Ahead of the release of their new album Violet Street, Local Natives today share ‘Megaton Mile’,a track set on Los Angeles’ iconic Miracle Mile strip – an uptempo Motown-esque groove belies the apocalyptic lyrics, conjuring ash covered freeways and seagulls swarming on rubble.
Yesterday to preview the track, Local Natives took over a car wash in Los Feliz to create a one-of-a-kind listening experience. Only fans who drove through the Megaton Mile Car Wash were able to get an early listen of the endlessly danceable song on wireless headphones inside a repurposed psychedelic tunnel of light and water. Following the car wash, the band surprised fans with a secret late night show at Zebulon in celebration of Friday’s upcoming release of Violet Street.
‘Megaton Mile’ is preceded by the release of “lush and searching” (Stereogum) ‘When Am I Gonna Lose You,’ whose beautiful video stars Kate Mara; ‘Café Amarillo,’ which FADER hails for “illustrating a sort of emotional purgatory;” and ‘Tap Dancer,’ which Brooklyn Vegan praises for its “elegiac ache.”
Violet Street juxtaposes the classic set up of a band playing live together in a studio with incredible modern production experimentation from genius producer Shawn Everett. The result is a timeless album made for today, featuring the band’s signature soaring 3-part harmonies and intricate layers, augmented by loops of tape, physically spliced and transformed by hand.
Based in Los Angeles, the quintet progressed their blissful sound over the course of three full-length albums, Gorilla Manor [2009], Hummingbird [2013], and Sunlit Youth [2016]. The latter received praise from The FADER, Consequence of Sound and The Guardian. In between countless sold out shows and festival appearances – including a standout Coachella 2017 set – they’ve graced the stages of Austin City Limits, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show With James Corden, and more.
UK dates:
Oct 10th | BRIGHTON, UK @ Concorde 2
Oct 11th | MANCHESTER, UK @ Gorilla
Oct 14th | EDINBURGH, UK @ Summerhall
Oct 15th | LEEDS, UK @ Belgrave Music Hall
Oct 16th | LONDON, UK @ Electric Brixton
Oct 17th | BRISTOL, UK @ The Fleece
