9.22 A wknd w/ Tennis Courts
The band on album celebration, an afternoon 'Girls' marathon and hitting the court for BANDSKETBALL 2023 this Sunday at 18th Ward Brewing
HAPPY FRIDAY to all, and HAPPY RELEASE DAY to Tennis Courts, whose debut album You Won’t Find It On Your Own is out TODAY!
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And, because one release obv isn’t enough, the band also dropped a new music video for the record’s first track, “Yellow Lays”, and we’re stoked to be servin’ up a sonic scoop for you right here.
So — back to the record. We’re currently in the midst of listening to (and really loving!) it right now, and along with this week’s SETLIST, Pat Walsh of the band was sweet enough to send over some thoughts on the making of the album, the evolution of the group’s sound and style and the themes that they’re really digging into with their debut.
”When we set out to make this record, we really wanted to make a record that sounded like us. We didn’t set out to imitate anyone which, maybe reflecting on it now, we might’ve done subconsciously before. I think in the early stages of any band, there can be a level of imitation that comes with it, like ‘Yeah I like Arctic Monkeys, let’s try to make a song that sounds like that.’
The songs on this record are some of the most personal and introspective we’ve written. A lot of songs on this record are about coming to terms with where you stand in the world. Where do I fit into my friends’ lives? My partner’s life? My own family? I struggle a lot with imposter syndrome in my own life and in music. That is reflected a lot in the lyrics on the record, really coming to terms with who I am, how I fit in the world, settling in a new city, stunted social growth from years of lockdown. There was a lot to write about.
After years of making music together, I think we finally realized what Tennis Courts sounds like. We made a point to be collaborative on this project, writing every song together, bringing in additional musicians, and having our friends come in the studio to track background vocals.
In a similar vein, working with (producer) Erik Romero really helped us learn how to sing and write in our own voices. He helped us make sure that this record is really a reflection of us. Before any recording was done at all, Erik made a point to make sure everyone felt comfortable in the room. That studio was a safe space for any ideas, no matter what.”
You can celebrate the album with the band liiiiiive THIS THURSDAY (9/28) with Cry Baby and Lady Harley at Baby’s All Right. (Grab your tickets here.)
“Thursday?!” you might say, “But that isn’t THIS WEEKEND! Shouldn’t, per custom, this Friday’s SETLIST be provided by a band that I can catch live in the next, say, 48-72 hours?!”
To which we say—BUT WAIT! Maybe you won’t see the band on a stage this weekend, but you CAN catch Tennis Courts ON THE COURT! (Though, for the record, one of the basketball, not tennis, variety.)
Tennis Courts are one of 16 bands battling it out THIS SUNDAY at BANDSKETBALL — a band vs. band basketball tournament and indie music fest going down all afternoon at 18th Ward Brewing.
Performers: Kahiem Rivera / Nappy Nina / Work Wife / Consumables / Monograms
The Sweet 16: San Fermin / Brother Moses / Namesake / Work Wife / CONSUMABLES / Monograms / Tennis Courts / Mary Shelley / HNRY FLWR / monarch. / Divine Sweater / DD Island / Fetch Tiger / Low Presh / Scum Shots / Sad American Night
Follow @bandsketballin_bk for details and updates.
And get pumped with our BANDSKETBALLIN’ Spotify playlist, featuring songs from both the competing and performing bands.
There will be: Sports! Music! Merch! A custom cocktail! Raffles! Friends! Fun! And, best of all, proceeds are benefitting Willie Mae Rock Camp, a rad nonprofit “empowering girls and gender-expansive youth through music education, technology, and mentorship.”
This event is brought to you by BdBK, Show Brain and The Hoops Commission—a basketball collective of local musicians and friends. We would all love love love to see you there.
ALRIGHT! Finally, for bonus wknd inspiration, we’ll simply refer you to the last line in our featured bands’s Spotify bio: “With anthems for the night of and the morning after, Tennis Courts has created a soundtrack for weekend benders everywhere.”
