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The Sidekicks -- new song, dates, BV-presented release show w/ Cayetana, All Dogs, Roger Harvey + their top LPs of '14

Sidekicks

As discussed, The Sidekicks are releasing their new Phil Ek-produced album, Runners in the Nerved World, on January 20 via Epitaph. You’ve already heard “Deer,” and now they’ve got another single, “Summer Brings You Closer to Satan.” Like “Deer,” the new one has their punky rock moving in a more Band of Horses-esque direction, and The Sidekicks have proved their good at both styles. Since we last spoke they also put out the track “Jesus Christ Supermalls.” You can check out videos for both new singles below.

The Sidekicks will support the new record with a North American tour running from late January through early March. That begins with a BrooklynVegan-presented album release show in NYC on January 23 at Baby’s All Right with Cayetana, All Dogs, and Roger Harvey. Tickets are $10-12 and on sale now. 18+.

After the NYC show, Cayetana and All Dogs will join them on more dates, as will LVL UP. All dates are listed below.

All Dogs, whose singer Maryn Jones plays in Saintseneca with Steve from The Sidekicks, contributed the new song “Georgia” to the new The Le Sigh compilation which was celebrated at Silent Barn last night (12/21). Stream that song below.

The Sidekicks have also told us about their favorite albums of 2014, which include their future tourmates LVL UP, that band’s labelmate Frankie Cosmos, The Sidekicks’ Ohio neighbors Tweens and more. Find out who else made their list, with commentary, below.

The new songs and list of tour dates also below…

The Sidekicks – “Summer Brings You Closer to Satan”

The Sidekicks – “Jesus Christ Supermalls”

All Dogs – “Georgia”

The Sidekicks (Steve Ciolek) Favorite Albums of 2014
Hi I’m Steve, here are a few of the albums I liked this year:

Frankie Cosmos, ‘Zentropy’
Complete and perfect, this is what it sounds like when someone is really good at writing pop songs and displays the restraint to not drag said pop songs out. Very fun.

Angel Olsen, ‘Burn Your Fire For No Witness’
This is a chilling walk through the corridors of the mind of someone who left the one they used to be in love with, led with Angel’s signature deadpan stare. Knocked out of the park with John Congleton at the board, it twists and turns until the very last sigh.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, ‘Wig Out at Jagbags’
Super feel-good songs that dared to look on the brighter side of things, when so much of indie rock is soaked in self pity. “If you flood the lane on me brother, watch out for my step-back-three” is as good a basketball reference you’ll find in a rock song as any (there aren’t many). Also, ‘Lariat’ is one of the best tunes Malkmus has written.

Three Man Cannon, ‘Pretty Many People’
Their best sounding release yet, 3mc hit their stride on this full length. There are so many great bands coming out of the Philly DIY scene and they are one that gets unfortunately overlooked outside the city. Melodically it lands somewhere between Sparklehorse and Pavement, with a crystal clear and organic recording (courtesy of the band’s own Matt Schimelfenig). Highly recommended for lovers of the rock.

Lvl Up, ‘Hoodwink’d’
LVL Up is to Double Double Whammy as Superchunk is to Merge, and with the jams the label has been releasing this year, I’d say NYC is seeming a bit like a late 90’s Durham. The songs on ‘Hoodwink’d’ come from three different songwriting sources, making for a unique and balanced mid-fi rock pop album, with interesting production shifts throughout.

Spoon, ‘They Want My Soul’
Holy hell this album sounds good. Even the stinkers (there’s only maybe two) are bearable if you just let yourself get hypnotized by the drum tones. I feel old.

Tweens, ‘Tweens’
Here’s proof that Ohio still has some of the best punk bands. The rest of Tweens can barely keep up with Bridget’s energy on this one, as she absolutely slays every vocal track. Pop songs about love, to put it simply, told with a sneer and an infectious swagger. Catch em live if you haven’t.

Parquet Courts, ‘Sunbathing Animal’
Sold at the title track. Probably best punk song this year. Sounds like the Modern Lovers sometimes and I luv it.

John Darnielle, ‘Wolf in White Van’
It’s a book, yeah, but it’s better than the last 2-3 Mountain Goats albums, so.

The Sidekicks — 2015 Tour Dates
Jan 23 Brooklyn, NY – Baby’s All Right
Jan 24 Philadelphia, PA – Golden Tea House
Jan 29 Columbus, OH – Ace of Cups
Jan 30 Columbus, OH – Grog Shop
Feb 02 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick Lounge
Feb 03 Toronto, ON – Sneaky Dee’s
Feb 04 Montreal, QC – Casa De Popollo
Feb 05 Danbury, CT – Heirloom Arts
Feb 06 Boston, MA – Great Scott
Feb 07 Brighton, NJ – Brighton Bar
Feb 08 Sayville, LI – Soul Sound Records
Feb 10 Richmond, VA – Strange Matter
Feb 11 Washington, DC – Black Cat
Feb 12 Athens, OH – Smiling Skull
Feb 13 Pittsburgh, PA – Shark Week
Feb 17 Cincinnati, OH – South Gate House
Feb 18 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
Feb 19 Nashville, TN – Stone Fox
Feb 20 Memphis, TN – Hitone
Feb 21 Dallas, TX – Sons of Herman Hall
Feb 22 Austin, TX – Mohawk
Feb 23 El Paso, TX – The Spot
Feb 24 Albuquerque, NM – Soundstage
Feb 25 Phoenix, AZ – Trunkspace
Feb 26 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Feb 27 Los Angeles, CA – Jewel’s Catch One
Feb 28 Pomona, CA – VLHS
Mar 01 San Francisco, CA – Milk Bar
Mar 03 Portland, OR – Analog
Mar 04 Seattle, WA – Black Lodge
Mar 07 Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby
Mar 08 Denver, CO – High Dive
Mar 09 Omaha, NE – The Slowdown
Mar 10 Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
Mar 11 Bloomington, IN – The Bishop

Jan. 23, 24 with Cayetana and All Dogs (1/23 also with Roger Harvey)
Jan. 29, 30 with LVL UP and All Dogs
Feb. 2 – Feb. 13 with LVL UP
Feb. 17 – March 11 with Cayetana