SANDY, UT (Monday, May 17, 2010) – In a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for music fans and concert enthusiasts across the Wasatch Front, the legendary Paul McCartney has announced a performance date at Utah’s state-of-the-art Rio Tinto Stadium for Tuesday, July 13th on his ‘Up and Coming’ 2010 tour.  Keeping with his headline-making special concerts over the last few years, the tour will see the iconic star and his band play unique venues, places and locations; new cities he’s never played and familiar markets he’s not visited for a while.

The July 13th concert date in the stunning Rio Tinto Stadium setting will be McCartney’s first-ever performance in the great State of Utah.

On Monday, May 24 at 10 AM, tickets go on sale to the general public via www.RioTintoStadium.com or (888) 477-5849.  The American Express Early On-Sale opportunity kicks off Thursday, May 20, at 10 AM through Sunday, May 23 at 10 PM, an online time window designated exclusively for AMEX card holders. Real Salt Lake season ticket holders will receive specific information regarding their process.

“We are ecstatic to welcome one of music’s most revered talents, the incomparable Paul McCartney, to Rio Tinto Stadium for his first-ever appearance in Utah,” said Dave Checketts, Chairman and Founder of SCP Worldwide, LLC, co-owner of Rio Tinto Stadium and Real Salt Lake (MLS). “We are proud of what we delivered a summer ago to the people of Utah with some spectacular acts, and now our state’s finest music venue, Rio Tinto Stadium, will host another true icon in what is sure to be a history-making performance, allowing fans of every generation – from across the region – to see and hear music that changed the world.”

McCartney’s live shows have reached a new level of legendary status in recent years, garnering unprecedented reviews from fans and critics alike wherever he goes.  He’s pushed boundaries, performed to millions and made global news with monumental shows, including performances in Moscow’s Red Square, outside the Coliseum in Rome, performing live into a NASA space station, the largest outdoor show ever in the Ukraine, his first visit to Tel Aviv and last year his ‘Summer 09’ tour began in earnest with an already legendary inaugural run of shows at New York’s CitiField Stadium, on the site of the former Shea Stadium where The Beatles played the 1965 concert that set the precedent for the modern-day stadium rock show.  Critics hailed the CitiField performances, seen by over 100,000 people, as the concert experience of a lifetime. Those performances were immortalized on last year’s RIAA gold-certified multi-disc CD/DVD ‘Good Evening New York City’.

The ‘Up and Coming’ 2010 tour, which kicked off in late March, are Paul’s first U.S. shows since his five-week ‘Summer Live 09′ tour last year, which was prefaced by a triumphant sold-out headline set at the 2009 Coachella festival and a surprise performance for CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman on the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater (inside which The Beatles made TV history decades ago) that drew throngs packing Broadway from Columbus Circle to Times Square.

Garnering rave reviews the new McCartney show features a typically diverse set list, drawing on 2 hours-plus worth of selections spanning the catalogues of The Beatles, Wings and Paul’s solo career, including tracks from The Fireman’s 2008 album ‘Electric Arguments’ and potentially some songs never-before-played-on-U.S.-soil added to the set list.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Paul McCartney Live in 2010

“When McCartney did an American mini-tour last spring and summer, fans (and, at the Coachella Festival, some curious acolytes) were astonished by shows that stretched out to the two-and-a-half hour mark. Returning to U.S. shores with a slightly revamped revue that he’s dubbed the “Up and Coming Tour,” McCartney now has an even longer set list that brings his concerts up to a plentiful two hours and 45 minutes. In other words, Rosalita ain’t got nothing on Eleanor Rigby.”
— ROLLINGSTONE.COM

“In concert, however, even at 67 years old, McCartney is more like Superman. Watching him perform 40 vocally demanding songs over nearly three hours Saturday night… one could only wonder: How does he do it?”
— THE MIAMI HERALD

“McCartney still sounds terrific, with a voice flexible enough to turn on a dime from raucous to honey sweet in a set that hit all the obvious targets (“Let It Be,” “The Long and Winding Road,” “Hey Jude,” “Get Back,” “Yesterday”) as well as a few surprises.”
–THE FORT LAUDERDALE SUN SENTINEL

