Xiu Xiu 2010 UK Tour Dates
Xiu Xiu’s world tour in support of their new, forthcoming record, Dear God, I Hate Myself, will kick off on February 20th 2010 in Dublin, Ireland.
Dear God, I Hate Myself is out February 15th on Kill Rock Stars.
UK Tour Dates:
Saturday 20th February – Dublin, Whelans
Sunday 21st February – Glasgow, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy
Monday 22nd February – Edinburgh, Electric Circus
Tuesday 23rd February – Manchester, Islington Mill
Wednesday 24th February – Sheffield, The Harley
Thursday 25th February – Cardiff, Cardiff Arts Institute
Friday 26th February – London, The Luminaire
Saturday 27th February – Brighton, Freebutt
Sunday 28th February – Coventry, Taylor John’s House
Read almost any piece about Xiu Xiu and you’ll see words like ‘harsh’ or ‘brutal’ — the same words that appear before ‘truth’ when an unwavering eye is turned on any intimate detail of our lives. Fair descriptions of the themes central to the music, they sit incongruous to the intricate and beautiful approach taken in crafting the twelve tracks on Xiu Xiu’s new album Dear God, I Hate Myself.
Stewart is joined by new full-time band member Angela Seo on piano, synth, and drum programming; with production handled by Jamie and Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier. Together they’ve crafted a fully grown sound for Dear God, I Hate Myself with elements from goth and pop that are expertly performed by a crop of brilliant musicians. Saunier himself plays on much of the record as does Ches Smith (John Zorn, Terry Riley, Marc Ribot) who supplies timpani, conga and moog along with a broad range of other instrumentation. Deerhoof’s John Dieterich is all over a rendition of the traditional folk song “Cumberland Gap” and Xiu Xiu is even joined by the Immaculata Catholic School Orchestra in Stewart’s ode to heartbreak and healing, “This Too Shall Pass Away (for Freddy).” The title track, one of four songs done primarily on a Nintendo DS, explores the relationship between faith and despair with a layer of commentary provided by the bizarre sounds of the music itself.
Each new Xiu Xiu release has evolved alongside the lives of Jamie Stewart and company. On this record you’ll find more intensity and introspection than ever before, but sonically and lyrically it continues to move forward with a subtly new perspective — hyper-focussed yet aware of a larger, external picture unfolding. The pace of the record grips you, the music offers layers of detail, and the themes focus on not just the past or stark present but hint towards vespers of the future as well. Dear God, I Hate Myself will challenge you and force you to look inside yourself, but only after you get lost in the music. It’s passionate, it’s energetic, and it affects you.
Posted on: December 11th, 2009
HORSE FEATHERS RETURN TO THE UK IN DECEMBER!!
“…Justin Ringle’s semi-whispered vocals and rainy, backwoods milieu, coupled with the poignant string decorations of multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick.” Mojo
“This music is fingerspun nostalgia. The past don’t change.” Plan B
“House with No Home is beautiful, eerie and the most accomplished record I have heard this year.” Big Cheese *****
“…simply stunning” NME (8/10)
“…defines an eerie space where the skeleton of a story lies: no exposition, no names, just hints of a grief and outrage…” Pitchfork
“Horse Feathers will tickle your emotions and send you galloping through your own personal pastures.” Tracer
After fronting several rock bands in his native Idaho, singer/songwriter, Justin Ringle moved to Portland, Oregon in 2004 and began focusing on acoustic music, playing open mics regularly under the moniker, Horse Feathers. In 2005, multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick heard a couple of Justin’s demos and offered to help ‘flesh them out’. In February 2006 the duo went into Skyler Norwood’s Miracle Lake studios and recorded their debut album, Words are Dead, which was released that September on Portland label, Lucky Madison. Later that year, Peter’s sister, Heather Broderick joined the group on cello and by 2007, Horse Feathers began featuring a rotating cast of instrumentalists backing Justin’s guitar and vocals.
Justin and the Brodericks returned to Miracle Lake studios in the fall and winter of 2007 and recorded House With No Home, which was released on Kill Rock Stars in the Spring of 2008. Around that time, Peter left the country to pursue music in Europe, and Nathan Crockett was enlisted to cover violin duties. Several months later, Heather also left the group to pursue other musical projects and cellist, Catherine Odell came on board. The current line-up was rounded out at the beginning of 2009 when Sam Cooper joined as a multi-instrumentalist. As a four piece, the group has been touring extensively and have just completely their third full length album to be released on Kill Rock Stars next year
Horse Feathers will be touring the UK in December.
UK Tour Dates:
Monday 7th December – London, Hoxton Bar & Grill
Tuesday 8th December – Oxford, Jericho Tavern
Wednesday 9th December – Manchester, Dulcimer
Thursday 10th December – Glasgow, Nice ‘n’ Sleazy
Friday 11th December – Dublin, Academy 2
Saturday 12th December – Belfast, Speakeasy
Posted on: November 15th, 2009
Hey Rosetta! London dates
“This alternative group, fronted by the charismatic and gifted Tim Baker, is destined for greatness…” Stuart McLean, CBC Vinyl Cafe
“Newfoundland’s Hey Rosetta!, have established themselves as one of the most exciting indie rock bands…” ChartAttack
Hey Rosetta! is a six-piece Canadian band from St. John’s, Newfoundland. Known for their energised live shows, the band create a massive, layered sound by incorporating piano, violin and cello into the traditional four-piece garage rock sound.
