Ekko Astral are a DC-based, punky post-punk band that have been making some noise lately, and they just signed to Topshelf and released their first single for the label, “baethoven.” It’s sharp, biting, and full of raw energy, and here’s what the band says about the song and its video (directed and shot by July Brown and Bug Adams):
The moral of the song is in the lyrics: “There’s nothing endless, there’s no Frank Ocean / you should let me your classic love / I’ll be your bae-thoven.” The point is, there’s nothing as perfectly clean and pristine as a Frank Ocean song in this world right now but there is our band – and there is you, the listener – and that’s what you should love. Because that’s what’s here now and is here for you, the authentic self in all its glory.
What this video is about is, have fun with your friends before all this ends. Because it will end. Soon. Life is short but it is long and beautiful and you have no time to waste. This will all end. It is so close to ending. It’ll end in like a year or so. Maybe less. So do what you can to survive in this silly money system we’re plagued with, take what cash you have and fight back by having as much fucking fun as fucking possible. Because fuck all that.
Check it out below.
Ekko Astral also have tour dates coming up, including SXSW and a tour with Crush Fund that hits the NYC-area for shows at Montclair, NJ’s Meatlocker on March 28 and Brooklyn’s The Broadway on April 12 with Pretty Bitter, Ultra Deluxe, and FNOA also on the bill.
Later this year, Ekko Astral will open part of Ted Leo and the Pharmacists‘ Shake The Sheets 20th anniversary tour, including the NYC-area shows at Asbury Park’s The Stone Pony on June 19 and Brooklyn’s Warsaw on June 23. The Warsaw show is on BrooklynVegan presale now (password = BVSTS). All dates are listed below.
Ekko Astral — 2024 Tour Dates
February 24, 2024 – Herndon, VA @ Herndon Arts
March 14-16, 2024 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
March 22, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Beach House
March 23, 2024 – Providence, RI @ Black Lace
March 28, 2024 – Montclair, NJ @ Meatlocker
March 29, 2024 – Charlottesville, VA @ Chinchilla Cafe
March 30, 2024 – Richmond, VA @ Banditos Burritos
March 31, 2024 – Durham, NC @ Pinhook
April 5, 2024 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
April 12, 2024 – New York City, NY @ The Broadway
April 20, 2024 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project
April 27, 2024 – Burlington, VT @ Monkey House
supporting Ted Leo:
June 19, 2024 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
June 20, 2024 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
June 21, 2024 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
June 22, 2024 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
June 23, 2024 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw