MODERN BLUES ROCKERS HEAD OF THE HERD ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THEIR 3RD STUDIO ALBUM “BIRDS ON THE ROOF” SEPTEMBER 25TH
First Single “Live For Love” Perched For Success & Available At Radio Now iTunes Pre-Order Begins August 7th
Toronto, ON (August 6th, 2015) – Canadian modern blues rockers Head of the Herd, who signed a major label deal in 2014 with Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company, announced today the September 25th release of “Birds on the Roof”, their third and most ambitious album to date. A soulful blend of southern style storytelling with a raw Rock n’ Roll twist, “Birds on the Roof” was recorded in four countries, with multiple producers specifically chosen to match particular tracks on the album. First single “Live For Love”, available at radio now, is a high-energy, guitar-fueled tune, infectious upon first listen.
“Birds on the Roof” follows Head of the Herd’s striking 2013 break out release “By This Time Tomorrow” – the critically acclaimed sophomore album, which in addition to spawning two Top 20 singles; saw the title track – a duet with Mother Mother’s Jasmin Parkin, skyrocket to #1 on the national Rock Radio charts. The band toured the country from coast to coast multiple times both headlining and as direct support for acts such as Guns ‘n’ Roses, Alice & Chains and The Sheepdogs among other notable artists.
Blending the convention of bluesy rock traditions with the palpable enthusiasm of Rock n’ Roll, Head of the Herd are well known for their do-it-yourself approach and “Birds on the Roof” continues that tradition with a band that never takes the easy road. “Whatever is best for the song is the path we take,” said Mannas. “Too many bands mess up their records by doing what’s easy, cheap and expected of them. We knew these songs were special, and would go to any length to get that across.”
After months of writing, Head of the Herd (Neu Mannas and Clay Frank) travelled to the southern border of Georgia to work with Mark Neill, the producer behind The Black Keys mega-hit record “Brothers”. Says Frank, “Brothers was a record that pushed me to become a musician. It was a record we listened to obsessively when it came out and in many ways inspired the direction of our own band. Neill forced us to think about the songs in a way we never imagined and by doing so brought out the best in them.” Neill served as the producer for several tracks on the album including first single “Live For Love”.
Following their work with Neill, Mannas and Frank travelled to England and Wales to work with notable producer Ian Davenport (Band of Skulls, Supergrass, Radiohead’s Phil Selway) at the infamous Rockfield Studios. “The history of Rockfield Studios is baffling,” says Mannas. “Oasis made ‘What’s The Story’ there. And then we’re tracking drums on the “OK Computer” kit while I play the piano used on “Bohemian Rhapsody”. You walk into a room like that, with history like that, and you know it’s been worth the trip.”
To wrap the record, the band flew home to Vancouver where they reunited with Gggarth Richardson (who co-produced By This Time Tomorrow), and Ben Kaplan at The Farm Studios and, following a final session produced by Mannas himself, “Birds on the Roof” was complete. The result is a stunning 13 track LP (plus two bonus tracks available exclusively for iTunes) that is at the same time sonically similar and different to anything Head of the Herd has previously done. The album is available for pre-order on iTunes beginning August 7th and will include an instant download of “Live For Love” as well as two additional new songs on August 28th and September 11th respectively. For more information please visit:
Facebook: @headoftheherd
Twitter: @hothband
Instagram: @hothband
BIRDS ON THE ROOF Tracklisting
1. I’m A Mother
2. Live For Love *
3. Every Single Day **
4. How Was I Supposed To Know ***
5. Gone Too Far *
6. Lightning’s Out The Way *
7. Giving Tree
8. All The Way ***
9. Take Your Time, I’m Going Away *
10. World Is At A Loss Without You *
11. Spend My Life On You
12. This Could Be A Trap
13. When The Plane Dives **
14. Fall In Love Again (iTunes bonus track)
15. Nothing At Once (iTunes bonus track) **
Produced by Ian Davenport
*Produced by Mark Neill
**Produced by Neuman Mannas
***Produced by Ben Kaplan & Gggarth Richardson