This Week's Tour News

Who: Bowerbirds
When: July 29th + July 30th
Where: Bowery Ballroom + Music Hall of Williamsburg
More Dates
Listen: Bowerbirds - "Bur Oak"
Thoughts: It seems to me that I mention Bowerbirds all the freakin' time here on Pop Tarts Suck Toasted, yet for some inexplicable reason I have yet to see the band live and in person! I have failed at every chance I've had to see them and I need to correct that! I really do want to see this band! I will do my best to be at one of these shows, I really will!

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Who: Frightened Rabbit
When: May 27th
Where: Pianos
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Listen: Frightened Rabbit - "Head Rolls Off"
Thoughts: First off let me say that the Scottish band known as Frightened Rabbit is way too big to be playing Pianos! This will probably be your last chance to see them in such an intimate venue so don't blow it! Tickets are already on sale for this show so what are you waiting for. Now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this show is part of my buddy Wes's Cross Pollination series. You know full disclosure and everything, but Frightened Rabbit are awesome even without it being my friend's show!

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Who: King Khan & the Shrines
When: June 26th, August 2nd + August 3rd
Where: South Street Seaport, Mercury Lounge + McCarren Park
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Listen: King Khan & the Shrines - "(How Can I Keep You) Outta Harms Way"
Thoughts: I haven't seen King Khan in any of his various incarnations at all, which is kind of a disappointment to me considering how much I enjoy all of his music (and that his live show is reputed to be insane!). But I'm hoping to make up for it big this summer by being at all three of the shows listed above and by heading to Chicago to see him at the Pitchfork Music Fest! So there, now I'll just have to make it up to BBQ in some other way!
(Photo Cred)

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Who: Stereolab
When: October 2nd, 3rd, + 4th
Where: Irving Plaza
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Listen: Stereolab - "Fiery Yellow"
Thoughts: Wow, three dates at Irving Plaza being announced months in advance!?!? Who do Stereolab think they are some old school punk reunion or classic rock band? Don't they know we don't announce shows like this anymore? Guess not, but they are Stereolab so I'll give 'em a pass this time around!

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Who: Love Is All
When: June 12th + June 14th
Where: Cake Shop + Market Hotel
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Listen: Love Is All - "Make Out Fall Out Make Up"
Thoughts: Last time Love Is All was around I missed every one of their dates! I cursed myself and damned my rotten luck for missing such an excellent band, so hopefully the case will not remain the same this time around! As an added bonus (or a mild omen that I may not get in) the band is playing some seriously intimate venues this time around and that Cake Shop date is part of the NY Pop Fest taking place in a couple of weeks. Good luck getting into that one!

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Who: Built to Spill
When: September 25th + September 26th
Where: Terminal 5 (x2)
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Listen: Built to Spill - "Kicked It in the Sun"
Thoughts: Not only do I love Built to Spill, but I genuinely agree that Perfect from Now On is the band's absolute masterpiece, and they will be performing that in it's entirety at both of these dates as well as a slew of other ones leading up to and after their ATP date in upstate New York!!!!

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Who: Battles
When: August 16th
Where: Central Park Summerstage
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Listen: Battles - "Rainbow"
Thoughts: Battle were one of my favorite overall acts of 2007. The band rated high on my list of albums and live performances for the year and stayed that way for much of the year. So it's not like I'm just going to forget about them if they don't release anything or play for a while! Now the band is coming back around (possibly for the last time before heading back to the studio???) and I believe their New York show is one of the FREE Central Park ones!!! So yeah, it's a no brainer that I'll be at this show!

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Who: The Hold Steady
When: June 29th
Where: McCarren Park Pool
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Listen: The Hold Steady - "Citrus"
Thoughts: So The Hold Steady are playing a free show at McCarren Park Pool, what are the chances that this show isn't packed wall to wall with hipsters and frat boys alike? This may be the most packed show in the history of the pool parties! I'll definitely be there and I know most of you readers will be there as well!

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Who: Hot Chip
When: October 3rd + 4th
Where: Terminal 5 (x2)
More Dates
Listen: Hot Chip - "Touch Too Much"
Thoughts: Hot Chip is an amazing live band, yet I've only managed to see them a single time where they positively blew me away. That said I don't know if Terminal 5 is the right place to see this band, but on the other hand it doesn't look like the band will start appealing to less people then they are now so this might be as small as they get from now on. Sigh.