Chainsaw The Door before we get on the road, hear The Garden's newest album here
Today, The Garden have released a new video for “Chainsaw the Door”, a highlight off their new album Horseshit on Route 66. Of the song & video, the band explain “If you see a door and it’s locked, chainsaw through it. Or don’t.”
Tour Dates
10/02 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel
10/04 - Boston, MA @ Big Night Live
10/06 - Washington, DC @ The Howard
10/07 - Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage
10/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
10/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Heaven
10/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Heaven
10/12 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz
10/14 – New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
10/22 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Festival
10/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young Festival
10/26 - Pomona, CA @ The Fox Theater
10/27 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
11/08 - San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theater
11/10 – Dallas, TX @ Studio at The Factory
11/11 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
11/12 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
11/15 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
11/16 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
11/17 – Detroit, MI @ Eastern
11/18 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
11/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11/20 – Omaha, NE @ Slow Down
11/21 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
11/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
11/25 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
11/26 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
11/27 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
11/29 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
11/30 – San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
12/01 - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
The 11-tracks that make up their latest are some of twin brothers Wyatt & Fletcher Shears most fiery endeavors to date. Recorded in Downtown Los Angeles, the record pulls from the legacies of Southern California hardcore and UK punk, but continues to experiment with dissonant electronics and the drum & bass sound the duo is known for. Though plans to record in a ghost town and set up camp “somewhere haunted” were abandoned, that spirit is embodied in the record. “A good chunk of the songs were inspired by the "scary stories" we read as kids and our interest in the supernatural,” says Wyatt. The duo also cite children's book illustrator Stephen Gammell as a major reference point, his drawings infused with the same underlying menace that their music evokes. Listen to singles “Chainsaw the Door”, “Freight Yard” & “Orange County Punk Rock Legend”, and the full album HERE.
This weekend The Garden will embark on a massive run of U.S. tour dates that includes a festival appearance at When We Were Young in Las Vegas. Shows in LA, NYC, Baltimore, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland are already sold out, and tickets are limited at the remaining shows.
If you’ve followed indie rock or punk music over the last 10 years, you’ve probably already heard of The Garden. The Orange County duo have churned out six spunky, energetic albums, which are defined by their clear-cut penchant for angular chaos, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, and complete disregard for genre.
Formed by twin brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears in 2011, The Garden slowly but surely amassed a devoted fanbase, playing countless shows and embarking on DIY tours across the United States. They’ve slept in cars, on park benches, and on peoples’ floors across Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Russia and the rest of the world. The blistering combination of their prolific live show and penchant for flashy visuals proved undeniable - with each coming tour, the venues grew bigger and the crowds wilder. “I think it’s helped us to have such a slow progression up to where we are now,” says Fletcher, reflecting on the band's steady climb.
Since those early days, they’ve collaborated with musicians like 100 Gecs members Dylan Brady, Kero Kero Bonito bassist James Bulled, indie staple Mac DeMarco, and Carrot Top. They’ve modeled for brands such as Saint Laurent, Balenciaga & Hugo Boss, to name a few. Now, after four LP’s–three of which were released while under contract with Epitaph Records–their new album, Horseshit On Route 66, will be the first independent LP that The Garden has put out since 2013. The decision to leave Epitaph was one that was ultimately made by the band. “We are not interested in closing our doors to potential opportunities we haven't experienced” explains Fletcher, “Joining up with Epitaph was something we tried out and ultimately were not interested in pursuing any longer. Progression is most important to us, if something is not working and not allowing us to move forward in the ways that we want, we switch angles.”
The 11-tracks that make up their latest, Horseshit On Route 66, are some of The Garden’s most fiery endeavors to date. Recorded in Downtown Los Angeles, the record pulls from the legacies of Southern California hardcore and UK punk, but continues to experiment with dissonant electronics and the drum & bass sound the duo is known for. Though plans to record in a ghost town and set up camp “somewhere haunted” were abandoned, that spirit is embodied in the record. “A good chunk of the songs were inspired by the "scary stories" we read as kids and our interest in the supernatural,” says Wyatt. The duo also cites children's book illustrator Stephen Gammell as a major reference point, his drawings infused with the same underlying menace that their music evokes.
Opening with a sample of an old woman whispering, “Haunted House on Zillow” perfectly establishes an eerie atmosphere before the twins kick into absolute hyperdrive on searing tracks like “OC93” & “Puerta de Limosina”. Standout “Freight Yard'' is carried by an addictive hook and an intricate jungle groove, while “Orange County Punk Rock Legend” pits sunny guitars and bit-crushed drums against a snarling vocal performance. “What Else Could I Be but a Jester” is a surreal fever dream comprised of breakneck beats and wobbly synths, while “Squished Face Slick Pig Living In A Smokey City” finds the band settling into a sludgy lockstep.
A faded portrait of the brothers in their traditional Jester-esque attire adorns the cover, an aesthetic choice that’s become synonymous with the visual universe of The Garden. With this new collection, Wyatt and Fletcher feel like they’re finally doing what they’ve been trying to accomplish artistically since they started the band all those years ago. Horseshit On Route 66 ushers in a new beginning for a group that has already established itself as an iconic and singular force.
