[Cover photo credit to Bella Patro]
Austin, Texas-based 4-piece Strange Lot have released their debut self-titled album via Greenway Records. They’ve also shared new single “All I Know,” and have announced a tour supporting Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. Strange Lot also recently wrapped up a tour supporting Melody’s Echo Chamber, which included dates at NYC’s Webster Hall, LA’s The Belasco, and more.
The band’s Dominic Mena explains:
‘All I Know’ was the turning point for the demos and the direction of the record. It fused all the sounds I’d been wanting to hear while capturing the feeling I’d been trying to find. It was the first track I sent to Alex (Maas), and from there, it felt like the north star for the rest of the record.
In 2022, Dominic Mena found himself without a band, coming close to walking away from Strange Lot entirely. Instead of ending the project, he returned to its roots, recording alone and rebuilding from the ground up. He wanted to move beyond Psych’s 90’s revival and “create something that felt missing.” The result was a fusion of strong rhythms, Psych guitars, synth textures, and Shoegaze-leaning atmospheres.
Over the course of a month, Dominic wrote and recorded nearly 30 demos, shaping the foundation of what would become the record. He shared the material with Alex Maas, who stepped in to produce. The two spent the next year developing the album, with Dominic recording all material and Alex guiding the direction and helping refine the sound.
As the project moved into mixing, Jim Eno was brought in to mix key tracks including “5AM,” “Timeline Drops,” “Hatin’ You,” and “Always Alone.” The final stage of mastering was handled by Howie Weinberg.
With the album complete, Dominic assembled a new lineup to translate the material into a live setting, forming the current iteration of Strange Lot and setting the stage for the band’s next chapter on the road.
Strange Lot – Live Dates
9/14 – Dallas, TX – AM/FM #
9/16 – New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s #
9/17 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn #
9/20 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall #
9/22 – Indianapolis, IN – HiFi Annex #
9/23 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall #
9/24 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall #
9/25 – Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls #
# supporting Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
