XTRA MILE RECORDINGS VS RECORD STORE DAY 2014

Xtra Mile Recordings are pleased to contribute three very special releases and announce some in-shop performances for Record Store Day 2014 on 19 April.

Jamie Lenman will release a double A-side 7” 'It's Hard To Be A Gentleman/All The Things You Hate About Me, I Hate Them Too' which comes with a functioning zoetrope, making it one of the most collectible and delightfully bizarre RSD releases so far. Jamie will also perform a set on the day at Rock Box in Camberley, Surrey.

Beans On Toast is set to release a 10” 'Best Of Toast' limited to 300 hand-numbered and signed copies. Tracklisting is as follows:

1. Mdmamazing

2. Price of Rice (featuring Emmy the Great)

3. Old Grunge (featuring Handshake)

4. Can't Take Another Earthquake (featuring Dan Smith of Bastille & Kate Tempest)

5. Beer & Burger

6. Things

He will also perform four times on the day. He has sets at all three branches of Rise and an evening gig at Clwb Ifor Bach. Times and locations are below:

11am Bristol @ Rise
1pm Cheltenham @ Rise
3pm Worcester @ Rise
7.30pm Cardiff @ Clwb Ifor Bach

The ever-luminescent Chris T-T will be playing a solo in-shop at Brill Records in Exmouth Market, Farringdon. You can see him serenading the masses at 3pm.

This year's Record Store Day is also very special as it marks the end of Xtra Mile's tenth year in operation. In celebration, the Xtra Mile Recordings Single Sessions box set has been packaged together and all good record shops will be able to stock this rare specimen for Record Store Day.

Those who purchase the box set from their favourite record shop will be eligible to enter a special competition to win two tickets to as many Xtra Mile headline shows as you can attend in one year! More information can be found on our Single Sessions and competition page.

The Xtra Mile Singles Sessions comprises 4 coloured 7” singles, with 9 tracks from Chris T-T & the Hoodrats, To Kill A King, Larry and His Flask, Beans On Toast, Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun, Crazy Arm, Möngöl Hörde, and Jamie Lenman. It's a sequel to the original Xtra Mile Singles Sessions series which featured the likes of Reuben, Dartz! and Frank Turner's first official solo release.

AGAINST ME! NEW VIDEO FOR 'BLACK ME OUT'

Against Me! have unveiled their visceral new stop-motion video for 'Black Me Out', directed by Joshua Mikel.

Against Me!'s music video for "Black Me Out" by Joshua Mikel. New album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, available now on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/AgainstMe-TDB. CD + Vinyl (US): http://bit.ly/AM-TDB CD + Vinyl (UK & Europe): http://bit.ly/1cuCnnR On Tour: http://www.againstme.net/tour/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstMe

The track is taken from their sixth full-length album, 'Transgender Dysphoria Blues', the band's most honest, bruising, and anthemic record to date. Buy it via iTunes or from us on mp3 download, CD or coloured 12" vinyl.

This also follows two combustible sets at SxSW last week and the announcement of a European tour and festival dates this summer.

Have a look below for Euro live dates.

MAY

31 Huenexe, Germany @ Ruhrpott Rodeo

JUNE

01  Aarschott, Belgium @ JH Klinker
03 Prague, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
04 Hamburg, Germany @ Knust
05 Berlin, Germany @ Lido
06  Dresden, Germany @ Beatpol
08-09 Germany @ Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park 
10 Vienna, Austria @ Arena
11 Dornbirn, Austria @ Conrad Sohm
12 Bern, Switzerland @ Reitschule
13 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
14 Ysselsteyn, Holland @ Jera On Air Festival
17 Madrid, Spain @ Sala Riviera (with Bad Religion)
18 Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Razzmatazz (with Bad Religion)
19 Vitoria, Spain @ Sala Jimmy Jazz

www.againstme.net  /  @laurajanegrace

OXYGEN THIEF "SHOW US YOUR TEES" VIDEO PROJECT

There are good videos and there are bad videos. And then, there are REALLY good videos that are usually simple, fun and a firm, memorable statement to boot.

In his new clip for 'Badge of Dishonour', Barry Dolan (AKA Oxygen Thief) wears every band t-shirt and hoodie he owns, crafting a rapid-fire journey of his musical tastes using only his (no doubt chiselled) torso. You can watch the video exclusively at Punktastic - check it out there!

