SARGENT HOUSE

In the lead up to the release of their brand new album, And So I Watch You From Afar have already unveiled one song “Like A Mouse”, but now, DIY is giving you another taster.

Taken from their forthcoming third album ‘All Hail Bright Futures’, we’re premiering the new (and rather boisterous) cut from the Northern Irish band, ‘Big Thinks Do Remarkable’. You can check it out below.


The album itself - the follow-up to their 2011 album ‘Gangs’ - marks their first recording as a three-piece, after Tony Wright departed the band last year. The full-length was recorded in Belfast’s Start Together Studio with Rocky O’ Reilly, and gets released on 19th March through Sargent House.

The band have also confirmed plans for a full UK and European headline tour.

AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR 2013
Apr 02, 2013 -  Winterthur, Switzerland @ Gaswerk
Apr 03, 2013 - Modena, Italy @ La Tenda
Apr 04, 2013 - Rome, Italy @ Traffic Club
Apr 05, 2013 - Conegliano, Italy @ Appartamento Hoffman
Apr 06, 2013 -  Vienna, Austria @ Flex
Apr 07, 2013 -  Munich, Germany @ Strom
Apr 08, 2013 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ MelkWeg
Apr 09, 2013 -  Berlin, Germany @ Lido
Apr 10, 2013 - Hamburg, Germany@ HafenKlang
Apr 11, 2013 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Kulturfabrik
Apr 12, 2013 - Koln, Germany @ Gebauede 9
Apr 13, 2013 - Hasselt, Belgium @ Muziekodroom
Apr 15, 2013 - Paris, France @ La Maroquinerie
Apr 16, 2013 - London, UK @ Garage
Apr 17, 2013 - Bristol, UK @ The Thekla
Apr 18, 2013 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV Institute (Temple and Library)
Apr 19, 2013 - Glasgow, SL, UK @ O2 ABC
Apr 20, 2013 - Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy 3

And So I Watch You From Afar dropped a really fun instrumental alternative rock song.

For some reason everything about this song just makes me think about an over the top movie chase scene, but in something along the lines of Scott Pilgrim. It is tightly composed and the song gets off to a quick start with lots of distortion and pumping drums. When the song devolves into a break down that does involve some light vocals I just can’t help, but go back to my original analogy something about the song is almost cartoonish in nature, in such a distinct way that I am seeing it through a nostalgic lens.  At any rate this track has managed to bring me back to my childhood and that alone makes it worth a listen. - Anthony Fantano

This just showed up someone made a documentary about  And So I Watch You From Afar from  a secret Belfast show over Christmas time, must have been from some time ago as it still has former guitarist Tony in it. Thanks to Bandwidth Films for sharing this.

click to go to ALARM story

And So I Watch You From Afar are taking their show back on the road. US & Canadian tour dates will be coming for Spring 2013 as well so stay tuned.

AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR - ALL HAIL BRIGHT FUTURES TOUR
Jan 31, 2013 - Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
Apr 02, 2013 - Winterthur, Switzerland  @ Gaswerk
Apr 03, 2013 - Modena, Italy @ La Tenda
Apr 04, 2013 - Rome, Italy @ Traffic Club
Apr 05, 2013 - Conegliano, Italy @ Appartamento Hoffman
Apr 06, 2013 - Vienna, Austria @ Flex
Apr 07, 2013 - Munich, Germany @ Strom
Apr 08, 2013 - Amsterdam, Netherlands @ MelkWeg
Apr 09, 2013 - Berlin, Germany @ Lido
Apr 10, 2013 - Hamburg, Germany@ HafenKlang
Apr 11, 2013 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg @ Kulturfabrik
Apr 12, 2013 - Koln, Germany @ Gebauede 9
Apr 13, 2013 - Hasselt, Belgium @ Muziekodroom
Apr 15, 2013 - Paris, France @ La Maroquinerie
Apr 16, 2013 - London, UK @ Garage
Apr 17, 2013 - Bristol, UK @ The Thekla
Apr 18, 2013 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV Institute (Temple and Library)
Apr 19, 2013 - Glasgow, SL, UK @ O2 ABC
Apr 20, 2013 - Manchester, UK @ Manchester Academy 3

SEE ALL SHOW UPDATES & DETAILS

(Source: artistdata.com)

And So I Watch You From Afar’s  “All Hail Bright Futures” PRE-ORDERS are now up in both sides of the pond. Available on Vinyl, CD and in great Bundle deals in the N.American Store and the newly launched UK Store both stores can ship anywhere in the world so pick your preference! - Each store has other merch to choose from as well.The album is also available as a DIGITAL pre-order where you get the first track right away HERE

GO TO N. AMERICAN STORE


GO TO EURO STORE

And So I Watch You From Afar’s new album All Hail Bright Futures will be out worldwide on Sargent House on March 19, 2013. And from the sounds of the debut track Like A Mouse their future is certainly bright! Take a listen and spread the good news! We will also be announcing this week all their European tour dates for March/April 2013 in support of the new record and the Pre-Orders too so Stay tuned!

