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Material Flats

by Tawny Newsome & Bethany Thomas

supported by
Ballantyne9k
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Ballantyne9k The music barely captures the joy of seeing them live. What makes them great is hearing the friendship between them and being reminded that you can create art as well. Favorite track: Dinosaur (Desert Edit).
thereisadinosaurbehindyou
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thereisadinosaurbehindyou This album rules. Come for the spastic Ted Leo cameo, stay for the diverse assortment of brilliantly crafted earworms.
There are parts in this album where the instrumentation and vocals do things that are utterly surprising and unique.

These songs will rock you, they will move you, they will enrage and they will motivate you.

I'm ready for another dose any time please. Favorite track: Pincushion.
Nick Morandi
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Nick Morandi this album rules. it goes hard and doesn't let up. shades of Talking Heads maybe & other influences but if they were baked in the sun. gorgeous & moving & fun Favorite track: Juneteenth 2020.
Robby Townsend
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Robby Townsend Love the harmonies and musicianship. Favorite track: White Balloon.
pldaniels87
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pldaniels87 This record is incredible from start to finish. My introduction to Tawny was on podcasts and I knew anything she touches would be gold. This album does not disappoint. You’re Still Up is a damn banger Favorite track: You're Still Up.
steveromenesko
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steveromenesko An amazing collection of songs that takes you to so many places and so many feelings! Favorite track: Carry Something (feat. Ted Leo).
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $8 USD  or more

     

  • 12" Vinyl
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    2/1/21 - Vinyl is OUT! If you purchased before 2/1/21, your order has shipped!

    1/23/21 - HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! Vinyl is IN and we will start shipping this coming week! xo

    12/3 - MORE UP-to-DATE UPDATE: Bethany and Tawny are signing all copies in this double baby batch! Still about 40 left, fyi :)

    UPDATE: WE SOLD OUT OUR FIRST BATCH SO WE'RE GONNA UP THE ORDER!

    We're making a baby batch of vinyl (unless this actually works- then who knows?) They'll prob be ready to ship around the holidays- we will update with details as we get them!

