There’s this amazing rock club in Athens, Ohio called the Union, one of those skuzzy dive bars that favors punk and garage rock but plays host to all sorts of sounds. It burned down a few months ago, which was absolutely tragic for those of us who frequented it during our stay at Ohio University — even more so for the longtime residents that spent more than four years haunting the place — but thankfully it’s being rebuilt. One of my best memories from the Union was 10 years ago when I saw a powerful garage-punk double bill featuring the Black Lips and the King Khan & BBQ Show. I remember being blown away by the unbounded energy that coursed through both bands, the way they made basic rock ‘n’ roll seem like the only music I would ever need. Mark Sultan (BBQ) and Arish Ahmad Khan (King Khan) have each built up notable solo careers in the ensuing years, but I always think of them as a unit thanks to the impact they left on that night. So it’s awesome to see them touring together again in support of the upcoming Bad News Boys. “Illuminations,” our latest preview of the new record, is exactly the sort of chugging, slugging, barebones rock song these guys specialize in. A few chords, a driving rhythm, some powerful harmonies, and a rad guitar solo add up to a prime garage rock specimen. Hear it below, where you’ll also find their tour dates.

Tour dates:
03/09 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
03/10 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
03/12 Denver, CO @ Moon Room
03/13 Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room
03/14 St. Louis, MO @ The Duck Room At Blueberry Hill
03/15 Madison, WI @ The High Noon Saloon
03/17 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
03/18 Bloomington, IL @ The Bishop
03/19 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
03/20 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree Cafe
03/21 Atlanta, GA @ Mammal Gallery
03/23 Orland, FL @ Wills Pub
03/24 St. Petersburg, FL @ The Local 662
03/25 Miami, FL @ Churchill’s Pub
03/27 Los Angeles, CA @ Jewel’s Catch One

Bad News Boys is out 2/24 on In The Red. Pre-order it here.