Apex Manor‘s Ross Flournoy is busy working on new songs & selling pimento cheese to the greater Memphis area, but this week you can download a free NoiseTrade sampler of some of Ross’s best work from The Broken West to Apex Manor. Download the NoiseTrade sampler here.
Also today, download the Band Of The Day App to get a free sampling of Apex Manor tunes.
The Year of Magical Drinking is available in the Merge store and at your local record store now. Find Ross on Facebook & Twitter!
Just added: Ross from Apex Manor will be DJ’ing in-between sets at our showcase!
WEDNESDAY 3/14
M. Ward – KGSR performance – W Hotel, Main Ballroom (200 Lavaca St.) 8 am
M. Ward – KUT performance – Four Seasons Hotel, Main Ballroom (98 San Jacinto Blvd.) 9 am
Hospitality – Warby Parker Citizen’s Circus – French Legation Museum (802 San Marcos St.) 1 pm
The Love Language – Warby Parker Citizen’s Circus – French Legation Museum (802 San Marcos St.) 2 pm
Hospitality – Paste party – The Stage on Sixth (508 E. 6th St.) 3 pm
The Love Language – Under the Radar party – Flamingo Cantina (515 E. 6th St.) 3:15 pm
Hospitality – Ground Control Touring party – Emo’s Annex 5pm
M. Ward – Central Presbyterian Church (200 E. 8th St.) 11 pm
THURSDAY 3/15
Imperial Teen – Live on KEXP – Mellow Johnny’s (400 Nueces St.) 11:30 am
Hospitality – Brooklyn Vegan party – Hotel Vegas (1500 E. 6th St.) 2:15 pm
The Magnetic Fields – NPR showcase – The Parish (214 E. 6th St.) 4pm
Hospitality – Waterloo Records (600 N. Lamar Blvd.) 5 pm
Crooked Fingers – End of an Ear (2209 South 1st St.) 5pm
M. Ward – Auditorium Shores with The Shins (920 W. Riverside Dr.) 6:45 pm
Hospitality – Fire Records showcase – Beale Street Tavern (214 E. 6th St.) 10 pm
The Love Language – Death+Taxes party/Solid Gold – Cheer Up Charlie’s (1104 E. 6th St.) 5pm
FRIDAY 3/16
Imperial Teen – Homeslice Pizza (1415 S. Congress Ave.) 11:45
Hospitality – Rolling Stone party – La Zona Rosa (612 West 4th Street) 1:40-2:10pm
Crooked Fingers - Paste party – The Stage on Sixth (508 E. 6th St.) 12:30 pm
Eleanor Friedberger – Brooklyn Vegan party – Hotel Vegas (1500 E. 6th St.) 2 pm
Hospitality – Home Slice Pizza (1415 S. Congress Ave.) 3:40pm
Merge Showcase – Frank (407 Colorado St.) 7:30 pm
The Magnetic Fields – Austin City Limits Live (310 Willie Nelson Blvd.) 8:30 pm
SATURDAY 3/17
Eleanor Friedberger – Urban Outfitters (2406 Guadalupe St.) 2 pm
Bob Mould – MOG at Mohawk (912 Red River Street) 3:30pm *Playing Copper Blue
Crooked Fingers – Twangfest – Jovita’s (1619 S. 1st St.) 4 pm
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Norman Blake and Euros Childs aka Jonny have to cancel their US tour. We apologize for the inconvenience and refunds are available at point of purchase. Apex Manor have also canceled their appearances.
Hopefully, Jonny will reschedule their tour later this year, but in the meantime, listen and purchase their debut album Jonny now in the Merge store. Apex Manor’s The Year of Magical Drinking is also available for stream and purchase in the Merge store.
Jonny, the new musical partnership between Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub and Euros Childs of the now-defunct Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, have premiered their new video for “You Was Me” today at IFC.com.
Sure to make you long for a trip to beautiful Wales, the video showcases Pembrokeshire and wild horses frolicking along the water.
Watch the video for “You Was Me” at IFC.com now
Norman spoke with IFC.com about the Jonny partnership, the video, and more:
What about “You Was Me”? It’s nothing fancy, but it’s hard to let go once you’ve heard it.