    Includes unlimited streaming of Material Flats via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
just the right time barreling past white balloon sky nothing secret just the right time hurry on by nothing's too far wind rushing wild for a white balloon sky you can hold on or dont you’ll be just fine nothing so secret nothing's too far run up the mountain run up the mountain rolling clouds come don’t go just yet could be just fine rolling closer what happens next no one's nearby nothing so secret nothing's too far run up the mountain run up the mountain
2.
This town is dead you may as well pass it by Old loaves of bread and boxes piled up to the sky A select few were blinded by the ring lights in their eyes Good pieces on a bad body cut down to size This town is dead there’s not a beating heart to be found If you try hard enough you can turn it around This town is dead but bodies don’t just turn right into ghosts Pounds of flesh on the pavement if you can host I texted you too late I checked on you In pursuit of carrion Ya never beg and you’re not the type to cruise And you could leave but you ain’t got nothing to lose What a time to live- to give the scavenger the choice You’re still up- let’s make some noise I never meant to be more ready than anyone else It just turned out that way this time It crossed my mind Once or twice Nevermind I never wanted to be better than anyone else It just worked out that way this time Nevermind this time Nevermind I texted you too late I checked on you In pursuit of carrion This town is dead there’s not a beating heart to be found If you try hard enough you can turn it around What a time to live- to give the scavenger the choice You’re still up- let’s make some noise You’re still up- let’s make some noise HEYY You’re still up- let’s make some noise HEYYY You’re still up- LET’S MAKE SOME HEYY HEYY HEYYYYY You’re still up
3.
I’m D Major without you yeah finally, though it took some doing I’m doing well / I know things people come to me but it always brings the burden of your memory I can’t shake your stupid schoolhouse just yet I admit I was brand new Everything I needed to know I learned from you and I wanna rewrite that shit time to rewrite the whole thing I’ve made choices without you And that’s about what I’m capable of Tethered to you even in opposition. Setting fires just to make a decision I can’t get your lines out of my head I admit it I was brand new You taught me everything I didn’t have a clue But it’s time to rewrite that shit Time to time to rewrite You sit there waiting for me to choke But the truth is, I’m watching you go up in smoke Nothings working without you I know this makes me look a fool Like I don’t know how to fix my own sink Flip a fuse, fix a flat any fucking thing I need a friend to walk me through It could be anyone, anyone but you but i haven’t found them yet… Time to rewrite
4.
taking time to understand the things I celebrate taking time to understand the things that keep me lonely the further I go the clearer it becomes to me this land is my land taking a moment to read about the ancestors taking a moment to cry in my room alone turning off and turning on and turning on and turning up cuz this land is my land I, too, am America I am the All American I’m the most girl-next-door you’ve ever seen I’m the most American Motherfucker you’ve ever seen And I don’t have to keep it to myself This is the Emancipation Day I’ll shout it to Jupiter and Saturn I’ll lift every one of my voices and sing This land is my land This land is my land I am your pies, your ballgames, your Great White Way This land is my land This land is my land This land is my land I am your flat a's, long o's, y'alls and drawls This land is my land This land is my land This land is my land I am the daughter of your legends, icon to your children This land is my land This land is my land This land is my land My body of mountains, the streams from my throat This land is my land This land is my land This land is my land This land is my land THIS LAND IS MY LAND
5.
There’s a dinosaur in this house There’s a dinosaur in this house There’s a dinosaur in this house I felt you hunkering down You stuck around, eluded the ground I want you to be better than you were before I don’t know what to tell you, so reluctant to change
 I want you to do better than you did before I don’t know what to tell you, you’re losing your place
 How can I shake you, take you- make it clear I don’t know what to tell you, it’s not here I don’t know what to tell you, it’s not Honey if I can help it, it’s not here And there’s no scaring me off! No! No! Ooooooh No! There’s a dinosaur in this house And she’s starting to move her mouth We’d have the problem solved, if you would just evolve I want you to be better than you were before I don’t know what to tell you, you can’t find your place Oh I want you to be better... I don’t know what to tell you, it’s not here I don’t know what to tell you, it’s not So I’ve gotta keep yelling, it’s not here And there’s no scaring me off! No! No! Ooooooh No!
6.
Pincushion 03:34
Don’t put away that pincushion baby Not goldenbush or daisy You can’t be bringing out the heat just yet cuz it’s too soon and ain’t no candle’s lit So don’t put away that pincushion yet. Don’t send that sandblossom home just yet Not in paper bag or purple mat Summer comes to claim the soft ones first Don’t rush We never get enough Don’t put away that pincushion yet. Yeah I always rely on a spring time storm Somehow all that drama keeps me warm But I never have enough time to tell you all that’s wrong…. Don’t put away that pincushion baby Ain't nobody ready You can’t be bringing out the heat just yet Cuz it’s too soon Ain’t no candles lit so don't put away that pincushion yet Oh I’m waiting for a rain... it holds back summer pain... But still I never have enough time to tell you all that’s wrong So don’t put away that pincushion yet
7.
Bubbly 03:16
Hand me that cold can of bubbly sweetheart Run in pick me out something bubbly darling Let’s have it here, no place to go Hand me a cold can of bubbly.... Need to stay put Need to stay put Don’t forget my Need to stay put Hand me that cold glass of bubbly sweetheart What was it you wanted to talk about again? I’ll just stay put I’ll just stay put Don’t forget my I’ll just stay put Darling I know you can see it, you feel it when I touch your skin Dare I mention the tension is higher than it’s ever been Darling please... let’s get along, let’s get along Where’s my glass? SOMEBODY TELL ME WHERE IT IS Somebody tell me, tell me how... Somebody tell me how- HOW?
8.
Can I come down and help? I’m way over here but I can see you struggling honey Can I come down and help? It sure looks heavy Can I come down and give you a hand? I see that you’re straining and I don’t want you to drop it Can I come down and give you my hand? What can I do to help? You’re way up there but I can see you waving to me What can I do to help? It must be heavy How can I make the day better for you? I’ll gather materials Anything you need you got it What can I do to give you a hand? Can you come hold my hand? You’re way over there but you can see me struggling honey, Carrying something heavy. Can you help? Can you come hold me when I need a friend? We’ll handle it carefully Now is the worst time to drop it Can you come down and give me your hand? I’m always here to help To listen or give some warmth when you need it honey We could all use some help- it sure gets heavy When you need somebody who understands I’m way over here but I will cross the distance to you Can I come down and give you my hand?

about

MATERIAL FLATS is a now-or-never plunge into the unknown with two performers who’ve been everywhere else.

Born out of the pandemic, protests, and a fierce desire to learn to do things for themselves, Material Flats is a chance to lead, together. Blending garage-punk, soulfully sung folk, and influences as diverse as Talking Heads, The Pixies, Bonnie Raitt and Billy Preston, they finally made something entirely their own. They even recorded and engineered it themselves in Tawny’s home studio in the Mojave desert (with pals/musicians Patrick Martin and Nate Urbansky), and co-produced it with Chicago mixmaster Packy Lundholm.

