Bad Bad Hats Talk Lyrical Influences, MySpace In Rolling Stone Feature | New Video | Nat’l Tour | ‘Lightning Round’ LP Out Fri
Bad Bad Hats Talk New Album, Lyrical Influences and Meeting On MySpace
+ “Nothing Gets Me High” Video Premiered w/ Rolling Stone
Sophomore Album Lightning Round
Due Out This Friday 8/3 on Afternoon Records
National Tour Kicks Off This Month
w/ Cumulus as Support
Photo Credit: Amy Anderson
Minneapolis-based Bad Bad Hats have released the new video for album track “Nothing Gets Me High” today alongside an in-depth feature with Rolling Stone. “Nothing Gets Me High” is a reminiscent song that aims to bottle the all-encompassing emotion of first love. “This song is also about wanting to be that feeling for someone else,” explains frontwoman Kerry Alexander. On the trio’s sophomore album Lightning Round, released this Friday, August 3 via Afternoon Records (Yellow Ostrich, Haley Bonar, John Vanderslice), the band emerges with a collection of catchy pop melodies that are both dreamy and strikingly deep.
Bad Bad Hats are Kerry Alexander (vocals, guitar), Chris Hoge (guitar and bass), and Connor Davison (drums). Encouraged to record live in the studio by producer and longtime collaborator Brett Bullion (who also produced their debut album Psychic Reader), there is a tangible vulnerability to the spontaneous approach (fluttering tape loops, a few wrong notes) that feels as honest and unpredictable as Alexander’s lyrics. The 10-song collection explores themes of dependence and independence in relationships, bolstered by the band’s signature equal parts grit-and-melody instrumental compositions.
Since the release of their debut album, the indie rockers have toured extensively, sharing stages with The Front Bottoms, Margaret Glaspy and Third Eye Blind. They head back on the road in a few weeks kicking off a national tour, including stops in LA, Seattle, Austin, San Francisco, Chicago and much more. Be sure to experience the raucous Bad Bad Hats live show in a city near you!
“Vocalist/guitarist Kerry Alexander’s pure voice might be called “sweet” or “childlike,” but her innocence is belied by her apt songwriting, which translates her experiences into poignant, universal stories.” – Pitchfork
“terse, honest lyrics suggest a weathered wisdom.” – The New Yorker
“… programmed to fire all neural pathways associated with carefree indie rock fun. But beware: These lyrics will bite.” – NPR
” …meshing of dreamy synth beats, distorted guitar, and Alexander’s serene croon bouncing over hand claps make it the perfect, dreamy-pop summer soundtrack.” – PAPER
“A gritty two-and-a-half minutes of wobbly bass, wailing guitar, and front woman Kerry Alexander’s slinky vocals, it is a blast—and there is more like this to come.” – FADER
“’Write It On Your Heart’, a tender, texturally rich cut that pairs Kerry Alexander’s fierce, confrontational lyrics with breezy instrumentation that’s deceptively layered.” – Consequence of Sound
“Lightning Round promises to feature a fresh batch of the catchy yet deep pop songs.” – The Current
“Complete with the crunchy kick of slightly manic-sounding guitar and the pulse of some very punchy bass…” – Paste Magazine
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Bad Bad Hats National Tour Dates
* = w/ Cumulus
^ = w/ Tiny Deaths
8/6: Chicago, IL @ Millennium Park w/ Bahamas
(Millennium Park Summer Music Series)
8/18: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
8/22: Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre *
8/23: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
8/24: Boise, ID @ The Olympic *
8/25: Seattle, WA @ Barboza *
8/26: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
8/28: Sacramento, CA @ Harlows *
8/29: Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst Atrium *
8/30: San Francisco, CA @ Cafe du Nord *
8/31: West Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy Theatre *
9/1: Las Vegas, NV @ The Bunkhouse *
9/2: Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar *
9/4: Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad *
9/6: Dallas, TX @ Sundown at Granada *
9/7: Austin, TX @ Stubbs Jr *
9/8: Houston, TX @ Satellite Bar *
9/9: Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street – OKC *
9/11: Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard *
9/12: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck *
9/13: Springfield, MO @ Outland Ballroom *
9/14: Columbia, MO @ Cafe Berlin *
9/15: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
10/6: Duluth, MN @ Red Herring Lounge ^
10/12: Ames, IA @ The Maintenance Shop