Artist: And So I Watch You From Afar
Album: All Hail Bright Futures
Label: Sargent House
Release date: March 19, 2013
VINYL / CD / DIGITAL

Tracklisting
1.   Eunoia
2.   Big Thinks Do Remarkable                  
3.   Like a Mouse
4.   AMBULANCE
5.   The Stay Golden Pt.1
6.   The Stay Golden Pt. 2 (Rats on Rock)
7.   The Stay Golden Pt.3 (Trails…)
8.   Mend and Make Safe
9.   Ka Ba Ta Bo Da Ka
10. Things Amazing
11. All Hail Bright Futures
12. Young Brave Minds

We are beyond excited to announce that after having only been surrogate parents for North America we have finally had the full adoption go through for And So I Watch You From Afar who have now officially joined Sargent House for both worldwide management and as the label for their next albums. We will be announcing new Tour News and album release details soon. But yes, it’s absolutely happening Early 2013 we will all have a NEW And So I Watch You From Afar album to enjoy. Welcome to the family boys. You already know how much we’ve loved you!

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And check out one of my favorite clips of them playing with full Ulster Orchestra. Love it!

This is such an interesting and great documentary called A Joyful Slog made in Ireland by the Community of Independents. It features interviews with Michael Roe who is not just the drummer of Adebisi Shank he was also one of the founders of top Indie label The Richter Collective and who is now head of Sargent House’s European office. I was also interviewed for it while over in Dublin in 2011. It really shows that there are no real differences in the struggles for good music to thrive. It heavily features our Irish bands Adebisi Shank (Starting at about 27:00 minutes in - 36:00)  & And So I Watch You From Afar who both came to be real game changers for the scene over there and finally ending with our newest addition No Spill Blood who are ushering in the new.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED VIEWING

Check it out then you will all understand why I keep telling you not to miss ADEBISI SHANK on tour now in the USA with Fang Island and Zechs Marquise !

And So I Watch You From Afar caught up with 45sound at 5am in Dublin Airport on Wednesday August 8th 2012 before they flew off for their first ever China Tour. They told us how much they are looking forward to their 10 days & 5 shows in China, and how much they enjoyed their “dream” coast-to-coast US & Canada Tour in June & July where they toured and played with other Sargent House bands Russian Circles, Indian Handcrafts, Boris, Deafheaven, Chelsea Wolfe & Gypsyblood before heading out on a co-headline tour with Zechs Marquise.

Videos from each of the 5 Chinese shows will be up on 45sound.com shortly afterwards, thanks as always to sound legend Andy Coles for recording and mixing the live audio!

45sound also has live footage from ASIWYFA’s Sold Out New York show from The Studio @ Webster Hall on July 27th 2012. For those videos and more Click HERE 

Zechs Marquise will be keeping it live and on the road. Just finishing up their co-headline tour tonight, July 27th in Philadelphia with And So I Watch You From Afar the El Paso boys will get no rest and immediately will join up with more Sargent House family for some US shows with Fang Island and Adebisi Shank. Then they head off for their first Headlining European Tour in support of their latest release Getting Paid. Don’t Miss them folks they bring the serious funky riff laced grooves!

SEE ALL SHOW DETAILS, UPDATES, TICKET LINKS HERE

ZECHS MARQUISE USA
Jul 29, 2012 - Saint Louis, MO @ Off Broadway *
Jul 30, 2012 - Kansas City, MO @ Czar Bar *
Aug 01, 2012 - Denver, CO  @ Larimer Lounge *
Aug 02, 2012 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Vertigo at The Complex *
Aug 03, 2012 - Boise, ID @ Neurolux*
Aug 04, 2012 - Portland, OR  @ Hawthorne Theatre *
Aug 05, 2012 - Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile *
Aug 07, 2012 - San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall *
Aug 10, 2012 - West Hollywood, CA  @ Troubadour *!!
Aug 11, 2012 - Las Vegas, NV @ LVCS w/ Magic Wands,The Moth & The Flame
Aug 12, 2012 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room *!!
Aug 13, 2012 - Tucson, AZ  @ Club Congress *!!
Aug 14, 2012 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad *!!
Aug 15, 2012 - El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace

* w/ Fang Island
!! w/ Adebisi Shank

ZECHS MARQUISE EU TOUR 2012
Oct 19, 2012 - Oberhausen, Germany @ Druckluft
Oct 20, 2012 - Stuttgart, Germany @ Zwoelfzhen
Oct 21, 2012 - Hamburg, Germany @ HafenKlang
Oct 23, 2012 - Antwerp, Belgium @ Trix
Oct 24, 2012 - Arnhem, Netherlands @ Willemeen
Oct 25, 2012 - Offenbach, Germany @ Hafen 2
Oct 26, 2012 - Terneuzen, Netherlands @ De Pit
Oct 27, 2012 - Basingstoke, UK @ Bang Bar
Oct 28, 2012 - Brighton, UK @ The Haunt
Oct 29, 2012 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
Oct 30, 2012 - London, UK @ The Old Blue Last
Oct 31, 2012 - Paris, France @ Espace B
Nov 1, 2012 - Aarau, Switzerland @ Kiff
Nov 2, 2012 - Basel, Switzerland @ Hirscheneck
Nov 3, 2012 - Delemont, Switzerland @ SAS Club
Nov 4, 2012 - Tarbes, France @ Le Celtic Pub
Nov 5, 2012 - Toulouse, France @ Le Saint des Seins
Nov 6, 2012 - Torino, Italy @ Blah Blah
Nov 7, 2012 - Seregno, Italy @ Tambourine
Nov 8, 2012 - Rome, Italy @ Init
Nov 9, 2012 - Florence, Italy @ Viper Theater
Nov 10, 2012 - Zagreb, Croatia @ Kset
Nov 11, 2012 - Vienna, Austria @ Rhiz
Nov 12, 2012 - Budapest, Hungary @ A38
Nov 13, 2012 - Berlin, Germany @ Marie-Antionette
Nov 14, 2012 - Copenhagen, Denmark @ KB18
Nov 15, 2012 - Trondheim, Norway @ Blaest
Nov 16, 2012 - Oslo, Norway @ Parkteatret
Nov 17, 2012 - Kristiansand, Norway @ Haandverkeren Live
Nov 20, 2012 - Brno, Czech Republic@ Fleda
Nov 21, 2012 - Graz, Austria @ Forum Stadtpark
Nov 23, 2012 - Dublin, Ireland @ Workman’s Club
Nov 24, 2012 - Galway, Ireland @ Roisin Dubh
Nov 25, 2012 - Belfast, N. Ireland @ Speakeasy Bar

And So I Watch You From Afar and Zechs Marquise both trade in intricate instrumental music that often gets lumped into post-rock by default.  However, one listen demonstrates how different these bands are from each other, as well as the rest of the post-rock world.  Those with the luxury of catching their current summer co-headlining U.S. tour can witness this firsthand.

Given how intricate and layered the music of these bands is, it would be a shame to see this show at a venue with inferior sound.  Luckily, the host on July 17th was Headliners in Louisville, the standard for sound in Kentuckiana.  Opening was Interstates, native Louisvillians who specialize in playing very compelling, tight, typical post-rock.

Zechs Marquise was up next, and they immediately let everyone know that things were going to be a little different.  Distinctly more funky than anything else that could be called post-rock, their sound bore at least as much resemblance to Frank Zappa having a circus music phase.  In reality, it is likely that the only reason that they have ever been called post-rock by anyone is due to their instrumental nature.  ‘Prog’ is much more fitting, and not surprising considering that more than half the band are brothers of The Mars Volta’s Omar Rodríguez-López, including drummer Marcel Rodríguez-López, who is himself a member of The Mars Volta (QRO album review).  Despite the music being very complex, their playing was as tight as could be, often coming forth in one deep, layered timbre instead of sounding like the work of multiple instruments. -See full review & Photos by Aaron Fath for QRO Magazine

DON’T MISS ZECHS MARQUISE ON TOUR WITH FANG ISLAND - SEE ALL DATES

The Great American Music Hall may be my favorite venue in San Francisco. Low stage, no rail, the sound is great practically anywhere you stand. From the player’s perspective, one of the nicest looking venues to play in, plenty of stage, real nice balance between stage and PA volume. It is no surprise that GAMH is many San Francisco native’s favorite venue — nor is it a surprise it is many artist’s favorite venue. So, seeing a packed house my personal favorite venue for some of my favorite bands as of right now was not just a great treat for me but hopefully the energy of the crowd. - By Nick Wan / Check out the huge photo gallery HERE

