Hello and welcome to Parts & Labor book club! When we started making this album in early 2021, it felt like one of the most alien things to write about would be utopian colonies, with their ambitious, ecstatic plans for tomorrow.
Shout out to “Paradise Now: The Story of American Utopianism” by Chris Jennings for providing so many ideas and phrases that found their way into songs like “Anti-Lions and Lemonade” and “Endless Cycle Pt. 4: Working In Storm”.
The phrase “Working in storm” about large, festive communal work projects (with live music), popped out immediately, resonating both in terms of making this record, and DIY ideals writ large.
The book is a wild read, dense with 19th-century optimism that varies from bold to misguided to surreal. None of it works out. But, it rules to see through the eyes of people with that much faith in the future.
PS: Huge thanks to @violistakaren for the big viola lead on this song. Can’t wait to play it live this summer.
Fifteen years later, the melodic noise punks have returned. Now with twice as many drummers. Set of All Sets marks an unexpected comeback, as the one-time Brooklyn-based band’s parts are now spread across the continental U.S. Though band members are never too far in the age of group chat.
Parts & Labor + goats in labor! Just one week after announcing the new P&L album on April 10, @levelretreat (the small dairy farm and artist retreat I co-run with my partner Marie Rossettie) welcomed five baby goats into the world. Fran had triplets (first slide, left to right: Hazel, Nellie, and Vera) followed a couple days later by Pearl’s twin boys (second slide, back to front: Herb and Cecil). It’s been a whirlwind since, with lots of reflecting on cycles returning and spring renewal and birth and rebirth. Go make things.
Kind words for Parts & Labor’s new song “Haunted Limbs” from @stereogum and its surprisingly horny comment section.
Jokes aside, it’s deeply gratifying to see people getting psyched about the new songs. Looking forward to the shows this summer.
“Haunted Limbs” is streaming everywhere.
Ticket links etc in bio.
“Set of All Sets” drops July 10th.
New song! “Haunted Limbs” is a bit of a mission statement for our upcoming double LP. It zooms in on a running theme of utopian colonies, and the reflex to make a better world. It also touches on the decision to get the band back together. Both ideas come across clearest on the line “It haunts us like a limb we haven’t grown yet”.
The music-concrete collage at the end of the track includes field recordings from our various home/adult/domestic lives, adding another layer to the “work is long” vibes. We hope the hooks and death metal beats help you through your day.
Link in bio, streaming everywhere, 2xLP drops July 10th.
The title track from “Constant Future” with five guest drummers from the Rochester band Dinner Music. The most drummers we’ve ever performed with (by one).
Filmed in 2011 by @dipdripper at @bugjarshows in Rochester, NY.
Four classic Parts & Labor records are finally on Bandcamp in time for Bandcamp Friday! And, anyone who preorders our newest upcoming album, “Set of All Sets”, gets automatically entered in a drawing for two free tickets to one of this summer’s release shows. “Where is the link?” you might be asking yourself. The link, dear Instagram follower, is in the bio. #bandcampfriday #partsandlabor #setofallsets
April 11th was the 20th anniversary of “Stay Afraid”, the first @partsandlaborforever record with @jagjaguwar , and a pretty pivotal moment for the band.
It was P&L’s first album on a bigger label, and a big leap into our Hüsker-Du-meets-noise era. The Bush-era protest songs, harsh textures, and pedal board madness all feel gloriously 2006 and maybe a bit 2026.
The album was recorded and mixed in a little over a week by the great Scott Norton at Headgear studios, working at such a breakneck pace that we didn’t really notice David Bowie actually wandering into the mixing room, asking for directions.
The release show was at NorthSix, a short walk from the studio where we recorded, the practice space where we wrote the songs, and most of our homes.
Big thanks @todseelie for these very aughts-Williamsburg photos of that show with Kyp Malone, Oneida, Ex-Models (in double-drums mode), and our pals The Good Good (not pictured).
Very honored to be featured in the excellent worker-owned publication Flaming Hydra. We’re fans of many brilliant heads of this hydra, and recommend you befriend if you haven’t already. Link to the full article in bio. Big thanks @todseelie .
#flaminghydra #todseelie #diytour #sluggospensacola #2006
Christopher Weingarten breaks down the junk percussion in “Endless Cycle Pt. 4: Working in Storm”, off our upcoming double LP “Set of All Sets”. Our first in an ongoing series of granular drum geek autopsies of Parts & Labor songs! #partsandlabor #amm #peterbrötzmann #chriscorsano #ryosukekiyasu
Parts & Labor’s 2nd reunion show will take place at @bottomofthehillsf , a San Francisco institution that we visited several times on the tours for Mapmaker and Stay Afraid.
We’re honored to play with Bay Area noise legend @evicshen and Cali DIY institution @hlllyh_ .
Bottom of the Hill is marking it’s farewell year by bringing back past performers, and we’re psyched to return after 2000s shows with fellow travelers Adult., Erase Errata, Wilderness, and Year Future. Holler if you were there.
Parts & Labor’s March 2006 tour captured by @todseelie . Tod has taken more photos of P&L than anyone, including the new ones with the album announcement last week.
Tod got in the van for the 2006 run down to SXSW and it’s extremely fun rival “Fuck By Fuck You”. Other stops shown here include the Earl in Atlanta and maybe a loft space in Lexington?