Barry Dolan, on his lonesome.

There's some insanely good stuff in the video, from the 'Ugly Organ'-era Cursive hoodie and t-shirt combo to a highly appropriate, classic "the only person in my band is me" Frank Turner tee. He even dons an Xtra Mile 10 t-shirt, just to show all other clothes how it's done.

A lot of the fun is in spotting which bands he likes that you also happen to think are great: Brand New, glassjaw, Desaparacidos, Möngöl Hörde, Reuben, Say Anything and Ben Marwood caught my attention.

Which got us thinking: perhaps you lot have a killer band t-shirt collection between you? There's an astonishing amount of merch on show in Barry's clip, and the only way we can beat this prolific sartorial feat, really, is if we gather footage of all of YOU clad in your favourite band merch.

Whether you use Instagram or Vine, record/photo yourself posing in your best or most obscure or disarmingly-garish band coverings, use the hashtag #OTShirts, and we'll combine them into one supreme effort to beat Barry's impressive throw down. Share them with us on Facebook and Twitter (@Xtra_Mile / @XMRUSA), and on Instagram (@xtramilerecordings) and we'll gather them into one amalgam of awesome at a later date on XMR Hub. We bet you all look lovely.

Barry doesn't expect to be beaten by any one person of course, but we'd be impressed if you can match or exceed Barry's number of separate merch items on your own. Do you reckon you can trump Barry's Xtra Mile collection (it's pretty lame, considering)? How many of Barry's t-shirts do you own as well? Wanna do a mirror image of the video and compare?  We'd like to see those too, if you can.

Together, we can create the best video ever made. Seriously. Let's do this!

XTRA MILE AT SxSW - AGAINST ME!, TO KILL A KING, NORTHCOTE, CHEAP GIRLS

Xtra Mile Recordings and SxSW go together like mom's apple pie and ice cream.In that spirit, we can announce that Against Me!, To Kill A King, Northcote, and Cheap Girls are all playing the festival this week.

For all you ridiculously lucky hard-working and deserving individuals going to Austin, Texas for the wonderful SxSW festival, here's a quick guide to Xtra Mile's excellent additions to this labyrinthine bill of bands and music.

Against Me!

12 March - Hype Hotel @ 5pm
12 March - Red 7 Patio @ 7.30pm (Brooklyn Vegan show)

To Kill A King

13 March - Swan Dive indoor stage @ 7.30pm

Northcote

13 March - Omni Downtown @ 7pm
14 March - Creekside at Hilton Garden Inn @ 9pm

Cheap Girls

Mar 12  SXSW at The Liberty @ 7pm
Mar 12  SXSW at Red 7 w/ Against Me! @ 7.30pm (Brooklyn Vegan show)

So, make sure these are on your schedule, go see them and then tell us on Facebook or Twitter (or both!) about how much fun you had. We like to know. Don't do all the things we wouldn't do, or anything!

PRE-ORDER CHEAP GIRLS' NEW ALBUM 'FAMOUS GRAVES' OUT 12 MAY 2014

There's an excellent chance Michigan power pop 3-piece Cheap Girls are your favourite band's favourite band. Tapped to tour with everyone from The Gaslight Anthem, to their upcoming spring tour dates with Against Me! and The Hold Steady, it's apparent that Cheap Girls fans carry some serious clout right down to their upcoming SXSW appearances - all tour dates are listed below.

Digital pre-orders for the album are available at iTunes and at our very own digital shop.

Cheap Girls have shared in-the-studio photos from their recording sessions with US site BrooklynVegan who have run the exclusive photos and spoken with singer/bassist Ian Graham about the new record, label and what 2014 has in-store for Cheap Girls.  Read the interview and check out the photos.

Photo by Lance Nelson

Famous Graves was recorded in Chicago and Grand Rapids by Rick Johnson (who recorded Cheap Girls' first two records, 2008's Find Me a Drink Home & 2009's My Roaring 20's) and Jeff Dean (The Bomb, Dead Ending, All Eyes West). Recorded over 3 months, the band self-produced the record and mixed it with the assistance of Dean.  The follow-up to their 2012 release Giant Orange, Famous Graves sees the band continuing to grow their authentic Midwestern rock that's drawn comparisons to bands such as The Lemonheads, The Replacements, and early Smoking Popes.

