NEWS: THE PICTUREBOOKS To Embark On Headlining US Tour
Blues-rock duo The Picturebooks has announced that they will embark on a run of headlining US dates next month. After vigorously touring all year in Europe and the United Kingdom, the band is excited to make their highly anticipated return to the states, as this marks the band’s first US run since 2015. Out in support of their new album, Home is a Heartache, it will be the first opportunity for many long-time fans to see these new tracks performed live. A full list of confirmed dates can be seen below.
The Picturebooks exclaim, "We can't wait to be back in the USA! A couple years ago we came over to play a show in LA without a label, booking agent, management, or any money. After we played the show that night, we were booked out for two months, had a label, a booking agency, and management. In a way it feels like we are coming back to the people that discovered us and we will always be so thankful for that. See all you friends we made in the past soon, and we can't wait to make some new friends on this tour. Cheers!"
The German duo -- featuring Fynn Claus Grabke [vocals, guitar] and Philipp Mirtschink [drums] -- performs enticing blues-saturated heavy rock, with Fynn playing on obscure vintage guitars he bought from thrift shops around the world, while Philipp beats a drum set that consists of the largest possible drums that he hits with heavy duty felt beaters. The set has no cymbals whatsoever and instead includes a few self-made percussion instruments with huge chains, bells, and more.
Home is a Heartache, the group’s sophomore album and label debut for Another Century (Century Label Group/Sony), received rave reviews, with Volcom describing their sound as, “[a] unique brand of heavy-blues-drenched-rock,” and Alternative Press Magazine describing the duo as creating, “a creepy, David Lynch soundtrack vibe that will appeal to fans of Nick Cave, Tom Waits, the Gun Club and whatever Jack White is lending his guitar skills to.” The 14-track album was recorded in the band’s garage, where they regularly refurbish and repair motorcycles and choppers. It captures a raw, rich, and real energy evoking the room's natural reverb, industrial aura, and spiritual spark. The cinematic music video for their single, “I Need That Oooh” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/7TKWraV8jTY
US Tour 2017 Dates:
06/07/17 - Los Angeles, CA - The Hi Hat
06/08/17 - San Diego, CA - Tower Bar
06/09/17 - Sacramento, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
06/10/17 - Reno, NV - The Holland Project
06/11/17 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge (*supporting Electric 6)
06/14/17 - Louisville, KY - The Gathering
06/15/17 - Denver, CO - Moon Room
06/16/17 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep
06/17/17 - Albuquerque, NM - Moonlight Lounge
06/18/17 - Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey Bar and Grill
06/19/17 - San Antonio, TX - Alamo City Music Hall
06/20/17 - El Paso, TX - Lowbrow Palace
06/21/17 - Phoenix, AZ - Valley Bar
06/23/17 - Long Beach, CA - Alex’s Bar
About The Picturebooks: It's not surprising that The Picturebooks record in the same garage where they regularly refurbish and repair motorcycles and choppers. The German duo -- Fynn Claus Grabke [vocals, guitar] and Philipp Mirtschink [drums] -- captures a raw, rich, and real energy befitting of the room's natural reverb, industrial aura, and spiritual spark.
Fynn and Philipp first crossed paths at a local skate park. Becoming fast friends, they realized their mutual interests extended beyond skateboarding and into music like The Smiths, The Cure, and Minor Threat. Soon, they began writing songs together, utilizing equipment Fynn's dad Claus had accumulated over his years as a musician and record producer.
Mirroring their daredevil skateboarding ethos, they broke rules while recording. For starters, there was considerable physical space between the musicians and the microphones, and it wasn’t simply a sterile studio environment. The concrete floors and airy expanse contributed to the sound, and the overall atmosphere proved quite a propos. They even constructed their own instruments to boot. Fynn picked up thrift shop guitars in Los Angeles. Influenced by the tribal sounds of Native American music, the band built custom percussion and augmented their feet with bells. Moreover, Philipp decided to eschew playing cymbals and adopted large Toms, which he bashes with mallets instead of sticks. They conjured true fire in the garage with that astounding, untainted reverb and their personal arsenal of modified instruments.
Ultimately, all of these pieces form a blues-rock pastiche that's as individualistic as it is infectious. The band signed with Another Century Records in 2016 and their label-debut, Home is a Heartache was released on March 10, 2017.
The Picturebooks Online/Socials:
http://www.thepicturebooks.com
http://www.facebook.com/ThePicturebooks
http://www.twitter.com/ThePicturebooks
http://www.instagram.com/ThePicturebooks
