tag:sargenthouse.com,2005:/blogs/news--3News2019-03-23T03:43:25-07:00Sargent Housefalsetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/45556132017-01-17T11:01:00-08:002024-02-04T23:08:01-08:00Empty Houses announces US shows with Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties, Dryjacket<figure data-orig-width="1638" data-orig-height="2048" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://68.media.tumblr.com/d406adaf1f56ea01ebaf5fc4102231c5/tumblr_inline_ok00pjize51qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> will be playing some US shows supporting <a href="http://www.aaronwestandtheroaringtwenties.com/" target="_blank">Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties</a> in March. Additional support from <a href="http://dryjacket.com/" target="_blank">Dryjacket</a>. All tickets available <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p>Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties, Empty Houses, Dryjacket</p><p>Mar 01 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall<br>Mar 03 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar<br>Mar 04 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium<br>Mar 05 - Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon</p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/45362862017-01-03T14:28:22-08:002024-02-09T04:42:54-08:00“Daydream” included on Emo At Heart’s Top Ten Albums of 2016<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="593" data-orig-width="593"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/9207b71baeda23caf00665614c0576fc/tumblr_inline_oj86b1OD5n1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="2000" data-orig-width="2000"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/3942c159e570e05189f69e4b16f6483b/tumblr_inline_oj86c04bye1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> – Daydream<br><a href="http://www.emoatheart.com/reviews/empty-houses-daydream/" target="_blank">From my review</a>: “Ali Shea, where have you been all my life?… The Shea-led, Detroit-based, retro-pop trio never fall short on the soul or passion of their hometown throughout this 10-track effort. That’s not to say that this is simply a throwback to the Motown sound of the 50s or 60s – though the inspiration is clear – this album spends it’s fair share of time in 2016, deftly weaving back and forth.”<br></p><p><a href="http://www.emoatheart.com/features/best-of-2016-editor-in-chief-edition/" target="_blank">(via Emo At Heart)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/44992482016-12-06T12:21:10-08:002024-02-04T23:10:05-08:00‘Daydream’ featured in PopMatters Best Albums of 2016<figure data-orig-width="342" data-orig-height="65" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/5e9f11b134835e5aa5dfd5c126a2264b/tumblr_inline_ohs579HKrU1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="2000" data-orig-height="2000" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/3942c159e570e05189f69e4b16f6483b/tumblr_inline_ohs5quKDWt1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="635" data-orig-height="84" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/0c5bfd362a0edc1efd19961012fd0146/tumblr_inline_ohs5qrSl9F1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><b><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a><br>Daydream</b></p><p>“Throwback pop” is such an overused term at this point that albums fitting such a template are no longer revolutionary—they’re merely expected. What follows? A little bit of fame and maybe some NPR exposure, the artist goes on to play some sizable halls and festival billings, mild applause, we usually don’t hear from them again, the world keeps a-spinnin’. How lovely it is, then, to see Detroit’s Empty Houses come out of nowhere with an album as utterly unpretentious as <i><a href="https://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a></i>. Bright, sunny, and thankfully stripped down, the piano-driven numbers of this trio evoke Carole King one moment, Motown the next, but all with their modern spin on song structures that we thought were forgotten to the sands of time. The group vocals on the title track transport you back to an earlier era, one of buying records on vinyl or cassette, dancing in the living room, and perhaps even getting your parents to join along with you. The real shocker is that this is a new band, out there right now, ready to recreate those moments for you in person. Don’t take treasures like this for granted.</p><p><a href="http://www.popmatters.com/feature/the-best-pop-albums-of-2016/" target="_blank">(via PopMatters)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/44611802016-11-10T09:26:13-08:002024-02-04T23:11:01-08:00Empty Houses to release Holiday EP, “Sleigh Ride” streaming now<p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1200" data-orig-width="1200"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/c46e782843d5d1622c404b4899302ca4/tumblr_inline_ogfs2miHnS1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p>Empty Houses have just announced their Holiday EP, to be released November 11th, 2016. Listen to the first track “Sleigh Ride” below.</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/292303215&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false"></iframe></p><p>The band will be playing at El Club in Detroit, MI on November 17th, with another show to be announced before the end of the year. Tickets and info available <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/44148832016-10-11T11:00:48-07:002024-02-04T23:11:56-08:00Empty Houses // The Culture Trip’s Musicians To Know From Each State<figure data-orig-width="100" data-orig-height="100"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/4e029f42254bfc472373cf247eb27e51/tumblr_inline_oew9xgvOLS1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="1214" data-orig-height="445" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//68.media.tumblr.com/164859124c960b208d97a837f7e85231/tumblr_inline_oew9u1Y7Ys1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjhBaTl1u9fo"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jhBaTl1u9fo?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><h2>Empty Houses</h2><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a>’ early summer release, <a href="https://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a>, is one of the warmest records of 2016; their Motown-inspired retro-pop, led by the splendid vocals of Ali Shea, will you having dancing wherever you are until the album’s 10 tracks come to an end all too early.</p><p><a href="https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/the-50-musicians-you-need-to-know-from-each-state-in-the-u-s-part-2/" target="_blank">(via The Culture Trip)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/44097322016-10-07T11:39:26-07:002024-03-11T23:43:01-07:00New session & interview from Sessions From The Box<p><a href="http://www.sessionsfromthebox.com/sessions/?p=1665" target="_blank"><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="297" data-orig-width="798"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/5ec1e5a8aa2ea8481c099654649ca95b/tumblr_inline_oeowllGgj11qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="450" data-orig-width="450"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/612a052186503e3348540f99c8f741bd/tumblr_inline_oeowm4bqRw1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="124" data-orig-width="474"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/36f77b9c0e4f7f7f6d144ba682dc88b6/tumblr_inline_oeowmzexaL1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></a></p><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> is a Detroit trio who dances with pop and flirts with Motown. We headed over to Portland Oregon’s Mission Theatre to record this live set. Click <a href="http://www.sessionsfromthebox.com/sessions/?p=1665" target="_blank">HERE</a> to listen.