http://www.dailyiowan.com/2009/06/19/Arts/11742.html
In silver van, rock band Black Skies rolls toward Iowa City
BY ERIC ANDERSEN | JUNE 19, 2009 7:21 AM
Day one of North Carolina band Black Skies’ 18-show national tour launched with a scenic drive in Pittsburgh — kicking off the group’s largest musical expedition in its nearly four-year history.
“We’re in a silver machine,” Clark said. “It’s a 2008 Ford Econoline van with just enough room. Right now, we’re at this huge gorge in Appalachia, and it’s gorgeous.”
Black Skies will arrive in Iowa City to play its brand of self-proclaimed doom/stoner rock with Russian Circles and Coliseum today at 9 p.m. at the Picador, 330 E. Washington St. Admission is $10.
Black Skies’ vocalist/guitarist Kevin Clark, bassist/vocalist Michelle Temple, and drummer Cameron Weeks are touring in support of the band’s latest six-song EP, Hexagon, which was recently re-released on vinyl after its initial début in 2008. On the album, Black Skies said it plays rock tunes in the vein of Black Sabbath and the Melvins. The tracks are filled with low-end guitar and heavily distorted vocals.
“We just put a lot of energy into it,” Clark said. “For three people it’s been said we make quite a bit of sound. The sheer sonic pummeling can be therapeutic, I guess.”
While Clark enjoys spending time on the road, he is the first to admit that it has its downside.
Traveling long distances can be taxing on the body and mind, he said.
“We get to see things, and that’s cool, but we really spend most of our time in a van in front of a venue,” Clark said. “So we don’t get to see a whole lot of towns too much, and there aren’t a lot of days off.”
The Black Skies’ members typically spend numerous hours each day on tour traveling in a cramped van. Usually, they are able to find a place to crash overnight at the towns they play in, but occasionally they make enough cash to afford the comfort of a hotel room. Sometimes, the places they stay aren’t quite so luxurious.
“Last year, we played this crazy show in Oshkosh, Wis.,” Clark said. “We were pretty torn up, and this guy decided to put us up for the night, but he neglected to tell us he ran a reptile rescue. Everything you opened in there, it was like some kind of snake or lizard.”
Reptiles were not the only strange thing to lurk in the shadows of the household. In fact, they were the least of the band’s worries.
“The owner talked about there being some kind of ghost in the house, and we didn’t believe it,” Clark said. “Sure enough, [Cameron] fell asleep with a box of cookies in his hand, and when he woke up, it was gone and a bunch of stuff was moved around the house. It was some old woman ghost that steals cookies apparently.”
Hopefully, Black Skies won’t find any ghosts in Iowa City, but the members do plan on performing loud rock for whoever is willing to listen.
“It’s always good to get out there and play in front of people,” Clark said. “We had a wonderful time the last time we were in Iowa City, and that’s a huge reason we’re coming back. As long as that continues to happen, we will continue to play there.”
Showing posts with label black skies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label black skies. Show all posts
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Black Skies in Pittsburgh City Weekly
http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A64489
Tuesday, June 16 -- Rock
Black Skies hails from the South of tube amps and stoner metal (see Kylesa, Facedowninshit). The Chapel Hill trio brings the apocalyptic riffage in a most voluminous manner, fuzzed-out guitar and bass complemented by gruff vocals that suggest the band is more for true metalheads and Fu Manchu partisans than for the Dead Meadow set. Fresh off the release of its very, er, geometrically named EP Hexagon, the band drops by the Smiling Moose tonight for a show with local stoner dudes Channel Scorpion News. Andy Mulkerin 9 p.m. 1306 E. Carson St., South Side. $5. 412-431-4668 or www.smiling-moose.com
Tuesday, June 16 -- Rock
Black Skies hails from the South of tube amps and stoner metal (see Kylesa, Facedowninshit). The Chapel Hill trio brings the apocalyptic riffage in a most voluminous manner, fuzzed-out guitar and bass complemented by gruff vocals that suggest the band is more for true metalheads and Fu Manchu partisans than for the Dead Meadow set. Fresh off the release of its very, er, geometrically named EP Hexagon, the band drops by the Smiling Moose tonight for a show with local stoner dudes Channel Scorpion News. Andy Mulkerin 9 p.m. 1306 E. Carson St., South Side. $5. 412-431-4668 or www.smiling-moose.com
Black Skies in SLC Weekly
http://www.cityweekly.net/utah/article-8306-smokey-robinson-baby-ranks-the-germs-conor-oberst-black-skies-aa-bondy.html
Monday 6.22
MusicLive
Black Skies aren’t reinventing the wheel but damn if they don’t do a fine job of dragging it through the blessed swamp of heavy, heavy rock. The North Carolina trio pays homage to early Sabbath with dense metal riffs that proceed like a snail on Quaaludes. Their latest release, the EP/limited-run 12-inch Hexagon, achieves a distinct sound thanks largely to Kevin Clark’s distorted monster vocals that crack and splatter across his bandmates’ churning rhythm section. It’s good, dark, ribcage-rattling music for zoning out and, perhaps, anger management therapy. Burts Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 9 p.m.
Monday 6.22
MusicLive
Black Skies aren’t reinventing the wheel but damn if they don’t do a fine job of dragging it through the blessed swamp of heavy, heavy rock. The North Carolina trio pays homage to early Sabbath with dense metal riffs that proceed like a snail on Quaaludes. Their latest release, the EP/limited-run 12-inch Hexagon, achieves a distinct sound thanks largely to Kevin Clark’s distorted monster vocals that crack and splatter across his bandmates’ churning rhythm section. It’s good, dark, ribcage-rattling music for zoning out and, perhaps, anger management therapy. Burts Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Black Skies in Cleveland Scene (C-Notes)
http://www.clevescene.com/c-notes/archives/2009/06/16/money-where-your-mouth-is-black-skies
Money Where Your Mouth Is: Black Skies
Posted by Michael Gallucci on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:30 AM
This is where C-Notes lets a band explain why you need to see them live, even if it means going out on Wednesday.
Today’s band is Black Skies, ‘cuz we’re all about the sludge. Plus, Forged in Flame is opening, and they could use your support.
Band: Black Skies
Website/Myspace: blackskies.us and myspace.com/losblackskies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Sounds Like: “Black Sabbath covering the Melvins covering Black Flag.”
Fun Fact: “You will still look stunning, even after we've melted your face off with the sheer power of our sonic assault ... unless, of course, you were an ugly S.O.B. to begin with.”
Playing: Wednesday at the Spitfire Saloon with Forged in Flame
Why You Need to See Them: “This'll be our third time in Cleveland, and the third time's a charm, right?” —Kevin Clark. guitar and vocals
Money Where Your Mouth Is: Black Skies
Posted by Michael Gallucci on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 10:30 AM
This is where C-Notes lets a band explain why you need to see them live, even if it means going out on Wednesday.
Today’s band is Black Skies, ‘cuz we’re all about the sludge. Plus, Forged in Flame is opening, and they could use your support.
Band: Black Skies
Website/Myspace: blackskies.us and myspace.com/losblackskies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC
Sounds Like: “Black Sabbath covering the Melvins covering Black Flag.”
Fun Fact: “You will still look stunning, even after we've melted your face off with the sheer power of our sonic assault ... unless, of course, you were an ugly S.O.B. to begin with.”
Playing: Wednesday at the Spitfire Saloon with Forged in Flame
Why You Need to See Them: “This'll be our third time in Cleveland, and the third time's a charm, right?” —Kevin Clark. guitar and vocals
Black Skies in Cleveland Scene
http://www.clevescene.com/get-out-blog/archives/2009/06/16/617-black-skies-at-spitfire-saloon
6/17: Black Skies at Spitfire Saloon
It’s easy to just dial in some floor-rumbling distortion, turn the bass up loud enough to make your ribs thump and shout like you’re an extra from Braveheart. But that doesn’t mean people will listen to your music. Luckily, in the case of Chapel Hill’s Black Skies, there are enough chunky riffs and precise breakdowns to back up the sludgy aesthetic. Crashing into your eardrums like the Melvins minus any sort of experimental nonsense, Black Skies have kept things raw and messy since 2005. Their latest album, Hexagon, hits on everything from High on Fire guitar-blazing (“Mancipium Monument”) to rock-steady Sabbath stomps (“2105”). Whether you’re looking to do some serious headbanging or just want to hear a rock band that’s ditched pretension in favor of actual, well, rocking, Black Skies delivers. Forged in Flame open at 9 pm at the Spitfire Saloon (1539 W. 117th St., 216.226.7748). It’s free. — Matt Whelihan
6/17: Black Skies at Spitfire Saloon
It’s easy to just dial in some floor-rumbling distortion, turn the bass up loud enough to make your ribs thump and shout like you’re an extra from Braveheart. But that doesn’t mean people will listen to your music. Luckily, in the case of Chapel Hill’s Black Skies, there are enough chunky riffs and precise breakdowns to back up the sludgy aesthetic. Crashing into your eardrums like the Melvins minus any sort of experimental nonsense, Black Skies have kept things raw and messy since 2005. Their latest album, Hexagon, hits on everything from High on Fire guitar-blazing (“Mancipium Monument”) to rock-steady Sabbath stomps (“2105”). Whether you’re looking to do some serious headbanging or just want to hear a rock band that’s ditched pretension in favor of actual, well, rocking, Black Skies delivers. Forged in Flame open at 9 pm at the Spitfire Saloon (1539 W. 117th St., 216.226.7748). It’s free. — Matt Whelihan
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Black Skies vinyl!
Chapel Hill based Black Skies will be doing a 3 week national tour out to the West Coast and back, starting June 16th.
www.myspace.com/losblackskies
NEWS FROM THE BLACK SKIES CAMP:
www.myspace.com/losblackskies
NEWS FROM THE BLACK SKIES CAMP:
We are excited to announce the limited edition vinyl pressing of "Hexagon" was released on March 26th via I'm Better Than Everyone Records! Orders are now being taken through I'm Better Than Everyone Records at: www.imbetterthaneveryonerecords.com
The release features:
Exclusive cover artwork by Tom Denney: http://www.tomdenney.com/ (photos of artwork available at imbetterthaneveryonerecords.com)
500 hand numbered copies
On 180g vinyl
Numbers 1-100 on clear brown vinyl
Numbers 101-500 on black vinyl
recorded at Track and Field by Nick Petersen
mastered by Vince Burke
photo by Mike White @ DeadlyDesigns.com
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