The Voidz’ Virtue is a really fun album about serious things. It’s swimming in disillusionment and the shame of being alive. It’s like the sound of original sin—oh, how we have fucked this all up. It’s not only our own failings and weaknesses that are disappointing, but also our society’s dishonesty and corruption, into which we are sometimes drawn. Julian Casablancas sings “I’ve been bathing in the blood of our success” on ”Aliennation.” Elsewhere: “I want out of this world” (“Pink Ocean”), “I lost what’s mine” (“Qyurryus”), “What does it matter?” (“Pointlessness”), and “No one will care about this in ten years” (“All Wordz Are Made Up”).
As premiered today in an article at Vanyaland, here's Juliana's new video for Lost Ship, taken from the forthcoming Weird album.
The article features quotes from Juliana and director Rachel Lichtman on the making of the video and its location at Deer Island in Winthrop, Massachussetts.
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Juliana's Olivia Newton-John tribute, we're doing a very special 500 unit LP pressing with alternative cover art and cool vinyl colors. Please note in addition to the Cream and Pink/Purple Splash available on our website, there are 100 translucent clear vinyl that will only be available at select independent record shops.
Orders are being taken now with shipping anticipated for February 14, 2019. Ordering info and details of the indie shops at:
The album only came out in April so it's unclear which calendar they have at ALR for their "one-year anniversary," but this is some pretty vinyl and lovely artwork nonetheless!
On the subject of the ON-J tribute, it is now owned by John Farrar, who wrote many of the songs and produced their original recordings:
Giving the incomparable John Farrar @julianahatfield CD for his belated Birthday! Birthday 🎁 🍰 🎂 pic.twitter.com/x72FuSwnEl — lisa locicero (@lisalocicerogh) December 10, 2018
Wednesday 22nd May 2019 – Bristol, Thekla – TICKETS
The music of Juliana Hatfield permeated my consciousness via the “Reality Bites” soundtrack a LONG time ago, and I’ve held her up as an inspiring icon of musical brilliance and prolificism ever since. She’s just so HER.
I'm thrilled about this news. I've been a fan of Laura's music for a few years. She has 4 excellent albums including her recently released Brace For Impact, and is a perfect choice to play with the JH3 at these UK shows.
Hatfield’s next album of originals, Weird, comes out Jan. 18. So, will Weird be influenced by Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John? “I think everything I do is influenced by my love for Olivia Newton-John,” Hatfield answers. “She has an authenticity and a humility that you don’t always see in every megastar. Yeah, she put on the costumes and the hair and makeup and all that jazz, but she was never pushing it too hard. It seemed like she always had this sort of quiet confidence in who she was, and she didn’t have to pretend to be anything that she wasn’t. I will always respond to that in some way.”
Huge thanks to long term friend of liveontomorrow.co.uk and regular contributor Carlos Lopez for conducting this interview with Frankie O'Malley of The Safes:
Chicago's garage power pop multi instrumentalists and band of brothers, The Safes, have recently released a heartfelt tribute to the one and only Juliana Hatfield. A limited red coloured 7" on American Laundromat Records with covers of fan favorites 'Universal Heart-beat' and 'I See You' with accompanying vídeos for both tracks that have received the seal of approval from Juliana herself.
(CL) Juliana Hatfield has a very extensive musical career. It goes back to her start in Boston's thriving music underground scene in the mid 80's with The Blake Babies. How did you discover Juliana's music and become a fan?
(FO'M) We first heard Juliana Hatfield played on the best radio station in Chicago, WLUW, regularly when "Hey Babe" came out. We all just loved the songs and the singing so much! We’ve been fans ever since!
Were any other songs considered besides 'Universal Heart-beat' and 'I See You' for the tribute?
No, not really... I mean doing "My Sister" and "Spin the Bottle" was talked about a little after we made our decision to record the other two songs. But it was really an afterthought. So we just went with our gut picks!
How did the rehearsals go learning the songs as a band before recording?
Ha! For The Safes, rehearsals for this recording session were particularly unique! We had asked Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko of Material Issue (one of our all-time favorite bands!) to be our rhythm section for this single. And working with them was such a thrill! Very easy! Very laid back and 100% professional and tons of fun! Not everyone just gets to pick a lifetime favorite and have them be into it and for it to work so well! It really was special and super fun! Ted and Mike are aces! And learning these songs was a challenge; Juliana Hatfield has so many gifts as a songwriter! The chords in "I See You", speaking for myself, I know I learned some new fingers for that one! Also she can change the melody on every verse and have the melodies improve saving the best for the last verse. This skill of hers is a super unique thing about her songs! Not everyone does this, most songwriters have a melody for the verse, one for the chorus, maybe a bridge but Juliana Hatfield has these songs where the verse melody changes every verse. It's so cool I love it! My brother Patrick writes songs like that too; I wish I could. And learning the left hand keyboard part for “Universal Heart-Beat” was very difficult!
Every bass run is just little different from the other and they are all so on the money.
Whose idea was it to work with Steve Albini who has worked with so many legendary bands like Pixies and Nirvana?
Mine! Seemed such a natural for this single and turned out to be hands down a very good call if I do say so myself!
How did the recording process go compared to your previous experiences making a record?
Um, I'd say very similar in most ways! The Safes are always prepared to knock it out of the park in the studio. No fussing about. Steve was awesome! Very professional, fast, very smart, very easy to work with. Gotta say it was one hell of an experience to record two Juliana Hatfield songs with Steve Albini and Ted & Mike. It's hard to express exactly but it was pretty magical I'll say!
