Spiraling into the ether, Wand turns ‘round with a new single off their clouded Vertigo album ahead of its July 26 wide release. Today, march to the premiere of “JJ” with a multichromatic, animated music video from the minds of Vernon Chatman and lilfuchs!
In another realm from last month’s single, “Smile”, Wand drip and pulse with pulpy fascination on “JJ”, making their bed with upright bass, brushed drums, and tremolo’d keyboard and guitar. When the walls fall away and the whole world can see their noir-ish surroundings — backdropped with a widescreen soundtrack that envelops the mood like a glove — Cory, unmoved, emotes a stream of consciousness, enervated variations on the theme of a secret nation of willful isolation. The video for “JJ” is a spectacle in itself: the short was co-directed by lilfuchs, an animation director at Adult Swim, and writer/comedian Vernon Chatman, co-creator of shows like Wonder Showzen, Xavier: Renegade Angel, and The Shivering Truth — and yes, the voice of that funny South Park towel! Vernon plotted out & designed the colorful characters, with lilfuchs handling art & animation (with additional work by Julia Fernandez).
Vertigo was an all-hands-on-deck type of affair, recorded by Robert Cody and subsequently mixed by the whole band — a quartet, once again, as they began. The new Wand directive? Recording only, no writing. (That would come later.) Breaking from past traditions, Wand instead shot to capture the enigma of their live engagements on record, stirring up a storm of strings and winds while humming the soundtrack for a new gravitational center. Seeking connections against the plane of niche interest and anonymity, Vertigo is Wand’s shadow, in soft focus, slipping into a new light for the group.
Vertigo rolls out on July 26, 2024. And, for the earth is round and we must continue in orbit, Wand continues their trip across North America this summer — then Europe in the fall, with Mars TBA — starting at Chicago’s Thalia Hall (in the round) on July 10. Tickets are on sale now.
Wand 2024 North American Tour Dates
7/10 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
7/11 – Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s 20 Lanes
7/12 – Darien Lake, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater*
7/13 – Windsor, Ontario, Canada @ Meteor
7/15 – Toronto, Ontario, Canada @ Budweiser Stage*
7/16 – Montreal, Quebec, Canada @ Theater Fairmont
7/17 – Somerville, MA @ Crystal Ballroom
7/18 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
7/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
7/20 – Washington D.C. @ Songbyrd
7/22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
7/23 – Birmingham, AL @ Saturn
7/25 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
7/26 – Austin, TX @ Parish
7/29 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
7/30 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
8/2 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet’s
8/3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
9/14 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
9/15 – Redding, CA @ The Dip
9/18 – Seattle, WA @ Madame Lou’s
9/19 – Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl
9/20 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
9/21 – Arcata, CA @ The Miniplex
9/23 – Sacramento, CA @ The Starlet Room
