Artist: Weekend
Title: Sports
Label: Slumberland Records
Genre: Indie : Punk
UPC: 749846012586
Territory: Worldwide
Release Date: 11.09.10

Within a grainy film-still between a summer sunset and the end of times lies the post-punk squall of Weekend. Weekend filter the aggression, tempo and sneer of punk through a wall of reverb, haunting melody, feedback and primitive garage guitar. Formed in San Francisco in late 2009 by three childhood friends, the band have quickly developed a totally distinctive take on the history of post-punk noise rock. Where many bands who share similar influences are content to bludgeon the listener with noise, Weekend pay special attention to texture and atmosphere, and leaven even the most riotous moments with unexpected shards of melody. Weekend have instinctively staked out a unique sonic territory where feedback guitars, crunching riffs and pounding rhythms are harnessed in the service of, rather than in opposition to, their haunting tunes. Says singer Shaun Durkan: “Our goal has always been to balance the abrasive qualities of punk and noise with something more introspective and vulnerable. Creating that simultaneous push and pull. Like the beauty of an oil fire.”

If the press reaction to their debut release Sports is any indication Weekend have achieved that goal. From an 8.2 rating at Pitchfork to glowing reviews from the likes of Brooklyn Vegan, the Fader, the San Francisco Bay Guardian and many more it is clear Weekend have wowed the right people and opened the door of the indie world. In barely a year of existence Weekend have landed opening spots for the likes of Japandroids, Little Girls and others, played tastemaker Gorilla Vs Bear’s insanely stacked 2010 SXSW showcase, signed to Slumberland Records, played a Daytrotter Session and now released their debut LP Sports. If their next year of existence is even half as eventful who knows where they could be. One thing is certain; with the release of Sports Weekend have made their mark on the ever changing world of indie post-punk.

From Pitchfork:
“This is a Slumberland release, so there’s a good deal of fuzz-pop here, too; however, moments that recall that still in-vogue sound aren’t presented as-is– rather, they’re recontextualized to fit Weekend’s dense, screeching sonic swirl. In case you haven’t gotten it yet, Sports is loud as all hell, as even the sweetest melodies (the doe-eyed blare of “End Times”, especially) are surrounded with a maelstrom of negative sonic waves, which can be attributed to the band’s focus on the lower end of things.”

Grab the stellar single “Coma Summer” right here:

Weekend
“Coma Summer” (mp3)
from “Sports”
(Slumberland Records)

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