After a few teaser tracks and an unhurried music video, Baltimore trio Outer Spaces are touring in support of A Shedding Snake.
Taking cues from Pavement, the expansive melody-driven choruses are perfectly grounded by Cara Beth Santalino’s sweetly sung yet biting lyrics, highlighted by minimalistic yet powerful harmonies a la Warpaint. Her strength as a songwriter is perfectly accompanied by bandmates Rob Dowler and Chester Gwazda, who also produced the record. “I Saw You” is a lush, catchy folk-pop song that rings true to the conflict of the desire for acceptance in a new place, while not leaving aspects of your true self behind. A lyrically biting love song gone wrong, “Words,” is set to brightly strummed guitar and poetic melody. The composition of bouncing keys, layered vocal harmonies and gritty guitar on “Eternally Fifteen” are simultaneously soothing and powerful.
Like a snake sheds its skin to grow and move forward, so has Satalino as a songwriter and performer. By taking the dynamic experiences she’s had musically, and teaming with versatile and capable collaborators, Satalino has hit a stride. Influenced by Murmur-era Michael Stipe and Peter Buck, Satalino bridges the gap from what’s in her rear view to her present. “Moving to a new place is a chance for a clean slate in a way, and I think that the songs on this record reflect that feeling,” she says. “It’s a record about moving on, moving past, moving forward, and moving toward.”
Outer Spaces Tour Dates:
5/25: Atlanta, GA @ 529
5/26: Athens, GA @ Caledonia
5/27: St. Augustine @ Follow The Sun Festival
5/28: Gainesville, FL @ The Atlantic
5/30: Pensacola, FL @ Sluggo’s
5/31: Birmingham, AL @ Desert Island Supply Co.
6/1: Oxford, MS @ The Shelter
6/2: New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
6/3: Houston, TX @ Satellite
6/4: Austin, TX @ Barracuda
6/6: Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf
6/7: Flagstaff, AZ @ Flagstaff Brewing Co.
6/10: Los Angeles, CA @ Pehrspace
6/12: San Diego, CA @ Whistlestop
6/14: San Francisco, CA @ house show
6/15: Portland, OR @ Kelly’s Olympian
6/16: Olympia, WA @ Westside Lanes
6/17: Vancouver, BC @ Horses Records
6/18: Seattle, WA @ TBA
6/20: Boise, ID @ Neurolux
6/21: Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
6/23: Fort Collins, CO @ Surfside 7
6/24: Omaha, NE @ Milk Run
6/25: Minneapolis, MN @ Day Block Brewing Company
6/26: Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
6/27: Detroit, MI @ TBA
6/29: Toronto, ON @ Smiling Buddha (downstairs)
6/30: Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo
7/1: Burlington, VT @ Arts Riot
7/2: Cambridge, MA @ Out of the Blue Too Art Gallery
7/3: New York, NY @ Shea Stadium
8/19-21: Darlington, MD @ Fields Festival
9/16-18: Asbury Park, NJ @ The New Alternative Music Festival