You can catch up with Magana through Linktree (or if you’re going to see Mitski on tour soon, be sure to wave!).
Magana and Bedbug both Top 5 on Hype Machine:
We’re also so grateful for all of the support that bedbug and Magana have been receiving. Today both artists are Top 5 in the Hype Machine“Most Posted Artists“ chart (plus making Top 20 appearances in the “Popular Now“ chart).
Though Magana is off on tour with Mitski at the moment, the hits keep on coming. “Paul,” the latest single from her upcoming ‘Teeth‘ LP is out now:
We’re so grateful to the ever-excellent Various Small Flames for premiering the song:
“Today we have the pleasure of sharing latest single, βPaulβ. A song where grief is transcribed almost verbatim, and tenderness, strangeness and plain disbelief can exist simultaneously.”
We’re so happy that the new Magana is getting picked up for airplay by Deb Grant and Tom Ravenscroft for BBC 6 Music’s New Music Fix and by Roddy Hart on BBC Radio Scotland. The reviews yesterday were lovely too:
βThe solo project of multi-instrumentalist and Bakersfield native Jeni MagaΓ±a (bassist for Mitski and Lady Lamb), Magana will release their sophomore album, βTeeth,β on March 25. The grief-stricken βPaulβ is the latest of four singles, which cover plenty of sonic and emotional ground.β β Buzz Bands LA
“As anticipation builds for the release of βTeethβ, fans can expect a sonic journey unlike any other, as Magana invites them to delve into the depths of her imagination and experience the enchanting world of Witchy Rock firsthand.” βPure Mzine
“Jeni MagaΓ±a, esteemed for her roles as the bassist for Mitski and Lady Lamb, ventures into new sonic territories with βPaul,β blending elements of Witchy Rock, Ghost Pop, and Acid Folk. Embarking on her solo journey, βPaulβ showcases Maganaβs artistry and her growth as an independent artist.” β The Daily Music Report
The single is taken from her ‘Teeth’ LP, which will be released on Monday, the 25th of March, to coincide with the peak illumination of the Worm Moon.
My Best Unbeaten Brother β “Slayer on a Sunny Day”:
Here’s a little bit of the lovely press coverage this new project from Ben and Adam Parker and bassist Ben Fry has received so far:
βAfter a ten year hiatus, the much lauded Parker brothers return to their literate and urgent ouevre with a new band and a new album.β β Electric Sound of Joy
βPairing a racing momentum with droll delivery in an attempt to look on the bright side and make the best of the present moment, no matter how difficult outside forces conspire to make such a mindset.β β Various Small Flames
βSomething in the song is growling at you instantly; the guitar lines have this edge to them that immediately has you on edgeβ¦the anticipation builds for that whole first minute. Then youβve the seemingly spoken vocal delivery that works through the track as the guitars stab and poke through your speakers; itβs this riotous bit of ramshackle rock nβ roll thatβs perfectly balanced to rip through your speakers.β β Austin Town Hall
Maganahas announced βTeeth,β her second album, which will be released on March 25th (to coincide with the Worm Moonβs peak illumination) through Audio Antihero and her own Colored Pencils imprint. Magana is the solo project of multi-instrumentalistJeni MagaΓ±a, who has spent the last few years on the road as bassist for Mitski (from Jimmy Kimmel toGlastonbury) andLady Lamb, as well as working with Emily Moore as one-half of the pen pin pop duo.
Spun from MagaΓ±aβs meditations and synth experiments, βTeeth,β which she describes as βWitchy Rock,β is unlike any of her past works. An album about βregrowth and a new view on the world,β its sound touches on Acid Folk, Alternative Pop, and even Krautrock as she tackles the bleakest and most brutally honest subjects of her songwriting career.
Bateman from Frog did an in-depth interview with Absent Sounds on CJAM 99.1 FM (Windsor & Detroit). It’s available now to stream on demand. Weadee and Weajue have a great show with a lot of really good guests (Fucked Up / Chris Walla) so check out their archive.
Frog Live (Philadelphia / NYC / Somerville):
Frog will be playing in Philadelphia, PA; NYC, NY, and Someville, MA, between March 14th and 16th. Tickets and info for all three shows can be found via Songkick.
The first in a series of releases is an absolute banger called “Nothing Matters to Me Now,” which is free/PWYW on Bandcamp now (plus streaming everywhere).
