King Tuff has the uncanny ability to make a weekday feel like the weekend, and the transportive qualities of Brattleboro native Kyle Thomas are in full, necessary display tonight (March 23) as we daydream of kicking off early down at The Sinclair in Cambridge. As we mentioned a few months back, the world is always a slightly better place when there’s a new King Tuff record to get lost in, and we received a good one via Sub Pop in psychedelic pop-rock luminary Smalltown Stardust.
Described by Thomas as “an album about love and nature and youth,” Smalltown Stardust was co-written and co-produced by SASAMI, and is led by one of the smoothest damn songs of this early 2023, a melodically rich and textured gentle pop-rock cruiser called “How I Love.” It should sound pretty good in Harvard Square this evening, especially since Thomas even boldly declares it one of his personal faves from the record.
“Sasami wrote this song for me way back in 2018, but it didn’t really come together until we started demoing in 2020,” says Thomas. “This is the type of song I’ve wanted to do for years, but maybe never had the confidence to achieve. I’ve always hid behind loud guitars, but here I’m exposed, and I love how open and empty it is, yet so comfortable too. I wanted to show another side of myself through this record, and I think this song is the perfect example of that.”
Smalltown Stardust feels like a record we’ll absorb over an extended period of time and let soundtrack the days as spring finally arrives to our northeast corner of the world. It feels like both a road trip album and something to listen to alone in a quiet bedroom, a feat Thomas often pulls off with ease. Catch the vibes below.
KING TUFF + TCHOTCHKE :: Thursday, March 23 at The Sinclair, 52 Church St. in Cambridge, MA :: 7:30 p.m., 18-plus, $23 :: Event page :: Advance tickets
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