The Bobby Lees, the upstate New York four-piece, have signed with Ipecac Recordings, releasing the four-song Hollywood Junkyard EP on June 17th. Vance Powell (Jack White, Bleached, The Raconteurs) produced the four-song release.
The Bobby Lees said of partnering with Ipecac: “We’re very excited to be on Ipecac Recordings! They have bands we love, and most importantly the label is run by honest, no bullshit people. They let their artists make their own decisions and we really appreciate that. It’s rare nowadays for a label to take a chance on a band that doesn’t fit in one lane. Ipecac welcomed us and that challenge with open arms. They seem to be a label that fights for the misfits and the bands that have their own pulse. As soon as we met them, we knew this album found its home.”
“It’s so great to welcome The Bobby Lees to Ipecac. Take no prisoners, DIY rock and roll. Can’t wait to share these tunes with the world,” shared Mike Patton, with his Ipecac co-owner Greg Werckman adding: “When our A&R guy, Henry Rollins, brought The Bobby Lees to our attention we did not hesitate. A great band, great people with the right attitude. Honoured to be a part of the future of this band.”
News of the band’s signing and the forthcoming release comes with today’s arrival of the EP’s title track and its accompanying video (note the discretionary warning in the video description). The clip, directed by indie filmmaker John Swab, finds the musicians drugged by an overeager stylist and publicist, as the band’s label seeks to hone on a “look” for The Bobby Lees.
“The video is a general commentary on our current culture and its obsession with the external, and trying to be famous by any means,” explains singer/guitar player Sam Quartin. “The world of TikTok and Instagram feels like a trap for most of us, so we try to stay away from it as much as possible and instead focus on what you can’t see. Lyrically, the song is about an experience I had during a psychotic break when I thought a star shot into my body. After that I started acting – I was told I didn’t look right and couldn’t ‘make it’ in entertainment without a gimmick or a look. But despite that, I got cast in a few films and was exposed to some amazing people, also some pretty shitty people and situations. The story of the video comes from what I witnessed. People in power manipulating others to do whatever they thought was best monetarily, not what was best for their artists health and well-being. I guess that’s true for a lot of things. The end result of money, fame and success being more important than truth, love, and sanity.”
Listen to “Hollywood Junkyard” and watch the video for it below:
Hollywood Junkyard EP artwork & tracklist:
1. Hollywood Junkyard
2. Strange Days
3. Dig Your Hips
4. Be My Enemy
The Bobby Lees on tour
North American tour dates:
March 24 Trinidad, CO Trinidad Lounge
March 25 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
March 26 Salt Lake City, UT Black Lung Society
March 27 Boise, UT Treefort Fest (The Shredder)
March 29 Missoula, MT Monks
March 30 Bozeman, MT Filling Station
March 31 Spokane, WA Big Dipper
April 1 Portland, OR Mission Theater
April 2 Seattle, WA Freakout Weekender
April 5 Casper, WY Oil City
April 6 Colorado Springs, CO Vultures
April 7 Lincoln, NE HQ
April 8 Tulsa, OK Foolish Things
May 27 Grand Rapids, MI Skelletones
May 28 Indianapolis, IN Melody Inn
June 2 Phoenix, AZ Trunk Space
June 3 Las Vegas, NV American Legion Post 8
June 4 McGill, NV Shellraiser Festival
June 6 Ft. Collins, CO Surfside 7
June 9 Kansas City, KS minibar
European tour dates:
June 23rd Paris, FR La Maroquinerie
June 24th Nijmegen, NL Merleyn
June 25th Haarlem, NL Kliko Festival (Patronaat)
June 26th Amsterdam, NL Paradiso
June 29th Birmingham, UK Hare & Hounds
June 30th Nottingham, UK Bodega HLD
July 1st Dublin, IE Workmans
July 2nd Limerick, IE Kasbah
July 3rd Belfast, UK Ulster Sports Club
July 5th Glasgow, UK Broadcast
July 6th Newcastle, UK Cluny 2
July 7th Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
July 8th London, UK The Shacklewell Arms
July 9th Brighton, UK The Hope
July 10th Gierle, BE Sjock Festival
July 12th Malmoe, SE Plan B
July 13th Copenhagen, DK Stairway
July 15th Riegsee, DE Raut OAK Festival
July 16th Breitenbach Am Inn, AT Gasthof Schwaiger
July 19th Montpellier, FR Secret Place
July 20th Meymac, FR Open Air Marketplace
July 21st Binic, FR Binic Folk Blues Festival
July 22nd Bordeaux, FR Relâche Festival