aaamusic | On 28, Feb 2013

Black Books have been confirmed as support to the Flaming Lips on their forthcoming London shows at Roundhouse on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st May.  The dates will be followed by a Black Books headline show at London’s Barfly, and three regional dates for Dot to Dot Festival in Manchester, Bristol and Nottingham (on Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of May respectively).

The Flaming Lips shows will be Black Books’ debut UK live appearance. Black Books have been honing their live set by playing locally in their hometown Austin, Texas, gaining a reputation early as one of the “Top Ten Locals to Watch” – Austin Chronicle and beyond, “No. 1 New Artist of 2011” – Indie Darkroom Magazine.

Black Books released their debut ‘Aquarena’ EP in early February to continued critical acclaim withThe Line of Best Fit streaming the EP exclusively, declaring the sound of Black Books a “wildly inventive and exceptionally charming take on psych rock”. While the Christopher Thockler (Bombay Bicycle Club) directed video for the EP’s  lead track, ‘Favorite Place’, premiered on Wonderland (UK) and in the US jointly on Earmilk and Austinist, before winning ‘Staff Pick’s’ on Vimeo.

On Monday 12th May, Black Books release their self-titled debut album.

LIVE

Monday 20th May – London, Roundhouse supporting Flaming Lips (with Foxygen)

Tuesday 21st May – London, Roundhouse supporting Flaming Lips (with Foxygen)

Friday 24th May – Manchester, Dot to Dot Festival

Saturday 25th May – Bristol, Dot to Dot Festival

Sunday 26th May – Nottingham, Dot to Dot Festival

Some praise for Black Books:

“The summer of 2013 is set to be a brighter place with Black Books filling the airwaves” – Echoes & Dust

“Glazing muscular space rock with dream-pop pastels, this Austin, Texas ensemble perform their chemistry at full throttle.” – Earmilk 

“Black Book’s immense hooks and soul-stirring orchestrations sweep you into the cosmos with their inter-galactic beauty.” – My Old Kentucky 

“I make no apologies …. I’m gonna keep harping on about this band until the whole world sits up and takes notice! (Shouldn’t be much longer, you’ll be relieved to know!)” – Loud Horizon 

“The Austin quintet’s release of their Aquarena  EP is nothing short of its awesome title. I felt that Black Books made Aquarena a place. A place of peace and sound where the group’s emotions ran free, a place I didn’t want to escape.” – Alter the Press

“I’m a bit in love with Black Books” – Front Stage Music 

“As the vocals kick in, you relax into the lazy tones and affectionate lyrics. Along with the classic guitar riffs and psych-rock sounding themes, it’s an interesting mix of wise and old versus the dreamy and out-there.”   – DrunkenWerewolf 

“There’s something addictive about Ross Gilfillin’s vocals” – Abacus