Galactic is set to kick off their 2012 campaign tonight in Jacksonville, FL with a show in the intimate confines of the Freebird Live in Jacksonville Beach, the first of a mini-tour leading to their week aboard Jam Cruise 10. After a month off, the proper tour in support of their excellent new album Carnivale Electros (out on Mardi Gras Day – February 21, 2012) will kick into high gear with Mardi Gras shows in Mobile and their annual Saturday/Lundi Gras shows at Tipitina’s.
Tour Dates
Hopefully, they’ll be filling this odd dates-only tour out into a more expansive U.S. trek soon, something that hasn’t happened since 2008 when the band capped a big stateside tour in Santa Barbara in support of In Rainbows. There are three Texas dates and no stop in New Orleans (or Nashville for that matter), so hopefully the band is holding off on that announcement, or perhaps could be headlining Jazz Fest (if JF can bag Arcade Fire in 2011, surely they can top that with Radiohead in 2012, right?), one can dream right. We will definitely keep an eye out for new announcements, but for now, here’s what’s confirmed:
photo by charlescott
One of my favorite albums of the year so far is Slave Ambient by the War on Drugs. I recently flagged these guys in one of my Song of the Day posts over on WP.com and described them as follows:
The overall sound of the album is fresh but familiar. The instrumentals are a mix of propulsive rhythms, interesting background synths, and multiple guitars that are layered, sweep-filtered, and perfectly jangle-y. But even with a good amount of experimental, psychedelic haziness, their music is all based in a well-known melodic framework reminiscent of artists like Bruce Springsteen, Arcade Fire and even U2. But it’s probably frontman Adam Granduciel’s vocals that really provide the familiar sonic pallete. It’s almost like someone took a little bit of Dylan, Springsteen, Petty and Westerberg and wrapped them all up into a younger, mellower vocal doppelganger.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to catch their live show last time they cruised through NYC. Luckily, nyctaper was there to get the live audio, and while the vocals don’t shine through that well in this recording, it’s definitely cool to hear them stretch out their songs in the live setting.
The War on Drugs just played DeLuna Fest and are on tour through December; definitely on my list of bands I can’t wait to see live. READ MORE
The Wood Brothers have put together a nice late summer/early fall tour in support of their new album, Smoke Ring Halo, which was produced by Jim Scott (Johnny Cash, Tom Petty) and released on Southern Ground Artists (Zac Brown’s independent label).
I’m digging this little promo video they put together featuring the tune “Shoofly Pie.” I’ve always heard good things about their live show, so I think this should be good gig to catch… READ MORE
Battles are putting together some of the crazier instrumentals I’ve heard in a while. Check out these stellar live cuts from La Blogoeteque:
Whoah. Thank you La Blogoeteque.
These guys also have a pretty massive summer/fall tour lined up in Europe and North America. If you’re ever in the need to freak your ears a little bit, I’m feeling like this is a show that can’t be missed. Check it… READ MORE
Toubab Krewe has expanded its Spring tour with some new dates throughout the Southern U.S., including a couple of shows during the New Orleans Jazz Fest, plus a few other festival slots like the all-new Hangout fest, McDowell Mountain fest in Arizona, and Vermont’s own Festivus (whose 2010 lineup is still TBA).
The band is currently on tour, splitting the bill with John Brown’s Body.
The New Pornographers have rolled out a slew of Spring and Summer tour dates in Europe and North America, including a few festival appearances at Primavera Sound, Sasquatch Music Festival and the End of the Road Festival. They’ve also started releasing material from their forthcoming album, Together, which is due out on Matador Records on May 4th (you can grab both singles “The Crash years” and “Your Hands (Together)” at iTunes or get at taste over on the Hype Machine).
Photo © Pearl Jam Official
Pearl Jam today announced a late Spring tour with dates in U.S. cities throughout the East and Midwest. The tour kicks off on May 3rd in Kansas City — after the band’s previously-announced slot at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on May 1st — and ends with two shows at NYC’s Madison Square Garden on May 20-21.
Band of Horses nabbed the opening slot for all of the May shows with the exception of May 20th, when The Black Keys will open.
As we reported previously, Pearl Jam will tour throughout Europe in June and July. The band will also perform on Saturday Night Live this Saturday.
Pearl Jam 2010 Spring Tour Dates:
5.03 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center
5.04 – St. Louis, MO – Scottrade Center
5.06 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
5.07 – Noblesville, IN – Verizon Wireless Music Center
5.09 – Cleveland, OH – Quicken Loans Arena
5.10 – Buffalo, NY – HSBC Arena
5.13 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
5.15 – Hartford, CT – XL Center
5.17 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
5.18 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
5.20 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden w/ The Black Keys
5.21 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Get tickets from ticketmaster.com.