This surprise single has received some really nice support from sites and radio in Japan, Argentina, Slovakia, England, Wales, Czechia, New Zealand, Germany, and the USA. Thank you all so much. You can see some of it below:
It’s a gorgeous, glistening album that expands Dylan Gamez Citron’s much-loved solo bedroom pop project (as heard on classic records for Z Tapes and Joy Void) into a full band, capturing the energy, beauty, and urgency of influences like Cap’n Jazz, Modest Mouse, Owls, and Built to Spill.
Airing originally via BBC Radio Scotland on Tuesday evening, you can now stream Bateman’s “Me-in-3” song selections via BBC Sounds for the next month.
Airing originally via FM & DAB radio through London’s Resonance FM (and Pawarota Radio in Poland) on Saturday afternoon, this in-depth interview can now be streamed on Mixcloud.
This was actually Frog’s second appearance on deXter Bentley’s Resonance FM show, having played a live session for them back in January 2016 (as seen in Alex Coppola’s“Kings of Blah” documentary).
This week’s show though even features “Slayer on a Sunny Day” by My Best Unbeaten Brother, who you’ll be hearing a lot more from pretty soon. But if you haven’t heard already, are a new trio featuring Ben and Adam Parker of Nosferatu D2, Tempertwig, and Superman Revenge Squad.
Audio Antihero artists have a long history of appearing on the Hello GoodBye Show, with a few examples preserved on Spotify:
First thing on the agenda is Frog’s excellent “Track by Track” feature with The Alternative. It’s a great dive into the ‘GROG‘ album from Danny Bateman, exploring the meaning and methods behind this wonderful record. Our thanks to Jami Fowler for putting the piece together.
Tonight (Jan 9th): Bateman will also be on BBC Scotland tonight for The Roddy Hart Show. With ‘GROG’ having recently been the show’s “Record of Note,” Bateman was invited to talk about three songs that shaped him for their “Me-in-3” feature. Listen live at 10pm GMT / 5pm EST or catch it after broadcast on BBC Sounds. Thanks to Roddy and Richard Bull for arranging this.
Resonance FM:
“American lo-fi, indie-pop rockers Frog return to The Hello GoodBye Show a full eight years on from their blistering live session back in 2016…Todayβs special feature includes a pre-recorded interview with songwriter Daniel Bateman plus, a few tracks from the new LP βGrogβ.”
Saturday (Jan 13th): Frog return to London’s legendary Resonance FM for deXter Bentley’s excellent Hello GoodBye Show! Tune-in live (Central London on 104.4 FM, D.A.B. in Greater London, PAWAROTA in Poland, and worldwide online via ResonanceFM.com) at 12pm GMT / 7AM EST or find it on Mixcloud after broadcast.
Frog Live w/ Ray Bull (Brooklyn , Jan 25th):
The show has already sold out once so don’t miss it this time: tickets.
As a part of Canary’s Unplugged series, this December 19th event will be a unique and intimate Frog performance in a gorgeous Manhattan venue. Also on the bill are Rachel Rose and Foxymoron. The boys are back in town.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the door (but the show is expected to sell out).
We’ve been thrilled to have seen Frog do so well on Hype Machine recently, with Frog topping both the “Popular Now” chart with “Black on Black on Black,” and also topping the overall Most Posted Artist chart.
Thanks to everyone who featured the album and everyone who helped with likes and shares, etc. We even saw old classics like “All Dogs Go To Heaven,” “Black Friday,” “Rubbernecking,” and “American“ in the Popular Now charts recently! Check Frog out on Hype Machine!
It has been wonderful to see more and more reviews and features rolling in from sites all around the world:
“Grog is, in many ways, a culmination of the greater Frog project: a refinement of the musical and lyrical themes Bateman has pursued his whole career, with fuller arrangements and a bounce that never quite materialized on older records.” β SWIM INTO THE SOUND
“Itβs held on to Count Batemanβs garage-y sound, but the shy persona and subdued grainy sound is replaced with something more confident, as if it had spent the last few years perfecting its dad bod.” β WMUC 90.5 FM
“…the discordant fervor of βDOOM SONG;β with itβs cacophonous guitar-driven jangle and droning vocals, brings to mind genre luminaries like Pile or even Modest Mouse with a touch of swampy twang. Its ascending, chromatic chord progression also brings to mind the haunting and soul-crushing crunch of Alice in Chainsβ βThem Bonesβ without ever dipping into grunge territory.” β BUFFABLOG
“Frog loves hooks and melodies, some review I read compared them to a cool seventies rock station. Vulfpeck sprang to mind when I listened to a few tracks. And Ween.” – CHRISTMAS A GO GO!