</p><p>Artwork by <a href="http://www.mandynewhamillustrated.com/" target="_blank">Mandy Newham-Cobb</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.sessionsfromthebox.com/sessions/?p=1665" target="_blank">(via Sessions From The Box)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/43334432016-08-19T11:03:10-07:002024-03-11T23:43:01-07:00Spill Magazine reviews ‘Daydream’<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="88" data-orig-width="517"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/1fe05555db96a4990626a3566e34242c/tumblr_inline_oc64muVlKD1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="2000" data-orig-width="2000"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/3942c159e570e05189f69e4b16f6483b/tumblr_inline_oc64owiczg1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure data-orig-height="138" data-orig-width="183"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/a41214398d176d85e42adb92009098e6/tumblr_inline_oc64p0IqwN1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><i>by Kysan Kwan</i></p><p>After the successful release of 2014’sOh, Common Life, Punk-Rockers David Mackinder and Adam Mercer of Fireworks shed their Rock outfit and enlist vocalist Ali Shea for a nostalgic Retro Pop sound in <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a>’ debut full-length release, <a href="http://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a>. Driven by bright and playful piano lines with tinges of brass and synth, Daydream manages to be infectious and memorable without becoming too overstated or generic. Shea’s vocals are expressive and dynamic throughout the album; from the empowering breakup tune “Hold Your Hand” to the reserved piano ballad “Every Word,” she demonstrates her ability to match her voice to complement a number of styles and moods. That being said, it’s clear that the strongest points on this record are in the bouncy, bubbly tracks that just make you want to dance – and Daydream is an album that knows this, as it’s easy to feel the pure sense of energy that permeates nearly every song. While it is possible for this to become overwhelming or repetitive at some points, Daydream does an excellent job at conveying a single underlying tone in several different ways. The contrast between the swaying and subdued “Lost At Sea” compared to the bass-heavy “Falling Away” is an example of this. Overall, Daydream brings to the table a collection of sounds that lifts the spirits and give the listener a chance to sit back and reflect on times past; a record released just in time for the summer.<br></p><p><a href="http://spillmagazine.com/spill-album-review-empty-houses-daydream/" target="_blank">(via Spill Magazine)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/43211052016-08-11T10:18:56-07:002024-02-04T23:13:47-08:00Empty Houses Daytrotter session up now<figure data-orig-width="860" data-orig-height="860" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/ec06374ea7eb6cb40d71c43b540976c7/tumblr_inline_obr92hBcbQ1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> recently recorded a full band session with Daytrotter - check it out <a href="http://www.daytrotter.com/empty-houses/horseshack-july-28-2016.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42914332016-07-22T14:59:06-07:002024-02-16T03:44:16-08:00TIDAL Rising // Empty Houses<figure data-orig-width="640" data-orig-height="44" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/d611dcfc1c8a3eb5bc4e8bfaa59909f9/tumblr_inline_oaqkwcSjhn1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="700" data-orig-height="467" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/0f83a6554b5a7e7a3d0302c5a5bdfba7/tumblr_inline_oaqkx7bbOQ1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="685" data-orig-height="175" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/59e5db03d7c9bc41ce064631249759a2/tumblr_inline_oaqkxdYz5Y1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Name: <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a><br>Based In: Detroit, MI<br>Sounds Like: Fitz & The Tantrums go to Motown</p><p>Staggering between modern and classic, Empty Houses is the latest and greatest retro-soul band to emerge from the storied music hub of Motor City. Following the dissolution of Detroit pop-punk act Fireworks, members Adam Mercer and David Mackinder joined forces with singer Ali Shea to solidify the ultimate rock-pop trio. With an array of instrumental abilities and a colorful vocal range, the band brings forth an infectious and charming feel-good vibe anyone can dig. Having released their increasingly-acclaimed debut full-length, <a href="http://tidal.com/album/59124688" target="_blank">Daydream</a>, earlier this summer and we expect they’re headed for big things in the coming year.</p><p><a href="http://read.tidal.com/article/tidal-rising-this-weeks-5-artists-to-watch-july-20" target="_blank">(via Tidal)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42777692016-07-13T12:32:36-07:002024-01-21T21:28:39-08:00Noisey Next Artist // Empty Houses<figure data-orig-width="184" data-orig-height="63"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/f2a8d3dd86270350dba44d29e6900708/tumblr_inline_oa9q2pAYmC1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="652" data-orig-height="461" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/59df8fae01b6758b6bd0cac1edf6d944/tumblr_inline_oa9q2xECok1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="659" data-orig-height="116" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/030aff57dfb6a6cdba9fbfc93e906bdf/tumblr_inline_oa9q345Xk91qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Ali Shea looks at her publicist, who she met for the first time not five minutes ago, and shrugs as she poses for a photo with her band, <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a>. “What am I supposed to do with my arm?”</p><p>Shea is new to doing photoshoots and interviews. Hell, she’s new to being a musician. The band has only played two shows, and is scheduled to play their third in a couple of hours just a few blocks away in a Brooklyn warehouse. Their debut album is about to be released and she and her two bandmates are excited about the buzz around it. But it’s not the press that’s got them optimistic. It’s a few new fans they’ve picked up.</p><p>“My grandma is very excited for ‘the disc,’” Shea tells me.</p><p>“Yeah, my parents like this stuff,” adds Adam Mercer, who plays keyboards. “And my grandparents, which is new for me.”</p><p>For a decade, Mercer and guitarist David Mackinder played in the pop punk band Fireworks together, and, although they amassed a fairly substantial following in their scene among the types of kids who dig New Found Glory, their music got no love from their respective families.</p><p>“My mom hated Fireworks. For ten years, she hated Fireworks,” laughs Mackinder. “Now, she listens to Empty Houses and says, ‘Finally, something with a good beat!’”</p><p>Empty Houses’ music has a familiar pop sound to it, like every feel-good hit song since the 1960 smashed into one. No longer reliant on distortion pedals and moshy sing-a-long choruses, Mackinder and Mercer have a new arsenal of instruments—pianos, horns, bells—giving them a more expansive sound. And it’s all tied together by Shea’s classic, powerful voice. It’s a formula that, beyond winning the love of grandparents, seems destined for late night show performances and festival success. But above all, it’s a combination that just makes you feel good. Whatever magic it is that makes a band special, that makes you say, “yup, that’s it,” they’ve got it.</p><p>“Ali’s sound offers a wide variety of arrangement ideas, but we never wanted to do anything that took away from her voice,” says Mackinder. “There are a lot of fun tricks in retro music—clever horn lines, or walking bass, or claps—but the emotion you capture vocally is what makes a song pop. It’s what makes you really feel it.”</p><!