San Francisco's (via Brooklyn) post- punk trio, WEEKEND, release their sophomore LP, 'Jinx' internationally on Nov 25th through the bands own label, Strange Dog Records, distributed by INgrooves.
Founding band members Shaun Durkan (vocalist/bassist/guitarist) and Kevin Johnson (guitarist) first met and joined creative forces when they were just 12 years old, both performing in their middle school band. Their schooling continued through the record collection of Durkan’s father, the singer in post-punk band Half Church, who exposed the boys to the likes of the venerable Killing Joke and the Cure, both bands that have remained influential for the band today. Abe Pedroza on drums, the boys room mate from their time at San Francisco Art Institute, makes up the trio for this album.
After the release of the WEEKEND's debut long player 'Sports' in 2009 and the subsequent international touring that followed with bands such as The Kills and The Wire; the WEEKEND relocated from their native San Francisco and headed East; across country; to arrive on the already saturated music scene shores of Brooklyn NYC.
Despite the drastic change in scenery the band spent most of 2012 writing, recording and painstakingly mixing the 10 songs that make up 'Jinx' a time that Durkan describes “the most trying though rewarding experience so far.” And what about the move itself? Well Durkan goes on to explain: “Feeling at home is evidence of stagnation and so I’m happy to say New York still feels alien to me. Geographically-based music scenes are for the most part defunct due to the internet but I don’t think we’ll ever be part of any scene. We stand on our own.”
When asked to described the album 'Jinx' in 3 adjectives, Durkan states, “Volatile. Cathartic. Bittersweet. The record is a collage of inspiration and ideas from each member of the band. Shards of experiences, images, smells, sounds moulded into something we can collectively call ours.”
The themes behind 'Jinx' are visually represented on the album too, through personal possessions of each band member that “...had singular and emotional connections which were then democratized through a physical process. Painting the objects black adds a new, collective ownership over the previous personal meaning. [There is] the coalescence of our individual art to make something new, stark, and powerful.”
That stark black visual sheen compliments the songs that embody ‘Jinx’. Memories and experiences have been reinterpreted and recalled into existence from haunting, beautiful places. Each song on the album charges through a polarizing emotion through an ebb and flow of sounds both ominous and soothing.
Lastly, the LP’s superstitious title compliments this body of work thematically. Shaun recalls his father’s stage name, ‘Jinks’ which played a ghostly role in the creation of this album. That name, like all the inspirations, emotions and experiences has returned to haunt the band – this time delivered with a lustrous and magnificent black sheen.
The band are fittingly marking the announcement of the albums international release with the launch of a haunting new video for album track 'Rosaries' and will be touring Europe throughout Nov and Dec.
UK + Europe Tour Dates Nov 4th Feierwerk, Germany Nov 5th UT Connewitz, Germany Nov 6th Club Manufaktur, Germany Nov 7th De Kreun, Belgium Nov 8th Birthdays, London Nov 9th Meneer Malasch, Holland with Black Marble Nov 11th Blaa, Norway Nov 12th Folken, Norway Nov 13th Ujevnt, Norway Nov 14th Mir, Norway Nov 15th Have Stengade, Denmark Nov 16th Monarch, Germany Nov 17th 1210, Germany Nov 18th Treibhaus Club, Switzerland Nov 20th Le Connexion, France Nov 21st L'espace b, France Nov 22nd LE 1988, France Nov 23rd Boilerooms, Guildford Nov 24th Start the Bus, Bristol Nov 25th Guilivers, Manchester Nov 26th The Windmill, London Nov 27th The Lexington, London Dec 1st Brudenell Social, Leeds with The Wedding Present