That was another one that was just at the kitchen table. You know what, I tell a lie: We were sitting in the living room of my flat in Glasgow, when I was living there. The flat overlooks a bowling green in Glasgow. Bowling is very popular. I think we were siting, having a glass of wine, next to guitars and keyboards. I think I may have started playing the main guitar riff. I think of that song as being a bit like a T. Rex song, with a very simple groove. That was the template for the music that inspired that. It was a pretty much stream-of-consciousness lyric. We were looking at the bowlers. Euros came up with the first line: “Keep on seeking/ Roll the ball/ Monday comes to nothing.” It must have been a Monday. The song really was stitched together that way. We wrote the lyrics in a few minutes.
That’s how most of the songs happen; we don’t really spend a great deal of time thinking about it too much. That’s, again, quite liberating because when I’m writing Teenage Fanclub and Euros is writing for his solo records, we spend much more time on the composition of the lyrics and the music. With Jonny, we wanted to take it pretty easy. Even if it doesn’t quite make sense, that’s OK. The lyrics start when we were watching the bowlers, then it goes somewhere else. We write it down, and we don’t tend to edit it too much.
Read the full interview at IFC.com.
Jonny is available now on CD (with 4 bonus tracks!) and digital download now in the Merge store.
Jonny on tour:
All dates with Apex Manor except June 20 & 21 with Yo La Tengo!
June 03 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
June 04 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
June 07 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
June 08 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
June 09 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
June 10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House
June 11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
June 12 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
June 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
June 15 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic
June 16 Nashville, TN The Bluebird Cafe
June 17 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
June 18 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
June 20 Columbia, MO Blue Note w/ Yo La Tengo
June 21 Iowa City, IA Englert Theater w/ Yo La Tengo
Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub & Euros Childs of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci have been playing shows around the globe for a few months now, but they’re heading state-side in a matter of weeks! Don’t miss these shows!
“the combination of Childs’ distinctively fantastical songwriting and Blake’s immaculate songcraft can’t help but be a winning combination.” ~ Chromewaves
“one of the purest, most effusive pop records in recent memory, an outstanding example of retro rock celebration simply dubbed Jonny” ~ Amplifier
All dates with Apex Manor except June 20 & 21 with Yo La Tengo!
June 03 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
June 04 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
June 07 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
June 08 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
June 09 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
June 10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House
June 11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
June 12 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
June 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
June 15 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic
June 16 Nashville, TN The Bluebird Cafe
June 17 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
June 18 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
June 20 Columbia, MO Blue Note w/ Yo La Tengo
June 21 Iowa City, IA Englert Theater w/ Yo La Tengo
Apex Manor visited the Grooveshark bus while they were in Austin! You can now watch the band performing “Under the Gun” on Vimeo. Check out Grooveshark and listen to your favorite Merge bands on their site.
The band is gearing up for a June tour with Jonny (Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub & Euros Childs of Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci), but first play Los Angeles on Friday at the Satellite! Follow Apex Manor on Twitter to keep up with Ross!
The Year of Magical Drinking is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.
Apex Manor on tour!
May 13 Los Angeles, CA The Satellite
Jun 3 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
Jun 4 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
Jun 7 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
Jun 8 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
Jun 9 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
Jun 10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
Jun 12 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
Jun 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Jun 15 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic
Jun 16 Nashville, TN The Bluebird Cafe
Jun 17 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
Jun 18 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
Apex Manor visited the World Cafe studios in Philadelphia on their recent tour to perform songs from their debut album The Year of Magical Drinking and chat with host David Dye. The session aired last week on NPR’s World Cafe.
You can now listen to the entire session on NPR Music!
Apex Manor will join Jonny on their upcoming North American tour beginning June 3 in Toronto. The places are small, so get your tickets now!
The Year of Magical Drinking is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.
Apex Manor on tour!
All date w/ Jonny
Jun 3 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
Jun 4 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
Jun 7 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
Jun 8 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
Jun 9 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge
Jun 10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
Jun 12 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java
Jun 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Jun 15 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic
Jun 16 Nashville, TN The Bluebird Cafe
Jun 17 Louisville, KY Zanzabar
Jun 18 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall
Apex Manor will join Jonny on their recently announced US tour! Fresh from SXSW, Apex Manor are currently playing shows on the east coast.
