Austin, Texas rockers White Denim have released their newest studio album Performance via City Slang today, August 24th. Consisting of guitarist James Petralli, bassist Steve Terebecki, keyboardist Michael Hunter, and former NRBQ drummer Conrad Choucroun, the quartet’s newest release is a follow up to 2016’s Stiff. Produced by Petralli, Terebecki, and their longtime production partner Jim Vollentine, Performance was recorded at the band’s new studio in downtown Austin, Milk Radio, once an old general store and horse stable constructed in 1902. The building has since been restored and sandwiched in between bars and condominiums.
Performance was almost entirely recorded in eight weeks, predominantly at Milk Radio. While White Denim was recording at Milk Radio, people passing by would stop by expecting the building to be some new hipster bar or cafe. Passerbys would stop and stare at the band recording, or even knock on the door to try and see what was going on. White Denim’s songwriting routine was a fruitfully cooperative, jam-heavy process featuring Petralli, Terebecki and Choucroun with a number of different fourth members, as Hunter wasn’t yet fully part of the picture.
When asked about the new album’s influences, Petralli said:
I spend a significant amount of time sitting in Austin traffic scrolling between ‘50s and ‘80s specialty radio stations. There is something comforting and inherent about the energy and amount of pleasant distortion present on a Little Richard or Jay Hawkins record. Equally, I find the precision and control — from arrangement to the sonics — achieved in ‘80s pop like Squeeze and Kate Bush to be inspiring. The production on Performance is designed to contrast the super-clean and inhuman with the raw and elemental, and in doing so, White Denim has created a densely layered and exhilarating listening experience quite unlike anything heard before.
Listen to White Denim’s new album Performance in its entirety below.
Last night, White Denim stopped by Conan O’Brien’s late night television show Conan, and performed “It Might Get Dark”. Watch video of White Denim performing “It Might Get Dark” below.
White Denim-“It Might Get Dark”-Conan 8/23/2018
White Denim is currently out on a worldwide tour in support of Performance. For a full list of White Denim’s upcoming tour dates and ticket information head to the band’s website.