Muncie Girls to play Birmingham
Exeter-born punk-rockers Muncie Girls have announced their second album for release at the end of the month, with a tour to promote it that will stop off in Birmingham.
New, rising venue The Cuban Embassy in Moseley - formerly The Bull's Head - will host the Devoners on September 27.
Fixed Ideals is the title and will be released via Specialist Subject Records in the UK and Europe.
The title comes from a Sylvia Plath poem, the line 'perfume, politics and fixed ideals', which ties in with the inspiration for the title of their first album, From Caplan To Belsize - also inspired by Plath's writing.
It was produced by Muncie Girls’ long-term collaborator Lewis Johns (Funeral For A Friend, Gnarwolves) at The Ranch and mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge (Death Cab For Cutie, Coldplay, Haim).
It marks a progression as frontwoman Lande Hekt played both guitar and bass when they were tracking. She said: “Having two guitars sounds really different and adds intricacy to the songs. I was listening to different music when I wrote these songs and when we recorded them so that probably sounds quite noticeable. Stuff like The Replacements, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Popguns and The Pastels. I think we all became a bit more adventurous with this record.”
Spending more time in the studio this time around enabled Muncie Girls to try new things. “We were at it for so long, I thought it would never end,” Lande adds. “I actually got kind of ill halfway through, because I think it was just a lot to deal with. We recorded 19 songs and I played bass, guitar, acoustic guitar, keys and sang and harmonised on all the songs as well as coming up with new ideas and extra parts because we hadn’t got everything totally ready. And the songs are the most personal ones I’ve ever written.”
Those personal themes include a big two fingers up at Lande's absent father, a fire that destroyed the pub they started playing in, having cognitive behavioural therapy for anxiety and more positive experiences like the family she loves and friendship.
A spokeswoman for the band added: "With Fixed Ideals, Muncie Girls are set to win hearts and instigate conversation all across the world."
Tickets to their The Cuban Embassy gig, priced at £11, are available here.
