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Hoops

Hoops: “Rules”

Feb 14, 2017

The Indiana four-piece Hoops announced their debut album Routines yesterday, out May 5th on Fat Possum, and a tour throughout North America and the U.K., with appearances at SXSW, Sasquatch, Shaky Knees and Noise Pop Festivals. They shared their first single from the album as well. You can check out “Rules” below. “Rules” demonstrates that the muted, pastel sensibility of the group’s first four-track recordings is still intact and still tingles with movement, calling to mind a summer vacation of skate boarding. Routines was recorded in a proper studio for the first time, namely, Rear House Recording in Greenpoint, Brooklyn with Jarvis Taveniere (Widowspeak, Quilt).

Hoops is Drew Auscherman (vox, guitar), Kevin Krauter (vox, bass), Keagan Beresford (vox, keys, guitar), and James Harris (drums). Since forming in 2014, Hoops have released three cassette tapes and last year’s self-titled debut EP.

The announcement of Routines came with more background on these newcomers: “Hoops was born in frontman Drew Auscherman’s teenage bedroom as a solo ambient and beat-driven project à la Oneohtrix Point Never’s Replica. Auscherman named the band after the hoop houses at the nursery where he worked (not for his home state’s mania for basketball).

“The Indiana band craft hyper-melodic songs, built around power-pop chords, deceptively complex drum patterns, and rock-anthem sentiments that hide some tellingly dark thoughts. Three of the four members write and sing, each a frontman and a sideman simultaneously. During a live show, the bandmates can be seen frequently swapping instruments and positions on stage. The setup isn’t democratic so much as it is simply adaptable and committed: doing what the song demands, getting the sound just right.”

Charles Steinberg

Hoops Tour Dates

2/18 - Norman, OK @ The Opolis

2/21 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *

2/22 - San Diego, CA @ The Irenic *

2/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Roxy Theatre *

2/25 - San Francisco, CA @ Noise Pop Music Festival *

2/27 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom *

2/28 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos *

3/01 - Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret *

3/03 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room *

3/04 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater *

3/09 - Nashville, TN @ Freakin Weekend at The End

3/10 - Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover Music Festival

3/12-18 - Austin, TX @ SXSW

5/02 - Glasgow, UK @ The Hug and Pint

5/03 - Leeds, UK @ Headrow House

5/04 - Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen

5/07 - Birmingham, UK Hare & Hounds

5/08 - Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana

5/09 - Brighton, UK @ Green Door Store

5/10 - London, UK @ The Lexington

5/12 - 14 - Atlanta, GA @ Shaky Knees Music Festival

5/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo ^

5/26 - 28 - George, WA @ Sasquatch Music Festival

6/08 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right +

* w/ Tennis

^ w/ PARTS

+ w/ Joy Again