Cursive Releases Deluxe Edition of 'The Ugly Organ' on Nov. 24th / Shows at Bowery Ballroom in March '15

Cursive has announced additional dates of their Winter 2015 tour that begins on February 10th in Denver, CO and includes a two-night stop at Bowery Ballroom on March 10 and 11th.

The tour will follow the November 24, 2014 release of an expanded, deluxe edition reissue of Cursive's 2003 breakthrough album The Ugly Organ via Saddle Creek, and each night's setlist will feature songs culled from across the band's seven albums - including their most recent, 2012's I Am Gemini - in addition to drawing heavily from The Ugly Organ. A cellist will also accompany the band throughout the tour to perform on all songs from that album's era. A current itinerary is below.

The Ugly Organ (Deluxe Edition) [Remastered] will be available on 2xCD and 2xLP 180-gram vinyl, with eight additional tracks on the accompanying disc. These tracks - written during the same sessions as and originally intended for The Ugly Organ - were previously found across the band's 2002 split with Eastern Youth, 8 Teeth To Eat You, their 'Art Is Hard' and 'The Recluse' singles, and the Saddle Creek 50 compilation. The packaging for both the 2xCD and 2xLP includes a booklet with extensive liner notes comprised of rare photos, original artwork drafts, handwritten lyrics, a list of all tour dates from the era, and an introduction written by Kyle Ryan of The AV Club. A pre-order is now available via the Saddle Creek webstore, while a stream of "Am I Not Yours? [Remastered]," first released on 8 Teeth To Eat You, can now be heard and is shared above.

From the maniacal opening notes and carnival barker howl that launch the album, The Ugly Organ wasted no time searing itself into a listener's ears and quickly established Cursive as a musical force with which to be reckoned. The album arrived three years after the underground success of their 2000 LP Cursive's Domestica, which introduced frontman Tim Kasher's particularly confessional and conceptual songwriting style, and saw him delving even further into and refining that craft. A self-aware examination of artistic constraints (or lack thereof), relationships, sex, and the intersection of all three, The Ugly Organ wowed critics and audiences alike with its cerebral, cathartic blend of songs that are alternately hushed and restrained, riotous and dissonant. Fiercely intelligent and cohesive - the liner notes laid the songs out like a play, complete with stage directions - across its diverse sonic landscape, the album landed Cursive on the Sunday Arts and Leisure section cover of The New York Times (which also called it "a marvelous collection of riddles and left turns, conceived as a single piece of musical theater") and earned accolades from Rolling Stone ("a brilliant leap forward"), Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Alternative Press (★★★★★), MAGNET ("The best punk record you'll hear all year"), Esquire, and SPIN, among many others, as well as a place on numerous year-end best lists.

The Ugly Organ feels as vibrant and vital today as it did upon release more than 10 years ago. A landmark album, it not only catapulted Cursive from the simmering indie underground to the forefront of a genre, and was the second Saddle Creek album to break the 100,000 sold mark, but also served to inspire a host of young bands in its wake.

Cursive Tour Dates:
FEB. 10 - DENVER, CO BLUEBIRD THEATER
FEB. 12 - SALT LAKE CTY, UT URBAN LOUNGE
FEB. 13 - BOISE, ID NEUROLUX
FEB. 14 - SEATTLE, WA NEUMOS
FEB. 15 - PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE
FEB. 17 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
FEB. 20 - LOS ANGELES, CA ECHOPLEX
FEB. 21 - POMONA, CA GLASSHOUSE
FEB. 22 - SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH
FEB. 23 - PHOENIX, AZ CRESCENT BALLROOM
FEB. 24 - ALBUQUERQUE, NM SISTER
FEB. 25 - EL PASO, TX TRICKY FALLS
FEB. 27 - AUSTIN, TX THE MOHAWK
FEB. 28 - DALLAS, TX TREES
MAR. 1 - HOUSTON, TX FITZGERALD'S
MAR. 3 - ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
MAR. 4 - ATLANTA, GA THE EARL
MAR. 5 - CARRBORO, NC CAT'S CRADLE
MAR. 6 - WASHINGTON, DC BLACK CAT
MAR. 7 - PHILADELPHIA, PA UNION TRANSFER
MAR. 8 - ASBURY PARK, NJ ASBURY LANES
MAR. 10 - NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM
MAR. 11 - NEW YORK, NY BOWERY BALLROOM
MAR. 13 - AMITYVILLE, NY REVOLUTION BAR AND MUSIC HALL
MAR. 14 - CAMBRIDGE, MA THE SINCLAIR
MAR. 16 - CLEVELAND, OH THE GROG SHOP
MAR. 17 - FERNDALE, MI LOVING TOUCH
MAR. 18 - CHICAGO, IL LINCOLN HALL
MAR. 20 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB
MAR. 21 - OMAHA, NE THE WAITING ROOM

Links:
Cursive

Tim Kasher - 'Adult Films' CD Review (Saddle Creek) / Show at The Bell House on Nov. 6th

STREAM: Tim Kasher - "Truly Freaking Out" (from Adult Films - out today on Saddle Creek)

Tim Kasher never seems to rest as he released his second solo album, Adult Films (Saddle Creek), today and kicked off a coast-to-coast fall tour last week in Omaha, NE.

Since 1997, Kasher has written and released 12 full-length albums both as a solo artist and with his bands Cursive and The Good Life, and has crisscrossed North America and Europe countless times on tour. His sophomore solo effort, Adult Films, began coming together in late 2011, just shortly after Cursive finished recording their seventh LP I Am Gemini (Saddle Creek, 2012) and some songs from this forthcoming release made their live debut during Kasher's tour earlier this year (see the live video for "You Scare Me to Death" at the bottom of this post).  Kasher continued to work on this disc over the last year before heading to Electrical Audio studio in his adopted hometown of Chicago, IL in spring 2013.

Adult Films doesn't have a fixed story arc as did The Game of Monogamy but it follows a similar theme of colliding with the onset of middle-age, questioning/regretting life's decisions and not going gentle into that good night. As to be expected, Kasher certainly has his moments of raging "against the dying of the light". Lyrically, Kasher exceeds at turning a phrase (Kasher's resignation is palatable on "Raincloud" - "I’m waiting for my ship to come / I’m afraid it may have sunk") and his subtle wit and self-depreciating bile push both the lyrics and music into the forefront and demand active listening. Musically, this album is predominately comprised of heavily textured indie-pop that falls somewhere between the lush orchestration of The Game of Monogamy and Cursive's later output. The music rises and falls along with Kasher's narration and state of mind and some of the songs are musically dense and claustrophobic while others are open and almost Americana sounding.

