Manchester Orchestra announce tour dates

It seems like half of my news pertains to this band, but when they're as talented as they are, can you really blame me?

Hot off the press, Manchester Orchestra have announced the dates for their US spring tour in support of the anticipated Mean Everything To Nothing. Are you pumped?

I am.

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From an announcement via Facebook:

April 21st is a big day for us.

Not only does "Mean Everything To Nothing" hit stores, but we‘re also kicking off our US headline tour. We’ll start in Nashville on the 21st and end up on June 4th in Orlando. Other bands joining us are FUN (featuring ex-members of The Format and Anathallo) as well as Audrye Sessions and Winston Audio.

Fan pre-sale tickets for the tour go on-sale February 27th and will be available to the public on March 5th. Details are here http://manchesterorchestra.frontgatetickets.com/?utm_medium=columbia-email&utm_source=manchesterorchestra&utm_campaign=columbia-email|manchesterorchestra|20090223.

Here’s the full tour:


Apr 21-Nashville,TN @ Exit In
Apr 22-Athens,GA @ 40 Watt
Apr 23-Carrboro,NC @ Cat's Cradle
Apr 24-Richmond,VA @ The National
Apr 25-Baltimore,MD @ Ottobar
Apr 26-Philadelphia,PA @ Trocadero
Apr 29-New York,NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Apr 30-Cambridge,MA @ Middle East
May 1-Rochester,NY @ Water St.
May 2-Pittsburgh,PA @ Mr.Small's
May 3-Cleveland,OH @ Grog Shop
May 5-Pontiac,MI @ Eagle Theater
May 6-Columbus,OH @ Skully's
May 7-Covington,KY @ Mad Hatter
May 8-Chicago,IL @ Subterranean
May 9-Minneapolis,MN @ Station 4
May 12-Denver,CO @ Marquis Theater
May 13-Salt Lake City, UT @ Avalon
May 15-Seattle,WA @ El Corazon
May 16-Vancouver @ Biltmore
May 17-Portland,OR @ Hawthorne Theater
May 19-San Francisco,CA @ Bottom of the Hill
May 21-Los Angeles,CA @ Troubadour
May 22-San Diego,CA @ Voodoo Stage HOB
May 23-Tucson,AZ @ Congress
May 24-Tempe,AZ @ Clubhouse
May 26-Austin,TX @ Emo's Inside
May 27-Dallas,TX @ The Loft
May 28-Houston,TX @ Walter's
May 29-New Orleans,LA @ Spanish Moon
May 30-Oxford,MS @ Proud Larry's
May 31-Birmingham,AL @ Bottletree
Jun 2-St.Petersburg,FL @ State Theater
Jun 3-Orlando,FL @ The Social
Jun 4-Orlando,FL @ The Social

Manchester Orchestra announce release date

I guess I'm a rather interested party, so I might have a bias, but who's excited for Manchester Orchestra's next album to drop?

In that vein, strangeglue has announced the release date of the anticipated Mean Everything To Nothing. April 21, 2009. Save the date.

Full story here.

New Manchester Orchestra Track

Spinner has posted a link to a new Manchester Orchestra track entitled "I've Got Friends".

When I saw them in December, I wasn't able to obtain a setlist, so I can't be sure - but I believe I've heard something to this extent live, and enjoyed it. This is presumably off of their upcoming album Mean Everything To Nothing, which I am looking forward to eagerly.

Happy listening.
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I've Got Friends - Manchester Orchestra

My Five Most Anticipated Albums of 2009

Maybe it's just me, but 2008 was a rather slow year for music - or, at least, for the sort of music that I listen to. In actuality, it was probably an average year, seeing releases from names like Lil' Wayne, Fall Out Boy, and Beyonce, as well as countless others.

But what about kids like me? You know, the insufferable fucking hipsters? That's not to say that I don't enjoy the music of the aforementioned (although Fall Out Boy is pretty hit or miss), it's just that 2008 seemed to bring little more than teasers and disappointment. The hiatuses of Godspeed and The Blood Brothers were made permanent, Stars and Manchester Orchestra released short EPs to whet the appetite, and Glassjaw remained silent (again). And all the while, heavy hitters like Death Cab, TV On The Radio (I seem to be alone on this), M83, and Of Montreal rested on their laurels, turning lackluster efforts that underwhelmed in every sense. Sure, there were some great releases, but that's for another post. The point here is that, after the year this has been, I am particularly excited to see what the next twelve months has to offer.

And so, without further ado, the five albums that I cannot wait to hear, be it in 2009 or 2099...

