Pitchfork: Johnson Plans Centro-Matic LP, Tour With Eitzel, Bazan

Johnson Plans Centro-Matic LP, Tour With Eitzel, Bazan

Making good on his New Year's resolution to improve on 2005's paltry output (one South San Gabriel album? C'mon!!), Will Johnson of Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel/himself is gearing up to release a new Centro-Matic album and single in early 2006, and to hit the road.

The new record, the band's eighth-ish full length, is entitled Fort Recovery, and will be released on Misra Records in the U.S. on March 7. They'll also be putting out a double-vinyl version of the record that will include three extra tracks: "Bucket Full of Nails", "Not Like Anyone Would Mind", and "Gunmetal and Engines". The other songs:

01 Covered up in Mines
02 Calling Thermatico
03 Patience for the Ride
04 I See Through You
05 In Such Crooked Time
06 For New Starts
07 The Fugitives Have Won
08 Monument Sails
09 Triggers and Trash Heaps
10 Nothin' I Ever Seen
11 Take the Maps and Run
12 Take a Rake

Preceding the album will be a single for "Triggers and Trash Heaps" that will be out February 7 with three other unreleased (well, until then) songs, in addition to the album version of "Triggers": "The Little Guitars", "Take a Rake (4-track demo), and "Triggers and Trash Heaps (acoustic)". An MP3 of "Triggers" is available from the Misra website right now.

On the touring front, Centro-Matic will be heading out for a few local Texas dates later in January, after which Johnson will embark on the "Undertow Orchestra Tour". It's a bunch of singer/songwriter types sharing the stage, playing each other's songs, and generally having a good ol' time-- think last year's Conor Oberst/M. Ward/Jim James extravaganza.

Those shows will feature Johnson traveling alongside Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), and Dave Bazan (ex-Pedro the Lion, Headphones), with the accompaniment of Centro-Matic multi-instrumentalist Scott Danbom. Watch out for low-flying Dylan covers.

Centro-Matic shows:

01-19 Denton, TX - Silverleaf *
01-20 Fort Worth, TX - Wreck Room *
01-21 Austin, TX - Emo's *#

* with Pleasant Grove
# with Micah P. Hinson

Undertow Orchestra Tour:

02-08 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
02-09 Carrboro, NC - Carrboro Arts Center
02-10 Arlington, VA - IOTA
02-11 Arlington, VA - IOTA
02-12 Philadelphia, PA - World Caf� Live
02-13 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
02-14 Boston, MA - Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium
02-16 Grand Rapids, MI - Calvin College, Fine Arts Center
02-17 Chicago, IL - Park West
02-18 Madison, WI - Orpheum Stage Door
02-19 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
02-20 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop
02-21 Lawrence, KS - The Granada
02-23 Denton, TX - Hailey's
02-24 Austin, TX - The Parish
02-25 Houston, TX - Walter's on Washington
02-27 Memphis, TN - Hi-Tone
02-28 Nashville, TN - Belcourt Theatre
03-01 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse