On August 2nd, J.R.C.G. will release Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra), the second album and Sub Pop debut from the Tacoma, WA-based artist Justin R. Cruz Gallego. Conceived and executed primarily in Gallego’s home studio, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) was co-produced by Gallego and Seth Manchester (The Body, Battles, and Mdou Moctar.) Together, they retained the intimacy of Gallego’s home recordings while taking advantage of the hi-fi stylings of Manchester’s Machines With Magnets Studio in Rhode Island.
Driven by opposing forces, Grim Iconic…(Sadistic Mantra) weds scouring electronics to hooky, powerful beats in a way that feels visceral and new. The lead single, “Dogear,” is a face-melting party starter that sounds like Talking Heads and Rudimentary Peni forced to jam together. “I wanted a song that felt playful in the way it attempted to be dissonant without taking itself too seriously,” Gallego says. Directed by Dustin Houston and Sam Klickner, you can watch here.
J.R.C.G. will be opening for Mdou Moctar, with headline dates to follow. See below for a full list of shows.
Tue. Jun. 18 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall $
Wed. Jun. 19 – Detroit, MI – Magic Bag $
Thu. Jun. 20 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom $
Fri. Jun. 21 – Buffalo, NY – Ashbury Hall $
Sun. Jun. 23 – Boston, MA- Paradise Rock Club $
Wed. Jun. 26 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw $
Thu. Jun. 27 – Washington, DC – 9:30 CLUB $
Fri. Jun. 28 – Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer $
Fri. Aug. 02 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall
Sat. Aug. 03 – Seattle, WA – Clock-Out Lounge
Thu. Aug. 15 – Reno, NV – Holland Project
Fri. Aug. 16 – San Fransisco, CA – Kilowatt Bar
Sun. Aug.18 Tucson – Congress
Tues. Aug. 20 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
Thu. Aug. 22- New Orleans, LA – Siberia
Fri. Aug. 23 – Atlanta, GA – 529
Sat. Aug. 24 – Nashville, TN – Hubba Hubba Tiki Tonk
Sun. Aug. 25 – Raleigh, NC – Kings
Tue. Aug. 27 – Richmond, VA – Warehouse
Wed. Aug. 28 – Washington, DC – Pie Shop
Fri. Aug. 30 – Providence, RI – AS220
$ w/ Mdou Moctar