Out June 12th: BASIC CD/LP/Digital album
Fresh off a triumphant performance at Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, BASIC (the trio of Chris Forsyth, Douglas McCombs, Mikel Patrick Avery) will release their self-titled album this June. Today they share the track "Index of Memories"
After dozens of live gigs touring the country BASIC was tracked by Nick Broste in a mere two days in September 2025 at Electrical Audio in Chicago, with minimal overdubs and a final mix conducted over three days in January at Uniform Recording in Philadelphia with engineer/mixer Jeff Zeigler. As a result of their newfound tour chemistry, it all came together quickly and with minimal pre-production.
Hear "Index of Memories" and pre-order the CD/digital album/limited edition "coke bottle clear" vinyl via link in bio
📸 - Linette Messina
BASIC vinyl has landed! Pre-orders will start shipping soon. Pictured here is the limited-edition Coke Bottle Clear edition (over halfway sold through). Black vinyl is also available.
In stores June 12th!
BASIC on tour
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operations
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool
6/28 DC @ 9:30***
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair***
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground***
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall***
*** w Tortoise
A common post-show conversation at a BASIC gig goes something like this….
Fan: “Man, your guitar tone is so on point!”
Me: “Well, thank the drummer for the guitar sound - he’s the chef, I’m just the delivery guy.”
Last night planets aligned at Jerry’s On Front - possibly the first time that three of @mikel_patrick_avery ‘s Emphiscope were in one building at the same time?
Here’s Brian, Trim, and I comparing serial numbers (mine is pre-serial number, it turns out) and thanking the tone gods for Mikel’s invention.
IYKYK
📸 @quinkirchner
Did you catch the new BASIC single “It Ignites” which was released on Friday?
This one originated as a McCombs home demo. The overall structure, MPA’s stuttering beat and the turnaround/hook were all arrived at quickly in rehearsal. Then CF spent the next 6 months trying (and failing) to wrap something that made sense around McCombs’ primary bass line. It was tracked at Electrical sans guitar part. At the final overdub session in Philly w Jeff Zeigler, said part was arrived at in one take. Forsyth thinks it sounds like an Emotional Rescue outtake but let’s face it, that’s his problem.
“It Ignites” is streaming everywhere now.
The forthcoming self-titled BASIC record will be released 6/2 on No Quarter but all fans of combining electricity and humanity in time are encouraged to pre-order via link in bio and note the following dates to see BASIC live upon its release.
BASIC June Tour:
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation*
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s**
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool***
6/28 DC @ 9:30****
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair****
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground****
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall****
* w Slant of Light
** w Bark Culture + The ER Band
*** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
**** w Tortoise
Ticket links in bio.
More BASIC dates coming soon.
1: 📸 @annapowelldenton
3: 📸 @nbroste
New music out today!
“It Ignites” is the second single from the forthcoming self-titled BASIC record, out June 2 on No Quarter.
“It Ignites” is streaming everywhere and today is Bandcamp Friday - a great day to pre-order the record. Thx to all who have already done so.
We’re about six weeks away from a series of BASIC dates in the Northeast. We’re very excited to be sharing bills w our great friends Slant of Light, Victor Vieira-Branco’s Bark Culture, Loren Connors, Emily Robb, and Tortoise. Bulletproof bills!
BASIC June Tour:
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation*
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s**
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool***
6/28 DC @ 9:30****
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair****
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground****
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall****
* w Slant of Light
** w Bark Culture + The ER Band
*** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
**** w Tortoise
Ticket links in bio.
More BASIC dates coming soon.
Some wonderful shots by @annapowelldenton from BASIC’s Big Ears set last month. Thank you, Anna!
BASIC’s new s/t release is out June 12 on No Quarter.
First single “Index of Memories” streaming everywhere now.
Pre-order LP/CD/DL via Bandcamp link in bio.
BASIC June Tour:
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation*
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s**
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool***
6/28 DC @ 9:30****
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair****
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground****
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall****
* w Slant of Light
** w Bark Culture + The ER Band
*** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
**** w Tortoise
Ticket links in bio.
More BASIC dates coming soon.
BTS of BASIC making “Basic” at Electrical Audio, Chicago w Nick Broste and Uniform Recording, Philly w Jeff Zeigler, Sept ‘25 & Jan ‘26.
Album out June 12. Pre-order link in bio.
BASIC LIVE:
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation*
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s**
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool***
6/28 DC @ 9:30****
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair****
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground****
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall****
* w Slant of Light
** w Bark Culture + The ER Band
*** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
**** w Tortoise
Ticket links in bio.
BASIC’s new s/t release is out June 12 on No Quarter.
Pre-order LP/CD/DL via Bandcamp link in bio.
BASIC June Tour:
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation*
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s**
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool***
6/28 DC @ 9:30****
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair****
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground****
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall****
* w Slant of Light
** w Bark Culture + The ER Band
*** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
**** w Tortoise
Ticket links in bio.
Vids: BASIC at Big Ears.
A small sampling of the What Is Now tour & BASIC @ Big Ears. Such a week. Great music, great hangs. The fest lives up to the hype.
1. Host w the most Henry in ATL
2. Guitar Center jam required
3. Solar Myth
4. What Is Now at Metro Gallery, Baltimore
5. Moran out back of The Earl playing to the birds
6. Obligatory train content
7. Avery out back of Barleys playing to the birds.
8. First Flight reunion w Spencer Zahn & Dave Harrington
9. Rob Mazurek & Co
10. Jaime
11. Buono
12. Not sure, exactly, but Big Ears was not the only game in town.
13. Aquarium Drunkard Zoo Crew
14. Taylor and Tom
15. Deb & Brian
16. JM & MPA w SML
17. SMLXL absolutely lighting it up late night
18. BASIC “Changes, Changing” @ Big Ears
19. BASIC “Loose Canon” @ Big Ears
20. BASIC “New Auspicious” @ Big Ears
Bandcamp Listening Session for the new self-titled BASIC record is tomorrow Thursday 4/2 at 8pm EDT.
RSVP via link in bio to hear the whole record start to finish and hang out in the chat. It’s a good time and lets you kick the tires a bit before clicking that pre-order button.
The first track “Index of Memories” - featuring some great sampler & flute work from Mikel and a cascade of guitar melodies from Chris, all swimming in a theme of Douglas’s devising - is streaming all over right now.
“Basic” is out June 12 on No Quarter followed by a Northeast run with some of our favorite homies - Victor Vieira-Branco’s Bark Culture, Emily Robb’s ER Band, Loren Connor’s, and Tortoise.
BASIC LIVE
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s*
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool**
6/28 DC @ 9:30***
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair***
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground***
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall***
* w Bark Culture + The ER Band
** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
*** w Tortoise
📷 @messina_martinez
BASIC LIVE
6/16 Easthampton MA @ Daily Operation
6/17 Philly @ Johnny Brenda’s*
6/19 Brooklyn @ Union Pool**
6/28 DC @ 9:30***
6/30 Boston @ The Sinclair***
7/1 Burlington @ Higher Ground***
7/3 Toronto @ The Concert Hall***
* w Bark Culture + The ER Band
** w Bark Culture + Loren Connors
*** w Tortoise