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1. Brand New - ?

It took 3 years and a couple of leaked demos between Deja Entendu and The Devil And God (released in 2006). So, now it's 2009 - time for some more Brand New. As mentioned in their recent e-mail, Brand New should start touring sometime this year with an album to hopefully follow.

I'll be first in line to hear it.

2. Glassjaw - Glassjaw!

(You Think You're) John Fucking Lennon was a nice start, but amounted to little more than a tease. No more Head Automatica, no more United Nations. Daryl Palumbo, it's time to put up or shut up. I want Glassjaw, and I want it now.

3. This Is My Suitcase - ?

They're fun, and I want to hear more. Duh.

4. mewithoutYou - mewithoutYou & Friends

I know that nothing's going to top Brother, Sister. But I'd really love to hear them try.

5. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing

I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child was a great major debut, and I think that Manchester Orchestra has a few great records left in them. When I saw them a couple weeks ago, they played a few new songs (one of which had the chorus "Mean everything to nothing"), and I was pretty impressed. Their EP was enjoyable enough, and I have high hopes for the forthcoming LP.

Manchester Orchestra's Ode To 50 Cent

Last night I saw Manchester Orchestra in Ybor City, along with Kevin Devine, Dead Confederate, and All Get Out. The set was way too short, but played with phenomenal energy and enthusiasm.

The highlight of the night might have been their opening song, however. Unfortunately, I can't find a video of it yet from last night, but here's one from their show in Columbia, SC. Enjoy...

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Manchester Orchestra - Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind

2008
Canvasback Music
Buy (Amazon.com)

7.5/10

Don't stop calling, you're the reason I love losing sleep.
-"Colly Strings", I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child

Fetal and sweating inside the closet bedroom of Amagansett, insomnia takes hold. You can't help but call at three in the morning, and I can't help but stay up for the possibility.

Don't go. Just go.
-"Please Don't Go", Nobody Sings Anymore

Nothing and everything have changed. I'm in love with your face and yet I can't stand the sight of you. This music will never sound the same.

I realized that, then, you were perfect.
-"I Can Feel A Hot One", Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind

Sprawled and gray on a dry bed for a dreary Albany afternoon, it's all so clear. You were perfect. You are perfect.

You are perfect and I left.

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Another song, another album that will forever be tied up in messy awkward subjectives and overdrawn memories - with Let My Pride Be What's Left Behind, Manchester Orchestra have further cemented their place as an act that I just can't get enough of. The new cuts are more akin to those from the unreleased Nobody Sings Anymore - they're narratives. The words sketch vignettes of car wrecks and crises of faith, the first two songs ("I Can Feel A Hot One" and "I Was A Lid") sharing the concept of an endangered pregnancy amidst torrid love. Andy Hull has been slowly staking a claim for inclusion with the likes of Stuart Murdoch, Isaac Brock and Aaron Weiss as one of our generation's gifted lyricists. He scribbles down one-offs like "Badges and Badges" (which is vaguely reminiscent of "Don't Let Them See You Cry") as if they were throwaways, packing depth and poignancy rarely achieved during entire careers.

"I Can Feel A Hot One" is superlative; it stirs up memories of 2007's "Colly Strings", possessing all of the sober melancholy and none of the explosive catharsis, and emerging the better for it. The other notable track is an acoustic version of "Wolves At Night". Identical to the one made freely available for download last year (albeit without the annoying "WBRU Podcast" bumpers as bookends), it possesses an understated tone which bears no resemblance to that of Virgin's original.

In early 2009, Manchester Orchestra is slated to release their next LP, Mean Everything To Nothing. Until then, you'll have to excuse me - it's time to go entangle another twenty minutes of music in a knot of shitty memories.

Songs of the week: 10/28/08

Sorry for the not-so-brief intermission between installments of Songs of the Week, but I think the free full lengths were worth it.

A bunch of record reviews are in the pipes, so stick around, and have a nice week.

***songs of the week #8

1. I Can Feel A Hot One - Manchester Orchestra (Off of Manchester Orchestra's recently released EP, this is easily one of their strongest songs to date)
2. '98 Freestyle - Big L (Might be one of the best flows I've ever heard...I mean, if you're into that whole rap thing)
3. Comfortable - Lil Wayne (Overlooked track with a sick beat from this summer's Carter III)
4. Women's Studies Victims - Of Montreal (One of the more interesting tracks from the mixed bag that was Skeletal Lamping)
5. My Moon, My Man (Boys Noize remix) - Feist (Fun bass to end all fun bass)