There’s not many other bands who are as infectiously energetic as SHEER MAG. They were a memorable moment on one of the most memorable musical nights of my life, when I had the honor of seeing them and Power Trip on the same bill during their 2018 tour. That was a wild night I will never forget. The beautiful atmosphere both of these bands brought together under one roof was magical, manic, and low key violent but in the best way possible. I got a full highball poured over my head and it was great. I was glad to be alive. RIP Riley.
Six years later, and they’ve got an epic North American and European tour starting soon, check those dates below! No Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna enjoy their new record Playing Favorites in the comfort and dryness of my own home. It’s out now via Third Man Records — get it here — and it’s got their signature big and bold rock n’ roll sound with a heavy undertow of punk rock and just a splash of country here and there. This record is meant for fun. It’s not a record that’s gonna let you dwell in the shit that sucks about your life. It asks you to stand up and embrace what’s good around you, all the people who came to jump around, party, and maybe spill drinks on your head, and you laugh instead of cry. This is the kind of energy we really need right now as a collective. Some fucking understanding, humility, and compassion for the human experience. Listening to Playing Favorites makes me want to be kind to people just for the sake of making them feel good for a couple minutes out in the world. Listen to it here and if you’re lucky enough to have them come through your city you better be there:
Sheer Mag Live Dates:
NORTH AMERICA
Mar 29: Washington, DC – Songbyrd
Mar 30: Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle – Back Room
Mar 31: Asheville, NC – Eulogy
Apr 01: Nashville, TN – The Blue Room at Third Man Records
Apr 02: Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade – Altar
Apr 04: New Orleans, LA – Siberia
Apr 05: Houston, TX – The End
Apr 06: Austin, TX – Far Out Lounge
Apr 07: Dallas, TX – Double Wide
Apr 09: Mesa, AZ – The Nile
Apr 10: Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
Apr 11: San Diego, CA – The Casbah
Apr 12: Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
Apr 13: Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
Apr 15: San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
Apr 17: Portland, OR – Star Theater
Apr 18: Seattle, WA – The Vera Project
Apr 19: Boise, ID – The Shredder
Apr 20: Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
Apr 22: Denver, CO – Hi Dive
Apr 24: Omaha, NE – Reverb Lounge
Apr 25: Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
Apr 26: Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
Apr 27: Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village
Apr 28: Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle
Apr 29: Kalamazoo, MI – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe
Apr 30: Windsor, ON – Craft Heads Brewing Company
May 01: Toronto, ON – Velvet Underground
May 03: Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
May 04: Troy, NY – No Fun
May 05: Somerville, MA – Crystal Ballroom
May 06: East Haven, CT – Beeracks
May 08: New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
May 10: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
May 31 – Jun 02: Northampton, MA – Field Day Music Festival
Jun 08: Savannah, GA – Dog Days Fest
Jul 26 – Jul 28: Nelsonville, OH – Nelsonville Music Festival
EUROPE
Aug 03: BE Genk – Absolutely Free Festival
Aug 04: NL Amsterdam – Paradiso
Aug 05: DE Hamburg – Hafenklang
Aug 06: DK Copenhagen – Stengade
Aug 07: DE Berlin – Cassiopeia
Aug 08: DE Leipzig – Institut für Zukunft
Aug 09: NL Eindhoven – Stroomhuis
Aug 11: UK London – Lafayette
Aug 12: UK Birmingham – Hare & Hounds
Aug 13: UK Glasgow – Room 2
Aug 14: UK Leeds – Belgrave Music Hall
Aug 15: UK Brecon Beacons – Green Man Fest
Aug 17: CH Geneva – Piz Palu Festival
Aug 18: CH Düdingen – Bad Bonn
Aug 20: ES San Sebastian – Dabadaba
Aug 21: ES Madrid – El Sol
Aug 22: ES Barcelona – Upload
Aug 23: ES Valencia – 16 Toneladas
Aug 24: ES Torremolinos – Canela Party
Aug 26: PT Lisbon – ZDB