The disc start on an upbeat note with "American Lit" which is a herky-jerky, organ-driven number where Kasher reminisces about his never-written great American novel ("then the book becomes a film / than the film becomes a modern masterpiece / this is my acceptance speech"). This is followed "Truly Freaking Out" which picks up the tempo and seems to be a short step from spinning totally out of control as Kasher reflects "I was 6 years old learning how to swim / I was 36 wondering how I sunk". It all comes crashing back down with "Where's Your Heart Lie" - a tale of love gone wrong and a couple going through the motions. The upbeat sound of "The Willing Cuckold" hides the song's emotionally cutting lyrics ("I've got my blinders on so I can't see the cruel periphery") and, while the tempo and music stay consistent on the next cut, "Life and Limbo", the song's lyrics about the meaninglessness of the characters' lives show them heading for a crash. As to be expected, the relationship falls apart by the time the hazy and melancholy "Lay Down Your Weapon" starts with its tales of suspected affairs. The next few tracks show Kasher's narrator reflecting on life - "You Scare Me To Death" shows a fear of moving on with new relationships and "A Raincloud Is a Raincloud" is a backward reflection on past life choices. The indie rock "bounce" comes back up on this last cut and "A Looping Distress Signal" is the closest Kasher comes on this outing to Cursive's jagged indie-rock bombast. The disc ends with the reflective and introspective "A Lullaby, sort of".



Tim Kasher Fall 2013 Tour Dates:
OCT. 05 -- OMAHA, NE THE WAITING ROOM
OCT. 06 -- DENVER, CO LARIMER LOUNGE
OCT. 08 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT URBAN LOUNGE
OCT. 09 -- BOISE, ID NEUROLUX
OCT. 10 -- PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE
OCT. 11 -- VANCOUVER, BC ELECTRIC OWL
OCT. 12 -- SEATTLE, WA BARBOZA
OCT. 15 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA RICKSHAW STOP
OCT. 16 -- SANTA CRUZ, CA CREPE SHOP
OCT. 17 -- SANTA ANA, CA CONSTELLATION ROOM
OCT. 18 -- LOS ANGELES, CA THE ECHO
OCT. 19 -- LAS VEGAS, NV BACKSTAGE BAR
OCT. 21 -- SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH
OCT. 22 -- PHOENIX, AZ CRESCENT BALLROOM
OCT. 23 -- TUCSON, AZ CLUB CONGRESS
OCT. 25 -- DALLAS, TX THREE LINKS
OCT. 26 -- AUSTIN, TX RED 7
OCT. 27 -- HOUSTON, TX FITZGERALDS
OCT. 29 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL CLUB DOWNUNDER
OCT. 30 -- ORLANDO, FL THE SOCIAL
NOV. 02 -- ATLANTA, GA THE EARL
NOV. 03 -- RALEIGH, NC KINGS BARCADE
NOV. 05 -- WASHINGTON, DC ROCK AND ROLL HOTEL
NOV. 06 -- BROOKLYN, NY THE BELL HOUSE (Tickets are $15 and the show starts at 9PM)
NOV. 07 -- BOSTON, MA BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL
NOV. 08 -- PROVIDENCE, RI THE MET
NOV. 09 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA JOHNNY BRENDA’S
NOV. 11 -- CLEVELAND, OH GROG SHOP
NOV. 12 -- DETROIT, MI MAGIC STICK LOUNGE
NOV. 13 -- CHICAGO, IL THE EMPTY BOTTLE
NOV. 14 -- ST. LOUIS, MO FIREBIRD
NOV. 15 -- IOWA CITY, IA THE MILL
NOV. 16 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN TRIPLE ROCK
* all dates with Laura Stevenson and the Cans



Links:
Tim Kasher

Tim Kasher (Cursive) Posts 'Truly Freaking Out' from Forthcoming Sophomore CD / Show at The Bell House on Nov. 6th

DOWNLOAD: Tim Kasher - "Truly Freaking Out" (from Adult Film - out Oct. 8th on Saddle Creek)

Tim Kasher, frontman for Cursive and The Good Life, premiered "Truly Freaking Out," the first single released off his upcoming sophomore solo LP Adult Film, today and the raucous, barreling track is available as a free MP3 download. Adult Film will be released on October 8th, 2013 via Saddle Creek and is currently available for pre-order in multiple formats in the label's webstore, as is a 7-inch of "Truly Freaking Out" (featuring non-album track B-side "King of the Hill of Beans"). The song can also be purchased as a standalone digital single, and all pre-order options can be found here: http://saddle-creek.com/store/artist/timkasher/.



Kasher's fall headlining tour will get underway with a hometown show at The Waiting Room in Omaha, NE on October 5th and wind the singer and his band throughout the US and into Canada over six weeks. The run includes shows in Los Angeles and Brooklyn on October 18th at The Echo and November 6th at The Bell House, respectively, as well as a performance at The Fest 12 in Gainesville, FL on October 31st. A full itinerary is below.

Whereas his debut solo LP The Game Of Monogamy was an orchestral album filled with theatrical arrangements, Adult Film favors less ornate, equally impactful instrumentation across its 10 affecting tracks. The album is filled with variations of Kasher's signature blend of ruminative rock/pop, ranging from raucous and barreling ("American Lit," "Truly Freaking Out") to uneasy and undulating ("Where's Your Heart Lie," the dreamy "Lay Down Your Weapons"), from deceptively bright and poppy ("The Willing Cuckold," "A Raincloud is a Raincloud") to tempered and cascading ("You Scare Me To Death," "A Lullaby, sort of"). Lyrically, Kasher is at his incisive best, thematically elastic and touching on aging (self-reflection and taking stock), mortality (one's own and others'), and relationships of all kinds.

Kasher is joined on Adult Film by Sara Bertuldo (bass, vocals), Patrick Newbery (organ, keys, synths, horns), and Dylan Ryan (drums) - who backed him while touring around The Game Of Monogamy - as well as additional artists including Nate Kinsella (drums; of Make Believe and Birthmark) and Laura Stevenson (vocals), among others. The album was mixed by John Congleton (St. Vincent, Wye Oak, Explosions In The Sky) at Elmwood Recording in Dallas, TX.