“It’s hard to think of much in the pop music world more impressive than a 67-year-old musician holding forth for nearly three hours, outdoors on a chilly March night, while delivering some three dozen songs, the least of which would be a career highlight for almost any other artist.”
— THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Visit www.paulmccartney.com for further tour and show information or visit www.RioTintoStadium.com

PRE-ORDER NOW LIVE AT MATESOFSTATE.COM

“LOVE LETTER” VIDEO, FREE DOWNLOAD OF “LAURA” ALSO UP AT BAND’S SITE

SUMMER CRUSHES TOUR FEATURING FREE ENERGY, TODD BARRY, NICK THUNE, SUCKERS AND MORE KICKS OFF JUNE 15

Mates of State’s Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) is now available for pre-order at matesofstate.com for a beyond reasonable $5. The self-released digital-only album will be released on June 15 and will then be available at all finer digital music retailers

“We are really proud of this record—it may be our best yet,” says Jason Hammel who is one half of Mates of State. The other half, wife Kori Gardner says, “We made it as efficiently and independently as possible, so in turn we wanted to make it as easy as possible for anyone and everyone to hear it. Selling it directly from our site for $5 seemed like a good way to do that.”

Also just unveiled at matesofstate.com is the brand new video for the band’s cover of Nick Cave’s “Love Letter.”  The literally and figuratively smoldering clip was directed by Daniel Garcia, who visually interpreted “Get Better” from Mates of State’s 2008 album Re-Arrange Us, and has directed videos for TV On The Radio, The Go! Team and J Dilla.

Crushes (The Covers Mixtape) is an album consisting of covers of songs by some of the Mates’ personal favorites by artists ranging from the above referenced Nick Cave to Death Cab For Cutie to Fleetwood Mac to Girls, whose “Laura” is now available in its Mates reinterpretation as a free download at matesofstate.com. It is the first full album recorded and produced by Mates Hammel and Gardner themselves, with a mixing assist from longtime collaborator Peter Katis (The National, Swell Season, Interpol, etc.).

Finally, Mates of State recently announced the lineup and itinerary of the Summer Crushes tour, a traveling spectacle to take place this June through July.  The Summer Crushes tour will see the band’s signature ebullient and uplifting performances supported on this one time only occasion by multimedia guests ranging from the unpretentious rock of Free Energy to the wit of comedians Todd Barry (Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, Bored to Death) and Nick Thune (Comedy Central Presents, Knocked Up). The Summer Crushes tour will also see the Mates presiding over and holding together this unique roadshow, transforming familiar venues they’ve previously headlined into venues for a virtual traveling variety show featuring live magic, sword swallowers, contortionists, and more. In addition, Mates’ own Jason Hammel will serve as the tour’s resident DJ.

For further information, see the itinerary below and/or contact Amy Grote at nasty little man t 212 343 0740 e amy@nastylittleman.com

Mates of State
SUMMER CRUSHES TOUR

6/15 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse * #
6/16 Rochester, NY @ Water Street * #
6/17 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church % #
6/18 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s * #
6/19 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop * #
6/21 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century * #
6/22 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall * #
6/23 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar *
6/24 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar *
6/25 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
6/26 Denver, CO @ Bluebird *
6/28 Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue *
6/30 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * ^
7/1 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * ^
7/2 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo * ^
7/3 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo * ^
7/4 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *
7/6 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s *
7/7 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre *
7/8 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live *
7/9 Baton Rouge @ Spanish Moon *
7/10 Birmingham @ Workplay *
7/12 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt * ^
7/13 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel * ^
7/14 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar  * ^
7/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall ^
7/16 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^
=====================================
* w/ Free Energy
# w/ Todd Barry
^ w/ Nick Thune
% w/ Suckers

U.S. TV DEBUT MAY 13 ON FUEL TV’S THE DAILY HABIT

NEW TOUR KICKS OFF TONIGHT AT 7TH ENTRY IN MINNEAPOLIS

MAY DATES WITH ALBERTA CROSS
SUPPORTING CAGE THE ELEPHANT JUNE 8-25

“Latest Heartbreak” Live EP Available FREE at http://the22-20s.com/

“brand new smoking great material ……this summer they’ll release their second LP. It’s going to be a blessing.”–Back Beat, Seattle

