To celebrate the release of their self-titled album, which is out this week via pinkflag, Wire have shared the new video for album standout track ‘Burning Bridges’.
Watch: Burning Bridges video via YouTube   Directed by Kenichi Iwasa, who makes up one third of the band Xaviers and has previously worked with the likes of Deerhoof & Bo Ningen, the video for ‘Burning Bridges’ features live footage of one of Wire’s legendary shows mixed with an array of kaleidoscopic colours, all complimented by the band’s ever evolving sounds.
Wire also recently unveiled the details of their upcoming festival DRILL : CHICAGO, which will include a collaboration with St. Vincent as well as performances from a host of other musicians – details below. Named after a single song dissected and rearranged into a full album of divergent pieces, DRILL festivals in LONDON, SEATTLE, and BRIGHTON perfectly captured Wire’s unique, forward-facing approach to making music. 2015 is no different with DRILL : LEXINGTON in April and DRILL : CHICAGO in June. All of the events unite a distinct group of artists bonded by mutual admiration to celebrate creative possibilities with one of the most influential rock bands of our time.
DRILL : CHICAGO will feature a series of unique collaborations, including an extended study of ‘Map Ref. 41°N 93°W‘ with Chicago Jazz legend Ken Vandermark, and a new version of the continuously mutating song, ‘Drill,’ featuring Grammy winner St. Vincent. The festival will culminate with historic pinkflag guitar orchestra, in which performers, friends, and allies join Wire onstage to play the song ‘Pink Flag’ at full volume. Additional confirmed performers include Nate Wooley, Olivia Block, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Tim Hecker and Disappears. The event will also include in a Sound Opinions Live Taping with Wire.
Tickets and additional information can be found at the DRILL : Festival Website.
Wire’s 13th studio album, WIRE, is full of swooning pop melodies with a 60s tinge and an irresistible, near motorik rhythmic momentum. One can recognise certain melodic inflections, guitar and bass motifs, and drum rhythms from Wire’s idiosyncratic vocabulary but it has a remarkable freshness.   Big money offers have been made to Wire to become part of the Heritage Rock industry, to get the original line-up back together and play only 70s music. These have all been unequivocally turned down. Fun though that might be, why plant yourself firmly back in the past when you are making new music this potent with the promise of more in the future?
“The point where our personal narratives meet is all about change – moving on and keeping it interesting for ourselves,” says Newman. “We’re in it for the long haul and this is a one-way trip.”
April 21 – UK – RAMSGATE – Music Hall
April 22 – UK – NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
April 23 – UK – LIVERPOOL – Kazimer
April 24 – UK – HEBDEN BRIDGE – Trades Club
April 26 – UK – ABERDEEN – Lemon Tree
April 27- UK – GLASGOW – King Tuts
April 28 – UK – LEEDS – Brudenell Social Club
April 29 – UK – MANCHESTER – Club Academy
April 30 – UK – BRISTOL – Fleece
May 26 – USA – PORTLAND, OR – Dantes
May 27 – USA – SEATTLE, WA – Nuemos
May 29 – USA – SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Slim’s
May 30 – USA – LOS ANGELES, CA – The Echoplex
June 02 – USA – CAMBRIDGE, MA – The Sinclair
June 03 – USA – BROOKLYN, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 04 – USA – NEW YORK, NY – Bowery Ballroom
June 05 – USA – PHILADELPHIA, PA – Union Transfer
June 06 – USA – WASHINGTON, DC – Black Cat
June 08 – USA – CLEVELAND, OH – Beachland Ballroom
June 09 – USA – DETROIT, MI – Majestic Theatre
June 10 – USA – LOUISVILLE, KY – Headliners June 11 – 13 – USA – CHICAGO – DRILL : CHICAGO