Portland – Montreal punk band Solids has premiered a new music video, for the single “Blank Stare,” from the EP Else. The illustrated video was directed by visual artist, and friend of the band, Emilio Esteban. It is what he describes as “a disruptive visual attempt to burn down a house, save dogs, and end with a blank stare at the shore.”
Solids was formed in 2009, and was originally comprised of guitarist Xavier Germain Poitras and drummer Louis Guillemette. The two released their debut LP, Blame Confusion (Fat Possum/Dine Alone), in 2014. Critics praised Blame Confusion for “its revved-up take on alt-rock from the early ’90s,” set to irresistible, poppy melodies. After a year of near-endless touring, Solids set aside time to record a new EP, titled Else, which will be released via Topshelf and Dine Alone Records, on April 15, 2016. Solids played more than 200 shows between 2014 and 2015, having joined Pity Sex, Makthaverskan, Nothing, PUP, Single Mothers, and Metz, on tour, and “the EP reflects that road weariness with a group of songs that vibrate at a lower frequency,” documenting the endless waiting and hanging around, “the bleary-eyed confusion, and the blur of days” that comes with spending so much of your life on the road.
Else can be purchased digitally, via iTunes, or on record. The vinyl 12″ is available in three color variations: 250 opaque blue (Topshelf exclusive), 250 opaque red (Dine Alone exclusive), and 1,000 black.
Solids will be heading back out on the road this Spring and Summer, touring throughout North America and Europe, along with Dernier Sex, Stove, CLIQUE, Metz, Birdskulls, and Freak Heat Waves. Though this time around, Xavier Germain Poitras and drummer Louis Guillemette will be joined by a new bandmate: guitarist Guillaume Chiasson. See a full list of tour dates below to catch the trio in action.
Solids Tour Dates:
04.08.16 - Sherbrooke, QC @ Petite Boite Noire &
04.09.16 - Saint-Hyacinthe, QC @ Zaricot &
04.15.16 - Mirabel, QC @ Centre Patrick Lepage
04.16.16 - Québec, QC @ Méduse &
04.20.16 - Sudbury, ON @ Townhouse (w/ Mick Futures)
04.21.16 - Timmins, ON @ Working Class
04.22.16 - Rouyn-Noranda, QC @ Cabaret de la Dernière Chance
04.23.16 - Gatineau, QC @ Petit Chicago
04.29.16 - Victoriaville, QC @ Salle des Scouts
04.30.16 - Chicoutimi, QC @ Sous Bois
05.05.16 - Boston, MA @ O’Briens *
05.06.16 - Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades *
05.07.16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie *
05.08.16 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd *
05.09.16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Black Forge *
05.10.16 - Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar *
05.11.16 - Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
05.12.16 - Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar *
05.13.16 - Toronto, ON @ Smiling Buddha *
05.14.16 - Montréal, QC @ Ritz PBD *
05.25.16 - Oviedo, SP @ Lata de Zinc
05.26.16 - Donosti, SP @ Dabadaba
05.27.16 - Madrid, SP @ Get Mad Festival
05.28.16 - Barcelona, SP @ La [2] de Apolo
05.30.16 - Heerlen, NL @ Nieuwe Nor %
05.31.16 - Rotterdam, NL @ Rotown %
06.01.16 - Groningen, NL @ Vera %
06.03.16 - Bordeaux, FR @ El Chicho
06.04.16 - Poitiers, FR @ Less Playboy Is More Cowboy
06.06.16 - London, UK @ The Old Blue Last @
06.07.16 - Sheffield, UK @ The Picture House @
06.08.16 - Brighton, UK @ The Hope @
06.09.16 - Oberhausen, DE @ Druckluft
06.10.16 - Leipzeig, DE @ Zoro
06.12.16 - Darmstadt, DE @ Ottinger Villa
06.13.16 - Prague, CZ @ Cafe V Lese
07.08.16 - Halifax, NS @ Grid Lock Festival
07.09.16 - Halifax, NS @ Grid Lock Festival
07.11.16 - Moncton, NB @ Plan B $
07.12.16 - Charlottetown, PEI @ Baba’s $
07.13.16 - Sackville, NS @ Thunder & Lightning $
07.14.16 - Fredericton, NB @ ReNeu Boutique $
07.15.16 - Québec, QC @ L’Anti, Festival d’été de Québec
08.13.16 - Atlanta, GA @ Wrecking Ball Festival
& = w/ Dernier Sex
* = w/ Stove, CLIQUE
% = w/ Metz
@ = w/ Birdskulls
$ = w/ Freak Heat Waves
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Photo credit: Amanda Fotes