“…the band was leading a charge against the audience, actively seeking to flatten the concertgoers with its deafening wall of sound… their incredible sonic power spoke for itself.”–USC Daily Trojan

“22-20s dazzled with tightly wound two-guitar melodies in a quick-paced set which culminated with a stunning, three song medley”–Philadelphia Weekly

Having just introduced their “brand new smoking great material” (Back Beat, Seattle) to North American audiences on a recent tour with Band of Skulls and the Whigs, 22-20s have confirmed another slew of dates that will take them through the June 22 release of their first album for tbd records, Shake/Shiver/Moan.

The dates kick off tonight (May 5) at Minneapolis’ 7th Ave and include a handful of dates with Alberta Cross, followed by a full month supporting Cage The Elephant. Barely a week later, the band will make its U.S. TV debut May 13 on Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit.

22-20s are a British rock band, originally formed in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, who disintegrated scarcely two years after their acclaimed 2004 self titled debut LP. In 2008, a reconstituted version of the band reformed around the founding nucleus of singer/guitarist Martin Trimble, bassist Glen Bartup and drummer James Irving, adding Dan Hare on guitar and backing vocals.

Secretly touring the UK under the alias of one their new song titles “Bitter Pills,” 22-20s showcased a wealth of radically new material ranging from the uptempo rock of single and digital live EP namesake “Latest Heartbreak” and album title track “Shake/Shiver/Moan” to the classic morning-after bluespop of “Let It Go” and “4th Floor.” The “Latest Heartbreak” live EP is currently available for free download at http://the22-20s.com/

Shake/Shiver/Moan, the first 22-20s album to feature the Trimble/Bartup/Irving/Hare lineup, will be released by tbd in the U.S. on June 22, and will feature the studio versions of the tracks from the live EP and six other brand new 22-20s numbers. The album’s release will be followed by further North American touring throughout 2010.

For a full 22-20s U.S. Itinerary, see below and continue to check back at http://the22-20s.com/

HEADLINING:

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Ave

WITH ALBERTA CROSS:
Wednesday, May 19, 2010 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
Friday, May 21, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – Blueberry Hill
Saturday, May 22, 2010 – Newport, KY – The Southgate House
Monday, May 24, 2010 – Columbus, OH – The Basement

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 – Allston, MA –  Great Scott
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Friday, June 4, 2010 – Washington D.C. – Rock and Roll Hotel

WITH CAGE THE ELEPHANT:
Tuesday, June 8, 2010- Las Vegas, NV – Wasted Space
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
Thursday, June 10, 2010 – Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theatre
Monday, June 14, 2010 – Reno, NV – Knitting Factory
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 – Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom
Thursday, June 17, 2010 – Seattle, WA – Showbox
Friday, June 18, 2010 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
Sunday, June 20, 2010 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Monday, June 21, 2010 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
Tuesday, June 22, 2010 – Colorado Springs – Black Sheep
Thursday, June 24, 2010 –  Kansas City, MO – Beaumont Club
Friday, June 25, 2010 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant

Self-titled 6-track EP out this summer.

Exact date TBA.

More details online casino to be announced as they become available at http://howtodestroyangels.com/

Macca mania has hit the streets of Mexico City!  Paul McCartney’s forthcoming show at the Foro Sol Stadium on Thursday May 27th is set to be a wild night.  The people of Mexico have made it clear to their musical hero that they are desperate to see him and can’t wait to be rocked.   Tickets for the 60,000 capacity stadium sold out in literally a matter of minutes, setting a brand new record!  In fact sources at Ticketmaster Mexico think the tickets could have gone even faster but the technology couldn’t support the overwhelming demand!

Since opening in 1993 the Foro Sol Stadium has been host to some of the most iconic names in music.  It’s seen performances from the likes of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Coldplay, David Bowie, Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, U2, The Rolling Stones, The Police and The Killers.  The previous record for fastest selling tickets was set by Radiohead last year and before that Madonna in 2008.

