NEW RECORDS, TOURS, IDEAS, ETC
Hello, people. We are actually off tour for once, so it's time to give you the low down on what's going on.
Firstly, thanks to everyone who made it out to our recent shows in Japan and Australia. Our expectations were far exceeded and fun was had by all. We promise to return as soon as we are able. A review of our Brisbane concert has made it online here. Apologies to the folks in Melbourne who missed out on the appropriate sounding bowed guitar intro to "Aurora Borealis" - sadly this schmuck stole my bow at the Sydney show. NOT cool. I know most of you know this, but for the sake of those who don't- please do not steal our gear. Again, despite that one kink the tour was awesome and fun. Thanks!
Secondly, we are gearing up for our seventh tour of the year, this time blazing a path across Europe with High on Fire. We're stoked for this one- we've played scattered shows with HOF throughout the years (including our first show ever, here in Chicago many years ago), but we've never managed to get our schedules to correspond enough to do a full tour together. This pairing is YEARS in the making and promises to be bangtastic as HOF have just issued their fourth spectacular full length "Death Is This Communion" on Relapse Records, and it is a rager. Our upcoming shows section has all the dates posted. Many familiar places, but we'll also be hitting Greece, Poland, Sweden, and Norway for the first time- we're very excited to finally get out there and play for you all. As always, if we're not hitting your city this time, please realize that we'll be back and we'll likely roll through next time.
The tour runs from November 14th through December 18th. Falling between those days are two important release dates for us:The first is the long awaited, often-delayed, but now back on track "After the Ceiling Cracked" DVD + 3" CD on December 4th. We are doing everything in our power to try and get copies of this for the tour as soon as they are available. We're hoping it's possible to have it for at least the last two weeks of the tour, but we can't make any promises. For those who do not know,
the DVD's centerpiece is a full concert in London from December of 2005 documented by four camerapeople with Jesu mastermind Justin Broadrick manning the console for both the live and recorded sound mix. The DVD is chock full of photos and songs from several other shows spanning our career. The 3" CD is the digital version of the tunes from our recently released "Pink Mammoth" 10" EP with an additional collaborative version of the title track featuring contributions from our boys in These Arms Are Snakes. The whole thing is rounded out by yet another gorgeous layout courtesy of Aaron Turner.Preceding that release will be the long-awaited, often-delayed third full length from our proto-prog-grind alter-ego
Tusk (except for Bryan, who is not in Tusk and has no alter-ego) "
The Resisting Dreamer" on November 20th. Two and a half years in the making, "The Resisting Dreamer" is a single 37 minute song divided into four tracks across two sides of vinyl or one side of shiny plastic (depending on your purchasing preference). Original vocalist Jody Minnoch was not available to contribute, but the record benefits from the disparate sounds and intensely talented contributions of Evan Patterson of Young Widows and Toby Driver of Kayo Dot. The two vocalists contributed their own lyrics in tandem and together weave a tale of regret, resentment, and (classic Tusk lyrical theme) descent in madness as the inner worlds of despair and guilt ravage the soul of the album's protagonist, who caves into their nightmarish inner world to ultimately taste "The Lewdness and Frenzy of Surrender." We have reason to believe that copies of this will be available to us by the start of the tour, so we should hopefully have these the whole way.
One final set of notes regarding affiliated bands and you will all be off the hook.
Those of you who live in Chicago and prefer your music burly, brutal, and live ought consider swinging by The Empty Bottle tonight for a free show with Lair of the Minotaur, Wolves in the Throne Room, and Indian. Larry's not currently drumming with LOTM, but if you dig their brand of crushing death-doom you cannot beat a free show with $1.50 PBR. But it's also crucial as Wolves in the Throne Room are one of the greatest bands at the forefront of the New Wave of US Black Metal - their new record "Two Hunters" (Southern Lord) comes highly recommended from us at Pelican HQ. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by coming to this show. The show's at 8:30pm. See you there.
Also this week are two shows from my (trevor) post-experimental, sludge-noise-pop band Teith. The first will be Sunday October 28th at The Empty Bottle. We'll be playing with Gigan, who feature ex-members of Hate Eternal, vicious solo-cellist Helen Money, and Anni Rossi. The show is either $7 or $8 (I've seen listings with both) and doors are at 8:30pm. We'll also be playing "Devil's Night" at a new club called Reggie's Music Joint on October 30th. Also appearing will be Calerna and Blood of the Tyrant. Expect Halloween shindigs and insanity. And bone crushing volume. The show starts at 9pm and is FREE FREE FREE. Teith is also proud to announce that we'll be letting our handmade CD-R edition of our debut EP "Oak City" go out of print as our friends at Thirty Ghosts Records of Austin, TX will be issuing and official factory-run version. Not really sure exactly when this will be out, but our hope is for early 2008.
Whew, I think that's all I have to report. There may be more, but I'm truly at a loss. We likely won't post again until after the dust settles from the next tour, so everyone have happy, safe holidays. PEACE!
It's time now,
My time now,
Give me my, give me my wings.
