WATCH AND SHARE “HALF SMOKE” HERE
TOUR DATES WITH THRUSH HERMIT AND WINTERSLEEP BEGIN SEPTEMBER 17
COOL TO WHO LP DUE OCTOBER 18 VIA OUTSIDE MUSIC
"Walrus sound like one complete organism...No one part is taking away from anything else, and they all move well together." - Exclaim!
"Unrelenting guitar grooves and a smattering of psychedelia." - Stereogum
"Walrus bring about a magnificent explosion of noise and heat." - Consequence Of Sound
“Half Smoke” Video Still
Halifax based garage-psych quartet Walrus are today sharing the video for their new single, “Half-Smoke”, the latest to be taken from their forthcoming second album Cool To Who, set for release on October 18, 2019 via Outside Music.
Directed by the Prism Prize-winning Canadian musician and illustrator, Chad VanGaalen, the video drawns on lysergic animations which find neon-tinted aliens warping into diamonds, and goblins contorting into melting castles. The new clip seeks to visually mimic the psychedelic throb of “Half-Smoke”, a track that pulls on sinewy guitar lines and a propelling rhythm.
Speaking about the track that lyrically documents a time the band were falling into the shambolic throes of a tour, vocalist Justin Murphy, says: “We had been robbed in San Fran after our window was smashed in the van, then after a show in San Diego we had a day and a half to make it to Chicago. We did it. Then we had to play Moline, Illinois after and we had run out of money. I had run out of money, and we had the best band blow-up to date. I was sure it was done. My clothes had been stolen, I was bumming cigarettes. But it could always have been worse.” It was actually this tour that led for the band's infamous Avis Rental Car story when they were banned for life for exceeding 20,000KM in three weeks.
WATCH AND SHARE “HALF SMOKE” HERE
“The ‘Half-Smoke’ video started out as a story about life on the road,” says VanGaalen, whose previous clients include Timber Timbre and Daniel Romano. “It then quickly derailed into synchronised psychedelic abstractions. I love it when this happens.” The band adds by saying: “We have been big fans of Chad's work for a long time and had been interested in doing an animated video for a while now, so it seemed like a perfect fit. You could watch it 100 times and you'd probably see something new each time.”
WATCH AND SHARE “PLAYED OUT” HERE
Formed in 2012 by two brothers, Justin (vocalist and guitarist) and Jordan Murphy (drummer), alongside two friends in Truro, Nova Scotia, the band cut their teeth in music via the traditional route of heavy touring. Intense bouts of gigging saw the quartet earn a reputation, not only for their live shows but also for the way they treat the process. Walrus, have been the recipients of some great tutelage along the way, they were signed to Dan Mangan’s Madic Records for their first album which garnered them some immediate attention and most recently, they supported The Sadies across their North American tour.
WATCH AND SHARE “COOL TO WHO” HERE
Photo Credit : Charlie Benoit // DOWNLOAD HI-RES
TOUR DATES
Sept 17: Quebec City, QC - L’anti
Sept 18: Kingston, ON - Mansion
Sept 19: Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern
Sept 20: Watsons Corner, ON - Hollowfest
Sept 21: Barrie, ON - Fox Lounge / Troubadour Festival
Sept 25: Fredericton, NB - The Fredericton Playhouse **
Sept 26: Moncton, NB - Tide & Boar **
Oct 3: Oshawa, ON - Oshawa Music Hall #
Oct 4: Midland, ON - Midland Cultural Centre #
Oct 26: Halifax, NS - Marquee / Halifax Pop Explosion $
Nov 1: Sackville, NS - Thunder & Lightning
Nov 2: Saint John, NB - Pepper’s Pub
Nov 8: Truro, NS - Engine Room Pub
Nov 9: Charlottetown, PEI - Baba’s
** w/ Thrush Hermit
# w/ Wintersleep
$ w/ Diet Cig