-- more --><figure data-orig-width="640" data-orig-height="427" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/b7ab675d9213a2fdc18340c295c3c3e3/tumblr_inline_oa9q4guBll1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Empty Houses technically started at a Christmas party. In December of 2013, Mercer and Mackinder found themselves at a holiday get-together in their hometown of Detroit, thrown by Shea’s sisters. Shea was there entertaining the Santa hat-wearing guests by singing holiday tunes like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”</p><p>“Even when we were little, they used to make me sing for their friends,” Shea says of her two older sisters. “At sleepovers, they’d be like, ‘Sing for us!’” But she didn’t have any real singing aspirations, and instead planned on pursuing acting after college. Occasionally, she would cover a few Adele songs at local open mic nights, but that was about as far as her singing career went. “I think I’ve always wanted to sing, but I think I just convinced myself that it wasn’t something I could do,” she says. “It was kind of just always on the side.” But Mercer and Mackinder immediately recognized something special in her.</p><p>“I thought it was just such an unusual and unexpected tone from her that seemed so natural,” remembers Mackinder. “I wanted to collaborate. If nothing serious, then just out of curiosity.”</p><p>At the time, Fireworks was about to release their third and final album, Oh, Common Life, but were dwindling down, and would call it quits within the year. There were no big fights or public implosions; the six-piece had simply run its course.</p><p>“We weren’t making any money, it was just a fun thing,” Mercer says. “We couldn’t really tour, and I don’t think those songs were coming out anymore. We just needed a break.”</p><p>But watching Shea perform sparked some creative inspiration in them. They all talked about making music together. Shea was attending Western Michigan University, two hours away, “fortheater performance,” she says with a mock-bragging inflection. Mercer and Mackinder started writing songs around her voice and sent a few Garageband tracks back and forth with her over email. But these weren’t the melodic punk hooks they had made a name for themselves on during their tenure in Fireworks. The three made something else entirely.</p><p>They came up with five songs that fit right in with their Detroit setting: a modern take on retro pop, inspired in part by the Motown sound that put their hometown’s music scene on the map half a century ago. The tracks are instantly infectious—soulful and uplifting, and carry on the musical traditions started 50 years ago up the road at the legendary Hitsville U.S.A., the studio that birthed a near-endless list of hit Motown singles.</p><figure data-orig-width="640" data-orig-height="427" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/5b01534087b266c712326625979c1ed5/tumblr_inline_oa9q5iU6oI1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>They put their songs up on the internet without many expectations. No expectations, actually. But they caught on fairly quickly, at first just among the former Fireworks fans who were caught off guard by the group bearing absolutely no similarity to pop punk, but then it started seeping in to a wider audience. It grabbed the attention of Los Angeles-based label and management company Sargent House, who offered to release the band’s debut album, Daydream. They accepted, even though Empty Houses bears little resemblance to Sargent House staples like guitar shredders Russian Circles or gothic industrial mainstay Chelsea Wolfe.</p><p>“I tend to always say to myself when signing a band: ‘If you love this as much as you do, then somewhere out there, other people are going to enjoy it as well,’” Sargent House founder Cathy Pellow says of the Empty Houses signing. “Talent is always what I gravitate toward, regardless of genre. I heard her voice and I loved it. I loved that it’s positive-vibe music.”</p><p>Empty Houses now find themselves with a ton of enthusiasm but not a lot of contemporaries. While some artists like Leon Bridges and Meghan Trainor have had success recently with retro elements, Empty Houses are starting from the ground up, trying to court a new audience without the resources of a major label. And relying on the Fireworks background wasn’t an option, as the band wanted to provide some distance from their punk past.</p><p>“We could’ve hopped on a ton of shows at home with bands we knew, but we made a conscious decision to do this in a different way, and it’s hard for sure,” says Mercer, who notes that the band is booked for upcoming tour dates that include seated audiences, with food being served, a new venture for him. “It’s like going into a new job with no contacts.”</p><figure data-orig-width="640" data-orig-height="427" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/a1d6a852fed3df01dc2a158fcfe1e7b6/tumblr_inline_oa9q67vgo61qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Later in the day, the band unleashes songs from their debut album upon 50 local friends and family members for the first time. It’s appropriate that they perform with an American flag draped behind them. The music that Empty Houses makes is a purely American product, a sound so ingrained in fibers of US culture. But unlike their studio version, the band couldn’t afford to bring along any additional players to round out their sound with horns, bass, or even drums. It’s just the three of them, stripped down to the essentials of pop music. Mercer’s keyboards are minimal, and Mackinder has done away with the guitar effects pedals from his Fireworks days. All ears are instead drawn towards straight toward Shea.</p><p>There is a stunned awe at her voice as it completely envelops the room. People cheer and whistle in the moments when she flexes her skills and projects to reach its farthest corners. At the end of their set, which includes a handful of upbeat jazzy numbers like “Thunderstorms” and “Falling Away,” and their ballad “Every Word,” the band pays homage to their 1960s influences with a cover of the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.” Shea delivers an absolutely perfect rendition, bringing pop history to life with each line. The crowd is small but their applause is overwhelming. Not bad for a couple of pop punk kids and an aspiring actress.<br><br>I find Shea afterwards and ask how it felt to perform without the comfort of a big band. A little nerve-wracking, she says, but a lot of fun.</p><p>“When we come back with a full band,” she smirks, “then we’ll really wow ‘em.”</p><p><a href="http://noisey.vice.com/read/noisey-next-empty-houses" target="_blank">(via Noisey)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42670342016-07-06T14:24:08-07:002024-01-24T00:30:26-08:00Empty Houses is Myspace Artist Of The Day<figure data-orig-width="137" data-orig-height="41"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/b4408a7acb0c25cb224ccf1b9d7499b1/tumblr_inline_o9ww13vru21qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="867" data-orig-height="399" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/2d62769eb1a0dda5ef69f3ea3287cbb7/tumblr_inline_o9ww1lCzBh1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><h2>Debut album ’<a href="http://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a>’ merges soul, doo-wop, funk and indie rock.</h2><p>Looking for the perfect song for your summer hijinks montage? It may be <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a>’ “Better of Me,” a bouncy, catchy song that’s packed with horns, handclaps and piano hooks. With singer Ali Shea’s full-bodied, sassy voice soaring over everything, all you need is a margarita, a pool and endless sunshine to complete the perfect summer day. The rest of the Detroit trio’s debut, Daydream, doesn’t disappoint, either. Alongside Adam Mercer and David Mackinder, Empty Houses captivates on all of its 10 tracks. Just call them the power pop trio.