SWMRS Announces Sophomore Album 'Berkeley's On Fire'
By: Kaitlin Milligan Nov. 28, 2018
Oakland, CA rock quartet SWMRS today announced they will release their highly anticipated sophomore album Berkeley's On Fire on February 15, 2019 via Fueled By Ramen. The album is available for pre-order starting today HERE. Limited edition merch bundles are available exclusively via swmrs.com/store.
Earlier today, SWMRS unveiled the album's lively new single "April In Houston" during an exclusive interview on BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac's Hottest Record. The song is available to stream and download now. SWMRS also shared an accompanying music video for the track directed by co-frontmen Cole and Max Becker's sister Marki Becker and Jarod Taber. Fans who pre-order the album will receive instant downloads of "April In Houston" as well as previously released track "Berkeley's On Fire".
Determined to create something new within the rock genre, SWMRS collaborated with envelope-pushing producer Rich Costey (MUSE, Death Cab for Cutie) for two months in the Spring of 2018 for an exercise in grand experimentation. Inspired in equal parts by The Breeders, Rage Against The Machine, and De La Soul, the sonic diversity of the album is indicative of a generation reared on streaming services. SWMRS make music the way they consume it, jumping easily from pop rock to breakbeat-infused rock to emo punk, and jangly power pop.
"When we were writing these songs we were very conscious of our role in creating a space for people to escape from the nonstop negative media cycle," shared co-frontman Cole Becker on the album's lyrical content. "It's a strange time to be young; our generation knows the duality of feeling like an unstoppable force for change in one moment and a powerless wreck in the next. We wanted these songs to document that feeling that we've observed closely in ourselves and in the people we've shared our music with over the past three years."
This winter, SWMRS will embark on a tour of Europe and the United Kingdom in support of the album that will kick off on February 23 in Barcelona, Spain and wrap on March 16 in London, United Kingdom. Pre-sale tickets for the tour are available now HERE and general tickets will go on sale this Friday, November 30 at 10:00am local time. Prior to the tour, SWMRS will join labelmates The Front Bottoms for their annual Champagne Jam in Asbury Park, NJ on December 16. The band is expected to announce additional tour dates in the coming weeks. A complete list of upcoming live dates and ticket information can be found HERE.
Comprised of Cole Becker (vocals/guitar), Max Becker (vocals/guitar), Joey Armstrong (drums), and Seb Mueller (bass), SWMRS released their debut album Drive North in 2016 via their own Uncool Records before signing with Fueled By Ramen (Twenty One Pilots, Panic! At The Disco, Paramore) who later re-released it. Drive North was praised by outlets including Rolling Stone, Noisey, Buzzfeed, and Billboard, and saw the band make their network television debut on CBS's The Late Late Show with James Corden. SWMRS toured extensively in support of the album, and joined bands including FIDLAR, Wavves, Blink 182, Green Day, and All Time Low on stages around the world. Drive North has blared through hometown games of the Oakland A's and San Jose Earthquakes, and through Saint Laurent's runway during Paris Fashion Week.
Berkeley's On Fire Tracklisting
1. Berkeley's On Fire2. Too Much Coffee
3. Trashbag Baby
4. Lose Lose Lose
5. April In Houston
6. Lonely Ghosts
7. IKEA Date
8. Hellboy
9. Bad Allergies
10. Steve Got Robbed
SWMRS Europe and UK Tour Dates
February 23, 2019 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz
February 25, 2019 - Milan, Italy - Santeria Social Club
February 27, 2019 - Hamburg, Germany - Molotow
February 28, 2019 - Berlin, Germany - Musik & Frieden
March 01, 2019 - Prague, Czech Republic - Chapeau Rogue
March 02, 2019 - Vienna, Austria - Flex
March 04, 2019 - Munich, Germany - Strom
March 05, 2019 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor
March 07, 2019 - Brussels, Belgium - AB
March 08, 2019 - Paris, France - Point Ephemere
March 09, 2019 - Amsterdam, Holland - Melkweg
March 11, 2019 - Birmingham, United Kingdom - O2 Institute
March 12, 2019 - Glasgow, United Kingdom - St Lukes
March 13, 2019 - Manchester, United Kingdom - Academy 2
March 14, 2019 - Bristol, United Kingdom - Thekla
March 16, 2019 - London, United Kingdom - Electric Ballroom
Comments
Videos