DigitalNoiseMag attended Icon for Hire’s (with support from the band Makeout) “Turn Your Pain into Art Tour” at the Foundry in the Fillmore in Philadelphia on March 20th. Even with a nor’easter lurking, they drew a great energetic crowd.
Since forming in 2007, the duo—singer Ariel Bloomer and guitarist Shawn Jump—have amassed a legion of followers who have connected with not only the band’s genre-bending sound, but also their honesty. That soul-baring spirit and realism is at the heart of everything Icon For Hire do, and it’s front and center on their latest Billboard-charting release, YOU CAN’T KILL US…
Produced by Mike Green (Gwen Stefani, All Time Low) and funded by fans through Kickstarter on a campaign that raised $127, 200—making it one of the year’s highest-raising music campaigns—the self-released album marks a brand-new chapter for the band.
Blending hard rock, hip-hop, electronica and pop into an anthemic swirl of both melody and muscle, You Can’t Kill Us isn’t only a modern sounding record—it’s awash in lyrical themes that tap into the times as well. Addiction, depression and self-worth are all topics Ariel addresses and these themes reverberate loudly in today’s tumultuous, judgment-first culture.
There is only about a week left in their US tour before they travel overseas. Be sure you check them out if you can.
Tour Dates:
Mar 24 – Ottobar Baltimore, MD
Mar 25 – The Visulite Theatre Charlotte, NC
Mar 27 – The Abbey Orlando, FL
Mar 28 – Crowbar Tampa, FL
Mar 30 – The Masquerade Atlanta, GA
Mar 31 – Exit/In Nashville, TN
Apr 22 – Satans Hollow Manchester, United Kingdom
Apr 23 – Think Tank Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Apr 24 – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow Glasgow, United Kingdom
Apr 25 – Rescue Rooms Nottingham, United Kingdom
Apr 27 – Boston Music Room London, United Kingdom
Apr 28 – Southampton Joiners Latchford, United Kingdom
Apr 29 – Gibus Live Paris, France
May 02 – MTC Cologne, Germany
May 03 – Dynamo Eindhoven, Netherlands
May 04 – Headcrash Hamburg, Germany
May 06 – Musik & Frieden Berlin, Germany
May 07 – Klub Pogłos Warszawa, Poland
May 09 – A38 Budapest, Hungary
May 10 – Café V Lese Prague, Czech Republic
May 12 – Beta Copenhagen, Denmark
Icon For Hire
Makeout