Tim Kasher Tour Dates
OCT. 5 - OMAHA, NE - THE WAITING ROOM

OCT. 6 - DENVER, CO - LARIMER LOUNGE

OCT. 8 - SALT LAKE CITY, UT - URBAN LOUNGE

OCT. 9 - BOISE, ID - NEUROLUX

OCT. 10 - PORTLAND, OR - DOUG FIR LOUNGE

OCT. 11 - VANCOUVER, BC - ELECTRIC OWL

OCT. 12 - SEATTLE, WA - BARBOZA

OCT. 15 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA - RICKSHAW STOP

OCT. 16 - SANTA CRUZ, CA - CREPE SHOP

OCT. 17 - SANTA ANA, CA - CONSTELLATION ROOM

OCT. 18 - LOS ANGELES, CA - THE ECHO

OCT. 19 - LAS VEGAS, NV - BACKSTAGE BAR

OCT. 21 - SAN DIEGO, CA - THE CASBAH

OCT. 22 - PHOENIX, AZ - CRESCENT BALLROOM

OCT. 23 - TUCSON, AZ - CLUB CONGRESS

OCT. 25 - DALLAS, TX - THREE LINKS

OCT. 26 - AUSTIN, TX - RED 7

OCT. 27 - HOUSTON, TX - FITZGERALDS

OCT. 29 - TALLAHASSEE, FL - CLUB DOWNUNDER

OCT. 30 - ORLANDO, FL - THE SOCIAL

OCT. 31 - GAINESVILLE, FL - THE FEST 12

NOV. 1 - TAMPA, FL - CROWBAR

NOV. 2 - ATLANTA, GA - THE EARL

NOV. 3 - RALEIGH, NC - KINGS BARCADE

NOV. 4 - CHARLOTTE, NC - CASBAH @ TREMONT MUSIC HALL

NOV. 5 - WASHINGTON, DC - ROCK AND ROLL HOTEL

NOV. 6 - BROOKLYN, NY - THE BELL HOUSE

NOV. 7 - BOSTON, MA - BRIGHTON MUSIC HALL

NOV. 8 - PROVIDENCE, RI - THE MET

NOV. 9 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - JOHNNY BRENDA'S

NOV. 11 - CLEVELAND, OH - GROG SHOP

NOV. 12 - DETROIT, MI - MAGIC STICK LOUNGE

NOV. 13 - CHICAGO, IL - THE EMPTY BOTTLE

NOV. 14 - ST. LOUIS, MO - FIREBIRD

NOV. 15 - IOWA CITY, IA - THE MILL

NOV. 16 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN - TRIPLE ROCK

* all dates with Laura Stevenson

Links:
Tim Kasher

Cursive Announce June Tour of the Mid-West (Saddle Creek)

(Photo: Daniel Muller)

While Cursive aren't playing any area shows (right now), there is probably one or two people on the inner-web thang that live in one of the cities on Cursive's June tour.

Cursive will hit the road again this summer for a handful of midwestern dates in June. Beginning June 20th at The Mill in Iowa City, IA, the band will work their way northward to the 605 Summer Classic in Sioux Falls, SD on the 22nd before wrapping up on the 24th at Record Bar in Kansas City, MO. A current itinerary is below.

Last year proved to be one of Cursive's busiest ever touring-wise, having spent the majority of the 12 months playing throughout North America and in Europe, and including a trip to Brazil in December. The band's seventh LP, I Am Gemini, was released on February 21st, 2012 via Saddle Creek, earning praise from Alternative Press, Big Takeover, CMJ, Ghettoblaster, Magnet, Paste, Penthouse, Relix, Revolver, and Vice, among others.

In related news, frontman Tim Kasher is currently working on his second solo album, following 2010's The Game Of Monogamy. More news will be announced soon.



Cursive June 2013 Tour Dates:
JUNE 20 -- IOWA CITY, IA -- THE MILL
JUNE 21 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- 7TH ST ENTRY
JUNE 22 -- SIOUX FALLS, SD -- 605 SUMMER CLASSIC
JUNE 23 -- OMAHA, NE -- THE WAITING ROOM
JUNE 24 -- KANSAS CITY, MO -- RECORD BAR

Links:
Cursive

Tim Kasher (Cursive) Announces March Shows at Knitting Factory and Maxwell's

(Photo: Jess Ewald)

Tim Kasher, frontman for Cursive, has announced a new run of solo tour dates in March. The tour will begin on March 12th at The Space in Hamden, CT and will wrap on on March 23rd at Schuba's in Chicago, IL, and includes two New York area shows on the 14th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn and the 15th at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ. A full itinerary is below.

Kasher is currently getting ready to record the follow-up to his 2010 debut solo LP, The Game Of Monogamy, which earned praise from Alternative Press, The A.V. Club, Ghettoblaster, SPIN, Under The Radar, and USA Today, among others. He'll be performing new songs in addition to tracks from Monogamy throughout the tour, and an array of friends will back him on varying accompaniment in each city.

Kasher's most recent album with Cursive, I Am Gemini, was released last February via Saddle Creek.

Tim Kasher Tour Dates:
MAR. 12 - HAMDEN, CT - THE SPACE*
MAR. 13 - PHILADELPHIA, PA - JOHNNY BRENDA'S*
MAR. 14 - BROOKLYN, NY - KNITTING FACTORY* (Advance tickets: $12)
MAR. 15 - HOBOKEN, NJ - MAXWELL'S* (Advance tickets: $12)
MAR. 16 - BOSTON, MA - GREAT SCOTT*
MAR. 20 - OMAHA, NE - O'LEAVER'S
MAR. 21 - OMAHA, NE - O'LEAVER'S**
MAR. 22 - CHAMPAIGN, IL - MIKE N' MOLLY'S**
MAR. 23 - CHICAGO, IL - SCHUBA'S**
* Birthmark supports
** Brighton MA supports

Links:
Tim Kasher

Cursive Plays Headlining Shows at Bowery Ballroom on Apr. 3 & 4

STREAM: Cursive Live on Minneapolis Radio 3/23/12


On Cursive's seventh disc, I Am Gemini (Saddle Creek), the band tells the story of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers who had been separated at birth. “One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head.”

Cursive kicked off their US tour in February and the band is playing two nights at Bowery Ballroom on April 3rd and 4th with support from Cymbals Eat Guitars and Conduits. Tickets for each of the nights are $16 and doors are at 7:30PM.



Later this month, Cursive will reissue their classic 2001 EP "Burst and Bloom" as a limited edition 12-inch in celebration of Record Store Day 2012 on April 21st via Saddle Creek. Available in this format for the first time in years, the EP will be pressed on RSD-exclusive yellow, white, and black marbled vinyl, with only 1,500 copies issued. A list of participating stores can be found here.

Burst and Bloom track listing:
Sink To The Beat
The Great Decay
Tall Tales, Telltales
Mothership, Mothership, Do You Read Me?
Fairytales Tell Tales

Links:
Cursive

Cursive - "I Am Gemini" CD Review (Saddle Creek) / Two Shows at Bowery Ballroom in April

On Tim Kasher’s solo debut, The Game of Monogamy (2010), he created an impressively well-crafted musical and lyrical story arch that followed the rise and fall of a couples’ romantic relationship. Cursive's latest disc follows in this vein and, on their forthcoming seventh disc, I Am Gemini (Saddle Creek), the band tells the story of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers who had been separated at birth. “One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head.”

Recorded in the summer/fall of 2011 at Omaha, NE’s ARC Studios and mixed at Red Room in Seattle, WA with producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Minus The Bear, Isis), I Am Gemini marks the first time front-man Tim Kasher, holding the completed story already in mind, wrote album lyrics in a linear fashion, in order, from Song 1 to Song 13. There are a couple of potential alt-radio hits on the disc but the overall result is that the thirteen songs ("chapters") form a cohesive script for a play.

Musically, I Am Gemini is able to capture a sense of urgency and energy without sacrificing production quality. There is an overall darkness to this disc but this is balanced by the disc’s consistently changing musical landscape and production which gives each song room to breathe and find its own footing. The first and last songs on the disc (“This House Alive” and “Eulogy for No Name”) serve to, respectively, introduce and close the story and there are two instrumentals on the disc which serve to separate the “acts” of the “play”.