</p><p>Mercer talks to Myspace about their sound, how they got together and that time his grandma came to one of their shows.</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D7Q6Cik61njk"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Q6Cik61njk?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><b>Hometown and homebase:</b> </p><p>Detroit!</p><p><b>How did you all meet? What made you want to form a band together?</b></p><p>We’ve been friends for a while and eventually realized we all love this kind of music and we decided we shouldn’t be not making it together.</p><p><b>Who are your biggest musical influences?</b></p><p>Our influences are constantly changing as we hear new music and discover new artists and sounds, but if I had to narrow it down I’d say <a href="https://myspace.com/steviewondermusic" target="_blank">Stevie Wonder</a> and The Muppets.</p><p><b>How do you describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before?</b></p><p>If <a href="https://myspace.com/arethafranklin" target="_blank">Aretha Franklin</a> had a cousin who was kinda sad but also listened to the Beach Boys and decided to make an album in 2015 it might sound something like ours.</p><!-- more --><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkTZlWdlT3Hc"><iframe width="540" height="304" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kTZlWdlT3Hc?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p><br></p><p><b>Why are you called Empty Houses?</b></p><p>That name came from a lyric of an old song of ours and we felt it fit the vibe and represented this band well.</p><p><b>How does being from Detroit influence your music? Did you grow up listening to Motown or the White Stripes?</b></p><p>We all grew up listening to Motown so that kinda stuff is ingrained in us, but we also love The White Stripes and all of <a href="https://myspace.com/jackwhitemusic" target="_blank">Jack White</a>’s projects. Detroit is definitely in our music.</p><p><b>Can you explain your songwriting process?</b></p><p>It doesn’t involve a whole lot of thinking or over-analyzing; we just do what sounds and feels right to us.</p><p><b>Why is your album called Daydream?</b></p><p>It’s easy to get lost in your own head thinking about why things are a certain way, or how much older you’re getting, or thinking that things are worse than they actually are. Or you can overly romanticize things. A daydream take your mind to nice, pleasant places or dark ones and I think this record is about finding the balance.</p><p><b>What’s the craziest Empty Houses story so far?</b></p><p>We just finished our first tour ever which was very short, so we don’t have much in the way of tour stories. The craziest thing so far is probably that my grandma came to our Michigan show.</p><p><b>Who would you love to collaborate with?</b></p><p><a href="https://myspace.com/pharrell" target="_blank">Pharrell</a></p><p><b>What do you do for fun?</b></p><p>Go to a lake or any kind of outdoor activity, or write music. Writing music is very fun for us.</p><p><b>If you were a hashtag, what would you be?</b></p><p>#SexyChristmas</p><p><b>Do you have an awesome Myspace-related story as a musician?</b></p><p>Not really, but I hope Tom would like our band.</p><p><a href="https://myspace.com/article/2016/7/6/empty-houses-daydream-artist-of-the-day" target="_blank">(via Myspace)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42398122016-06-20T13:16:33-07:002024-01-21T21:35:10-08:00The Examiner features Empty Houses before Portland show<figure data-orig-width="782" data-orig-height="41" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/576e2a8cadd16c9f4aaa8001c8ae3998/tumblr_inline_o93620YqBz1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="5616" data-orig-height="3744" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/e8dbf6cc5f027510dc7067f23fe7943b/tumblr_inline_o9367ljRjS1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="601" data-orig-height="74" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/273913ebd397d7ffa4a464428929cd7e/tumblr_inline_o9368v5M4n1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><i>words by Pat Herrera<br>photos by Rina Movsisyan</i></p><p>Detroit’s rich music history is legendary. The Motor Town, home to Berry Gordy’ pop and soul powerhouse permeated the airwaves for years from its modest beginning in 1959, through its 60s and 70s heyday and into the 80s, Motown’s ripple effect can be heard throughout pop music today.</p><p>In 2016, much has changed in America’s musical landscape. But rock and roll, across all genres, continues to inspire today’s artist. Count <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/" target="_blank">Empty Houses </a>part of the family. Possibly the best-kept secret in Detroit, the word is out! The band released their debut,Daydream, June 10 and connects to the historic past with a fresh infusion of soulful pop.</p><p>The trio consists of vocalist Ali Shea, Adam Mercer on keyboards and David Mackinder holding down the guitar work. The group is on their way to Portland for its West Coast debut June 20 at the <a href="http://www.mcmenamins.com/events/151974-An-Intimate-Evening-with-Good-Old-War-acoustic" target="_blank">Mission Theater</a>.</p><!-- more --><p>Empty Houses formed in 2014 and has gone virtually unknown outside of the Motor Town. Despite the short time together, Shea, Mercer and Mackinder found instant chemistry and set out to create a timeless breed of feel-good music that pays homage to the famed musical past of such artists as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Martha Reeves and the Vandelas, Stevie Wonder, and Gladys Knight and the Pips. Of course, these are just few of the many great artists that contributed that established this iconic American sound.</p><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQqae-V6LatY"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qqae-V6LatY?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><p>Daydream’s lead track, “Better of Me” starts things in true 60s pop style with snappy snare drum and horns that make you what to get up and dance right out of the gate. That pop-ervescent upbeat is smartly captured on the songs “Daydream”, “Falling Away”, and album’s final track, “Thunderstorms”. Shea’s sweetly serenades on the doo-wop ballad “Lost At Sea” while shifting into the touching, expressive pop of “All I Had”.</p><p>These tightly composed pop gems are just a sprinkling of the musical brilliance that defines their debut. With all tracks clocking in at the pop tidiness of two-and-a-half to three-and-half minutes, you instantly get to relish all the qualities of Empty Houses’ homage, and original song writing. Three tracks in particular alert you that this is a band to watch, starting with the jazzy-blues ballad of “Mercy”.</p><p>Shea shows off her soulful side with this lounge number. You can almost hear the ice in cocktail glasses clinking in the background while Shea’s sultry delivery effortlessly lulls the listener into her romantic tale of sadness. Love can be complex and confusing. But when it ends, you wishfully reminisce about the regrets of a love long lost.</p><p>The contemporary groove seamlessly lingers with the easy R&B swing of “Hold Your Hand”. And much as the trio has put together a refined effort of tightly wrapped pop tunes, the richness of their bluesy endeavors radiate delightfully and have a timeless quality that makes their songwriting relevant while bridging 1966 to 2016.</p><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="1667" data-orig-width="2500"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/ba84c81317ed8fc085a1aaa83ed7b479/tumblr_inline_o936x7Y1wQ1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>The standout track, full of confidence and attitude, has to be “Rope”. Its 60s trebled-echo Telecaster twang intro will infectiously stick in your head all day. As Shea sings of challenges thrown your way, perseverance is the constant that pulls you through. When enough is enough, and there’s no more holding on, you don’t need a rope anymore.