So blast those songs, check out the itinerary (also c/o Tennis Courts’ Pat Walsh) and then go forth and have fun! We’ll catch ya out there~
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
Today’s the day our first album comes out. I try really hard to stay off my phone on release days, or at least I say I do. I’ll probably spend most of the morning on my phone, refreshing Instagram and Spotify for Artists until I snap out of it. After I get ready and brush my teeth, I’ll head over to Honey Moon Coffee Shop for an iced oat milk latte. I used to get the cold brew, but I’m actively trying to be more “chill”. After I’m properly caffeinated, I’ll hop on a Citi bike and ride over to Prospect Park. I’m big into wandering aimlessly and Prospect is the perfect place to wander around and listen to music. I’ve had REM’s ‘Automatic For The People’ on repeat recently so I’ll just listen to that a bunch. I’ll do a couple laps around the park and then do one more for good measure. It’s my perfect weekend, I have the time. I’ll head home from the park the same way I got there and I’ll definitely regret it once I hit the hills of Bushwick. I’ll more than likely park the Citi bike at the halfway point and walk the rest of the way home, I have the time. The band and I are thinking of going to Ocelot tonight to hang and celebrate our release day. Ocelot’s cool. The bartender, Matt, always indulges me when I’m drunk and request a deep cut Wilco song. Matt’s cool.
SATURDAY
I just recently moved to Ridgewood and my new bedroom doesn’t have much natural light. So every day I’m woken up by my “sunrise” alarm clock. It’s supposed to replicate the sun coming up and help with with my sleep cycle or circadian rhythm or something like that. Really all it does is serve as a reminder every morning that I don’t have any natural light in my bedroom. It’s fine though, I’ll just roll over and slam the snooze button. I’ll check my phone, a text from my roommate that reads: “wanna hit honey moon?”
I respond: “fuck yeah.”
I make sure to remember my punch card this time in hopes that all these iced oat milk lattes can one day turn into one free iced oat milk latte… A boy can dream. After coffee, my roommate and I continue our weekly weekend journey to the Linden Hill Cemetery. Before today, I just referred to it as “The Cemetery”. I only discovered its name today while writing this. We’ll spend the afternoon wandering around the cemetery and, like we do every week, get lost on our way out. Our weekend afternoons are usually spent watching HBO’s Girls. We’re on season 5. That evening is reserved for band practice. This one is a big one… we’re practicing for our album release show at Baby’s All Right next Thursday. So we run through the set a few times and jam on some new songs. I’ll walk home after.
SUNDAY
Sunday is for Bandsketball. Have we practiced? No. Are we fueled by blind confidence? Kinda. I’m mostly just excited to see Work Wife live in concert. I’ll have my coffee at home this Sunday before I have to head to meet the rest of the band. I’m not going to make any predictions for the tournament, I really just hope everyone has a good time and we raise a shit ton of money. After everyone clears out I think we’re all going to try and catch Shower Curtain’s set at Purgatory. Spencer has been raving about them recently so I’m really excited to see them. After that? Who’s to say. I’ll probably head home and go to bed and wait for the sunrise.
Itinerary above written + submitted by Tennis Courts. Follow the band at @tenniscourts_ ,buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image (provided by the band): Elissa Mentesana
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
My ohhhh my, the TURKEY SLAMDOWN bill just dropped and SHE IS A BEAUT!! Join us at Rubulad on the evening of 11/11 for BODEGA, My Son The Doctor, Work Wife, Mary Shelley and Squore—with all proceeds benefitting Make The Road NY, an org dedicated to “building power of immigrant, Black, and brown communities to achieve dignity & justice.” GRAB YOUR TICKETS HERE.
CLASSIFIEDS ARE UPDATED—and oh so many bands are wanting and waiting to be formed. Find the latest listings here.
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
“Different Formations” // War Violet
The Heat // Punt
“Reciprocity” video // Whirlybird
“Trickle” // Locations
“Sugar Hotel” // Petite League
AMMA // Emmanuel Ayvas
“Hooks” // Pons
“Velvet Hippo” // Superbloom
“Feeling So Fine” // The Shining Hours
“On Your Phone” // Aisle Knot
Dead Tooth on Audiotree Live // Dead Tooth
IT’S HAPPENIN’
9.16 BdBK x New Colossus SUMMER SATURDAY with Two-Man Giant Squid, Sally Hatchet, gum, Couvo, Carissa Johnson @ 18th Ward Brewing
9.24 BANDSKETBALL @ 18th Ward Brewing - RSVP here
10.10 STRONG LITTLE SONGS - details coming soon
11.11 BdBK presents TURKEY SLAMDOWN @ Rubulad - Tix here
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