After the slow build of the “This House Alive”, the band aggressively picks up speed and listener is drawn in from the second song (“Warmer, Warmer”) onward. Tim Kasher’s clear, melodic vocals, the band’s musical hooks and their jagged post-punk stops, starts and twists in tempo pull the listener further and further into both the music and the story arch. This last song is particularly interesting as Kasher starts the song with subdued vocals which sound like Tim Quirk’s (from Too Much Joy) before bringing this number to its crashing conclusion.

Standout Tracks: “Warmer, Warmer”, “The Sun and the Moon” and “Drunken Birds”. After these three tracks land their back-to-back punches, the listener is going to need the instrumental “Lullaby for No Name” just to catch their breath.

Note: My promo copy came with a 12 page libretto that serves both as a lyric sheet and a “playbill” for the story of Cassius and Pollock and I assume this will be included in the disc's CD booklet.

Cursive kicked off their US tour last night in Denver, CO and the band is playing two nights at Bowery Ballroom on April 3rd and 4th with support from Cymbals Eat Guitars and Conduits. Tickets for each of the nights are $16 and doors are at 7:30PM.

To get anticipation going, below is the setlist from show in Denver:
01. "This House Alive"
02. "Big Bang"
03. "A Gentleman Caller"
04. "The Sun and Moon"
05. "I Couldn't Love You"
06. "Retreat!!"
07. "The Martyr"
08. "Gemini"
09. "The Ugly Organist"
10. "The Cat and Mouse"
11. "We're Going to Hell"
12. "The Recluse"
13. "Wowowow"
14. "Dorothy At Forty"

Encore:
15. "Art Is Hard"
16. "From the Hips"
17. "Mothership, Mothership, Do You Read Me"
18. "Sierra"
19. "Eulogy For No Name"

Links:
Cursive

Cursive Release "The Sun and Moon" As Free Download // Shows at Bowery Ballroom on Apr. 3 & 4

Cursive's seventh disc, I Am Gemini, will be released February 21st, 2012 via Saddle Creek and the band just posted the first MP3, "The Sun and Moon", from this disc as a free download.

I Am Gemini is currently available for pre-order in Saddle Creek's online store and via iTunes. The album can be purchased in multiple formats (CD, LP, digital) and bundles through Saddle Creek, including a deluxe package that contains: exclusive colored vinyl; CD; a limited edition (only 500 copies printed) 10" picture disc featuring "The Sun and Moon" and "The Cat and Mouse" plus two B-sides; t-shirt; and poster, among other goods. MP3s of "The Sun and Moon" and "The Cat and Mouse" can be downloaded instantly after placing a pre-order, and all pre-orders will ship two weeks ahead of release on February 7th (at which point the album will also be available to purchasers as a full MP3 download).

Known for their explosive, cathartic live show, Cursive has announced an additional four weeks of shows this spring, from March 22nd to April 21st. This new run of dates includes two shows in New York City on April 3rd and 4th at the Bowery Ballroom. Tickets for these shows go on-sale on Fri., Jan. 06 at 12PM and are $16.

The band had previously announced shows throughout the west coast, southwest, and midwest, and is also now confirmed to perform at the 20th anniversary Noise Pop festival in San Francisco, CA on February 22nd. Cursive also recently added two early March shows, at Abode in Wichita, KS on the 1st and Record Bar in Kansas City, MO on the 2nd. A current itinerary is below.

I Am Gemini is the surreal and powerful musical tale of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers separated at birth. One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head. Recorded at Omaha, NE's ARC Studios and mixed at Red Room in Seattle, WA with producer Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Minus The Bear, Isis), the album marks the first time front man Tim Kasher, with the completed story already in mind, wrote album lyrics in a linear fashion from song 1 to song 13. The result is thirteen singularly cohesive song chapters that blend effortlessly into one unique narrative to create a dynamic, mind-bending, and imaginative ride.

Cursive is the longtime trio of Kasher (vocals, guitar), Matt Maginn (bass), and Ted Stevens (guitar, vocals), with Patrick Newbery (keys) and Cully Symington (drums).

Cursive Tour Dates:
FEB. 12 -- DENVER, CO -- LARIMER LOUNGE*
FEB. 14 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- URBAN LOUNGE^
FEB. 15 -- BOISE, ID -- NEUROLUX^
FEB. 17 -- SEATTLE, WA -- NEUMO'S**
FEB. 18 -- VANCOUVER, BC -- MEDIA CLUB**
FEB. 19 -- PORTLAND, OR -- BUNK BAR**
FEB. 22 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL**
FEB. 24 -- LOS ANGELES, CA -- TROUBADOUR**
FEB. 25 -- POMONA, CA -- GLASSHOUSE**
FEB. 26 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- CASBAH**
FEB. 27 -- TEMPE, AZ -- CRESCENT BALLROOM**
FEB. 28 -- ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- LAUNCHPAD**
MAR. 1 -- WICHITA, KS -- ABODE**
MAR. 2 -- KANSAS CITY, MO -- RECORD BAR**
MAR. 3 -- OMAHA, NE -- SLOWDOWN**
MAR. 22 -- IOWA CITY, IA -- THE MILL#
MAR. 23 -- MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- 400 BAR#
MAR. 24 -- MADISON, WI -- HIGH NOON SALOON#
MAR. 25 -- CHICAGO, IL -- LINCOLN HALL#
MAR. 26 -- CHAMPAIGN, IL -- HIGH DIVE#
MAR. 27 -- ANN ARBOR, MI -- THE BLIND PIG#
MAR. 28 -- PITTSBURGH, PA -- MR. SMALL'S#
MAR. 29 -- CLEVELAND, OH -- GROG SHOP#
MAR. 30 -- BUFFALO, NY -- MOHAWK#
MAR. 31 -- TORONTO, ONT -- HORSESHOE TAVERN#
APR. 2 -- BOSTON, MA -- MIDDLE EAST#
APR. 3 -- NEW YORK, NY -- BOWERY BALLROOM#
APR. 4 -- NEW YORK, NY -- BOWERY BALLROOM#
APR. 5 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA -- UNION TRANSFER#
APR. 6 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- BLACK CAT#
APR. 7 -- RALEIGH, NC -- KING'S BARCADE#
APR. 8 -- ATLANTA, GA -- THE EARL#
APR. 9 -- ST. AUGUSTINE, FL -- CAFÉ ELEVEN#
APR. 10 -- ORLANDO, FL -- THE SOCIAL#
APR. 11 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL -- CLUB DOWN UNDER#
APR. 13 -- HOUSTON, TX -- FITZGERALD'S#
APR. 14 -- AUSTIN, TX -- MOHAWK#
APR. 15 -- DALLAS, TX -- TREES#
APR. 17 -- MEMPHIS, TN -- HI TONE#
APR. 18 -- LEXINGTON, KY -- COSMIC CHARLIE'S#
APR. 20 -- ST. LOUIS, MO -- OFF BROADWAY#
APR. 21 -- COLUMBIA, MO -- MOJOS#
* Ume support
^ Ume and M. Moriah support
** Ume and Virgin Islands support
# Cymbals Eat Guitars and Conduits support

Links:
Cursive

Tim Kasher Posts Free Download from Tour-Exclusive EP / Show at Mercury Lounge on August 24th.

