The duo’s most recent release is their 7″ ‘Broken’ from last year on Specialist Subject Records (UK/EU) and Topshelf Records (US).

Entitled ‘Fest 16 Friends and Family Comp’, all proceeds will go towards aiding those affected by Hurricane Maria recently via the charity United for Puerto Rico. The release is available for PWYW download via bandcamp and features tracks by the following bands: Expert Timing, Slingshot Dakota, Dikembe, You Blew It!, Static Radio, Hot Knife, Debt Neglector, Signals Midwest, Mom Jeans, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, Alumine, Insignificant Other, Winded, Frameworks, Zeta, Edmonton, Save Ends, Same and Coffee Project.

The dates will be in support of the band’s upcoming new album, ‘Always Why’, which will be released on the 28th April via Specialist Subject Records (UK), Yo-Yo Records (EU) and Dead Broke Rekereds (US). You can listen to the record’s lead single, ‘Need It Most’, below.

MAY
06 BRISTOL Deadpunk Special*+^~
08 MANCHESTER Retro Bar* w/ Smother
09 LIVERPOOL 81 Renshaw St.
10 CARDIFF Gwdihŵ~ w/ Airstream Futures, Deadlines + Fallow
11 EXETER The Phoenix^ w/ American Enthusiasm
12 BRIGHTON Green Door Store
13 LONDON DIY Space for London* w/ Alimony Hustle + Finish Flag
JUNE
05 PORSTMOUTH Edge of the Wedge w/ Just Blankets, Austerity + Cyprian Centre

* w/ Slingshot Dakota + Petal
+ w/ Crumbs
^ w/ Young Adventurers
~ w/ No Weather Talks

It shows footage from the duo’s recent tour in support of their third album, ‘Break’, which came out last year on Topshelf Records.

The band will also be touring the UK this May with Petal.

MAY
06 BRISTOL Deadpunk Special
08 MANCHESTER Retro Bar
09 GLASGOW The Hug and Pint
10 LEEDS Wharf Chambers
11 NOTTINGHAM JT Soar
12 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
13 LONDON DIY Space for London
14 BRIGHTON The Hope

With the recently announced closure of The Stag and Hounds to happen in June, the punk fest’s current format will be re-thought out following this year’s edition on the 6th May, with what has been described as “big plans” for 2018. You can read the full announcement on the fest’s Facebook page.

In other news, Pure Graft, She Makes War and Terrible Love have had to pull out of the festival. Replacing them are Crumbs, The Earth and Me, and Ellen Cox. They will be joining the likes of Martha, AJJ, Slingshot Dakota, Petal and more.

Tickets for the fest cost £20 and can be purchased here.

The track expresses keyboardist/vocalist Carly Comando’s frustration against matters of gender discrimination. It is taken from an upcoming new 7″ entitled ‘Broken’, which shall be released by the end of this month through Specialist Subject Records (UK) and Topshelf Records (US). You can pre-order it here.

To coincide with the new song, the duo have also announced that they’ll be heading out on a UK tour this May with Petal. The tour will include both bands’ appearances at Deadpunk Special in Bristol on the 6th May.

MAY
06 BRISTOL Deadpunk Special
08 MANCHESTER Retro Bar
09 GLASGOW The Hug and Pint
10 LEEDS Wharf Chambers
11 NOTTINGHAM JT Soar
12 SOUTHAMPTON Joiners
13 LONDON DIY Space for London
14 BRIGHTON The Hope

Featuring guest vocals from Slingshot Dakota’s Carly Comando, the track marks the first entry into Dikembe’s covers series. Once a month the band will release a cover throughout 2017. Future entrys to look out for include renditions of songs by Pixies, Shellac, Green Day and Frank Ocean. The songs will also feature guest contributions from the likes of Bob Nana (Braid), Max Stern (Signals Midwest) and more.

Comando’s keyboard contains warmth and depth, penetrating right into your heart. Her voice is strong, sounding like a cross between Taylor Swift and Hayley Williams at times, especially on ‘Lewlyweds’. Slingshot Dakota slay at both high and low tempos. ‘Stay’ is a beautiful, dark, slow moving banger, but then it kicks in and Patterson hammers those drums like he hates them, Slingshot Dakota showing just how versatile they are.

‘Paycheck’, the first song released from the record, is the band at their best, an insanely catchy chorus that fills your heart with joy and sticks in your head for days. ‘Break’, as a record, does a great job of capturing the energy of Slingshot Dakota when they play live, particularly Patterson’s drumming. The toms especially sound huge on this record, and this big leap in production quality massively helps this record stand out as the band’s best. The closing title-track is beautiful, a perfect example of how great Comando and Patterson are at writing ballads.

A husband-and-wife duo, there’s a real sense of connection and emotion in all of Slingshot Dakota’s songs and this is never more true than in this record. ‘Break’ is a wonderfully emotional record from a band we are lucky to have. It’s their best, most rounded and accomplished effort yet.

CONOR MACKIE

Subscribe in iTunes!

Listen on Soundcloud below!

Bands Featured This Month:

FUCK YOU, IDIOT: Timehop

SAUROPOD: Sunny Day

CARLY COMMANDO: Fallow

IDESTROY: Vanity Loves Me

IRON CHIC: Bogus Journey

GLUE FOOT: Guilt Milk

Maryam’s picks are all songs released to raise money for the Rob McAllister Memorial Fund. All proceeds from the Fuck You, Idiot track and Carly’s track go towards that. You can find links to donate to that here.

And our INTRO SONG: You’re So Vain PT II – The Dopamines (buy it here)