Big Eyes

Big Eyes releasing 'Stake My Claim,' touring (stream two tracks)

Big Eyes continue to be one of NYC’s best-kept secrets as far as melodic punk bands go. Their 2013 album Almost Famous sounds as good now as the day it came out, and it’s exciting news that we’ll finally be getting a followup this year. It’s called Stake My Claim, and it comes out on August via Don Giovanni (pre-order). As you know if you’ve seen them live lately, Big Eyes have been incorporating more classic rock riffage into their sound, and that is definitely coming across in the songs we’ve heard from this album. On “Behind Your Eyes,” which premieres in this post, there’s also some of the ’60s-pop-inspired-punk that we know from the Ramones, The Queers, and to some extent Weezer. Picture that sound with a little Thin Lizzy or The Runaways thrown in, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of this new Big Eyes record. Stream “Behind Your Eyes” and watch the video for the title track below.

Big Eyes just opened for the great Toys That Kill in Brooklyn last night (7/26), and they’ve got more dates coming up. They play another hometown show on August 16 at Alphaville with Pox and Teen Vice. They also play their label’s New Alternative Music Fest in Asbury Park in September. All dates are listed below.

Here’s a quote from Big Eyes singer Kait Eldridge about the new song:

“Behind Your Eyes” is about seeing through the facade of someone who acts as if “everything is cool” when it’s clear that they’re hurting. It’s about feeling a major connection with someone, but knowing that it would never be a good fit. It’s about finding the balance between emotion and logic.

Big Eyes — 2016 Tour Dates
Tue, Aug 16 – Brooklyn NY @ Alphaville
Wed, Aug 17 – Pittsburgh PA @ Howlers
Thu, Aug 18 – Chicago IL @ Empty Bottle
Fri, Aug 19 – Milwaukee WI @ Company Brewing
Sat, Aug 20 – Madison WI @ Mickey’s Tavern
Sun, Aug 21 – Fargo ND @ The Aquarium
Mon, Aug 22 – Minneapolis MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
Tue, Aug 23 – Iowa City IA @ The Mill
Wed, Aug 24 – Ft Wayne IN @ Brass Rail
Thu, Aug 25 – Cleveland OH @ Now that’s Class
Fri, Aug 26 – Cincinnati OH @ Northside Yacht Club
Sat, Aug 27 – Columbus OH @ Rumba
Sun, Aug 28 – Buffalo NY @ Mohawk Place
Mon, Aug 29 – Boston MA @ Great Scott
Tue, Aug 30 – Kingston NY @ BSP
Sep 16-18 New Alternative Music Fest Asbury Park, NJ

Here’s a gallery of Big Eyes pictures from their recent BrooklynVegan-curated show with mewithoutYou and Half Waif: