Best known as a founding member of renowned local alt rock acts The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Boss Hog, Heavy Trash and Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer released his long-awaited solo debut Spencer Sings the Hits last November, and as you may recall, the Bill Skibbe-produced album, finds the renowned guitarist and frontman embracing a DIY approach while collaborating with Quasi‘s and Heatmiser’s Sam Coombes and M. Sord. So far I’ve written about two album singles — the blistering and abrasive ripper “Do The Trash Can,” a track centered around a snarling, garage punk attitude, abrasive and enormous power chords and an oddly danceable groove and “I Got The Hits,” an equally explosive ripper, featuring abrasive power chords, a shit ton of double entendres and a propulsive, junkyard groove that’s danceable yet mosh pit friendly.
Spencer Sings the Hits‘ latest single “Beetle Boots” is a straightforward garage rock ripper, featuring around a downright nasty, snarling, power chord-based guitar riff, a propulsive groove and shouted call and response lyrics centered around picking up a guitar, joining a band and trying to kick ass and take over the world — but with the reminder that being in a band ain’t easy; that if you come in faking the funk, the game will chew you up and spit you out.
Directed and edited by Andrew Hooper, featuring photos from Jon Spencer, Michael Lavine, Ebru Yildiz, Patrick Houdek, Myranda Baert, and Bob Coscarelli, art by Katie Skelly Visual and visual elements by The Verite Messengers, the recently released video is a trippy and kaleidoscopic treatment that draws from found footage of 60s psych pop concert films, young bands jamming, photos of Spencer and his bandmates — and all of it serves as a powerful reminder: that being in a rock ‘n’ roll band is fucking awesome.
Spencer will be embarking on a lengthy tour to support his solo debut. The tour starts tomorrow in Philadelphia and it includes a highly-anticipated January 31, 2019 hometown stop at Rough Trade. Check out the tour dates below.
Tour Dates
1/11/19 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s (w/ Taiwan Housing Project – Tickets
01/12/19 – Washington, DC – Black Cat (w/ The Ar-Kaics) – Tickets
01/13/19 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall (w/ The Ar-Kaics) – Tickets
01/14/19 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall (w/ Dex Romweber Duo) – Tickets
01/15/19 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle (w/ Uncle Kurtis) – Tickets
01/16/19 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl (w/ Subsonics) – Tickets
01/17/19 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn (w/ Dan Sartain) – Tickets
01/18/19 – New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks (w/ Chicken Snake)- Tickets
01/19/19 – Houston, TX – House of Blues – Bronze Peacock (w/ Poizen) – Tickets
01/20/19 – Austin, TX – 3TEN ACL (w/ Hey Jellie) – Tickets
01/21/19 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger (w/ Rocket 808) – Tickets
01/22/19 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada (w/ Mind Spiders) – Tickets
01/23/19 – Little Rock, AR – Stickyz – Tickets
01/24/19 – Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Café (w/ NOTS) – Tickets
01/25/19 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In (w/ NOTS) – Tickets
01/26/19 – Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light (w/ NOTS) – Tickets
01/27/19 – Charlotte, NC – Side Stage at the Neighborhood Theatre (w/ Dex Romweber Duo) – Tickets
01/28/19 – Virginia Beach, VA – Bunker Brewpub & Cadence Hall (w/ Des Demonas) – Tickets
01/29/19 – Harrisonburg, VA – The Golden Pony (w/ Shagwuf, Des Demonas) – Tickets
01/30/19 – Lancaster, PA – Chameleon Club (w/ Des Demonas) – Tickets
01/31/19 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade (w/ Bodega) – Tickets
02/01/19 – Allston, MA – Great Scott (w/ Bodega) – Tickets
02/02/19 – Pawtucket, RI – The Met (w/ Bodega) – Tickets
2/20/19 – Toyko, Japan – Liquid Room
2/21/19 – Osaka, Japan – Shangri –La (w/ King Brothers)
2/23/19 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo – Tickets
2/24/19 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s – Tickets
2/26/19 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile – Tickets
2/27/19 – Portland, OR – Dante’s – Tickets
