Pitchfork

Dave Matthews' new favorite band (no, really) has come full circle at last. Originally a four-piece, Xiu Xiu are now officially four once more, with the permanent addition of Devin Hoff (Nels Cline, Carla Bozulich, