Today LVL UP have announced and shared a teaser video for a new 7″, out August 1st on Run For Cover/Double Double Whammy. The 7″ features 3 new songs, one by each of the songwriters in the band.

To celebrate the release of the 7″, LVL UP will be hitting the road this summer with Big Ups, Basement, Whirr, Upset and Palehound.

20 year old students Mike Caridi (guitar) and Dave Benton (guitar) formed both LVL UP and a young independent record label called Double Double Whammy in Purchase, NY. Originally a bedroom recording project of Mike and Dave, LVL UP quickly grew into a five-piece rock and roll band with the addition Nick Corbo (bass), Greg Rutkin (drums), and Ben Smith (guitar). The five saw the cassette release of their first full length, Space Brothers October of 2011, on Benton and Caridi’s new label Double Double Whammy, and on vinyl early in 2012 on Philadelphia label, Evil Weevil Records. While the band laid low for most of 2012 playing only a handful of shows, the album drew modest attention and garnered a small cult following in the Northeast and New England.

LVL UP parted ways with Ben Smith in 2012 as he continued his educational endeavors elsewhere. At the end of the year, the band entered the studio to record a new batch of songs titled Extra Worlds, which was released on 7″ via Double Double Whammy.

Almost three years after the release of their first full length, Space Brothers, LVL UP entered the studio several times attempting to complete their sophomore album, Hoodwink’d. Completed in June 2014, Hoodwink’d showcases the evolution of style by the three primary songwriters, Benton, Caridi, and Corbo since the release of their first LP. Drawing influences from 90’s indie rock, 80’s new wave and 70’s power pop.

TOUR DATES:
Jul 21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Roboto Project*
Jul 22 – Columbus, OH @ Ace Of Cups*
Jul 23 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Upper Room*
Jul 24 – Chicago, IL @ Sub T Lounge*
Jul 26 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Tripple Rock
Jul 29 – Seattle, WA @ The Black Lodge#
Jul 30 – Portland, OR @ Analog#
Aug 1 – Berkley, CA @ 924 Gilman St&
Aug 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Mayan Theater&
Aug 2 – Pomona, CA @ VLHS#
Aug 3 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory&
Aug 4 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom&
Aug 6 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk&
Aug 7 – Dallas, TX @ Trees&
Aug 8 – New Orleans, LA @ HOB – The Parish&
Aug 9 – Atlanta, GA @ The Wrecking Ball
Aug 10 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham^
Aug 11 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall^
Aug 12 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle^
Aug 13 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club^
Aug 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer^
Aug 16 – Boston, MA @ Royale^
Aug 17 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza^

* w/ Big Ups
# w/ Upset
& w/ Basement, Whirr, Better Off
^ w/ Basement, Adventures, Palehound