The band I was looking forward most to was And So I Watch You From Afar, as it would be my first time checking them out. After reviewing their release of Gangs last year, I’ve had very high expectations for their live show. If you caught a glimpse of ASIWYFA’s Ulster Orchestra live stream, you would have recognized that their live sound is practically a spotless clone of their studio sound. Something you didn’t catch on the BBC stream a few weeks ago was the ridiculous amount of energy all four of these guys have. It was something like… every single member was having their own private solo for the entire set. To match, they were all bouncing and kicking around the stage — aside from Chris Wee, the drummer. However, Wee had a lot on his plate using every limb at his disposal, flailing at a hundred miles an hour. And that might be the best description of the entire set: 100 miles an hour, from start to finish.

Deafheaven is a San Francisco band known for their epicly-black metal. For those in the know, there are no combination of words that can properly describe the rise and fall of Deafheaven’s songs live. The most emotive of the five would be singer George Clarke, who was in full doom squad uniform. At times, I was able to read his lips shout out nothing as he scoured the crowd. At other times, he would walk to the edge of the stage, sans microphone, screaming his heart away. It’s no surprise that the house and side stage was crammed pack at this point. For me, having some opening band love is always important. This show was packed from front to back the entire night.
Russian Circles was the band that was headlining the night. However, we all know that all three of these bands on the bill clearly could have headlined. Russian Circles released their latest album, Empros, last fall. With a little less than a year to perfect their discography live, they were nothing less than astounding. My first time I saw them was when they had only their EP available and their first full length, Enter,coming out in a matter of days. They opened for the legendary Appleseed Cast and my favorite Saddle Creek band Criteria at Bottom of the Hill. The combination of high energy music with the technical-savvy playing made me an instant fan. Fast forward six years and they had the entire floor of the Great American head-banging, dancing, and general mosh-pitting all in the name of the Chicago trio. Needless to say, their live show over the years has become so well-suited for the group, with the choice of lighting and letting the music speak for them, that it would be criminal to miss out on these guys if you love harder music. And for everyone who didn’t end up at this show, you missed out. Big time.

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This show on June 29th at The El Rey Theater in Los Angeles is a bill we are beyond proud to present. Such a stellar bill and all four bands are part of our Sargent House and 1656 Music family. Join us, it’s going to rule.

Russian Circles, Chelsea Wolfe, And So I Watch You From Afar & Deafheaven

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The doors opened twenty minutes late last Friday as an eager line-up formed outside the Biltmore Cabaret. Russian Circles fans clearly made up the majority of those in attendance, but an impressive number of giddy and devoted And So I Watch You From Afar fans made their presence known. We happily filed in around 8:30 p.m., chilled from the rain, and scrambled to secure a prime spot in one of the famed venue’s beautiful booths.

Comprised of Rory Friers (guitar), Johnny Adger (bass) and Chris Wee (drums), Belfast’s ASIWYFA hit the stage at 10:15 p.m. and quickly electrified the room with their exuberant, frantic rock. Sweat and smiles quickly spread throughout the crowd as the three-piece jumped back and forth between trippy ambient bits and hard-driving, balls-out riffs, all of which exude an undeniably infectious positivity. While focusing largely on tunes from 2011’s Gangs (such as the thumping “Think:Breathe:Destroy” and the spacey, 10-minute epic “Homes – … Samara to Belfast”), the set still provided a comprehensive sweep of their back catalogue, including pieces from 2010’s Letters EP (“S Is For Salamander”) and their eponymous 2009 effort (the huge “Set Guitars to Kill”, “The Voiceless”).

ASIWYFA set the bar very high with a powerful, engaging performance that featured a lot of genuine crowd interaction and appreciation, and prompted some spirited yelping, howling, and not to mention surfing from the crowd.

Chicago’s Russian Circles – who take their name from a hockey drill exercise (I always thought it had to do with communist crop formations… huh) – had the daunting task of harnessing the still palpable energy in the room and using it for their own purposes. Being the junior veterans of the post-metal genre that they are, the trio succeeded in pulling their capable opener’s lively, upbeat vibe into a more progressive, drawn out, and often much darker place.

The Biltmore crowd, who had so recently been bopping around à la human popcorn, quickly adapted and morphed into a messy congregation of slow-head-banging devotees. Mike Sullivan (guitar) and Brian Cook stacked layer upon layer of sonic texture as drummer Dave Turncrantz played Master Percussive Engineer and provided everything from intricate, galloping rhythms to minimal, almost empty drumming passages that gave the songs (as well as the crowd) room to breathe and flow.

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