Sep 20, 2023 By Mark Redfern

The Drums (the project of Jonny Pierce) are releasing a new album, Jonny, on October 13 via ANTI-. Now Pierce has shared another new song from it, “Flowers.” More

Jul 12, 2023 By Kat Ramkumar

The Drums (music project of Jonny Pierce), have announced the release of their sixth studio album Jonny and shared its latest single, “Better.” More

Jun 08, 2023 By Mark Redfern

The Drums (the project led by Jonny Pierce) have shared a new song, “Obvious.” They are also on tour this summer. More

May 11, 2023 By Mark Redfern

The Drums (the project led by Jonny Pierce) have shared two new songs, “Plastic Envelope” and “Protect Him Always.” They are interconnected songs that play as one complete piece and have been shared via one YouTube post featuring both songs. More

Oct 29, 2020 By Joey Arnone

The Drums have released a lyric video for their new single entitled “Nadia.” The song features vocals by frontman Jonny Pierce alongside glitchy and experimental production, suggesting a new change of sound for the group. “Nadia” is credited to The Drums & Jonny Pierce. More

Oct 15, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums (aka Jonny Pierce) released a new album, Brutalism, in April via ANTI-. Now he has shared two new songs, “I Didn’t Realize” and “You Lied.” “I Didn’t Realize” was originally recorded in 2012 and was shared via a video, also filmed in 2012. “You Lied” is a new song. More

Apr 24, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums (aka Jonny Pierce) released a new album, Brutalism, at the start of the month via ANTI-. Now he has shared a video for the album’s “Body Chemistry.” Anton Riva directed the clip, which features multiple exposure and split screen techniques. More

Apr 05, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

For this week’s Album of the Week we have a tie, two albums we’ve been heavily supporting for several months now: Rose Elinor Dougall‘s A New Illusion and Weyes Blood‘s Titanic Rising. Below is info on both albums, as well as a round up and streams for other notable albums released today. More

Mar 28, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums (aka Jonny Pierce) is releasing a new album, Brutalism, on April 5 via ANTI-. You can now stream the whole album a week early. More

Feb 26, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums (aka Jonny Pierce) is releasing a new album, Brutalism, on April 5 via ANTI-. Previously he shared its first single, “Body Chemistry,” which was one of our Songs of the Week. Now he has shared another song from the album, “626 Bedford Avenue,” and announced some new tour dates in July and August. More

Jan 18, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

Welcome to the second Songs of the Week of 2019. This week’s list includes tracks from freshly announced albums (Strand of Oaks, The Drums, Tamaryn, C Duncan, Glen Hansard), as well as by artists who have already made this list with previous songs from their upcoming albums (Telekinesis, Piroshka, Cass McCombs). More

Jan 15, 2019 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums (aka Jonny Pierce) has announced a new album, Brutalism, and shared its first single, “Body Chemistry.” Brutalism is due out April 5 via ANTI-. More

Feb 16, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

This week Under the Radar favorite Courtney Barnett announced her new album and shared a new song and fellow favorites Beach House announced that a new album was coming and shared a new song. More

Feb 15, 2018 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums have released a brand new charity song, “Meet Me in Mexico,” to benefit those affected by the Mexican earthquakes last September. The song is available on Bandcamp in a pay-what-you-want situation. More

Jun 16, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Here we highlight five albums due out today that we feel are most worth hearing. We have also included Amazon links for each album. If you click through those links and buy the album (or anything else on Amazon once you’ve clicked through) then Amazon rewards us with a sales percentage. More

Jun 13, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums are releasing a new album, “Abysmal Thoughts” (the quote marks are part of the title), this Friday (June 16) via ANTI-. Previously they shared its first single, “Blood Under My Belt,” as well as a video for the song, and the tracks “Heart Basel” and “Head of the Horse.” More

May 30, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums are releasing a new album, “Abysmal Thoughts” (the quote marks are part of the title), on June 16 via ANTI-. Previously they shared its first single, “Blood Under My Belt,” as well as a video for the song, and the track “Heart Basel.” More

May 02, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums are releasing a new album, “Abysmal Thoughts” (the quote marks are part of the title), on June 16 via ANTI-. Previously they shared its first single, “Blood Under My Belt,” as well as a video for the song. More

Apr 07, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our Spring 2017 Issue, which is out now digitally via Under the Radar’s app and the magazine app Readly. The print version is about to ship out to subscribers and stores and will be on all newsstands soon (as well as available soon digitally via the magazine apps Zinio and Readly). More

Apr 04, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums are releasing a new album, “Abysmal Thoughts” (the quote marks are part of the title), on June 16 via ANTI-. Previously they shared its first single, “Blood Under My Belt.” More

Mar 01, 2017 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums have announced a new album and shared its first single, “Blood Under My Belt.” The album is entitled “Abysmal Thoughts” (the quote marks are part of the title) and is due out June 16 via ANTI-, the band’s first for the label. More

Oct 12, 2016 By Christopher Roberts

SXSW (aka South By Southwest), the annual conference/festival in Austin, Texas, has announced the second round of artists to be performing during the music portion (there’s also film and interactive portions) in 2017. More

Nov 11, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

Surfer Blood guitarist Thomas Fekete has been battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer. His health insurance has been covering more than six months of regular chemotherapy treatments, but does not cover an alternative treatment plan he’s also been undergoing. As Fekete is unable to work and tour he’s been relying on fan and friend donations to his GoFundMe page to help pay for treatments. More

Aug 27, 2015 By Laura Studarus

Last weekend Los Angeles hosted FYF Festival. Check out Robert Redfield’s gallery of day one, featuring images of Alvvays, Bloc Party, Chet Faker, Dinosaur Jr, Goldroom, Mikal Cronin,Metz, Purity Ring, Savages, Tennis, and The Drums. More

Aug 12, 2015 By Michael Wojtas

Indie pop band The Drums have shared a video for “There Is Nothing Left,” a track from last year’s Encyclopedia. More

Jul 15, 2015 By Christopher Roberts

The Drums have announced some August West Coast tour dates, in between stops at Outside Lands and FYF Festival. More

Nov 06, 2014 By Laura Studarus

YACHT has taken their twisted synth inclinations to The Drums’ single “I Can’t Pretend.” More

Oct 10, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

The Drums have premiered a brand new music video for “I Can’t Pretend,” the second single off the duo’s new album Encyclopedia. More

Aug 28, 2014 By Cody Ray Shafer

The Drums have just released another video teaser for their upcoming LP Encyclopedia, which is due out September 24. More

Aug 22, 2014 By Michael Wojtas

Welcome to Under the Radar’s weekly playlist, where we compile the best and most exciting tracks to debut online in the last week (give or take). In this mix we’ve got new songs by Charli XCX, Phoenix, Interpol, Caribou, Jessie Ware, The Drums, Peaking Lights, Les Sins (Toro Y Moi side-project), Darkside, Teleman (Remixed by Boxed In), Joanna Gruesome, The Twilight Sad, The Unicorns, Sinkane, TOPS, TEEN, Douglas Dare, The Coathangers, Young Karin, and more. Look no further, your Friday and weekend playlist is here. More

Aug 20, 2014 By Laura Studarus

Here’s another new track from The Drums’ forthcoming album Encyclopedia. More

Aug 05, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

Next month on Sept. 24 The Drums will return with their third album Encyclopedia, the band’s first album since 2011’s Portamento. More

Jul 24, 2014 By Laura Studarus

The Drums’ new single “Magic Mountain” has gotten a video. More

Jul 18, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

After premiering their brand new single “Magic Mountain” earlier this week, The Drums have announced the release of their third full-length album Encyclopedia, which will arrive on Sept. 22. More

Jul 15, 2014 By Mike Hilleary

After a three year absence The Drums have returned to the fold, premiering a brand new track titled “Magic Mountain.” More

Jul 11, 2014 By Laura Studarus

The Drums are hitting the road this fall for a fairly extensive North American tour. More

Dec 18, 2012 By Mike Hilleary

Next year John Pierce of The Drums will release his solo debut Mistaken. More

Nov 28, 2012 By Mike Hilleary

Jonny Pierce, frontman for The Drums, has revealed that he will be releasing his debut solo album next year. More

Oct 26, 2012 By John Norris

We spoke to eight gay and lesbian artists for The Protest Issue, all of them honest and passionate conversations ranging from politics to art to relationships. But none of them were more open and revealing than our exchange with Jonny Pierce of The Drums. More

Oct 23, 2012 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar magazine’s Protest Auction ends in one hour at 2:00 p.m. EST. The auction features all of the autographed protest signs created by musicians for the magazine’s The Protest Issue, which is on newsstands now. All profits will go to the War Child charity. Musicians who are taking part include Janelle Monáe, Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Dan Deacon, The Drums, of Montreal, DIIV, James Blake, Okkervil River, Tom Morello, Liars, Matthew Dear, Dum Dum Girls, EMA, Menomena, Amanda Palmer, Laetitia Sadier, Reggie Watts, Youth Lagoon, Zola Jesus, and many others. More