While most bands spend the week celebrating after being short-listed for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize (Canada’s equivalent of the Mercury’s). Multiple award winners, Hey Rosetta! began a tour of the Canadian Arctic in the community of Iqahit, Nunavut. A place where bands never venture! The experience of visiting the world above the 60 degree latitude is something they won’t forget in a hurry.
The Newfoundland based sextet will shortly be making their way from the rocky tundra of Canada’s north Atlantic to our shores for some hot shows around the capital. Billboard hailed them as one of the top five bands from Canada to see live, so don’t miss them on their short visit to the city.
Their most recent album, Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood), will be released in the UK next year. Produced by Hawksley Workman and recorded in the dead of Winter in two East coast harbour towns, the album begins with a beautiful naivety and confidence – an “off the stage” feel and vigour reminiscent of the bands powerful live performances.
Into Your Lungs was named Album of the Year at the inaugural Verge Music Awards, held by XM Satellite Radio’s The Verge. They were also nominated for four East Coast Music Awards in 2009 and took home three awards, including Group Recording of the Year, Recording of the Year, and Alternative Recording of the Year.
London shows:
Thursday 19th November – The Monarch (Club Fandango)
Monday 23rd November – The Windmill, Brixton
Tuesday 24th November – The Queen of Hoxton
Wednesday 25th November – The Luxe, London (Puregroove Presents)
Friday 27th November, The Borderline
Posted on: November 7th, 2009
The Shaky Hands UK Tour
“…a deep appreciation of the best, most exhilarating traditions of rock’n'roll.” Uncut ****
Drowning pop compositions in jittery poly-rhythms is indie rock’s move du jour, but The Shaky Hands aren’t trendy; they make fine-boned, classic rock’n’roll in the Strokes’ vein.” Pitchfork
“Prodded by clattering drums and scraping guitars, frontman Nick Delffs often sounds desperate, moaning and muttering like someone who’s torn between leaping into the abyss and clinging to hope.” Spin
“The Shaky Hands’ obvious reference points – the second and third Wilco albums, from the days before Jeff Tweedy started trying to be Thom Yorke, much-loved debuts by the Go-Betweens, REM or the Violent Femmes, Camper Van Beethoven’s ‘Take the Skinheads Bowling’ – might not seem like the stuff of rock’n'roll satori. And yet the freshness and vitality with which the band put these familiar influences together cannot be gainsayed”. Observer Music Monthly ****
The Shaky Hands will be on tour next month.
Sunday 1st November – Brighton, Prince Albert
Monday 2nd November – Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Tuesday 3rd November – Manchester, The Ruby Lounge
Wednesday 4th November – Glasgow, Captain’s Rest
Thursday 5th November – London, The Lexington (Fortuna Pop Night)
Friday 6th November – London, Cargo (Last FM Presents)
Kill Rock Stars will be releasing Portland’s The Shaky Hands third album, Let It Die on the 2nd November. This will be The Shaky Hand’s second album on KRS and the first, featuring new drummer Jake Morris (The Joggers, Pseudosix). Recorded immediately upon the band’s return from seven weeks of supporting The Thermals’ Spring US tour, Let It Die is the sound of a band at the top of their game. Armed with a solidified line-up and some of the best songs the band has written, they brought their live energy into the studio and captured it perfectly. Jay Pellicci’s (Deerhoof, Erase Errata) production is solid, immediate, and the songs absolutely huge!
Posted on: October 24th, 2009
Casiotone on Stephen Merchant 6 Music
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone were guests of Stephen Merchant on his BBC 6 Music show on Sunday afternoon. Stephen spoke to Owen about his new album, influences, and current tour.
Owen and his band played some live tracks in the hub before setting off for the first of two sold-out shows at London’s Luminaire.
In case you missed it you can listen again here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/stephen_merchant/
CFTPA are in the second hour of the show. You can also click the picture above for more photos from the show.
Posted on: April 28th, 2009
Alasdair Roberts forthcoming tour dates
Alasdair Roberts, one of Scotland’s best young singers and songwriters, will be playing some shows in May (and June) from his new album, Spoils, released 27th April on Drag City.
Spoils ingratiates new compositions in a deeply personal manner with the world of traditional music, that has sunk beyond the horizon for too many of us. It is a gift to these latter days that a man like Roberts exists, to sing us back to our ancient home.
Forthcoming dates:
Thursday 21st May – Aberdeen, Tunnels
Friday 22nd May – Edinburgh, Cab Vol
Saturday 23rd May – Liverpool, Leaf Tea Room – Sound City Festival
Sunday 24th May – Manchester, Dulcimer
Monday 25th May – Hebden Bridge, Trades Club
Tuesday 26th May – Leeds, Library
Wednesday 27th May - Brighton, Freebutt
Thursday 28th May – London, Bush Hall
Friday 29th May – Bristol, Louisiana
Friday 5th June – Glasgow, Stereo
Friday 19th June – Crouch End London, The Local
Saturday 20th June – Leicester, Big Session
“With Spoils, Alasdair Roberts – Caledonia’s answer to Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – has delivered his finest work to date.” Uncut *****
“…sounds like a Pictish Nic Jones with the Incredible String Band – you can almost smell the damp heather.” Mojo ****
“…the play between searing imagery and the weight of myth creates some of the weirdest word play this side of Scott Walker, DOOM or Damo Suzuki.” The Wire
“Spoils burls in historical and ideological skirmish.” Plan B
Posted on: April 7th, 2009
