New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Round Eye, the experimental, sax wielding, freak punk outfit have accrued a loud and controversial name for themselves since forming in 2012. The Shanghai based group have as of late been a crucial force in bridging a wide gap between the eastern and western hemispheres of DIY punk rock. Along with blazing a trail all over the globe they've played host to visiting western punks and some legends as well sharing stages with acts such as The Fleshtones, MDC, Mike Watt + The Missingmen, D.O.A., The FUs, The Boys (UK), Paul Collins Beat, M.O.T.O., Ceremony, Iceage, and eastern notables such as P.K.14, SMZB, SUBS, Hang on the Box, and during a mainland tour of China with UK punk legends The Boys, they were forced to literally move the tour underground after being banned by the Ministry of Culture for lewd artwork on a tour poster. VICE magazine documented one of their 'bunker' gigs in Beijing in glorious baijiu filled detail.
They've won the "Best Local Band" title from Shanghai's City Weekend magazine two years in a row. They've released several acclaimed music videos: "Suntan" starring famed Chinese actress Wang Lin (Xue Yi), best known for her role in the Chinese soap opera Romance in the Rain and appearances in Academy Award winning Ang Lee films such as Lust / Caution), the politically and critically charged nightmare "Billy" and "Sifter" which was entirely filmed in Pyongyang North Korea making it the very first punk video ever filmed in the DPRK. They've played numerous festivals around the world and honed their unconventional blend of 50s R&B, Free Jazz and Punk with a critically acclaimed EP Full Circle on Ripping Records which featured Greg Ginn (Black Flag), LP
Round Eye which featured Steve Mackay (Iggy Pop & the Stooges, Violent Femmes) & Lo-fi legend R. Stevie Moore, and have recently signed and released their sophomore LP, Monstervision, on Joey Shithead of DOA's Vancouver-based Sudden Death Records. This album was recorded by Li Wei Yu & PK 14's Yang Haisong, narrated by former The Daily Show comedian John Bloom (Joe Bob Briggs), and is the last recordings laid to wax of the late great Steve Mackay.
They have drawn comparisons to the Stooges,
Captain Beefheart, Dr. Feelgood and The Fall but have more often fallen into a category all their own. Last summer
Round Eye performed at Taiwan's biggest music festival
Spring Scream and toured
Europe and the UK (a 60+ date tour) supporting Monstervision. Now they've set their sights on the US...
US TOUR DATES:
7/3 - San Francisco, CA @ The Knockout
7/4 - Sacramento, CA @ The Colony
7/5 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell
7/6 - Long Beach, CA @ 4th St. Vine
7/7 - San Diego, CA @ Tower Bar
7/8 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Dive Bar
7/9 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rips Bar
7/10 - Tucson, AZ @
Spark Project Collective
7/11 - Albeuquerque, NM ***house gig
7/12 - El Paso, TX @ Neon Rose
7/13 - San Antonio, TX @ Limelight
7/14 - Austin, TX @ Kickbutt Coffee & Booze
7/15 - Houston, TX @ Spruce Goose
7/17 - Wichita, KS @ Kirby's Beer Store
7/18 - Minneapolis, MN @
Eagles 34
7/19 - Milwaukee, WI @ High Dive
7/20 - Chicago, IL @ Coles
7/21 - Bloomington, IL @ Nightshop
7/22 - Indianapolis, IN @ The
Melody Inn
7/23 - Louisville, KY @ The Cure Lounge
7/24 - Cincinatti, OH @ Wilter on the 8s
7/25 - Canton, OH @ Buzzbin
7/26 - York, PA @ Skid Row Garage
7/27 - Philly, PA @ The Fire
7/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Hank's Saloon
7/29 - Providence RI @ Scurvy