The album’s eight tracks explore themes of isolation, unrest, self-discovery and reliance, and making the best out of one’s surroundings. Bombastic opener “White Balloon” keeps an eye out for the danger that hides in clear sight when you’re up in the middle of nowhere, while the deadass thirsty “You’re Still Up” just keeps an eye out.
Reflective “Time To Rewrite” and relentless “Juneteenth 2020” follow Tawny and Bethany on journeys of self-realization, and “Dinosaur (Desert Edit)” (originally commissioned for Bloodshot Records’ 25th anniversary compilation: Too Late To Pray- now re-imagined with glorious strings by Jean Cook) pushes and pulls with those stuck in the past.
Lush but prickly, “Pincushion” walks us thru the desert flowers before the sun gets too hot, and certified bop “Bubbly” brings us back inside for an ambivalent disco dance break before we’re tucked in by closer “Carry Something” (featuring indie pop punk OG Ted Leo on vocals and lead guitar) which is both the lullaby and the nightmare.

****

Bethany and Tawny have been singing together for 15 years. It started with a poorly attended musical about sex workers (it wasn't great), and soon turned the two of them into backing-vocalists-for-hire for every cover, tribute and bar band in Chicago. The email from Bethany to Tawny about a new gig would usually read “Do you wanna backup these guys sometime? No pay, but there’s free beer and they're cute.”

They backed up a lot of dudes off and on for 3 years. Covering every ooh and ahh of all the Gimme Shelters, Delta Lady’s and My Father’s Guns, but also becoming formidable arrangers and honing an impossibly seamless vocal blend. Meanwhile, Bethany pursued a legit career in musical theater, headlining regional houses like Court Theater, Milwaukee Rep and Chicago Shakespeare. Tawny simultaneously joined The Second City–touring the country doing sketch and improv–and UK punk rocker Jon Langford (Mekons, Waco Brothers)–touring the country singing strange Welsh sea ballads and Viv Albertine covers)

Their first shot at not-being-backing-singers came when they, along with Langford, and producer Norbert Putnam went down to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. This time, it was Langford who emailed them, saying, “Let’s be 3 leads on this one. I don’t like the ’20 Feet from Stardom’ thing.” So they made this big, eerie record in the shadow of legends, every day having to insist to some 19 year old intern setting up the mics that no, the two Black women in the band were not singing backup. ’Four Lost Souls’ is a weird record. David Hood played bass. Trump had just been elected 3 days before. They hung out in Fame studios until after midnight, looking up at signed pictures of Aretha, Bobby Gentry, and Wilson Pickett.

Making Material Flats was a longtime dream immediately turned clear and attainable goal once Tawny and Bethany said fuck it and seized the opportunity to set it up for themselves. They wrote the songs, they bought the beer, and they know how to work the mixer. Time to stand in front.

Tawny Newsome lives in LA, where she mainly works as an actor in comedies like Space Force (Netflix), and Star Trek: Lower Decks (CBS All Access). Her original songwriting podcast, The Supergroup (Earwolf/Stitcher) let her bridge the divide between her two loves, comedy and music. In it, she documented the process of writing and producing original tracks with musicians like Open Mike Eagle, Erick Slick (Dr. Dog), Katelyn Tarver, and comedians like Marc Evan Jackson and Sasheer Zamata.

Bethany Thomas still hustles in Chicago where she’s been seen at Steppenwolf, The Second City, and the legendary Green Mill, or somewhere fronting a David Bowie tribute band, doing a Gershwin opera, dueting with alt-country gem Robbie Fulks, or playing Billie Holiday at a midwestern dinner theater. Her solo EP - 'First' and debut full-length album 'BT/She/Her', are varied, genre shifting works that have captivated the Chicago indie scene.

credits

released October 9, 2020

music and lyrics by Tawny Newsome and Bethany Thomas
produced by Tawny Newsome, Bethany Thomas and Packy Lundholm

Tawny Newsome: vocals, keys
Bethany Thomas: vocals
Patrick Martin: guitar, bass, vocals
Nate Urbansky: drums

Packy Lundholm: keys, effects, banjo, guitar solo on "Bubbly", "Dinosaur (Desert Edit)" track
Jean Cook: strings on "Dinosaur (Desert Edit)"
Alex Kliner: synth on "Bubbly"
Ted Leo: vocals and guitar solo on "Carry Something"

engineered by Tawny Newsome at Fine Alpinist Ranch in Southern CA
mixed by Packy Lundholm at Sound Vault Studios in Chicago, IL
mastered by Blaise Barton at Joyride Studios in Chicago, IL

album art by Bethany Thomas and Nate Urbansky

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tags

about

Tawny Newsome & Bethany Thomas Chicago, Illinois

windy
Black girl
DIY
desert
garage
punk.
and
some pop.

full length album MATERIAL FLATS will be here Oct 9

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