Paul’s forthcoming show is part of his all-new ‘Up And Coming Tour’, which kicked off to rave reviews in the US on March 28th. The show on May 27th will be Paul’s first show in Mexico since 2002 when he performed three shows at the Palacio de los Deportes.  Paul’s first visit to Mexico was in 1993 on his ‘New World Tour’.

Mexican promoters for the show Bruce Moran at Live Nation and Memo Parra at OCESA commented:  “Paul McCartney has made history once again!  His upcoming Mexico City show is the fastest sellout in the history of the venue, Foro Sol.  Everyone at Live Nation and OCESA are thrilled and honored that Sir Paul has agreed to return to Mexico, and the public has responded to the news in just an overwhelming fashion.  Only the thrill of seeing Sir Paul McCartney live at Foro Sol will top the excitement in Mexico today!”

Paul’s ‘Up And Coming Tour’ comes to the UK and Ireland in June with five special dates, culminating with a headline show at Hyde Park’s Hard Rock Calling Festival on Sunday June 27th, which might be the last chance to catch his show this year in the UK.

www.paulmccartney.com

EARTH DAY 2010 CLIMATE RALLY APPEARANCE CONFIRMED

Having turned in an ecstatic singalong sunset performance for an estimated 30,000 revelers on the opening day of this year’s Coachella festival, Passion Pit’s 2010 tour has been extended through the fall with the addition of a series of arena dates supporting Muse. The Muse tour will follow Passion Pit’s summer swing through their largest U.S. headline run to date and a handful of festival appearances in Canada, Japan, Australia and the UK.

In the more immediate future, Passion Pit will perform at the Earth Day Network’s 2010 Climate Rally on the National Mall in Washington DC this Sunday, April 25. Passion Pit will join a musical lineup featuring  Sting, Bob Weir, The Roots, Booker T, Mavis Staples, Jimmy Cliff and more, as well as speakers ranging from the NFL’s Dhani Jones to Oscar winning director James Cameron, in commemorating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Climate Rally will stream live on www.earthday.org.

Originally conceived as a dorm room recording project by Michael Angelakos, Passion Pit currently consists of Angelakos, Ian Hultquist, Ayad Al Adhamy, Nate Donmoyer and Jeff Apruzzese. Its first full length album, Manners, was released in May 2009 to rave reviews and a #51 debut on the Billboard albums chart and was re-released April 13 in a deluxe format featuring multiple bonus tracks. On the strength of the irresistible hooks of “The Reeling,” “Little Secrets” and current single “Sleepyhead,” as well as a rapidly burgeoning live draw, Manners has sold over 160,000 copies since its release last spring and is closing in on a full year on the Top 200.

For further information, see the itinerary below, check back at http://www.passionpitmusic.com/ or contact Steve Martin or Laura Eldeiry at nasty little man t 212 343 0740 e laura@nastylittleman.com

PASSION PIT ON TOUR 2010

04/22/10 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater
04/30/10 – Knoxville, TN – World’s Fair Park, University of TN
05/31/10 – Quincy, WA – Sasquatch! Music Festival
06/02/10 – Washington, DC – Rams Head Live!
06/03/10 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
06/08/10 – Richmond, VA – The National
06/09/10 – Richmond, VA – The Tabernacle
06/12/10 – Orlando, FL – Club at Firestone
06/13/10 – Miami Beach, FL – The Fillmore
06/14/10 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz Ybor
06/16/10 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
06/17/10 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
06/18/10 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
06/19/10 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
06/21/10 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
06/23/10 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
06/25/10 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater
06/27/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center for the Performing Arts
06/29/10 – Brooklyn, NY – Prospect Park Bandshell
06/30/10 – New York, NY – Governor’s Island
07/09/10 – Toronto, Canada – Molson Amphitheatre *
07/10/10 – Ottawa, Canada – Ottawa Bluesfest
07/11/10 – Quebec City, Canada – Festival D’ete
07/12/10 – Montreal, Canada – Le National Cabaret
08/01/10 – Brisbane, Australia – Splendour in the Glass
08/07/10 – Tokyo, Japan – Summersonic Festival
08/08/10 – Osaka, Japan – Summersonic Festival
08/21/10 – Chelmsford, UK – V Festival
08/22/10 – Stafford, UK – V Festival
09/22/10 – San Diego, CA – Viejas Arena ^
09/23/10 – Anaheim, CA – Honda Center^
09/25/10 – Los Angeles, CA – Staples Center^
10/01/10 – Albuquerque, NM – Santa Ana Star Center^
10/02/10 – Denver, CO – Pepsi Center^
10/05/10 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center^
10/06/10 – Milwaukee, WI – Bradley Center^
10/08/10 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Ford Center^

* w/ Metric
^ w/ Muse

April 29 and 30 London Shows To Be Streamed Worldwide on Gorillaz.com, Gorillaz Facebook & MTV World Stage Network

“The guest appearances from Bobby Womack, De La Soul, the Clash’s Mick Jones and Paul Simonon, and more were all real. Not that Albarn really needed any help commanding attention. He sang with real soul and exhibited boundless energy… This, ladies and gentlemen, was pop spectacle done right.”–ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“The evolving band-art project — that originally began as a partnership between Blur’s Damon Albarn and comics artist Jamie Hewlett — was at its most expansive at Coachella. Albarn acted as a composer and a conjurer, directing a mini symphony and waving his arms to inspire flashes of synthesized and electronic sounds. The Gorillaz — aided by Mick Jones and Paul Simonon, anchors of what was once one of England’s most ambitious bands, the Clash — were, in many ways, the most perfect of Coachella bands.”–LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Gorillaz, the multi-media music project helmed by former Blur front man Damon Albarn and Tank Girl co-creator Jamie Hewlett, is the most intriguing, and perhaps one of the most important, music groups to emerge from the ’00s. Nowhere was that more obvious than Sunday night at Coachella, when Gorillaz sucked the crowd from virtually every other portion of Empire Polo Field for a rousing conclusion to the festival.”–LA WEEKLY

(New York NY—April 22) Having closed Indio CA’s Coachella festival with the most visually and musically ambitious performance of the three-day festival, Gorillaz have now set their sites on The Colbert Report. The same lineup that slayed the 75,000-strong crowd at the desert fest’s closing night—with Damon Albarn’s vocals and Jamie Hewlett’s visuals joined by Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash, Bobby Womack and many more—will make its U.S. TV debut tonight on the Comedy Central mainstay (check local listings).

Despite their being dismissed by Gorillaz animated bass player and leader Murdoc Niccals as mere flesh and blood hired hands performing the music of the most popular cartoon band of all time, the first live Gorillaz extravaganza to hit American shores since 2006’ Demon Days Live has generated uniformly rave reviews. The Coachella set followed in the wake of third album Plastic Beach’s #2 U.S. debut—a career peak for the band whose previous two records have exceeded combined worldwide sales of 12 million copies—and the record-breaking premiere of the genius “Stylo” video.

Gorillaz will round out this most eventful month with shows April 29 and 30 at the Roundhouse in London, both of which sold out instantly. The UK shows—the first Gorillaz have played in London since 2001–will be documented across MTV’s World Stage Network, with some tracks streamed live via MTV sites worldwide, as well as on Gorillaz.com and the Gorillaz Facebook page.

“I am quite literally holding my breath until I walk out on stage at the Roundhouse,” Commented Murdoc Niccals. “It’s hosted some legendary gigs – The Clash, The Doors and my own personal favourite, The Greasy Truckers Party. With my deep, dark basslines poured all over them this gig is going to melt your brain. Watch out Goth girls of Camden – IT’S GOING TO BE LOUD!!!”

For up to the minute Gorillaz news, check  back regularly at http://gorillaz.com, follow Murdoc Niccals at www.twitter.com/murdocgorillaz, or check out the Gorillaz YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/gorillaz

OVER 50,000 SOLD INCLUDING MORE THAN 15,000 DELUXE EDITIONS FEATURING 352-PAGE NOVEL

Coachella Performance Hailed As “One Of The Best Of The Fest” (Buzzbands.la) As Headline Shows Sell Out Multiple Nights In DC and Philadelphia, As Well As Boston, Atlanta, Austin, Salt Lake City and More

Coheed and Cambria’s brand new fifth studio album Year Of The Black Rainbow (Columbia) has entered the Billboard 200 at #5, selling 51,377 copies. Spurred by a series of sold-out pre-release dates and the burgeoning presence of first single “Here We Are Juggernaut,” the record’s first week sales mark a career high chart position for the band.

Additionally, Year Of The Black Rainbow’s elaborate deluxe edition, featuring a 352-page novel co-authored by Coheed’s Claudio Sanchez and best-selling author Peter David, accounted for over 15,000 of the record’s first week sales. Pre-orders for the deluxe edition necessitated a second print run well before the record’s April 13 release.

Having wrapped a triumphant Coachella main stage appearance with a performance of “Welcome Home” featuring the USC Marching Band—one that has generated in excess of 30,000 YouTube plays in the last 72 hours—Coheed and Cambria will embark on what’s shaping up to be the band’s highest grossing headline tour to date beginning April 22 at a sold out Fillmore in Charlotte NC. Other shows that have already gone clean on the tour, which features support from Circa Survive and Torche, include Atlanta, Lake Buena Vista and Fort Lauderdale FL, Austin TX, Pomona CA, Salt Lake City, Boston, two nights each in Philadelphia and Washington DC. Additionally, a May 29 Atlantic City date  has been added due to popular demand.

Finally, Coheed and Cambria has pitched in with tour mates Circa Survive and Torche to donate the proceeds of a limited edition silk screened poster by renowned artist Emek. Only 250 of the extremely limited posters will be made, with all copies numbered and signed by all three bands and auctioned off online. All proceeds will go to Oxfam America’s efforts to fight poverty and injustice the world over, including a leading role in providing assistance to Haiti in the aftermath of the recent Earthquake.

Check www.coheedandcambria.com for further tour dates, information, etc.

04/22/10 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore* SOLD OUT
04/23/10 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle* SOLD OUT
04/24/10 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues* SOLD OUT
04/25/10 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution* SOLD OUT
04/27/10 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live*
04/28/10 – Austin, TX – Stubbs Waller Creek Outdoor* SOLD OUT
04/29/10 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom*
04/30/10 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom*
05/01/10 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom*
05/03/10 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre*
05/04/10 – Pomona, CA – Fox Theatre* SOLD OUT
05/05/10 – San Francisco, CA – Roseland Theater*
05/07/10 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater*
05/08/10 – Seattle, WA – Showbox SoDo*
05/10/10 – Salt Lake City, UT – Murray Theater* SOLD OUT
05/11/10 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theater*
05/13/10 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
05/14/10 – Chicago, IL – Congress Theater*
05/15/10 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater*
05/17/10 – Boston, MA – House of Blues* SOLD OUT
05/18/10 – Montreal, QC – Metropolis*
05/19/10 – Toronto, ON – Sound Academy*
05/21/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory* SOLD OUT
05/22/10 – Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory* SOLD OUT
05/23/10 – Columbus, OH – Rock on the Range
05/26/10 – New York, NY – Rumsey Playfield, Central Park*
05/27/10 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club* SOLD OUT
05/28/10 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club* SOLD OUT
05/29/10 – Atlantic City, NJ – House of Blues* (Just Added)

* with Circa Survive, Torche

Dark Night Of The Soul is an album by audio auteur Danger Mouse and the already much-missed Sparklehorse.  The record sees the pair joined by the following remarkable roll call of guests: The Flaming Lips, Gruff Rhys, Jason Lytle, Julian Casablancas, Black Francis, Iggy Pop, David Lynch, James Mercer, Nina Persson, Suzanne Vega and Vic Chesnutt.

Rumours of this mysterious collaborative project began to circulate in early 2009 sparking widespread anticipation and excitement.  However, whilst Dark Night Of The Soul successfully manifested itself as both a limited edition art book with enclosed blank CDR and an audio-visual gallery installation, its music was never officially made available.  Now, following months of talks, Danger Mouse and EMI are excited and proud to announce that Dark Night Of The Soul will be released worldwide in July.