Last week, Cursive front-man Tim Kasher made available as a free download the rueful, subtly sweeping track, "The Jessica," off his upcoming tour-exclusive EP Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions. [Note: download via the widget in the right nav bar]

The Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions tour EP will be sold on CD and vinyl only at Kasher's upcoming August and September headlining shows and in the Saddle Creek webstore, where it is now available for pre-order. The EP will also be available digitally beginning August 16th.

The Bigamy: More Songs From The Monogamy Sessions tour EP features seven new songs loosely linked to and written during the same period as Kasher's debut solo album The Game Of Monogamy, released last October by Saddle Creek. Telling stories of mixed emotions, heartbreak, and adulthood restlessness, the songs range sonically from the slow-burning opener "No Harmony" to the syncopated pop of "A Bluer Sea" to the evocative swell of "Rabbit, Run". Bigamy... also features an epic cover of Azure Ray's "Trees Keep Growing" - all buzzing guitars and crashing drums - that Kasher has wanted to record for some time. The EP was predominantly self-recorded this spring in various local locations and at the Sleepy House studio in Omaha; "A Bluer Sea" was recorded at SnowGhost Music in Whitefish, MT, at the same time as Monogamy.

Tim Kasher Upcoming Tour Dates:

AUG. 18 -- CHICAGO, IL, SCHUBAS
AUG. 19 -- PONTIAC, MI, THE CROFOOT
AUG. 20 -- COLUMBUS, OH, DOUBLE HAPPINESS
AUG. 21 -- CLEVELAND, OH, GROG SHOP
AUG. 22 -- ROCHESTER, NY, BUG JAR
AUG. 23 -- BOSTON, MA, GREAT SCOTT
AUG. 24 -- NEW YORK, NY, MERCURY LOUNGE (Tickets are $15 and the show starts at 9:30PM)
AUG. 25 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA, JOHNNY BRENDA'S
AUG. 26 -- WASHINGTON, DC, RED PALACE
AUG. 27 -- CHAPEL HILL, NC, LOCAL 506
AUG. 28 -- GREENVILLE, NC, THE TIPSY TEAPOT
AUG. 29 -- ATLANTA, GA, THE EARL
AUG. 30 -- ST. AUGUSTINE, FL, CAFÉ ELEVEN
AUG. 31 -- ORLANDO, FL, THE SOCIAL
SEPT. 1 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL, CLUB DOWNUNDER
SEPT. 2 -- BIRMINGHAM, AL, BOTTLETREE
SEPT. 3 -- MEMPHIS, TN, HI TONE
SEPT. 4 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR, STICKY ROCK & ROLL CHICKEN SHACK
SEPT. 6 -- AUSTIN, TX, MOHAWK
SEPT. 7 -- DALLAS, TX, THE LOFT
SEPT. 8 -- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, THE CONSERVATORY
SEPT. 9 -- LAWRENCE, KS, JACKPOT
SEPT. 10 -- OMAHA, NE, THE WAITING ROOM
* Aficionado opens on all dates

Links:
Tim Kasher

Tim Kasher - "The Game of Monogamy" CD Review (Saddle Creek)

I moved from Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan over the Summer…this is relevant only because my former Post Office (which has consistently been rated one-star) took over three months to forward on Tim Kasher’s solo disc to my new address. Perhaps there is a reason that the current Yelp review of this Post Office starts with the quote “Nobody in their right minds should ever visit here unless it's an absolute necessity or out of desperation.”

Getting back on track, I’m glad that Tim Kasher’s solo debut, The Game of Monogamy, finally arrived and this disc ended up on my 2010 “best of” list. The Game of Monogamy is similar to Kasher’s work with Cursive and includes appearances from Patrick Newbery (from Cursive), Matt Maginn (also of Cursive) and Minus the Bear’s Erin Tate. The album is essentially a concept album as it follows the protagonist through the romantic arc of courtship, complacency, disillusionment, contempt and ultimately stifling compromise. Kasher's lyrical narratives are at their most colorful on this disc and he creates a character sketch of the disc's focal couple which is progressively built up through the rise and fall of their relationship. This is definitely not a story for the weak or the hopeless romantic.

The disc starts with a cinematic build-up of orchestral strings which then leads into Kashner’s midlife declaration of “I am a grown man. How did this happen? People are gonna start expecting more from me.” From here, the disc heads into the high-energy “I’m Afraid I’m Gonna Die Here” (which includes horns and handclaps) and the bouncy music somewhat masks Kasher's concern that he has “written” the last chapter in his life and is now “collecting cobwebs on the porch”. The arc progresses with the narrator’s current relationship deteriorating (“Cold Love”) and his wishing to recapture his youth and “have sex with all [his] old girlfriend” (“There Must Be Something I Lost”). The inevitable cheating happens (“Bad, Bad Dreams”) along with the expected regret (“The Prodigal Husband”) and the disc ends on a down-note highlighting the stifling pain of domestic relationships (“Monogamy”).



While The Game of Monogamy isn’t the self-immolation of works like Lou Reed’s Berlin, this disc isn’t far behind. Kasher’s narrative and storytelling abilities have taken a leap forward with this release and the detailed story line invites a stage adaptation of the album similar to what Reed did with Berlin.

Links:
Tim Kasher

Tim Kasher Releases Solo Daytrotter Session // Returns to NYC in Dec. With Minus The Bear

DOWNLOAD: Tim Kasher - "Daytrotter Session" 11/3/10 (requires free registration)

Kicking off his fall tour with a headlining show earlier this week at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles, CA, Tim Kasher continues on his massive national fall trek in support of his debut solo album, The Game Of Monogamy. The tour, which began in late September, runs through December 17th at The Rave (Downstairs) in Milwaukee, WI, and includes recently announced dates in El Paso, TX (11/15), Pittsburgh, PA (11/22), Washington, DC (11/23), and St. Louis, MO (12/15). In addition to the headlining shows, Kasher will again support Minus The Bear for two and a half weeks in late November and into December. Kasher will be backed by a full band on all dates.

Kasher's excellent first solo Daytrotter session is also now online (link above). The session features The Game Of Monogamy tracks "Bad, Bad Dreams," "The Prodigal Husband," and "No Fireworks," as well as a cover of David Bowie's "Soul Love." The video for "Cold Love," directed by Kasher himself and featuring actress Molly Parker (Deadwood, Swingtown), premiered in late September on AOL Music's Spinner blog and can also now be viewed here.