American Laundromat Records have been very supportive of Juliana's recent recordings. Were you surprised at the opportunity to work with them?
I wouldn't say I was surprised because our dear friend Nicole Anguish of Daykamp Creative does a load of artwork for American Laundromat Records and got our music to the label owner, Joe Spadaro! But I was thrilled to find out that Joe liked The Safes enough to release a single of us doing a tribute to Juliana Hatfield for sure!!! Very happy about that!
Your videos for both tracks on the tribute are really fun to watch. Did the band had any input on the concepts or did you let the director surprise you with ideas?
We had zero to do with the music videos other than knowing and being lucky enough to be friends with two super-cool and mega-talented artists who both did amazing work making these videos!
Wendy Norton of Norton Videos created our “Universal Heart-Beat” video:
From what I have read Juliana really liked your takes on her songs. How did that make the band feel?
Well, we were over the moon when we heard that. Juliana Hatfield gave us such great feedback on our versions of her amazing songs! I mean, that really made me feel great I must say! And I know the rest of The Safes feel the same. Super rad! Thank you Juliana!
Besides Juliana what other bands have inspired The Safes?
So many it's impossible to list them all but here are some that come to mind Andalusian Dogs, The Breeders, Fetchin Bones, The Cramps, etc...
I know you have been touring recently. What's next for the band?
Well I'm proud to say The Safes have maintained a very steady schedule; write songs, record songs, release music and tour in support! So continuing to do that next should always remain what’s next for The Safes until the end of time!
Thank you Frankie for your time and sharing your memories. All the best to you and The Safes.
Uploaded 30 years after it took place by RoadToRuane - the "Billy Ruane live archive preservation," here's a Blake Babies show featuring Evan Dando.
I think this was just before that little "tour" we did in the Southeast. By the end of that, this lineup was really good.
opening for one of my all-time favorites, Game Theory. (also, love that you're wearing your own band shirt. HAR!) — Todd A. Philips (@taphilips) November 1, 2018
UPDATE 1: London date is May 21. Birmingham venue is O2 Institute, not O2 Academy as I wrongly listed originally. Hope to see friends old and new in May! - Craig.
Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Sunshine Boys) and Todd Philips (Lemonheads, The Juliana Hatfield Three) each played drums on multiple songs while Hatfield played all of the other instruments (and some additional drums).
Why wouldn’t you want to block out the world? Hatfield asks us. Outside the home are people who misread your facial expressions (“Staying In”), whose gestures of love feel like efforts to possess you (“It’s So Weird”), who drag you into a vortex of lies and gaslighting (“Paid to Lie”), and who have allowed every last shred of human experience to be commodified, from dignity, religion, and privacy to fake IDs and opioids (“Everything’s For Sale”). Outside the glowing orb of independence are other people’s demands, their power plays, their lies and misinterpretations. Who needs it?
"Universal Heartbeat" Performed by The Safes Recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio Written by Juliana Hatfield Published by Universal Music-Z Songs OBO Juliana Hatfield Music (BMI)
Juliana appeared on stage for an encore at Liz Phair's show at Royale Boston last night (Oct 8, 2018.)
She performed Olivia Newton-John's Please Mr. Please with Liz and Speedy Ortiz's Sadie Dupuis.
Liz, Juliana and Sadie sing ONJ! 💫 pic.twitter.com/1Tfygswu0P — Andrea Feldman (@visaforviolet) October 9, 2018
The truth is, this is the first night Juliana and I ever met. The old industry separated female artists, almost pitted them against each other in the press. Now we’re sewing up the gaps. I love you @julianahatfield thank you so much https://t.co/Aa6pciJCCl — Liz Phair (@PhizLair) October 9, 2018
New covers of Juliana's Universal Heart-beat and I See You are now available to order.
American Laundromat Records:
Chicago's The Safes are thrilled to release a 2-song, 7” tribute to Juliana Hatfield; one of their favorite artists. The Safes tracked this single with the one and only Steve Albini and, to turn this up to 11, The Safes asked their friends Ted Ansani and Mike Zelenko of legendary power pop trio Material Issue to be the rhythm section for this recording. Give it listen. These songs are as good as songs get -- The Safes saw no reason in trying to improve upon perfection and just had fun rockin' these classics.
Exclusive pressing on red vinyl. Original artwork by Nicole Anguish at Daykamp Creative. Only 500 copies exist. All 45's include a digital download card.
Juliana:
I'm so tickled by The Safes' joyful, lovable versions of my two songs! I think they really captured the essence of what the songs were and still are trying to say which is that there is always hope to be had
On a bill including Echo & The Bunnymen, The Wonder Stuff, and The Bluetones, Juliana will appear at Manchester Academy on Saturday May 25, 2019 as part of Gigantic Vol.5.
hello, manchester (UK)! i will be coming to your town on the 25th of may! pic.twitter.com/67wSXOrNR2 — Juliana Hatfield (@julianahatfield) September 18, 2018
I would like to share the home demos I made for the songs on my 2017 Pussycat album. I am making them available for the completists and for the curious and for, well, anyone and everyone else. You can download them below and if you want you can pay for them; you can donate however much or little you desire (or not). Much of the money that comes in will go right back into more music-making (studio recording, etc.)
For more info and the download / donation links head to:
