On October 4th, Matador delivers the debut album by The Hard Quartet, a new group featuring Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, and Jim White.
The new single/video for ‘Our Hometown Boy’ is out now – listen HERE.
“In ‘Our Hometown Boy,’ The Hard Quartet mythologizes the fierce inhabitants of our shared hovels and shangri-las from the vantage point of a beach famous for the undertow. A conversation about what paradise looks like peering out the window of a bar to a blizzard. Adventures in the skin trade. On the run and hitting the road. The green grass of home.” – Emmett Kelly
On this song, Emmett Kelly takes the lead vocal. In a band with no shortage of rock ’n roll bona fides, his CV is among the most stacked. A songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, he is best known for his work in The Cairo Gang. He is also an adept and intuitive collaborator, having written, toured, performed alongside artists like Will Oldham, Ty Segall, and Natural Information Society. “‘Our Hometown Boy’ shows why Jim White, Steve Malkmus and I are so stoked to be in a band with Emmett Kelly,” writes Sweeney. “It’s, like, fucked up how good Emmett is at music.”
Following speculation, The Hard Quartet’s existence was made official in July with the band’s first single and video, ‘Earth Hater’, and an accompanying video directed by EYEDRESS. Watch it HERE. Last month, the group formally announced their debut album and posted the Sweeney-led ‘Rio’s Song.’
The Hard Quartet is comprised of:
Emmett Kelly, a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist best known for his work in The Cairo Gang and The Double, as well as in the company of artists such as Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Ty Segall, Rob Mazurek, and many more.
Stephen Malkmus, a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist best known for his work with Pavement, the Jicks, Silver Jews, Straw Dogs, and eponymously.
Matt Sweeney, a songwriter, guitarist, producer and vocalist best known for his work with Chavez, Superwolf, his music for Red Dead Redemption 2 and his guitar work in the company of a panoply of artists from Guided by Voices and Cat Power to Johnny Cash and Adele.
Jim White, a drummer and songwriter best known for work with Dirty Three, Xylouris White, Marisa Anderson, and with such stalwarts as Guy Picciotto, Cat Power, Bill Callahan and Venom P Stinger.
TRACKLIST
- Chrome Mess
- Earth Hater
- Rio’s Song
- Our Hometown Boy
- Renegade
- Heel Highway
- Killed By Death
- Hey
- It Suits You
- Six Deaf Rats
- Action For Military Boys
- Jacked Existence
- North of the Border
- Thug Dynasty
- Gripping the Riptide
THE HARD QUARTET:
https://www.tiktok.com/@thehardquartet
https://www.facebook.com/thehardquartet