The Game Of Monogamy was released October 5th by Saddle Creek. The album is more of an arranged record than any of Kasher's past releases with Cursive and The Good Life, and has been catching the attention of the press, including Alternative Press, The A.V. Club, Filter, Popmatters, SPIN, and USA Today. Filled with deceptively catchy classic pop, sweeping, grand arrangements, and alternately stark and lush instrumentation, the album explores the wide range of distinctly human emotions tangled up around relationships in a starched shirt society. The Game Of Monogamy was written and recorded in Whitefish, MT, last winter, co-produced by Kasher and Patrick Newbery (of Cursive, Lacona, Head Of Femur), who also helped with the arrangements and plays on the record. Erin Tate (Minus The Bear) and Matt Maginn (Cursive) also contributed drum and bass parts, respectively, and members of the Glacier National Symphony added classical instrument parts.

Tickets for the show at Terminal 5 (with Minus the Bear) are $25.50 in advance and $30 (DOS).

Upcoming Tour Dates:

NOV. 12 -- POMONA, CA -- GLASS HOUSE RECORD STORE
NOV. 13 -- SAN DIEGO, CA -- THE LOFT @ UCSD
NOV. 14 -- PHOENIX, AZ -- SAIL INN
NOV. 15 -- EL PASO, TX THE PERCOLATOR
NOV. 16 -- COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- BLACK SHEEP
NOV. 18 -- LINCOLN, NE -- BOURBON THEATER
NOV. 19 -- OMAHA, NE -- THE WAITING ROOM
NOV. 20 -- CHICAGO, IL -- SCHUBAS
NOV. 21 -- ANN ARBOR, MI -- BLIND PIG
NOV. 22 -- PITTSBURGH, PA -- THUNDERBIRD CAFÉ
NOV. 23 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- THE RED PALACE
NOV. 24 -- CHAPEL HILL, NC -- LOCAL 506
NOV. 26 -- ORLANDO, FL -- THE SOCIAL
NOV. 27 -- TAMPA, FL -- CROWBAR
NOV. 28 -- ATLANTA, GA -- THE EARL
NOV. 29 -- ASHEVILLE, CA -- ORANGE PEEL*
NOV. 30 -- RALEIGH, NC -- LINCOLN THEATRE*
DEC. 1 -- NORFOLK, VA -- NORVA*
DEC. 2 -- YORK, PA -- STRAND*
DEC. 3 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA -- ELECTRIC FACTORY*
DEC. 4 -- NEW YORK, NY -- TERMINAL 5*
DEC. 6 -- PAWTUCKET, RI -- MET CAFÉ*
DEC. 7 -- BOSTON, MA -- WILBUR THEATRE*
DEC. 9 -- CLEVELAND, OH -- HOUSE OF BLUES*
DEC. 10 -- PONTIAC, MI -- CLUTCH CARGO'S*
DEC. 11 -- URBANA, IL -- CANOPY CLUB*
DEC. 12 -- COLUMBIA, MO -- THE BLUE NOTE*
DEC. 13 -- IOWA CITY, IA -- THE BLUE MOOSE*
DEC. 14 -- BLOOMINGTON, IN -- BLUEBIRD*
DEC. 15 -- ST. LOUIS, MO -- OFF BROADWAY
DEC. 16 -- CHICAGO, IL -- THE VIC THEATRE*
DEC. 17 -- MILWAUKEE, WI -- THE RAVE (Downstairs)*
* supporting Minus The Bear

Links:
Tim Kasher

Tim Kasher (Cursive) Releases First Solo Single as Free Download // Show at Rock Shop on Oct. 6th

Cursive frontman Tim Kasher just released the first single, "Cold Love", from his forthcoming solo LP ,The Game of Monogamy, as a free download.

The Game Of Monogamy, which will be released October 5th, 2010, on Saddle Creek, is also now available in the Saddle Creek webstore for pre-order. The album can be purchased in multiple packages, including a special bundle with a limited edition 7" (only 100 copies made) featuring two non-album tracks, "Tightropes, Guillotines, Thin Ice, Landslides" and "Delirium Tantrums," with hand screened covers, signed and personalized by Kasher.

"Cold Love" will be released as an advance single on Sept. 14th along with the previously unreleased non-LP track "Just Don't Get Caught". This too is available for pre-order in Saddle Creek webstore.

Written and recorded in Whitefish, MT, this past January, The Game Of Monogamy is more of an arranged record than any of Kasher's past releases, filled with theatrical arrangements and lush instrumentation (including various strings, harp, oboe, flute, and trombone) to create his own blend of classic pop. This moody orchestral music evokes a 1950s-esque, conservative atmosphere, setting the stage for a dilemma that remains thoroughly modern. The protagonist's arc in The Game of Monogamy spans the wide range of distinctly human emotions tangled up around relationships in a starched shirt society. Call it the score for our collective sexual plight: expression routinely becomes repression in the name of romance.

Kasher will embark on a two-month long, full-band tour beginning September 30th at the Grog Shop in Cleveland, OH. After working his way across the country on the tour, which includes 12 dates in support of Minus The Bear, Kasher will wrap up in Chicago, IL, on November 20th at Schubas. Here is the complete set of tour dates:

SEPT. 30 -- CLEVELAND, OH GROG SHOP
OCT. 03 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA BARBARY
OCT. 04 -- ALLSTON, MA GREAT SCOTT
OCT. 05 -- NEW YORK, NY OTHER MUSIC (In-store)
OCT. 06 -- BROOKLYN, NY ROCK SHOP
OCT. 18 -- EUGENE, OR WOW HALL*
OCT. 19 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA THE REGENCY*
OCT. 20 -- SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA DOWNTOWN BREWERY*
OCT. 21 -- SANTA CRUZ, CA RIO THEATRE*
OCT. 22 -- LOS ANGELES, CA WILTERN*
OCT. 23 -- TUCSON, AZ RIALTO*
OCT. 24 -- ALBUQUERQUE, NM SUNSHINE*
OCT. 25 -- LUBBOCK, TX JAKE'S*
OCT. 26 -- TULSA, OK MARQUEE*
OCT. 27 -- AUSTIN, TX STUBB'S*
OCT. 28 -- DALLAS, TX HOUSE OF BLUES*
OCT. 29 -- HOUSTON, TX HOUSE OF BLUES*
NOV. 01 -- DENVER, CO HI DIVE#
NOV. 03 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT URBAN LOUNGE
NOV. 05 -- VANCOUVER, BC MEDIA CLUB
NOV. 06 -- SEATTLE, WA TRACTOR TAVERN
NOV. 07 -- PORTLAND, OR DOUG FIR LOUNGE
NOV. 10 -- VISALIA, CA CELLAR DOOR
NOV. 12 -- POMONA, CA GLASS HOUSE RECORD STORE
NOV. 13 -- SAN DIEGO, CA THE LOFT
NOV. 14 -- PHOENIX, AZ TBA
NOV. 19 -- OMAHA, NE THE WAITING ROOM
NOV. 20 -- CHICAGO, IL SCHUBAS
* supporting Minus The Bear
# with Azure Ray and Tim Fite

Links:
Tim Kasher

Cursive Hits the Road With Alkaline Trio Next Month / Tour Stops in NYC and NJ in March

DOWNLOAD: Cursive - "Dorothy at Forty" (From Happy Hollow)

Cursive are heading out on a two month tour starting in February supporting Alkaline Trio. The tour stops at Nokia Theatre on March 12 and Starland Ballroom on March 13th.

