The Bobby Lees, the upstate New York four-piece Uncut described as “an explosion of intensity of high-concept, low budget rock‘n’roll” and The Chicago Reader said have “the chops and the weirdness to refresh vintage rock, punk and blues…,” have signed with Ipecac Recordings, releasing the four-song “Hollywood Junkyard” EP on June 17th, 2022.
The Bobby Lees said of partnering with Ipecac: “We’re very excited to be on Ipecac Recordings! They have bands we love, and most importantly the label is run by honest, no bullshit people. They let their artists make their own decisions and we really appreciate that. It’s rare nowadays for a label to take a chance on a band that doesn’t fit in one lane. Ipecac welcomed us and that challenge with open arms. They seem to be a label that fights for the misfits and the bands that have their own pulse. As soon as we met them, we knew this album found its home”.
“It’s so great to welcome The Bobby Lees to Ipecac. Take no prisoners, DIY rock and roll. Can’t wait to share these tunes with the world”, shared Mike Patton, with his Ipecac co-owner Greg Werckman adding: “When our A&R guy, Henry Rollins, brought The Bobby Lees to our attention we did not hesitate. A great band, great people with the right attitude. Honored to be a part of the future of this band”.
News of the band’s signing and the forthcoming release comes with today’s arrival of the EP’s title track and its accompanying video. The clip, directed by indie filmmaker John Swab, finds the musicians drugged by an overeager stylist and publicist, as the band’s label seeks to hone on a “look” for The Bobby Lees. Watch the video below.
“The video is a general commentary on our current culture and its obsession with the external, and trying to be famous by any means”, explains singer/guitar player Sam Quartin. “The world of TikTok and Instagram feels like a trap for most of us, so we try to stay away from it as much as possible and instead focus on what you can’t see. Lyrically, the song is about an experience I had during a psychotic break when I thought a star shot into my body. After that I started acting – I was told I didn’t look right and couldn’t ‘make it’ in entertainment without a gimmick or a look. But despite that, I got cast in a few films and was exposed to some amazing people, also some pretty shitty people and situations. The story of the video comes from what I witnessed. People in power manipulating others to do whatever they thought was best monetarily, not what was best for their artists health and well-being. I guess that’s true for a lot of things. The end result of money, fame and success being more important than truth, love, and sanity”.
Pre-save the “Hollywood Junkyard” EP here. Vance Powell (Jack White, Bleached, The Raconteurs) produced the four-song release.
Tracklist:
1. Hollywood Junkyard
2. Strange Days
3. Dig Your Hips
4. Be My Enemy
The Bobby Lees on tour, including a newly extended European trek. See all date sbelow.
US Tour Dates 2022:
March 24 Trinidad, CO Trinidad Lounge
March 25 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
March 26 Salt Lake City, UT Black Lung Society
March 27 Boise, UT Treefort Fest (The Shredder)
March 29 Missoula, MT Monks
March 30 Bozeman, MT Filling Station
March 31 Spokane, WA Big Dipper
April 1 Portland, OR Mission Theater
April 2 Seattle, WA Freakout Weekender
April 5 Casper, WY Oil City
April 6 Colorado Springs, CO Vultures
April 7 Lincoln, NE HQ
April 8 Tulsa, OK Foolish Things
May 27 Grand Rapids, MI Skelletones
May 28 Indianapolis IN Melody Inn
June 1 Albuquerque, NM The Launchpad
June 2 Phoenix, AZ Trunk Space
June 3 Las Vegas, NV American Legion Post 8
June 4 McGill, NV Shellraiser Festival
June 6 Ft. Collins, CO Surfside 7
June 9 Kansas City, KS minibar
European Tour Dates 2022:
June 23 Paris, FR La Maroquinerie
June 24 Nijmegen, NL Merleyn
June 25 Haarlem, NL Kliko Festival (Patronaat)
June 26 Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
June 29 Birmingham, UK Hare & Hound
June 30 Nottingham, UK Bodega HLD
July 1 Dublin, IE The Workman’s Club
July 2 Limerick, IE Kasbah
July 3 Belfast, IE Ulster Sports Club
July 5 Glasgow, UK Broadcast
July 6 Newcastle, UK The Cluny 2
July 7 Leeds, UK Brudenel Social Club
July 8 London, UK The Shacklewell Arms
July 9 Brighton, UK The Hope
July 10 Gierle, BE Sjock Festival
July 12 Malmö, SE Plan B
July 13 Copenhagen, DK Stairway
July 15 Riegsee, DE Raut Oak Festival
July 16 Breitenbach Am Inn, AT Gasthof Schwaiger
July 19 Montpellier, FR Secret Place
July 20 Meymac, FR Open Air Marketplace
July 21 Binic, FR Binic Folk Blues Festival
July 22 Bordeaux, FR Relâche Festival
Weblinks:
www.thebobbylees.com
www.facebook.com/TheBobbyLees
