When we heard Palehound’s debut EP with songs like “Drooler” and the cutting “I Get Clean,” we were primarily hearing frontwoman Ellen Kempner. Palehound later bloomed into a full band, and “Holiest” is their first release with the addition of Ben Scherer on guitar, Thom Lombardi on bass, and Max Kupperberg on drums. I saw this lineup play during CMJ and it was impressive. The addition fleshes out the band’s sound (that tumbling hook is the best so far) without ever getting in the way of Kempner or her intimate lyrics. Listen and check out tour dates below.

01/24 New Paltz, NY @ Writer’s Block
01/25 Cambridge, MA @ Elks Lodge w/ Grass Is Green, Krill, Ovlov & Trespasser
01/26 Brooklyn, NY @ Shea Stadium w/ Dead Wives, Flagland
02/14 SUNY Purchase @ The Stood w/ Swearin’ and Frankie Cosmos
02/20 New York, NY @ Pianos
02/27 New York, NY @ Pianos
02/28 Philadelphia, PA @ The Great Indoors
03/01 Baltimore, MD @ Windup Space w/ Two Inch Astronaut
03/03 Richmond, VA @ TBD
03/06 Tallahassee, FL @ All Saints Cafe w/ Woozy
03/08 San Antonio, TX @ Texas Is Funny Records Showcase
03/12 Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/13 Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/14 Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/15 Austin, TX (SXSW)
03/21 Asheville, NC @ Odditorium
03/22 Washington, DC @ TBD w/ Two Inch Astronaut
04/26 Bronxville, NY @ Sarah Lawrence College w/ Mac Demarco

The “Holiest” 7″ is out 2/25 via Exploding In Sound Records.