Cursive has spent most of last year on the road since releasing their sixth studio album, Mama, I'm Swollen, in March.

Here are the upcoming tour date (all in support of Alkaline Trio):

FEB. 16 -- POMONA, CA, GLASS HOUSE
FEB. 17 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)
FEB. 18 -- SAN FRANCISCO, CA, REGENCY BALLROOM
FEB. 19 -- PORTLAND, OR, WONDER BALLROOM
FEB. 20 -- SEATTLE, WA, NEUMO'S
FEB. 23 -- BOISE, ID, KNITTING FACTORY
FEB. 24 -- SALT LAKE CITY, UT, IN THE VENUE
FEB. 25 -- DENVER, CO, GOTHIC THEATRE
FEB. 26 -- LAWRENCE, KS, GRANADA THEATRE
FEB. 27 -- CHICAGO, IL, METRO
FEB. 28 -- CHICAGO, IL, METRO
MAR. 02 -- ROYAL OAK, MI, ROYAL OAK MUSIC THEATRE
MAR. 03 -- COLUMBUS, OH, NEWPORT MUSIC HALL
MAR. 04 -- CLEVELAND, OH, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 05 -- PITTSBURGH, PA, CLUB ZOO
MAR. 06 -- TORONTO, ON, PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE
MAR. 08 -- CLIFTON PARK, NY, NORTHERN LIGHTS
MAR. 09 -- HARTFORD, CT, WEBSTER THEATRE
MAR. 11 -- PHILADELPHIA, PA, TROCADERO
MAR. 12 -- NEW YORK, NY, NOKIA THEATRE
MAR. 13 -- SAYREVILLE, NJ, STARLAND BALLROOM
MAR. 14 -- PROVIDENCE, RI, LUPO'S HEARTBREAK HOTEL
MAR. 16 -- TOWSON, MD, RECHER THEATRE
MAR. 17 -- CHARLOTTE, NC, AMOS' SOUTHEND
MAR. 18 -- CHARLESTON, SC, MUSIC FARM
MAR. 19 -- ATLANTA, GA, MASQUERADE
MAR. 20 -- JACKSONVILLE, FL, FREEBIRD LIVE
MAR. 22 -- ORLANDO, FL, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 23 -- FT. LAUDERDALE, FL, REVOLUTION
MAR. 25 -- NEW ORLEANS, LA, HOUSE OF BLUES
MAR. 26 -- HOUSTON, TX, WAREHOUSE LIVE
MAR. 27 -- DALLAS, TX, PALLADIUM BALLROOM
MAR. 28 -- AUSTIN, TX, EMO'S
MAR. 30 -- TEMPE, AZ, THE MARQUEE
APR. 01 -- SAN DIEGO, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES
APR. 02 -- LOS ANGELES, CA, HOUSE OF BLUES (SUNSET STRIP)

Links:
Cursive

Capgun Coup Release 'Only the Times Are Changing' Video From Maudlin (Team Love)

Omaha, NB quintet Capgun Coup released their sophomore CD Maudlin last month on Team Love Records (see Maudlin CD review).

The band just released the first video from the new disc, "Only The Times Are Changing", which was directed by Jacob Thiele (of The Faint).



Capgun Coup are currently on tour with Cursive and here are the band's upcoming shows:
Dec. 07, 2009, 8:00PM, Lenny’s, Atlanta, Georgia
Dec. 08, 2009, 8:00PM, Proud Larry’s, Oxford, Mississippi
Dec. 09, 2009, 8:00PM, The Rev Room, Little Rock, Arkansas
Dec. 10, 2009, 8:00PM, George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayettville, Arkansas
Dec. 11, 2009, 8:00PM, Mojo’s, Columbia, Missouri
Dec. 12, 2009, 6:00PM, Vaudville Mews, Des Moines, Iowa
Dec. 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Waiting Room, Omaha, Nebraska
Dec. 27, 2009, 8:00PM, Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, Nebraska

Links:
Capgun Coup's MySpace Profile

Capgun Coup - Maudlin CD Review (Team Love Records)

DOWNLOAD: Capgun Coup - "Sitting on the Sidewalk" (MP3)

Capgun Coup’s sophomore release Maudlin (Team Love) is a near perfect slice of lo-fi garage rock that owes an equal debt to both late 60’s era Bob Dylan and The Modern Lovers.

The band’s music is raw and energetic and, over the course of this new disc, skips across styles and genres seamlessly. Musical styles range from the languid, ‘Pavement-ish’ “Farnam Street” to the indie-pop melodic harmonies of “Pretty City” to the raw garage-punk of “Bad Bands”. Capgun Coup has built a strong reputation a high-energy live act and all of the songs on this new disc should translate well to the live stage.

Going back to the Jonathan Richman/Bob Dylan reference earlier, vocalist Sam Martin can certainly turn a lyrical phrase. He isn’t exactly the most politically correct with songs like “Wish I Was A Fag” and “Bad Bands” but these aren’t Fear-style lyrics here. The band is rather reflecting on reflecting on the current state of society. Songs like “Sitting On The Sidewalk” and “Now That I’m Home” are essentially updated takes on the Dead Boys “Ain’t Nothing To Do” and The Ramones “Now I Want To Sniff Some Glue”.

Maudlin is compelling album that has been growing on me with each repeated listen.

Capgun Coup is out on tour with Cursive starting at the end of the month. Here is the upcoming tour dates:

NOV. 24 -- LAWRENCE, KS, BOTTLENECK
NOV. 25 -- SPRINGFIELD, MO, OUTLAND BALLROOM
NOV. 27 -- DENTON, TX, HAILEY'S
NOV. 28 -- AUSTIN, TX, MOHAWK
NOV. 29 -- MCALLEN, TX, CINE EL REY
DEC. 01 -- BATON ROUGE, LA, SPANISH MOON
DEC. 02 -- NEW ORLEANS, LA, ONE EYED JACKS
DEC. 03 -- MOBILE, AL, ALABAMA MUSIC BOX
DEC. 04 -- PENSACOLA, FL, SLUGGO'S
DEC. 05 -- ORLANDO, FL, THE SOCIAL
DEC. 06 -- GAINESVILLE, FL, COMMON GROUNDS
DEC. 07 -- ATLANTA, GA, LENNY'S
DEC. 08 -- OXFORD, MS, PROUD LARRY'S
DEC. 09 -- LITTLE ROCK, AR, THE REV ROOM
DEC. 10 -- FAYETTEVILLE, AR, GEORGE'S MAJESTIC LOUNGE
DEC. 11 -- COLUMBIA, MO, MOJO'S
DEC. 13 -- OMAHA, NE, WAITING ROOM

Links:
Capgun Coup's MySpace Profile

Capgun Coup Release New Single "Bad Bands" from Forthcoming Disc

DOWNLOAD: Capgun Coup - "Bad Bands" (from Maudlin - out Nov. 3rd)

Omaha, NB indie-pop/punk band Capgun Coup are releasing their sophomore disc Maudlin on November 3rd on Team Love (home to Jenny Lewis, The Felice Brothers, etc.)