</p><p>The following track provides a stark contrast to “Rope”. It gracefully reveals the depth of Empty Houses’ range in pop compositions. The simply refined, singer-songwriter piano ballad of “Every Word” is as soulfully consoling as it is sadly bittersweet. It’s simply a timeless ballad.</p><p>You’ll have a hard time finding a debut this pop rich that is equally original as it is soulfully reminiscent. Empty Houses makes everlasting pop music in the midst of an ever changing music industry. All the more reason to experience Empty Houses live and let them take you full circle.</p><p>Doors open at 7pm, show at 8pm. Tickets are $16 advance, $20 day of show. Minors are allowed with parent or guardian. Tickets available through <a href="http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/5005445/mcmenamins-presentsan-intimate-evening-with-good-old-war-acousticminor-wguardian-portland-mcmenamins-mission-theater" target="_blank">Etix</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/empty-houses-brings-soulful-pop-to-portland-daydream-is-sure-to-delight" target="_blank">(via Examiner)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42337352016-06-16T11:17:15-07:002024-01-21T21:36:21-08:00Substream premieres Real Feels video session for “Better Of Me”<figure data-orig-width="300" data-orig-height="100" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/5ebe6b35ca32de267251bebb6a645672/tumblr_inline_o8vlmffKRq1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQqae-V6LatY"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qqae-V6LatY?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><figure data-orig-width="636" data-orig-height="107" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/65d0b88862c984e1a8fc575ce252c23d/tumblr_inline_o8vlt8Vqzp1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>WARNING: This post is one of, if not the very last opportunity to climb aboard the <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> bandwagon before the band crosses over into the mainstream. If you want those oh so sweet bragging rights that come from being ahead of the pop music curve, this is the time to stake your claim and support this incredibly awesome band.</p><p>Empty Houses just released their debut album, <a href="http://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a>, earlier this month through <a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a> Records, but anyone familiar with the band has no doubt been hyping their intoxicating blend of throwback pop and modern indie sensibilities since the group’s first EP surfaced online in mid-2015. The band’s approach to songwriting has ushered in a renewed interest in a style of music that was first made popular when Motown was topping the charts and people still understood the fun that could be had at a Sadie Hawkins dance. We’ve been obsessed with the group for months now, but it wasn’t until the last week that we were able to partner with them to share something truly amazing.</p><p>Today we are thrilled to present the world premiere of a video that finds Empty Houses performing their Daydream cut “Better Of Me” for Real Feels TV. The clip, which was filmed in Michigan in recent weeks, perfectly captures the group’s fun and unique take on a very familiar style of music, as well as the awesome vocal talents of frontwoman Ali Shea. You can view the video <a href="http://substreammagazine.com/2016/06/premiere-empty-houses-better-of-me/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><!-- more --><p>When we <a href="http://substreammagazine.com/2016/06/empty-houses-daydream-review/" target="_blank">reviewed</a> Empty Houses’ debut album earlier this month, we praised the band’s ability to make something old feel new once again, writing:</p><p>“The title Daydream refers to the ability we all have to find an escape from the woes of any given day, regardless of where we may find ourselves at the time. In a way, that is exactly what Empty Houses are providing a soundtrack for on their debut release. The songs found on Daydream play like the accompaniment to life-defining moments many of us have not yet lived. Whether it be the profound romance of “Lost At Sea,” which channels a bit of Bobby Darren with a dash of modern charm, or the sultry confidence of “Rope,” each song on Daydream feels like a simple pop epic unto itself. There is an intoxicating charm to every song that makes it very easy to get lost in each verse and reborn with each chorus. You might not live a life that reflects the experiences shared on the album, but you yearn to hear more and more with each note that plays, and that desire keeps you coming back again and again.”</p><p>Daydream is available now wherever music is sold. If you are itching to see the band live, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/emptyhouses/app/123966167614127/" target="_blank">head here</a> for a complete list of upcoming performances.</p><p><a href="http://substreammagazine.com/2016/06/premiere-empty-houses-better-of-me/" target="_blank">(via Substream)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42241942016-06-10T11:22:57-07:002023-12-24T23:38:50-08:00Empty Houses ‘Daydream’ is out now<figure data-orig-width="2000" data-orig-height="2000" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/3942c159e570e05189f69e4b16f6483b/tumblr_inline_o8kgfb517U1qbzv4w_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> <i>Daydream</i> is out today on all platforms - order their debut album on <a href="http://smarturl.it/EmptyHouses" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, follow them on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/20gX891BpQDJujjhgujHMe" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, and order physical copies from their <a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/empty-houses" target="_blank">US $ store</a> (ships worldwide) or their <a href="http://sargenthouse.awesomedistro.com/artists/empty-houses" target="_blank">UK £ store</a> (ships to EU).</p><p>Empty Houses are on tour with <a href="http://www.goodoldwar.com/" target="_blank">Good Old War</a> right now - see their remaining dates and get tickets <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p><p>Check out what people are already saying about the album below -</p><figure data-orig-height="55" data-orig-width="200"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/8eac1f24e1ba8b949f9e5056d4406da1/tumblr_inline_o8kiqmEDPO1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Too many bands just get lazy when it comes to crafting transitions and making the different parts of the song speak to each other in a seamless way. On a few occasions, the band flaunts their extremely tangible songwriting ability and deviates a little bit to pull through with some solid pop songs. The exceptional musicianship on the big standout “Mercy” just drives home a beautiful melody. The band harnesses a lot of passion and streamlines it into really driven and focused songs like the other big standout “Hold Your Hand”. - <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/06/empty-housesdaydream-review.html" target="_blank">Paste Magazine</a><br></p><figure data-orig-width="174" data-orig-height="36"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/d8d9960d6d1dead8f4b657ff8d36ce09/tumblr_inline_o8khovJmKR1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>The effervescent “Better of Me” opens the album and establishes Shea as
more than a mere tribute-band leader. Featuring a piano- and
occasionally brass-reinforced rhythm section, its bright tempo,
handclaps, and judicially applied electric guitar keep the groove
grooving right through to the title track. Similarly melodic and
infectious, “Daydream” has more regretful lyrics buoyed by an energetic
wistfulness that marks many of the girl-group classics of the ‘60s.