“…it seems that it’s by flitting around that they manage to make sense, and it’s clear that diversity is a source of unity here. Amazing! A deep love of music always pays dividends, as Frog once again brilliantly demonstrate.” – LE VILLAGE POP(“Album de la Semaine” feature)
“Grog kind of feels like an alternate-universe oldies station in how it picks and chooses sounds from throughout the past to create a new listening experience.”
“Grog kind of feels like an alternate-universe oldies station in how it picks and chooses sounds from throughout the past to create a new listening experience…If Kind of Blah is one of the best New York City albums Iβve heard, then GROG is about growing up in the suburbs of the only good city on this entire planet.”
“…thereβs no pretentiousness and you believe and feel every single moment. Bateman brothers put their whole souls in these songs and the overall result is a deeply moving and authentic collection.”
“Frog seems to have gathered a new sense of inventiveness and energy, coming up with that not easily definable sound between everything that was and is cool about New Zealandβs Flying Nun Records and left-field Americana, picking up pieces from everywhere and arranging them in a manner that suited Bateman brothersβ fancy.”
“The whole thing hangs together so well it feels almost operatic. Unlike some of the earlier Frog albums, this one is not something youβll come through unscathed, but youβll be a richer person for listening to it.”
“So, here we are, a writer who couldnβt make it pay, writing about a label that couldnβt make it pay, putting out an album by a band that couldnβt really make it pay; a passion-project triumvirate doing what they can.”
"Butthole Surfers/was it worth it?," there's a hook to hang your hat onhttps://t.co/Ru1vC5YmwD
“Audio Antihero has released some of the most exciting indie rock and pop this side of Williamsburgβs gentrification β and with the release of frogβs latest album last week, the little label that could proves itβs not out of the game.”
Frog Interviews:
There’s also a brilliant (and unhinged) interview with Frog’s Danny Bateman on Tasteful Dissonance. Plus, if you missed it, there’s a great interview up on UChicago’s Firebird Magazine also.
Radio:
“GROG” was the “Record of Note” on Roddy Hart’s BBC Radio Scotland show last week! Keep tuning in to Roddy’s show as there’s some more cool Frog stuff coming soon!
In addition to BBC Scotland and BBC Introducing, Frog have been getting national airplay from FM4 in Austria and Radio 3 in Spain, plus GROG was “Album of the Week“ on The Breakdown. The band are also doing brilliantly on noncommercial radio, even making it into various charts. Thanks to stations like WKDU, WRUR, WMUC, CJRC, KXFM, Amazing Radio, KZSC, KHDX, Dandelion Radio, WMBR, KXCI, Radio DePaul, WNMC, Radio Free Brooklyn, WMSE, WHPK, KXLU, WRSU, WUNH, WUSC, WYSO, WQFS and many others! β€
University of Washington’s “Sphere of Influence” show even played an entire one-hour set of Frog classics yesterday! Killer playlist. Expect something similar from DJ Orb Gripper on LA’s KLMU Online Radio in the very near future.
Frog Win Award:
Some great news! The “Kings of Blah” Frog documentary by Alex Coppola won the YoFi Fest 2023 Audience Choice for Best Featurette!
“…straddles the line between hearty Americana, barren indie rock, and low-key emo. That sound continues on Grog, where Frog sing stories of dead-end detectives and fateful love that give your heart a soft punch.” – PITCHFORK
“…a distinct, off-kilter personality thatβs just slightly off in the best way possible. The end results are rivetingβor should I say ribbeting?” – BANDCAMP DAILY
“As ever, even the shortest of Frogβs stories feels epic, with a whole world created in a few simple lines. This Froglore (because why not?) is absurd, optimistic, defiant and yet grounded by love for the human condition, with all of its faults and quirks. By rights, Frog should be huger than their millions of streams. For now, GROG is more than enough to double this, and beyond, given a chance – 9/10.” – GOD IS IN THE TV
Today we had a lot of fun with what became known as “#frogGROGblog“ by premiering seven songs from Frog’s “GROG” today with music sites from all over Europe and North America.
There was also a really great interview with Bateman in Firebird Magazine (University of Chicago) courtesy of Evgenia Anastasakos. Please read it, it’s so fun. I include a preview below.
Quick reminder that Frog are playing Yonkers Brewing Co. tomorrow as a part of YoFi Fest 11. Tickets for the “Kings of Blah” screening are all SOLD OUT but there’s still time to secure a spot for the live show, album launch and after party! TICKETS.
We’re working really hard on this album, and we can’t wait to share it with you. If you’d like to help us make most of the might “GROG” then there’s a few free things you could consider kindly doing β€
Audio Antihero 