I thought I’d lost Rogue Wave out at sea. I loved their Sub Pop releases Out of the Shadow and Descended Like Vultures, but when Asleep at Heaven’s Gate was released it either wasn’t what I was hoping for or my musical pallet had temporarily waned of their sound. This was a band that years ago, I followed out of a Madison record store and into a vacant parking garage for an impromptu cover of Buddy Holly’s “Everyday.” Someday I will find the presumably shoddy video footage I took of the event.

Back to the present. Rogue Wave released Permalight a few months ago. Honestly, I rushed to put it on, secretly hoping I would love it. I did and was admittedly a little taken aback that I was once again a fan of Rogue Wave. Since then it’s been in my car just awaiting those sunny spring days when car windows just have to be rolled down. Over the weekend I spent a disturbing amount of time in a car driving to and from Minnesota. I drive I’ve loathed since being a driver of legal age in this state. However, Permalight made this recent sojourn almost bearable. It’s catchy and one of the most perfect pop records I’ve heard this year. I played it so much the passengers finally spoke up, asking somewhat politely if I realized they’d heard the same record for the fourth time.

Maybe you’ve been a fan all along, but for me it felt really good enjoying a band that I’d gotten away from. I’ve pulled out their old records for time with the turntable in the coming week. Looking forward to revisiting some old favorites. Sometimes road trips are the best things that happen to your record collection.

Buy: Rogue Wave – Permalight
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Myspace: Rogue Wave
MP3: Rogue Wave – “Good Morning”

Rogue Wave will release their 4th studio album, Permalight, on March 2, 2010 on Brushfire Records. The album was recorded at Sweet Tea Studios and produced by Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello). The good news continues with the tour dates announced below, including dates in Madison and Chicago.

ROGUE WAVE TOUR DATES:

Mar 1 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club
Mar 2 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Mar 3 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Mar 4 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church Sanctuary
Mar 5 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
Mar 6 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Mar 8 Atlanta, GA The Loft
Mar 9 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
Mar 10 Birmingham, AL Bottletree
Mar 13 Orlando, FL The Social
Mar 15 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
Mar 16 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
Mar 17 Dallas, TX The Loft
Apr 7 Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theatre
Apr 9 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
Apr 10 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Apr 13 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
Apr 14 Lawrence, KS The Bottleneck
Apr 15 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Café
Apr 16 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
Apr 17 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
Apr 20 Columbia, MO Mojo’s
Apr 21 Tulsa OK Bobs at Cain’s
Apr 23 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
Apr 24 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
Apr 27 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up
Apr 29 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre
Apr 30 San Francisco, CA Fillmore

Buy: Rogue Wave
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Myspace: Rogue Wave

We’ve been long-time amigos with the guys at Brushfire Records who hooked us up with a number of their Vinyl Sampler Compilations featuring label head Jack Johnson as well as Mason Jennings, Rogue Wave, Matt Costa, and the rest of the Brushfire crew.

Peep the track list below and drop us a line at muzzleofbees.com @ gmail.com entered for your chance to win a copy.

side a
1. Neil Halsted – Paint a Face
2. Mason Jennings – Something About Your Love
3. Jack Johnson- What You Thought You Need
4. Matt Costa – Never Looking Back

side b
5. Money Mark – Summer Blue
6. G. Love & Special Sauce – Crumble
7. Zach Gill – Beautiful Reason
8. Rogue Wave- Christians In Black

Upcoming Wisconsin Shows:

6/21 – Jack Johnson/Mason Jennings – Alpine Valley, East Troy
6/22 – Jack Johnson/Mason Jennings – River’s Edge, Sommerset

Myspace: Jack Johnson
Myspace: Mason Jennings
Myspace: Rogue Wave
Myspace: Matt Costa

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