White Denim – (God Created) Lock and Key
White Denim announce their thirteenth studio album, fittingly titled “13,” out April 24 via Bella Union. Lead single “(God Created) Lock And Key” marks the occasion with fuzzy guitar riffs and swaggering vocals that channel the band’s garage rock roots through a Captain Beefheart/Sun Ra filter.
Bandleader James Petralli recorded most of the album in his Los Angeles home studio, but brought in familiar faces including original drummer Josh Block, original bassist Steve Terebecki, current members Michael Hunter (keyboards) and Matt Young (drums). Plus Owen Pallett on strings, Jesse Chandler on clarinet/sax/flute, Kosta Galanoupolis on bass, and Dawes siblings Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith. Petralli insists he wouldn’t call a project White Denim without contributions from founding members—music has been his primary way of connecting with people over the years.
The album title references Petralli’s August 13 birthday and carries numerological weight: independence and creativity, but also chaos and misfortune. “(God Created) Lock And Key” starts with tongue-in-cheek self-mythology—”On the thirteenth day God created White Denim”—before diving into darker territory. Petralli describes it as articulating rage he usually conceals, addressing power, generational abuse, shame, violence, and survival. It’s his way of saying “fuck it” after spending years worried about appealing to consumers.
Tracklist:
- (God Created) Lock and Key
- Chew Nails
- Only A Fool
- Time Time
- Crossfyre
- Keep Calling Me (Baby)
- Earth To
- That’s Rap
- Hired Hand #2
- Ruby
- Matchbook Baby
- Quiet Moment
- Drive Trucks
Tour Dates:
North America:
- May 28 – Wells, NV
- May 29 – Las Vegas, NV
- May 30 – Boulder, CO
- May 31 – Fort Collins, CO
- June 1 – Denver, CO
- June 5 – Dallas, TX
- June 6 – Austin, TX
