Peter Walker with Eulogies at Union Hall (10/25/07)
Stream It: Eulogies – Tear The Fences Down
One of my favorite records of this young year is Tear The Fences Down by the LA band Eulogies. In the wake of the untimely passing of Pablo Castelaz (the son of Dangerbird records co-founder Jeff Castelaz), Eulogies front man Peter Walker dug deep within himself to compose a new record and Tear The Fences Down is what emerged from that musical exploration of his soul.
Walker says, “It took months to untangle my insides to the point that I could sit down with a pencil and a guitar and confront what I had been through, but when I did I began to see the light again after more than a year of deep-rooted torment. These songs became my lifeline. This is a diary of the trauma of war, and ultimately a way out of those horrific depths.”
“The fact that my band is called, ‘Eulogies’ has nothing to do with death, other than I think it would be a living hell if I couldn’t speak the truth. All I’ve been through, all I’ve built, and all I’ve lost, it’s all right here on this record.”
Even though the album dedication is for a serious matter, Walker and his band mates Chris Reynolds, Drew Philips, and Ashley Dzerigian have put together thoughtful and life affirming pop hooks throughout all of the songs on Tear the Fences Down which evoke a feeling of fond reminisces for good times past and for theses tunes on repeated listens.
Though they aren’t currently scheduled to play NYC as I write this, Eulogies are playing a couple of one-off gigs in California starting today (Feb 17). Next month, they hook with their labelmates The Dears who are touring behind their just relased record Degeneration Street. In March, the two bands are slated to play a series of west coast dates before heading down to Austin for SXSW.
If you’d like the chance to win a copy of (what I think is) one of this year’s overlooked gems, fill out the contest entry form after the jump. Contest ends on Sunday, Feb 20 at midnight, US residents only please, 1 entry per household.
Contest entry form and more tour dates for Eulogies and The Dears after the jump.
Eulogies 2011 Tour Dates
Feb 17 Rickshaw Stop w/ Mother Mother San Francisco, CA (Free RSVP)
Feb 28 Bardot w/ Family of the Year Los Angeles, CA (Free RSVP)
Mar 04 Sugar Victoria, BC *
Mar 05 Venue Vancouver, BC *
Mar 07 Crocodile Cafe Seattle, WA *
Mar 09 Slim’s San Francisco, CA *
Mar 10 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA *
Mar 17 SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 18 SXSW Dangerbird Records Showcase Austin, TX
Mar 19 SXSW Austin, TX
Mar 20 SXSW Austin, TX
The Dears 2011 Tour Dates
02/17 CBC TV, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight (Tickets)
02/17 Toronto, ON at Sonic Boom (In-store performance at 7PM)
03/04 Sugar Victoria, BC
03/05 Venue Vancouver, BC
03/07 Crocodile Cafe Seattle, WA
03/09 Slim’s San Francisco, CA
03/10 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
03/17 SXSW Austin, TX
03/18 SXSW Dangerbird Records Showcase Austin, TX
03/19 SXSW Austin, TX
03/20 SXSW Austin, TX
04/13 Berlin, Germany @ Frannz Club
04/14 Brussels, Belgium @ AB Club
04/15 Paris, France @ Le Fleche D’or
04/16 Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg
04/19 London, UK @ Borderline (Buy Tickets)
04/20 Manchester, UK @ Ruby Lounge
04/21 Glasgow, UK @ King Tuts