Denver lo-fi duo Tennis are releasing their debut CD Cape Dory next Tuesday on Fat Possum. SPIN has already called the disc “(almost) too good to be true”, giving it an 8 out of 10 review in their current issue. The release includes all songs from this summer’s 7” EP, "South Carolina", which is lauded by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and more.

The pair, consisting of guitarist Patrick Riley and vocalist Alaina Moore, met while studying philosophy in college. Motivated by stories shared by sailors including Joshua Slocum, and Lin and Larry Pardey, the two sold their collective possessions, bought an old sailboat and embarked on 7-month journey along the Eastern seaboard. Upon their return, and in search of an outlet to catalog their experience, the couple began writing music together.

The resulting lo-fi sound is inspired by the minimalist lifestyle they experienced on their adventure. Riley explains, “Simplicity and self-sufficiency were our highest priorities. When we were on the boat—no cell phones, no internet, no electricity most of time, having to do everything yourself—made its way into our album by not having a producer, recording it ourselves, mixing it ourselves, very little production, etc.”

Riley continues “Anytime we could make a song simpler, we did. There is very little tracking or overdubbing on the album. We didn’t want to use production tricks to make things sound ‘better.’ No vocal doubling, no harmonizers, no auto-tune.”

The band just made available a video for the song "Pigeon" (directed by Jeremy D'Souza and Scott Laidlaw) and are touring the East Coast in late February/early March.



Tennis' Tour Dates
January 27 -- Urban Lounge, Salt Lake City, UT
January 28 -- The Neurolux, Boise, ID
January 29 -- Mississippi Studios, Portland, OR
January 31 -- Media Club, Vancouver, BC
February 01 -- The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
February 03 -- Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA
February 04 -- Echo, Los Angeles, CA
February 05 -- The Tin Can Ale House, San Diego, CA
February 07 -- Hotel Congress, Tucson, AZ
February 08 -- Rhythm Room, Phoenix, AZ
February 10 -- Hi Dive, Denver, CO
February 17 -- Jackpot, Lawrence, KS
February 18 -- Slowdown, Omaha, NE
February 19 -- 7th Street Entry, Minneapolis, MN
February 21 -- High Noon Saloon, Madison, WI
February 22 -- Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
February 25 -- Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON
February 26 -- Il Motore, Montreal, QC
February 27 -- Iron Horse, Northampton, MA
February 28 -- Great Scott, Boston, MA
March 02 -- Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
March 03 -- The Bell House, Brooklyn, NY
March 04 -- Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, PA
March 05 -- Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
March 07 -- Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC
March 08 -- Grey Eagle, Asheville, NC
March 10 -- The Basement, Nashville, TN
March 11 -- The Earl, Atlanta, GA
March 12 -- The Social, Orlando, FL
March 13 -- The Orpheum, Tampa, FL
March 15 -- The Parish @ HOB, New Orleans, LA

Here is a live video from the band's performance last year at Glasslands.



Links:
Tennis