Tour Dates:

MARCH
09 Omaha, NE at the Slowdown^
10 Columbia, MO at the Blue Note^
12 SXSW @ Brixton Agency/Run For Cover Records Day Party @ The Liberty
12 SXSW @ BrooklynVegan Official Showcase @ Red 7 Patio
13 Mcallen, TX at Cine El Rey^
15 Corpus Christi, TX at House of Rock^
16 Houston, TX at Fitzgerald’s^
18 San Antonio, TX at Backstage Live^
19 Dallas, TX at Gas Monkey^
21 Denver, CO at the Summit Music Hall^
22 Salt Lake City, UT at Murray Theatre^
23 Reno, NV at Knitting Factory^
24 Portland, OR at Hawthorne Theatre^
25 Seattle, WA at Neptune Theatre^
26 Vancouver, BC at Commodore Ballroom^
28 Edmonton, AB at Starlite Room^
29 Calgary, AB at Republik^
30 Regina, SK at Exchange^

APRIL
01 Winnipeg, MB at West End Culture Center^
02 Minneapolis, MN at First Avenue^
03 Madison, WI at the Majestic Theatre^
04 Palatine, IL at Durty Nellie’s^
05 Indianapolis, IN at the Vogue^
06 Asheville, NC at the Orange Peel^
07 Washington, D.C. at the 9:30 Club*
08 Buffalo, NY at the Town Ballroom* 
09 Toronto, ON at the Phoenix Concert Theatre* 
11 Albany, NY at the Hollow* 
12 Pawtucket, RI at the Met Cafe* 

^ = w/ Against Me!, Laura Stevenson & the Cans
* = w/ The Hold Steady

AGAINST ME! EUROPEAN TOUR AND FESTIVALS ANNOUNCED!

Following the release of their heralded new album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Against Me! bring their blistering punk rock anthems to Europe this summer on a string of tour dates and festival appearances as well as a couple of shows with Bad Religion in Spain.

Photo by Ryan Russell

The list of shows is as follows:

MAY

31 Huenexe, Germany @ Ruhrpott Rodeo

JUNE

01  Aarschott, Belgium @ JH Klinker
03 Prague, Czech Republic @ Lucerna Music Bar
04 Hamburg, Germany @ Knust
05 Berlin, Germany @ Lido
06  Dresden, Germany @ Beatpol
08-09 Germany @ Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park 
10 Vienna, Austria @ Arena
11 Dornbirn, Austria @ Conrad Sohm
12 Bern, Switzerland @ Reitschule
13 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg @ Den Atelier
14 Ysselsteyn, Holland @ Jera On Air Festival
17 Madrid, Spain @ Sala Riviera (with Bad Religion)
18 Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Razzmatazz (with Bad Religion)
19 Vitoria, Spain @ Sala Jimmy Jazz

Further shows will be announced so keep your eyes open. Ticket links (where available) can be reached by clicking on the venue names above.

Listen to and purchase the album via iTunes or get a physical copy from Xtra Mile

‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues’ is the intense follow-up to the band’s previous full-length album, ‘White Crosses’ (reissued with bonus disc 'Black Crosses' on Xtra Mile Recordings in 2011) and stands as another major benchmark for the band's career, spanning 10+ years. Recorded at Studio 606, Earth Sound Studio, Motor Studio, Total Treble Studio and mixed by Billy Bush (Garbage, Muse, Tegan and Sara), 'Transgender Dysphoria Blues' is an insightful and highly-provocative 10-song offering written by front woman Laura Jane Grace, whose material examines one’s grappling with gender dysphoria, the loss of a young friend and pure self-discovery, as well as love and ultimate acceptance. Featuring Grace’s signature, explicit songwriting and dominant vocals, the album also features long time guitarist/vocalist James Bowman, drummer Atom Willard and Fat Mike of NOFX on bass for ‘FUCKMYLIFE666’ and ‘Unconditional Love’.

‘Transgender Dysphoria Blues' is available worldwide at iTunes and all good record store outlets.

www.againstme.net  /  facebook.com/againstme  / @LauraJaneGrace