This disc is the follow-up to the band's 2007 debut, Brought to You by Nebraskafish, and its described as "a satiric commentary on the state of contemporary life, as well as a sonic homage to Capgun Coup’s reputed, dynamic live shows".

Team Love is currently taking pre-orders for the LP and CD.

Capgun Coup is on tour with Cursive starting next month and here are the upcoming tour dates:
11.24.09 -- Lawrence, KS, Bottleneck
11.25.09 -- Springfield, MO, Outland Ballroom
11.27.09 -- Denton, TX, Hailey’s
11.28.09 -- Austin, TX, Mohawk
11.29.09 -- McAllen, TX, Cine El Ray
12.01.09 -- Baton Rouge, LA, Spanish Moon
12.02.09 -- New Orleans, LA, One Eye Jacks
12.03.09 -- Mobile, AL, Alabama Music Box
12.04.09 -- Pensacola, FL, Sluggos
12.05.09 -- Orlando, FL, The Social

Links:
Capgun Coup's MySpace Profile

Cursive Release New Video for "Let Me Up" + Daytrotter Sessions (Saddle Creek)

DOWNLOAD: Cursive - Daytrotter Sessions 9/22/09 (Requires Login)

Cursive just recorded a great session for Daytrotter.com (download link is above). There are two covers - The Cure's "Love Cats" and David Bowie's "Modern Love" along with a reworking of "What Have I Done?" (from Mama I'm Swollen) and "The Casualty" (from Domestica).

In related news, Cursive just released a new video for "Let Me Up" (from Mama I'm Swollen) which was directed by Evan Glodell.



Cursive is currently off the road but are playing two shows in Japan later this month:

OCT. 26 TOKYO, JAPAN SHIBUYA O-NEST
OCT. 27 TOKYO, JAPAN SHINDAITA FEVER

Links:
Cursive's MySpace Profile

Cursive - Photos from Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ 8/6/09

I'm somewhat of a Cursive novice as I hadn't given the band a lot of attention prior to last Thursday's show at Maxwell's. I was expected a fairly mellow show after watching the band perform "From The Hips" on Letterman and was floored to see a Fugazi-like energy in the room.

A leaky ceiling panel over the stage seemed to slow down the set change-over so the room was completely packed prior to Cursive's set. When Cursive made their way through the crowd to take the stage, they were greeted and back-slapped like hometown heroes.



The band started off with a bang as Tim Kasher eyeballed the crowd as the band started into "Butcher the Song". The minute Tim took the mic, the crowd went wild with singing and dancing along.







When the band didn't slow down after the first 4 - 5 songs, the dancing turned into an on-again/off-again pit and crowd surfing.





This was one of those nights where 'anything goes' but it never got to the point of being out of control (like some matinees at CBGB). The band finally slowed down when Tim went off on a rant about how the devil is real which ultimately segued into the song "Big Bang".



After a few more songs, which included a cover of David Bowie's "Modern Love" and "From the Hips", the band finished their set. It is nights like this that made the walk down Washington Street and the long train ride back to Brooklyn worth it. (How frequently does that bloody PATH train run? I swear I was on the platform for more than 30 minutes.)

Tomorrow night is the final show of the current tour:
Aug. 11 2009, 7:00PM, CD Central - FREE In-Store, Lexington, Kentucky
Aug. 11 2009, 8:00PM, The Dame, Lexington, Kentucky

Links:
Cursive's MySpace Profile

The Love Language - Photos from Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ 8/6/09

Chapel Hill, NC seven-piece band The Love Language opened for Cursive last Thursday night at Maxwell's. The band has been through the area a number of times over the past few months, touring behind their self-titled debut CD (on Bladen County Records) and they have been alternating between opening for Cursive and playing headlining shows this time around. While the sold-out crowd at Maxwell's was clearly there for Cursive, The Love Language played a solid 40 minute set and probably picked up more than a few fans.



As this was my first time seeing (or hearing) The Love Language, the band struck me like a cross between Jeff Buckley and The Arcade Fire. Guitarist/song writer/singer Stuart McLamb's vocals alternate between a Jeff Buckley-style quaver on some of the slower numbers and an R&B 'swing' on upbeat numbers like "Sparxx" and "Lalita". For anyone who hasn't seen the band perform live, here is a live version of "Lalita" that was recorded at the soundcheck at a recent show in Brooklyn.









Here is The Love Language's upcoming tour dates:
Aug. 09. 2009, 8:00PM, 123 Pleasant Street w/ Cursive & Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band, Morgantown, West Virginia
Aug. 10, 2009, 8:00PM, Musica w/ Cursive, Akron, Ohio
Aug. 11, 2009, 8:00PM, The Dame w/Cursive, Lexington, Kentucky
Aug. 20 2009, 8:00PM, Locally Grown Festival, w/ Lost in the Trees, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Aug. 29 2009, 8:00PM, 40 Watt Club w/Modern Skirts, Athens, Georgia

Links:
The Love Language's MySpace Profile

So Many Dynamos Release New Disc Next Month and Play Union Hall on July 28th

St. Louis dance-punk band So Many Dynamos are releasing their third disc, The Loud Wars (Vagrant Records), next month. The new disc was produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, The Decemberists) and mixed by Walla and Alex Newport (Mars Volta, At the Drive-In).

The first single "New Bones" is streaming on the So Many Dynamos' MySpace page and a new track, "The Artifacts of Sound", will be posted later this week.

Here is a live performance of "New Bones" that was recorded last September in Arkansas.



The band is heading out on the road in June for ten dates with Maps and Atlases before setting off on their own headlining tour in July.

Dates with Maps and Atlases:
Jun 7 – Toronto, ONT @ El Mocambo
Jun 8 – Montral, QC @ Il Motore
Jun 10 – Hamden, CT @ The Space
Jun 11 – Albany, NY @ Valentine’s
Jun 12 – Philadelphia, PA @ M Room
Jun 14 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar: Club Stage
Jun 15 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks
Jun 16 – Lexington, KY @ Al’s Bar
Jun 17 – Bloomington, IN @ Russian Recording

So Many Dynamos Headlining Dates:
Jun 27 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird (Record Release Show)
Jul 8 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
Jul 9 – Kansas City, MO @ The Record Bar
Jul 11 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court
Jul 17 – Visalia, CA @ The Cellar Door
Jul 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ First Christian Church
Jul 28 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall