There is Hookworms live and then there is Hookworms on record. As the flood of acclaim around their second album The Hum testifies, both are equally thrilling sides of one coin. The Leeds five-piece mix power with finesse in the studio, each revolution of their visceral protopunk-wired repetition rock an exercise in nuance versus tumult. Onstage, though, they induce a form of sensory overload that brands black onto the brain. Directed by Sam Wiehl, their new video for ‘Radio Tokyo’ captures the audio and visual intensity of the band, glottal stabs of light punctuating the darkness they shroud themselves in while performing. Watch the video HERE.
“The idea was to use multiple projectors to hit a series of transparent screens to create an installation that the band played within, and visually capture the energy of the track,” says Wiehl of the session. It’s the first time across their two albums that Hookworms have appeared in one of their own music videos; “making it made me feel kind of ill” quips vocalist MJ, “but I’m really happy how it turned out. Sam’s projections are beautiful.” In addition to the new clip, the band have also announced a slew of live dates, including October’s two re-scheduled shows, their largest headline slots yet in the UK, as well as a trip to the US for their first proper run of shows there.
It is ‘Radio Tokyo’ that in-part was the catalyst for The Hum. Written even before the release of the group’s shell-shock debut LP Pearl Mystic, it initially came to light in the summer of 2013, it’s short, sharp undeniably pop-like structure a revelation for the group amidst the deep grooves and blurring textures that had hitherto characterised them. “We got so excited playing that track live,” recalls bassist MB. “It made people move and that was something we wanted more of. It made us want to do something more beat-driven.” The new version recorded for the album doesn’t change much – that addictive Detroit-inspired chug remains the focal point – but like Hookworms themselves, it feels bolder, stronger and thunders with the intent of a band for whom The Hum has fast become a mighty roar. You can buy The Hum via iTunes HERE and Weird World HERE.
See Hookworms live in the UK at:
Saturday 6th December Cluny 2 Newcastle
Saturday 28th February Stereo Glasgow
Sunday 1st March Sound Control Manchester
Saturday 21st March Oval Space London
Sunday 22nd March Rescue Rooms Nottingham
And in the US:
Saturday 4th April The Constellation Room Santa Ana, CA*
Sunday 5th April The Echo for Part Time Punks Los Angeles, CA*
Monday 6th April The Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, CA*
Wednesday 8th April Sunset Tavern Seattle, WA*
Friday 10th April The Empty Bottle Chicago, IL
Saturday 11th April UFO Factory Detroit, MI
Sunday the 12th April The Silver Dollar Toronto, ON
Monday the 13th April Casa del Popolo Montreal, QC
Wednesday 15th April Underground Arts – Black Box Philadelphia, PA
Thursday the 16th April DC9 Washington, DC
Friday 17th April Rough Trade Brooklyn, NY
Saturday 18th April Palisades Brooklyn, NY
*w/ Disappears
“Hookworms have cut one of the best rock’n’roll albums of 2014” 4/5 MOJO
“The band’s evolution is fascinating to behold, especially as they continue to leave such splendidly exciting albums in their wake” 8/10 Uncut
“Like every important cult band in history, they’ve divorced themselves from mainstream trends and in the process created their own strange and intoxicating universe.” 4/5 Q
“The Hum is tougher, richer and more dynamic, throwing Hookworms forward in spectacularly assured fashion” 9/10 NME ‘Album of the Week’
“Christmas has come early for psyche, freakbeat and space-rock aficionados” 4/5 The Guardian
“Close to perfection” 5/5The Times
“Phenomenally exciting, white hot music” 9/10 Loud & Quiet ‘Album of the Week’