone all warmed up for Telekinesis’ 2011 full-length follow-up to the acclaimed debut Telekinesis! – the EP contains a full-band version of the first album’s “Calling All Doctors,” plus covers of Guided By Voices’ “Game of Pricks” and “The Drawback” (borrowed from the proto-Joy Division project Warsaw) and a dazzling new Michael Benjamin Lerner treat called “Dirty Thing” that just could be the summer hit you’ve been waiting for!
Watch the new and sprightly video for “Dirty Thing” now!
To complement the new Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP (and maybe even to begin previewing material that will appear on the upcoming full-length), a new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour starting today and finishing up on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy (Robert Pollard band, Verbow) on bass and Cody Votolato (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers) on guitar, the new line-up will be delivering energy and fun nightly.
Telekinesis on tour:
(with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin unless noted)
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO Firebird
Sep 1 Urbana, IL Canopy Club
Sep 2 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Sep 3 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sep 4 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
Sep 6 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear’s
Sep 8 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sep 10 Washington, DC Black Cat
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA The Barbary
Sep 12 Cleveland Heights, OH Grog Shop
Sep 13 Columbus, OH The Basement
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC Venue Nightclub w/ Superchunk
Oct 14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box w/ Superchunk
08/03/10
Spin.com caught up with Telekinesis’ Michael Benjamin Lerner at Jackpot Studio in Portland where he is holed up with Chris Walla recording the follow-up to 2009’s Telekinesis! Michael shared photos and stories from the sessions for an as-yet-untitled new album due early next year.
The new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour beginning August 31 in St. Louis with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and ending on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy on bass (Robert Pollard, Verbow) and Cody Votolato on guitar (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers), the new line-up promises to bring all of the energy and fun you have come to expect from the Telekinesis live experience!
Keep up with Telekinesis on Twitter, and visit the Merge store for a copy of the limited-edition “Dirty Thing” 7-inch while supplies last!
Telekinesis on tour:
* = w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
% = w/ Superchunk
# = w/ Teenage Fanclub
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO – Firebird *
Sep 1 Urbana, IL – Canopy Club *
Sep 2 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall *
Sep 3 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
Sep 4 Toronto, ON – El Mocambo *
Sep 6 Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo *
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s *
Sep 8 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
Sep 10 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary *
Sep 12 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
Sep 13 Columbus, OH – The Basement *
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC – Venue %
Oct 14 Seattle, WA – The Showbox % #
Oct 15 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom % #
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box %
The new incarnation of the Telekinesis band will be on tour beginning August 31 in St. Louis with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin and ending on October 19 in LA at the Music Box with Superchunk. Featuring Jason Narducy on bass (Robert Pollard, Verbow) and Cody Votolato on guitar (Jaguar Love, The Blood Brothers), the new line-up promises to bring all of the energy and fun you have come to expect from the Telekinesis live experience!
Keep up with Telekinesis on Twitter, and visit the Merge store for a copy of the limited-edition “Dirty Thing” 7-inch while supplies last!
Telekinesis on tour:
* = w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
% = w/ Superchunk
# = w/ Teenage Fanclub
Aug 31 St. Louis, MO – Firebird *
Sep 1 Urbana, IL – Canopy Club *
Sep 2 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall *
Sep 3 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick *
Sep 4 Toronto, ON – El Mocambo *
Sep 6 Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo *
Sep 7 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s *
Sep 8 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom *
Sep 10 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
Sep 11 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary *
Sep 12 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop *
Sep 13 Columbus, OH – The Basement *
Oct 13 Vancouver, BC – Venue %
Oct 14 Seattle, WA – The Showbox % #
Oct 15 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom % #
Oct 19 Los Angeles, CA – The Music Box %
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!
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.
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.
| 09.01.2010 | Urbana, IL | Canopy Club | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.02.2010 | Chicago, IL | Lincoln Hall | |
| 09.03.2010 | Detroit, MI | Magic Stick | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.04.2010 | Toronto, ON | El Mocambo | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.06.2010 | Montreal, QC | Casa Del Popolo | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.07.2010 | Cambridge, MA | TT The Bear's | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.08.2010 | New York, NY | Bowery Ballroom | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.10.2010 | Washington, DC | Black Cat | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.11.2010 | Philadelphia, PA | The Barbary | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.12.2010 | Cleveland Heights, OH | Grog Shop | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 09.13.2010 | Columbus, OH | The Basement | w/ Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin |
| 10.13.2010 | Vancouver, BC | Venue Nightclub | w/ Superchunk |
| 10.14.2010 | Seattle, WA | Showbox at the Market | w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub |
| 10.15.2010 | Portland, OR | Wonder Ballroom | w/ Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub |
| 10.19.2010 | Los Angeles, CA | The Music Box | w/ Superchunk |
Telekinesis! (2009 Merge Records)
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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] | ||
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