MAY 04 – Today, San Diego, CA’s Idlehands is premiering “El Shakes”. The song can be heard below and comes from their debut full-length, Dena Mora, which will be out on May 19 via Headphone Music (an Equal Vision Records imprint).
“Lyrically, this song was written several years ago, during a somewhat tumultuous time for me and my friendships with the rest of the band. I was trying to balance an unhealthy relationship with someone back at home, while I was on tour. I let it all take a toll on how I was treating my bandmates and I believe that you can really hear the tension that was going on when you listen to it. When I listen to “El Shakes” now, it instantly brings back those same feelings that I dealt with during the writing process,” shares vocalist Johnny O’Hagan. “We have all said at one time or another that this band runs on tension and that it’s recognizable in our music. That tension culminates and eases in this song with its aggressive chorus and mellow verses. “El Shakes” is a perfect sample of what listeners can expect to hear on the new record.”
The experimental indie-rock quintet has already premiered three new songs from the album, including “Floor of Tradition”, “Filthy Doves”, and “Mellow Christ”(featuring Justin Bonifacio of Ghost Parade).
Next week, Idlehands will kick off a full US run supporting Geographer and Empires. Following the tour they will perform alongside CHON on June 4 in Henderson, NV, and then headline a hometown album release show in San Diego on June 5. Idlehands has previously toured and shared stages with the diverse likes of Taking Back Sunday, Being As An Ocean, A Lot Like Birds, My Iron Lung, This Wild Life, and more. All upcoming tour dates can be found below.
Pre-orders for Dena Mora are available now at idlehands.merchnow.com and through digital retailers such as iTunes and AmazonMP3, and include an instant song download of “Filthy Doves”, “Floor of Tradition” and “El Shakes”. Dena Morawas recorded in Portland, OR with producer Kris Crummett (A Lot Like Birds,Closure In Moscow), and is the follow-up to the band’s 2013 EP, Common Soul.
Dena Mora is an incredibly dynamic album that carves out musical peaks and valleys, while lyrically reflecting on the natural highs and lows of life, including hope, heartbreak and the ongoing efforts to persevere through life’s daily challenges. Through this, Idlehands impressively showcases their ability to create a balanced blend of dark vs. bright, delicate vs. aggressive, and structural vs. atmospheric elements, offering a beautifully sophisticated scope of sounds and storytelling.
Idlehands is comprised of Johnny O’Hagan (vocals), Michael Brekka (guitar), Seancarlo Ohlin (guitar), Phil Di Raffaele (drums), and Isaac White (bass).
TOUR DATES
Geographer w/Empires and Idlehands
May 06 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge+
May 07 Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper+
May 08 Billings, MT @ The Pub Station+
May 10 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium (Dempseys upstairs)+
May 11 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry+
May 12 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
May 13 Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
May 15 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig
May 16 Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dees Concert Venue
May 17 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount
May 19 Allston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
May 21 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 22 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
May 23 Washington, DC @ U St. Music Hall
May 24 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
May 26 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
May 27 New Orleans, LA @ Gasa Gasa
May 28 Houston, TX @ FItzgerald’s
May 29 Dallas, TX @ Trees
May 30 Austin, TX @ The Mohawk
+ Geographer w/ Idlehands only
Idlehands
Jun 02 Tempe, AZ @ 51 West
Jun 04 Henderson, NV @ Eagle Aerie Hall [w/CHON]
Jun 05 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues (Voodoo Room)