Whilst this beautiful, haunting record being made widely and legitimately available is undoubtedly a cause for celebration, the news is shadowed by sadness following the recent passing of Mark Linkous, who released and performed under the Sparklehorse pseudonym.  Dark Night Of The Soul will now stand as a de facto tribute to this well-loved, stunningly talented yet often-overlooked artist and has received the blessing of Mark’s family who have issued the following statement:  “Mark felt that it was an honor to be able to collaborate with so many of the artists on this record.  His time and dedication to this project was immense and his hopes for its release are finally being realized.  We are glad that people will now be able to hear these songs and know the beautiful gift that Mark shared with all of us through his music.”

Danger Mouse adds: “I told Mark that we’d worked things out with EMI back in January and he was very happy that the album was finally going to be released this year.  Mark meant a great deal to a lot of people and I’m grateful to have made music with him and to be a part of his legacy.”

Dark Night Of The Soul is also dedicated to the memory of Vic Chesnutt.

In addition to featuring on two songs, David Lynch has created a series of original photographs for Dark Night Of The Soul adding a spectacular visual dimension that will be incorporated in to the artwork for this already unparalleled project.

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse’s Dark Night Of The Soul will be released on 12th July in the UK through Parlophone/EMI and on 13th July in the US via EMI’s Capitol Records .

www.dnots.com

CRUSHES (THE COVERS MIXTAPE) COVERS ALBUM OUT THIS SUMMER

Free Download of “Laura” Now Available at MatesofState.com

Mates of State has confirmed the completion the lineup and itinerary of the Summer Crushes tour, a multi-artist traveling spectacle to take place this June through July. The Summer Crushes tour will coincide with the release of Crushes (The Covers Mixtape), an album consisting of covers of songs by some of the Mates’ personal favorites by artists ranging from Nick Cave to Death Cab For Cutie to Girls, whose “Laura” is now available in its Mates reinterpretation as a free download at MatesofState.com.

Crushes… is the first full album recorded and produced by Mates Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner themselves, with a mixing assist from longtime collaborator Peter Katis (The National, Swell Season, Interpol, etc.). Arguably their most vibrant effort to date, every one of Crushes’ ten tracks is equal measures bold choice and affectionate celebration. The Mars Volta’s brooding psychedelic epic “Son et Lumiere” segues seamlessly into an ever breezier re-interpretation of Belle & Sebastian’s “Sleep the Clock Around,” while Tom Waits’ “Long Way Home” is transformed from a sparse ode to tough luck love into an adrenalized anthem, and so forth.

The Summer Crushes tour will bring a similar twist to the Mates of State live experience, as the band’s signature ebullient and uplifting performances will be supported on this one time only occasion by multimedia guests ranging from the unapologetic Philadelphia dance-rock of Free Energy to the humor of Todd Barry (Flight of the Conchords, Lucky Louie, Bored to Death) and comedian Nick Thune (Comedy Central Presents, Knocked Up). The Summer Crushes tour will see the Mates presiding over and holding together this unique roadshow, transforming familiar venues they’ve previously headlined into venues for a virtual traveling variety show featuring live magic, sword swallowers, contortionists, human blockheads and more. In addition, Mates’ own Jason Hammel will serve as the tour’s resident DJ.

For further information, see the itinerary below and/or contact Amy Grote at nasty little man t 212 343 0740 e amy@nastylittleman.com

Mates of State
SUMMER CRUSHES TOUR

6/15 Northampton, MA @ Iron Horse * #
6/16 Rochester, NY @ Water Street * #
6/17 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church % #
6/18 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Small’s * #
6/19 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop * #
6/21 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century * #
6/22 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall * #
6/23 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar *
6/24 Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar *
6/25 Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
6/26 Denver, CO @ Bluebird *
6/28 Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue *
6/30 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * ^
7/1 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall * ^
7/2 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo * ^
7/3 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo * ^
7/4 Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress *
7/6 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s *
7/7 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre *
7/8 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live *
7/9 Baton Rouge @ Spanish Moon *
7/10 Birmingham @ Workplay *
7/12 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt * ^
7/13 Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel * ^
7/14 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar  * ^
7/15 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall ^
7/16 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom ^
=====================================
* w/ Free Energy
# w/ Todd Barry
^ w/ Nick Thune
% w/ Suckers