While the album is defined by its retro flavor, it takes excursions into
more contemporary if still somewhat timeless R&B, such as the
ballads “Mercy” and “Every Word.” - <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/daydream-mw0002942080" target="_blank">AllMusic</a><br></p><figure data-orig-width="313" data-orig-height="75" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/b1fe6a8666b2fbfd1d91cd39bc05f830/tumblr_inline_o8kiavj5sv1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>The songs found on Daydream play like the accompaniment to life-defining moments many of us have not yet lived. Whether it be the profound romance of “Lost At Sea,” which channels a bit of Bobby Darren with a dash of modern charm, or the sultry confidence of “Rope,” each song on Daydream feels like a simple pop epic unto itself. There is an intoxicating charm to every song that makes it very easy to get lost in each verse and reborn with each chorus. You might not live a life that reflects the experiences shared on the album, but you yearn to hear more and more with each note that plays, and that desire keeps you coming back again and again. - <a href="http://substreammagazine.com/2016/06/empty-houses-daydream-review/" target="_blank">Substream Magazine</a>, 5/5<br></p><figure data-orig-width="188" data-orig-height="50"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/b1c835aeb9c1560608bc8ad91ab67387/tumblr_inline_o8ki2oQgWc1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>From Detroit, two men and one woman who don’t look old enough to have heard the finest Motown singles when those were brand new capture a lot of that era’s joyous pop craftsmanship. - <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/new-albums-in-stores-this-week-b99737302z1-382374341.html" target="_blank">Milwaukee Journal Sentinal</a><br></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42184352016-06-07T11:27:42-07:002024-02-16T03:42:55-08:00Crave streams Empty Houses debut album ‘Daydream’<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="49" data-orig-width="525"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/e91b88ee4d95b5fd616ad5d8b57e2a9a/tumblr_inline_o8eywycG6E1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="750" data-orig-width="750"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/0a2ed6414548bc6e93ad1f0ae06f239d/tumblr_inline_o8eyxoXBWH1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><h2>Album Premiere: Empty Houses Ignite Motown Soul-Pop On ‘Daydream</h2><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="111" data-orig-width="571"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/c039b17be5dbb1cad15a31ad0cdced63/tumblr_inline_o8ez2lD4va1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Detroit retro-pop outfit <b><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a></b> are gearing up to release their debut album, <i>Daydream</i>, on June 10 via the relentlessly excellent <a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a> imprint (<a href="http://smarturl.it/EmptyHouses" target="_blank">pre-order</a>), and <a href="http://www.craveonline.com/music/997469-album-premiere-empty-houses-ignite-motown-soul-on-daydream" target="_blank">Crave</a> is giving fans a head start with a full-album exclusive premiere ahead of release. </p><p>Produced by four-time Grammy-winner Graham Marsh (Bruno Mars, CeeLo Green, Common) and Empty Houses at Parhelion Studios in Atlanta, <i>Daydream</i> calls back to the soulful Motown essence of their roots. Brassy horns, pounding piano and straight-up hip-hijacking danceability deliver a bright atmosphere that takes the retro-pop ebullience of Fitz & The Tantrums and soaks it in the kind of Motor City heart usually only seen in fleeting glimpses on the abandoned blocks, faded facades and ghosts of what was, once upon a time, a city of such passion and vitality. </p><p>“We’re so excited to share these songs with everyone,” the band shared with Crave ahead of the premiere. “We’ve been sitting on them for several months now but they feel like they’ve been years in the making. I feel like we’ve had these songs in us since long before the band got together, and it feels great to finally let people hear them.”</p><p><a href="http://www.craveonline.com/music/997469-album-premiere-empty-houses-ignite-motown-soul-on-daydream" target="_blank">Listen to Empty Houses’ debut album Daydream HERE</a></p><p>A Michigan native myself, just the sight of the Mackinac Bridge on the album cover is enough to inspire a thousand memories of Summer travels up north, stopping for fudge and pictures by the bridge, fishing with Dad, the rituals of loading the family into the car just before sunset to count deer at the treeline and beyond. And when the music hits, the stories our parents and grandparents told us of How Things Used To Be before Michigan went through economic hell come into full color, a vicarious nostalgia with enough potency to pass as direct reference. Daydream brings you back, even if you’ve never been there.</p><p><a href="http://smarturl.it/EmptyHouses" target="_blank">Pre-order Daydream on iTunes</a>, or on CD and vinyl <a href="https://www.hellomerch.com/collections/empty-houses" target="_blank">HERE</a> (US $ - ships worldwide) or <a href="http://sargenthouse.awesomedistro.com/artists/empty-houses" target="_blank">HERE</a> (UK £ - ships to EU)</p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42162252016-06-06T13:54:50-07:002024-02-05T23:47:01-08:00Empty Houses performs “Thunderstorms” for Real Feels TV<figure data-orig-width="123" data-orig-height="121"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/f266f1e2b39645962a34400b2d3255e7/tumblr_inline_o8dagfVCVh1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full" data-provider="youtube" data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="304" data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DZ03klMrDaiE"><iframe width="540" height="304" id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z03klMrDaiE?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></figure><figure data-orig-width="685" data-orig-height="66" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/1d3cf9a7bcf036c5baf1c36d3a0f130d/tumblr_inline_o8dajibGQB1qbzv4w_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><p>Get to know <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a>. They’re preparing to kick off their first national tour, supporting our friends Good Old War, and they’ll be releasing their first full-length album ‘<a href="http://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">Daydream</a>’ June 10th on <a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a> records.</p><p>Two of these guys might look familiar. That’s because we interviewed them a couple years ago at Bled Fest. Adam Mercer and Dave Mackinder were previously in the band Fireworks. We were in talks back in 2014 about working with their secret new project. It has finally come to fruition.</p><p>We were invited to utilize a space at Concordia University in Ann Arbor lovingly referred to as “The Black Box”. To test out the amazing space, we asked Empty Houses to come play some songs for us. They opted for a full band performance, including horns, as opposed to simplifying their sound and stripping back to acoustic. The results were amazing!</p><p>Here is “Thunderstorms”.<a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/store" target="_blank"> Pick up the band’s album on June 10th!</a></p><p><a href="http://realfeelstv.com/videos/empty-houses-thunderstorms/" target="_blank">(via Real Feels)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42109952016-06-03T08:56:27-07:002023-12-10T10:05:43-08:00WXPN “Free At Noon” Performance Live Stream<figure data-orig-height="75" data-orig-width="239"><img src="//65.media.tumblr.com/284fe71c72e0665529b8a707a6cccee0/tumblr_inline_o87db8dmK31u50m2h_500.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure>