Oct 22, 2012 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar magazine’s Protest Auction ends tomorrow, Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. EST. The auction features all of the autographed protest signs created by musicians for the magazine’s The Protest Issue, which is on newsstands now. All profits will go to the War Child charity. Musicians who are taking part include Janelle Monáe, Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Dan Deacon, The Drums, of Montreal, DIIV, James Blake, Okkervil River, Tom Morello, Liars, Matthew Dear, Dum Dum Girls, EMA, Menomena, Amanda Palmer, Laetitia Sadier, Reggie Watts, Youth Lagoon, Zola Jesus, and many others. More

Oct 21, 2012 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar magazine’s Protest Auction is now on and ends Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. EST. The auction features all of the autographed protest signs created by musicians for the magazine’s The Protest Issue, which is on newsstands now. All profits will go to the War Child charity. Musicians who are taking part include Janelle Monáe, Death Cab for Cutie, Tegan and Sara, Dan Deacon, The Drums, of Montreal, DIIV, James Blake, Okkervil River, Tom Morello, Liars, Matthew Dear, Dum Dum Girls, EMA, Menomena, Amanda Palmer, Laetitia Sadier, Reggie Watts, Youth Lagoon, Zola Jesus, and many others.

Aug 23, 2012 By Christopher Roberts

Under the Radar is pleased to share our election year Protest Issue for 2012, on newsstands next week, featuring two covers with Dan Deacon and Tegan and Sara. The issue features major stories on the music of Occupy and Gay musicians talking about current Queer issues. The issue is now available to buy in the digital/iPad format here. More

Mar 22, 2012 By Laura Studarus

FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out. At a festival the size of SXSW, the terror that someone—somewhere—might be having a better time than you is an ever-pressing concern. Well, everywhere but at Under the Radar’s three-day parties. I realize my option is somewhat suspect, seeing as they sign my paychecks, but believe me when I say that, for at least three days of the fest, there was nowhere else I would have rather been than The Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas. More

Mar 14, 2012 By Margot Cooper Gruen

The Drums check in from the Under the Radar SXSW Party in Austin, Texas. More

Mar 07, 2012 By Laura Studarus

Mates of State recently took their hand to The Drums’ Portamento cut “Days.” We have the track. More

Mar 05, 2012 By Laura Studarus

On March 14 Under the Radar will host the first of three free SXSW Day parties sponsored by PRS Guitars. Leading up to the event we’re letting you know about each artist playing. Today we’re spotlighting day one headliner, The Drums. More

Feb 29, 2012 By Mark Redfern

Under the Radar magazine is excited to reveal the full lineups, poster, and set times for its three SXSW 2012 day parties, taking place on Wednesday, March 14th, Thursday, March 15th, and Friday, March 16th. The Friday party, which is presented by Shure, will feature headliner of Montreal performing their beloved 2004 album The Sunlandic Twins in its entirety, the only SXSW 2012 performance of the album. The lineup also includes Chairlift, The Drums, Reggie Watts, Deerhoof, Bear in Heaven, Youth Lagoon, La Sera, Taken By Trees, and more. More

Feb 28, 2012 By Mike Hilleary

Today The Drums are releasing their Portamento track “Days” as a stand-alone single in both 7’’ and digital formats. More

Feb 16, 2012 By Mike Hilleary

Clearly not feeling as though they got their point across by appearing on Jimmy Fallon last night, The Drums have released an official video for their Portamento track “Days.” More

Feb 16, 2012 By Mike Hilleary

Last night Brooklyn indie rocker outfit The Drums brought their deceptively simple pop hooks to the set of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. More

Dec 23, 2011 By Mark Redfern and Laura Studarus

Under the Radar‘s Best of 2011 Issue has shipped out to subscribers and will be hitting newsstands soon. The issue features three unique covers, each featuring an artist behind one of our Top 5 albums of the year: M83, The Horrors, and Bon Iver. The issue also takes a look back at other artists who have made a splash in 2011, including Beirut, Anna Calvi, EMA, Florence and the Machine, Gang Gang Dance, Neon Indian, PJ Harvey, R.E.M., SBTRKT, Slow Club, St. Vincent, Summer Camp, tUnE-yArDs, and Yuck. More

Nov 03, 2011 By Laura Studarus

Take a listen to the new Drums track “I Can’t Save Your Life.” More

Aug 30, 2011 By John Everhart

NYC pop act The Drums recently wrapped up the recording of their highly anticipated second album Portamento, due next month, but you can hear it via stream now. We have the details. More

Aug 08, 2011 By Margot Cooper Gruen

Surfer Blood have announced their Tarot Classics EP, due October 25 via Kanine. More

Jul 28, 2011 By John Everhart

NYC pop act The Drums, after announcing the details of the U.K. release of their sophomore album Portamento, have now revealed that Frenchkiss records, home to The Dodos and The Antlers, will be releasing the record in the US September 13. We have the tracklisting and U.S. tour dates, as well as the video for the first single, “Money.” More

Jul 13, 2011 By Laura Studarus

The Drums are hard at work on album number two. We have the details. More

Jun 11, 2011 By Wendy Lynch Redfern

Bonnaroo 2011 kicked off this Thursday June 9th in Manchester, TN and photographer, Matt Jones, was there to capture the action. Check out photos from Day One’s performances here.
More

Apr 20, 2011 By John Everhart

The Drums have donated an unreleased track as a download with proceeds going to Japan disaster relief efforts. We have the details. More

Dec 09, 2010 By Laura Studarus

On December 13, The Drums unleash new single “Me and the Moon.” We have a stream of remixes. More

Sep 17, 2010 By Laura Studarus

Brooklyn quartet The Drums has become a trio as guitarist Adam Kessler has quit the band. More

Aug 30, 2010 By John Everhart

The Drums have released a video for their maudlin girl-group homage “Down By the Water.” We have the clip. More

Jul 26, 2010 By John Everhart

The Drums and Surfer Blood, old friends from Florida, played a sold out one-off show together in January at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom, and it went so well that they’re going to do it again, this time all across the U.S. and Canada as co-headliners. We have the dates. More

Jun 14, 2010 By John Everhart

Ex-Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins is set to release his first album since suffering a double brain hemorrhage in 2005. The supporting cast for the album, titled Losing Sleep, includes indie luminaries Johnny Marr of The Smiths, Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy of Franz Ferdinand, The Drums, Ryan Jarman of The Cribs, Romeo Stodart of The Magic Numbers, and Roddy Frame of Aztec Camera More

Jun 07, 2010 By John Everhart

The Drums are set to release their highly anticipated debut LP in the U.S. on Downtown Records. The self-titled record will be released in digital format tomorrow, June 8, with vinyl and CD to follow. We have the details. More

May 19, 2010 By Laura Studarus

The Drums get eternal for new video “Forever and Ever Amen.” In the grainy retro-looking clip, the band rocks and redecorates pool hall, no doubt inciting the kids in the video to a wild life of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. We have the video. More

Apr 05, 2010 By John Everhart

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 section in Under the Radar‘s Winter 2010 Issue includes a short article on The Drums’ debut album. We’ve now posted the full Q&A of that interview with the band. I caught up with Brooklyn via Florida act The Drums in mid-January at their East Williamsburg apartment, somewhere between the moribund Marcy projects and the urbane bastion of hipness that is Bedford Avenue. Apropos, given that the band seem like misfits in today’s Brooklyn scene, their insular milieu wedged somewhere between such somber Factory Records acts as The Wake and blithe ‘50s surf culture dreams. More

Mar 22, 2010 By Mark Redfern

By the third day of SXSW the lack of sleep was really catching up to us. As with the day before, we had to wake up early again to conduct a photo-shoot (three of them in fact), which again left no time for day parties. By the time the evening rolled around we were already burnt out, but still game to check out more bands. Alas, Friday offered little other than underwhelming sets, including ones by a shy Swedish duo and a surprisingly dark hyped Brooklyn band. More

Mar 22, 2010 By Mark Redfern

Staff photographer and Under the Radar‘s Co-Publisher/Co-Founder, Wendy Lynch Redfern, was down in Austin, Texas for SXSW 2010. Check out a gallery of her photos from the third day of the music portion of SXSW 2010. The gallery includes photos of Band of Horses, jj, The Antlers, and The Drums. More

Jan 04, 2010 By Kyle Lemmon

A track and field meet turns into a nasty grudge match in this new music video from the new wave Brooklyn band The Drums. “I Felt Stupid” is on the blog buzz quartet’s Summertime! EP. More

Oct 15, 2009 By Wendy Lynch Redfern

The Drums, who recently released their debut EP, Summertime!, on Twenty Seven records, have just announced four tour dates in California this November. The Drums are currently featured in the Pleased to Meet You section of the Fall 2009 issue of Under the Radar, currently on stands. Keep an eye out for their debut LP in early 2010. More

Feb 11, 2015 By Mark Redfern

For Under the Radar’s 12th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2014. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2014 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. Here are some answers from Jonny Pierce and Jacob Graham of The Drums. More

