Performance

Performance is the Austin band's seventh to date and comes two years after the success of 'Stiff'.

If the album's title seems meaningful in its deadpan simplicity, it is. There is, of course, the meaning of "performance" that applies to anyone for whom the live arena is the proving ground. There's also something more personal but universally acknowledged - the gap that exists between what we project and who we really are. "There is something absurd and isolating in continuing this pursuit for personal connection on such a wide scale. When writing an album I essentially leave my actual life, retreat deeper into myself and as it nears completion, I evaluate my work based on my own extremely skewed notion of what is widely relatable and still legitimately cool", says frontman James Petralli. "My idea of cool is most significantly shaped by Steve's body language when we are talking through ideas in session". It has been said that "A clown enriched knows neither relation nor friend".

Performance was mainly recorded over eight weeks at the band's new downtown Austin studio, Radio Milk. Once an old general store constructed in 1902, it is now respectfully restored and sandwiched in between bars and modern condominiums. Two new players were key in what Petralli describes as "a super-collaborative record:" keyboardist Michael Hunter, a "young, humble genius with endless potential" and Conrad Choucroun, a "ridiculously solid" drummer with a long stint with NRBQ on his resume. "If you take nothing else from this at least take some time to listen to NRBQ, rock & roll scholars who shared members with the Sun Ra Arkestra" advises Petralli. It makes sense that White Denim would develop a kinship with a player from their circle. In many ways, they are a continuation of that sort of group. One that will never stop pushing and taking every opportunity to shine a light on and exemplify what is truly good about Rock & Roll music.