Watch John Norris chat with Ross & Adam from Apex Manor for Noisevox and an interview with China Shop over drinks in Austin.
The Year of Magical Drinking is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.
Apex Manor on tour!
* w/ Jonny
Mar 26 New York, NY The Mercury Lounge
Mar 28 Chicago, IL Schuba’s Tavern
Mar 29 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
Jun 3 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel*
Jun 4 Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel*
Jun 7 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall*
Jun 8 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall*
Jun 9 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge*
Jun 10 Brooklyn, NY The Bell House*
Jun 11 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs*
Jun 12 Vienna, VA Jammin’ Java*
Jun 14 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle*
Jun 15 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic*
Jun 16 Nashville, TN The Bluebird Cafe*
Jun 17 Louisville, KY Zanzabar*
Jun 18 Chicago, IL Old Town School of Folk Music @ Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall*
Adam Vine, songwriter for Apex Manor, checked in with WFUV’s Alternate Side for a SXSW journal. This was Adam’s first experience at the festival, and thankfully he survived! The band is now touring the east cast. Don’t miss them! The Year of Magical Drinking is in stores and available online now!
Can’t help but feel the festival is an instrument you have to learn how to play. A South Asian kinda thing with more strings than there are notes, but luckily every chord sounds all right.
But that could be the hangover talking. Or the queso. One moment you’re on stage, covering Fleetwood Mac with a borrowed melodica in your hands, and the next you’re in a private karaoke room, singing a different Fleetwood Mac song.
Next thing you know, you’re riding shotgun in a limo with a driver named Cedric who wants you to play out in the Hill Country. The live oaks alone would be worth it, but you know it’s never gonna happen.
Still you say maybe next year. And despite Cedric’s best intentions to be there for you the next time you need a ride, you inevitably end up walking across the Congress Bridge, smelling the bats, and wondering if they’re the ones who called in the noise complaints. They do have sensitive ears, you know.
But it’s on to the after party, on to the secret show, on to the hotel, where all the brilliant snippets you’ve overheard will fade into your pillow. Where they will wait for you to return next year. Hopefully you remember which hotel you stayed at.
- Adam Vine
Apex Manor
Apex Manor on Tour:
03-22 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
03-23 Cambridge, MA T.T. The Bear’s
03-26 New York, NY Mercury Lounge
03-28 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
03-29 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
This year, we have a very exciting showcase featuring Merge freshmen and a couple of old friends! Get there early to meet newest Merge signees Times New Viking and stay late to see the only nighttime WILD FLAG show of the festival! In between, Apex Manor, Telekinesis & Wye Oak will be sharing songs from their new albums out this spring, and American Music Club & Versus will make a rare appearance in Austin for the festival.
Visit the Merge store to sample the most recent albums from all seven bands, and to pre-order their upcoming releases!
Merge @ SXSW 2011
Friday, March 18
The Parish (214 E. 6th Street)
Austin, TX
Doors at 7p
WILD FLAG 12:45a
Wye Oak 11:45p
Versus 10:45p
American Music Club 9:45p
Telekinesis 9p
Apex Manor 8:15p
Times New Viking 7:30p
Also, we are joining forces with the Home Slice Pizza “Music by the Slice” party again!
Home Slice Pizza
MXTS Party
1415 South Congress
Austin, TX
Thursday, March 17
Apex Manor 3:30 p
American Music Club 5p
Friday, March 18
Versus 1p
Saturday, March 19
Times New Viking 2:20 p
Wye Oak 3:30 p
Be sure to follow Merge on twitter and check back for more opportunities to see our bands at SXSW!
(hat tip to You Set the Scene)
Apex Manor covered The Outfield – Your Love at their first LA show earlier this month! The band plays Noise Pop this week and then heads to SXSW in March.
The Year of Magical Drinking is available on CD and digital download in the Merge Store & your favorite retailer now.
Adam Vine & Ross Flournoy wrote a song called “No Small Magic” for ABC Amplified, and sat down with Dan Harris to talk about their songwriting process!
You can listen to the song on YouTube, or watch their interview above!