<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="563" data-orig-width="987"><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.vuhaus.com/live/good-old-war-and-empty-houses-free-at-noon" target="_blank"><img src="//67.media.tumblr.com/6a9789565741688be83aca7de23587dd/tumblr_inline_o87dt3rajM1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></a></figure>
<p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> will be live streaming their “Free At Noon” performance alongside Good Old War today, June 3rd, at 9am PDT/12pm EDT.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.vuhaus.com/live/good-old-war-and-empty-houses-free-at-noon" target="_blank">Watch the live stream HERE</a> and don’t miss both bands on tour starting tonight. A list of dates can be found below. Tickets and info available <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
<p><b>EMPTY HOUSES US TOUR 2016</b></p>
<p>Jun 03 - Philadephia, PA @ World Café<br>Jun 06 - Brooklyn, NY @ Thrones *<br>Jun 09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi Fi<br>Jun 10 - Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag<br>Jun 11 - Chicago, IL @ GMan Tavern *<br>Jun 13 - St. Louis, MO @ The Demo<br>Jun 14 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room<br>Jun 16 - Denver, CO @ The Soiled Dove<br>Jun 18 - Salt Late City, UT @ The State Room<br>Jun 20 - Portland, OR @ Mission Theater<br>Jun 21 - Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door<br>Jun 23 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel<br>Jun 24 - Hollywood, CA @ The Hotel Café<br>Jun 25 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah<br>Jun 26 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress</p>
<p>* without Good Old War</p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/42087212016-06-02T10:43:28-07:002023-11-09T18:40:58-08:00Exclaim premieres new Empty Houses track “Rope”<p> </p>
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<p>Detroit pop-rock trio <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> are set to drop their debut album <i>Daydream</i> on June 10 via<a href="http://sargenthouse.com/" target="_blank"> Sargent House</a>, but before it officially arrives, the genre- and era-jumping outfit has shared their sweltering new single “Rope.”<br><br>The track is a reverb-washed blues romp, featuring rollicking guitars and pounding drums. Singer Ali Shea is particularly striking, proclaiming her devotion to a troubled relationship with her fiery lead vocals. These elements combine to recall five decades of Detroit music, drawing influence from the sweetly soulful sounds of Motown to the explosive blues of Jack White’s projects.<br><br>Speaking of the track, Empty Houses’ Adam Mercer had this to say:</p>
<blockquote><p>This song came together faster than any song on the record. The verse riff, chorus and bridge were all there, and it only took us a few minutes to identify each as their respective part and structure them. Once the music was done, the general theme of the song came to us based on how it sounded, and the lyrics were written in one night. Once we put percussion on it in the studio it became one of our favourites. </p></blockquote>
<p>Hear the current-day culmination of the city’s musical history by checking out “Rope” in the player below. You can pre-order the album <a href="http://smarturl.it/EmptyHouses" target="_blank">here</a> or <a href="http://emptyhouses.hellomerch.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/267000715&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false" width="100%"></iframe><!-- more -->
<p>Empty Houses tour begins tonight in Philadelphia before they join up with Good Old War on June 3rd - see a full list of dates below. Tickets and info always available <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p>
<p><b>EMPTY HOUSES US TOUR 2016</b></p>
<p>Jun 02 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts *<br>Jun 03 - Philadephia, PA @ World Café<br>Jun 06 - Brooklyn, NY @ Thrones *<br>Jun 09 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi Fi<br>Jun 10 - Ferndale, MI @ The Magic Bag<br>Jun 11 - Chicago, IL @ GMan Tavern *<br>Jun 13 - St. Louis, MO @ The Demo<br>Jun 14 - Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room<br>Jun 16 - Denver, CO @ The Soiled Dove<br>Jun 18 - Salt Late City, UT @ The State Room<br>Jun 20 - Portland, OR @ Mission Theater<br>Jun 21 - Seattle, WA @ The Triple Door<br>Jun 23 - San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel<br>Jun 24 - Hollywood, CA @ The Hotel Café<br>Jun 25 - San Diego, CA @ The Casbah<br>Jun 26 - Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress</p>
<p>* without Good Old War</p>
<p><a href="http://exclaim.ca/music/article/empty_houses-rope" target="_blank">(via Exclaim.ca)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/41640152016-05-03T09:34:21-07:002023-12-10T11:00:41-08:00Billboard premieres new track “Daydream”<figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="74" data-orig-width="477"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/0f03d9e54135ccb7cc4a158cca766699/tumblr_inline_o6m0hbWixF1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="470" data-orig-width="630"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/e20a51b0bfeedf2fa03392def075649f/tumblr_inline_o6m0jhG3s01u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><figure class="tmblr-full" data-orig-height="202" data-orig-width="616"><img src="//66.media.tumblr.com/0c2b770329c19e907b61a68272fb0aca/tumblr_inline_o6m0iqIqTM1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p>Sometimes, treasured new songs come from unexpected places. The Detroit pop-punk band Fireworks went on hiatus last May, but two of its members have resurfaced in a new group with a new vocalist and a completely different sound. But then again, it’s a sound that’s near and dear to their city’s long musical tradition. </p><p>Meet <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> – ex-Fireworkers Adam Mercer and David Mackinder, plus frontwoman Ali Shea and her majestic singing voice. Their debut album <i><a href="http://emptyhouses1.bandcamp.com/album/daydream" target="_blank">Daydream</a></i> is out next month, and we’re excited to premiere its irresistible title track – a savvy statement in the language of Motown and <a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/333333/phil-spector/chart" target="_blank">Phil Spector</a>’s “wall of sound” production – and all the swooning, piano-laced hooks and castanet clicks that come with it.