Oct 26, 2012 By John Norris

We spoke to eight gay and lesbian artists for The Protest Issue, all of them honest and passionate conversations ranging from politics to art to relationships. But none of them were more open and revealing than our exchange with Jonny Pierce of The Drums. In fact, over many years and many interviews, I have rarely encountered such on-the-record personal candor from a musician. More

Jul 30, 2010 By Hays Davis

Musicians reflect on their first concerts. Includes stories from Tegan & Sara, Camera Obscura, Girl Talk, Owen Pallett, Art Brut, The Hold Steady, MGMT, Broken Social Scene, Ariel Pink, !!!, Mew, Real Estate, The Dears, Vivian Girls, Mayer Hawthorne, The Drums, Telekinesis, Fuck Buttons, El Guincho, and more. More

Apr 05, 2010 By John Everhart

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2010 section in Under the Radar‘s Winter 2010 Issue includes a short article on The Drums’ debut album. Here is the full Q&A of that interview with the band. I caught up with Brooklyn via Florida act The Drums in mid-January at their East Williamsburg apartment, somewhere between the moribund Marcy projects and the urbane bastion of hipness that is Bedford Avenue. Apropos, given that the band seem like misfits in today’s Brooklyn scene, their insular milieu wedged somewhere between such somber Factory Records acts as The Wake and blithe ‘50s surf culture dreams. More

Sep 15, 2009 By John Everhart

“We’re driven by melody. If we’re writing a song, and it isn’t driven by a rush of melody, we throw it out. When we put something out, we hope it makes you flutter just a little bit,” says Drums frontman Jonathan Pierce. Mission accomplished on the band’s aptly named Summer-time! EP. More

Jun 01, 2021 By Emma Goad

You may recognize The Drums by their cheeky surf inspired rock and pop tunes, but their latest record, Mommy Don’t Spank Me, dives into both the new and old wave—featuring rare tracks from their early days and exploring the true substance behind the music. More

May 13, 2019 By Mischa Pearlman

In 2017, The Drums released Abysmal Thoughts. It was the New York outfit’s fourth full-length, but the first since the band had become a solo project for main-man Jonny Pierce. More

Jun 16, 2017 By Stephen Mayne

The past has not been smooth sailing for The Drums. What began as a band seems to have reduced to only Jonathan Pierce. A promising start also came unstuck with a move away from the pure indie-pop that brought them to notice in the first place. More

Sep 23, 2014 By Mack Hayden

The third record is the proving ground. Great debuts are a dime a dozen and surpassing the sophomore slump is an impressive feat, but the third time’s the charm for a reason. More

Mar 23, 2012 By Laura Studarus

FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out. At a festival the size of SXSW, the terror that someone—somewhere—might be having a better time than you is an ever-pressing concern. Well, everywhere but at Under the Radar’s three-day parties. I realize my option is somewhat suspect, seeing as they sign my paychecks, but believe me when I say that, for at least three days of the fest, there was nowhere else I would have rather been than Under the Radar‘s three day parties at The Flamingo Cantina in Austin, Texas. More

Apr 16, 2011 By Mark Redfern

Day one of Coachella 2011 displayed several improvements over last year. There was less of a crowd (even though it was sold out this year, they put more of a limitation on how many tickets could be sold). Security was tighter and parking seemed less of a pain. And it even seemed as though the Mojave and Gobi tents were a little bigger this year and able to accommodate more fans. Highlights of the day included two bands from down under and some soft rockers; where-as two notable artists stormed off the stage. More

Jul 02, 2010 By John Everhart

Summertime and escapism were the themes that pervaded The Drums’ debut EP Summertime! The sweet rush of “Saddest Summer” and their U.K. hit “Let’s Go Surfing” were evocative of innocent summers long gone, rife with lithe melodies and blithe handclaps. More

Mar 22, 2010 By Mark Redfern

By the third day of SXSW the lack of sleep was really catching up to us. As with the day before, we had to wake up early again to conduct a photo-shoot (three of them in fact), which again left no time for day parties. By the time the evening rolled around we were already burnt out, but still game to check out more bands. Alas, Friday offered little other than underwhelming sets, including ones by a shy Swedish duo and a surprisingly dark hyped Brooklyn band. More

Oct 30, 2009 By Frank Valish

On its debut EP, Brooklyn-based quartet The Drums makes music that, strangely, is influenced by both Factory Records and The Shangri-Las. The music is stripped down and simplistic, with songs often being driven by a lone guitar or bass line, and frequently relying on the rhythmic devices of handclaps and finger snaps. More