Every once in a while a band can change your mind.

The first time I saw, and heard, Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Those Darlins’ was at Brooklyn Vegan’s opening night showcase at SXSW this year. And, I gotta say, I wasn’t terribly impressed.

Granted, I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that it was the end of a very long day where I’d flown into town from DC (via Houston) and then immediately hit the town to see 12 bands in about 8 hours. And I’m pretty sure it also had to do with the fact that the band was joined on stage by Deer Tick, a band appeal I still don’t understand. And I’m also pretty certain it had something to do with the goofy headdresses and facepaint.

But thankfully I had the opportunity to catch the band again last month at the Rock and Roll Hotel opening for The Dexateens, and I was much, much more impressed the second time around. Freed from the exhaustion and jaded-blogger viewpoint of SXSW, I was able to enjoy Those Darlins for what they are – a rockabilly punk band with a ton of fun songs. They probably won’t change the world, but they can certainly make it a more interesting place to be.

Anyway, that’s all a long way of introducing the first track from the band’s debut self-titled album:

Those Darlins, “Red Light Love”

The album sees its official release on July 7th, but you can get it on iTunes right now.

The band is also heading out on a month-long tour in a few days, including a stop here in the DC-area at Iota on July 7th. If, like me, you didn’t get Sonic Youth tickets for that night before they sold out, I suggest that you join me in Arlington for some old-fashioned rock and roll.

Those Darlins’ Summer Tour Dates
6/25: Atlanta @ Drunken Unicorn
6/26: Athens, GA @ AthFest
6/27: Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge $
7/7: Arlington, VA @ Iota Club & Cafe
7/9: NYC @ Mercury Lounge +
7/10: Brooklyn @ Southpaw **, ++
7/11: Philadelphia @ Johnny Brenda’s
7/13: Pittsburgh @ Club Café
7/14: Cleveland @ Beach Land Tavern
7/15: Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room
7/16: Indianapolis @ Radio Radio
7/17: Chicago @ Schubas
7/18: Minneapolis @ 7th St. Entry
7/20: Rock Island, IL @ Rock Island Brewing Company
7/21: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown Front Room
7/22: Des Moines, IA @ Vaudeville Mews
7/23: Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
7/24: St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
7/25: Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
9/18 & 19: Bristol, VA @ Bristol Roots & Reunion Festival

$ W/The Black Lips – VINYL RELEASE PARTY
+ W/Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer) CD RELEASE PARTY
** W/So So Glos BROOKLYN RELEASE PARTY
++ W/We Are Country Mice BROOKLYN RELEASE PARTY