</p><p>“‘Daydream’ is the first song we wrote together,” the band tells Billboard. “With it, we feel like we solidified what this band should be. This song feels like our benchmark.”</p><p><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7356733/empty-houses-daydream-premiere-steam-excusive" target="_blank">Click HERE to stream “Daydream”</a></p><p>It’s definitely a good place to start on the forthcoming full length, which drops June 10 on <a href="http://sargenthouse.com" target="_blank">Sargent House</a>, along with a tour with indie rockers <a href="http://www.billboard.com/artist/303011/good-old-war/chart" target="_blank">Good Old War</a>. Daydream was produced by four-time Grammy-winner Graham Marsh, who’s engineered big timers like Cee Lo Green’s “F-ck You” and Bruno Mars’ Doo-Wops & Hooligans.</p><p>“A daydream can be an escape from reality to a world more pleasant, or it can simply be a distraction from your real life that ends up hurting you… There’s probably a good argument to be had for both sides, and the songs on this album could potentially argue either one. Ultimately, life is what you make of your experiences, and hopefully people can reflect on their own experiences through these songs and have fun with this album.” </p><p><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7356733/empty-houses-daydream-premiere-steam-excusive" target="_blank">(via Billboard)</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/41389062016-04-15T16:35:10-07:002023-12-10T11:12:36-08:00BTS video recording Daydream in Atlanta<figure data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FOiO-0PNSOfw" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OiO-0PNSOfw?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" width="540"></iframe></figure><p>Sneak peek from inside Parhelion Studios taken while Empty Houses was recording their debut album with producer, engineer and mixer, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Marsh_%28producer%29" target="_blank">Graham Marsh</a>. <br></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/41389072016-04-15T15:53:21-07:002023-12-10T10:48:39-08:00Empty Houses to Tour with Good Old War<figure data-orig-width="960" data-orig-height="960" class="tmblr-full"><img src="//36.media.tumblr.com/d77b96abaa04d519be3ec6abf85cbe94/tumblr_inline_o5p618h1Hu1u50m2h_540.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></figure><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/emptyhouses/" target="_blank">Empty Houses</a> will be joining <a href="http://goodoldwar.com" target="_blank">Good Old War</a> for US Tour dates in June in support of their debut album Daydream coming out on June 10, 2016 on Sargent House. They will have vinyl and cds early and available at the shows starting on June 3rd. See all <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows" target="_blank">ticket links and details HERE</a>.<br></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/41253102016-04-07T09:21:20-07:002022-11-01T23:38:23-07:00Noisey premieres new track "Falling Away"<p><figure data-orig-width="540" data-orig-height="78" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://41.media.tumblr.com/a5119d0c44b99a365c25e080ce61ae36/tumblr_inline_o59sqvAA1q1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="652" data-orig-height="463" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://40.media.tumblr.com/9a653c313398801d7abddef42c43a243/tumblr_inline_o59srzZ9341u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure><figure data-orig-width="642" data-orig-height="140" class="tmblr-full"><img src="https://36.media.tumblr.com/e1183e5bd6cf1716fe52bea761c28b8b/tumblr_inline_o59ss8aDOF1u50m2h_540.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="image" /></figure></p><p>Last year, Adam Mercer and David Mackinder, two members of the band Fireworks, <a href="http://noisey.vice.com/blog/empty-houses-far-away">announced that they were working on a new project called Empty Houses</a>. But <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/emptyhousesband.com">Empty Houses</a> wasn’t what you’d expect from two guys who’d spent the last few years kicking around in a rock band. With a five-song teaser EP, which disappeared from the internet shortly after, they proved they had something different up their sleeves.</p><p>Singer Ali Shea is what makes everything work. Her classic vocal style lifts Empty Houses into a sound that could’ve easily fit in with the Motown acts of the 60s, which is appropriate given that the band is rooted in Detroit. The trio has been working on an album over the last year for <a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/sargenthouse.com">Sargent House</a> called <i>Daydream</i>. It is ten tracks of retro-pop goodness and they are finally almost ready to unveil it.</p><p>You can listen to a track from the album, “Falling Away,” below. Mercer says the song “deals with the realization that what you’re looking for may not actually be what you want. Life can move so fast that you feel like giving up on what’s idealistic for something more realistic.” True, but if what you’re looking for in life is a song to brighten your shit day, “Falling Away” delivers.</p><p><i>Daydream</i> is out June 10.</p><p><a href="http://noisey.vice.com/blog/empty-houses-falling-away">STREAM “FALLING AWAY” ON NOISEY</a></p>Sargent Housetag:sargenthouse.com,2005:Post/41253112016-03-25T16:13:58-07:002023-12-10T10:43:37-08:00Empty Houses “Writing At The Farm”<figure data-url="https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FgdNUEic-p7c" data-orig-height="304" data-orig-width="540" data-provider="youtube" class="tmblr-embed tmblr-full"><iframe id="youtube_iframe" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gdNUEic-p7c?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="304" width="540"></iframe></figure><p>We shot some home movies of <a href="http://facebook.com/emptyhouses">Empty Houses</a>
during their writing sessions for their debut album. Not all of the
songs heard in this made the final cut and we can’t wait for you to hear
what this trio from Detroit came up with. Coming out in June 2016 on
Sargent House along with a tour we will be announcing in early April.
HERE <br></p><p><a href="http://emptyhousesband.com/shows">http://emptyhousesband.com</a> <br></p><p>Video Shot and edited by Lukas Hodge at and for <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/edit/thefarmfamily.com">thefarmfamily.com</a></p>Sargent House