New York, NY (Top40 Charts) On PWR BTTM's new album 'Pageant' (May 12/Polyvinyl), glammed and glittered duo Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce tackle their diary-like explorations of life, identity and existential crises head-on. 'Pageant' is a vital exploration of self that's hot with friction, angst and hope, both hilarious and heart wrenching. Following a 2016 where they didn't release a new record, but performed on NPR's Tiny Desk and landed at #6 on Rolling Stone's "50 Best Songs of 2016" list, PWR BTTM return in triumphant fashion with one of the year's most resonant, revelatory records.
'Pageant' is ferociously emotional, with passionate narratives set to cutting rock and roll anthems. The album builds upon PWR BTTM's sensational 2015 debut 'Ugly Cherries' with a further refined song craft and sonic flourishes including horns, flutes, keyboard and even an impromptu choir. The result is 13 original songs that burst with laughter, tears and triumph. 'Pageant' was produced by
Christopher Daly and Cameron West, and was recorded primarily in the top floor of a furniture factory in Geneva, New York.
Ben Hopkins takes his guitar playing and vocal fierceness to new heights, and with newfound openness. Songs like the self-titled "Pageant" have a visceral pain, wherein Hopkins has an internal dialogue, asking, "Jesus Christ, why don't you love me? I've been feeling so ugly." The duo swap instruments on the record and live, constantly alternating between Hopkins' finger-picking solos and Liv Bruce's tremendous drumming. On "New Trick," Bruce takes the insensitive cis gaze and turns it into a sing-along, while modern-day queer anthem "Sissy" sees them reclaim the micro-aggressive song title, embracing the line "Cuz I'm a big, bad sissy, and I'm gonna make you listen when I say!". "Answer My Text" includes a titular chorus clarion call of "ANSWER MY TEXT, YOU DICK!" combining comedy and reality in a uniquely PWR BTTM way.
Watch the new video directed by
Christopher Good for "Big Beautiful Day" where a normal morning of breakfast and couch sitting turns into a fully-fledged, glitter-fuelled dance party with crowd surfing, fireworks, and confetti: https://shorefi.re/2kDjbi7
PWR BTTM will tour extensively in 2017, appearing at SXSW 2017 and playing some of their biggest venues yet including a headlining show at Webster Hall in NYC. All dates go on-sale at 12 noon local time on Friday, February 17. In a recent glowing live review, The New York Times deemed PWR BTTM "part theater, part punk, entirely captivating."
Ben Hopkins identifies as queer and uses he/him/his and they/them/their pronouns. Liv Bruce identifies as queer, non-binary, and transfeminine and uses they/them/their pronouns.
'Pageant' Track List:
Silly
Answer My Text
LOL
Won't
Now, Now
Sissy
Pageant
Oh Boy
New Trick
Wash
Kids' Table
Big Beautiful Day
Styrofoam
PWR BTTM 2017 Live Itinerary:
Wed, Feb 15 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern Café +
Music Hall
Thu, Feb 16 - Baltimore, MD - Metro Gallery**
Fri, Feb 17 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA**
Sat, Feb 18 - Brooklyn, NY - The Knitting Factory**
Sun, Feb 19 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theater**
Thu, Feb 23 - Oakland, CA - Starline Social Club**
Mon, Feb 27 - Los Angeles, CA -
Highland Park Ebell Club**
Mon, Apr 10 - Dublin, Ireland - The Workman's Club
Tue, Apr 11 - Manchester, UK - The Deaf Institute
Wed, Apr 12 - Sheffield, UK - The Harley Hotel & Bar
Thu, Apr 13 - Birmingham, UK - Hare & Hounds
Sat, Apr 15 - Glasgow, UK - Centre for Contemporary Arts
Sun, Apr 16 - Bristol, UK - Exchange
Mon, Apr 17 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt
Tue, Apr 18 - London, UK - The Garage
Thu, Apr 20 - Nantes, FR - Stereolux
Fri, Apr 21 - Bourges, FR - Printemps de Bourges
Sat, Apr 22 - Paris, FR - Venue TBA
Mon, Apr 24 - Lille, FR - L'aeronef
Tue, Apr 25 - Rouen, FR - 106
Mon, Mar 13 - Sun, Mar 19 - Austin, TX - SXSW 2017
Fri, May 26 - Toronto, ON -
Velvet Underground
Tue, May 30 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
Thu, Jun 01 - Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
Fri, Jun 02 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
Mon, Jun 05 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
Tue, Jun 06 - Austin, TX - Barracuda
Wed, Jun 07 - Houston, TX - White Oak
Music Hall
Thu, Jun 08 - New Orleans, LA - Gasa Gasa
Fri, Jun 09 - Tallahassee, FL - The Wilbury
Sat, Jun 10 - Orlando, FL - Backbooth
Mon, Jun 12 - Atlanta, GA - Hell @ The Masquerade
Tue, Jun 13 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge
Thu, Jun 15 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
Fri, Jun 16 - Washington, DC -
Black Cat
Sat, Jun 17 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
Mon, Jun 19 - Allston, MA - Brighton
Music Hall
Tue, Jun 20 - Providence, RI - Columbus Theatre
Wed, Jun 21 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
Fri, Jul 07 - Pittsburgh, PA - Cattivo
Sat, Jul 08 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
Sun, Jul 09 - St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
Wed, Jul 12 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
Sat, Jul 15 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Sun, Jul 16 - San Francisco, CA - Great American
Music Hall
Tue, Jul 18 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theatre
Wed, Jul 19 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
Fri, Jul 21 - Vancouver, BC - The Biltmore Cabaret
Sat, Jul 22 - Spokane, WA - The Bartlett
Sun, Jul 23 - Missoula, MT - Zootown Arts Community Center
Tue, Jul 25 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
Thu, Jul 27 - Denver, CO - The Bluebird Theater
Sun, Jul 30 - Lakewood, OH - Mahall's
**Sold Out
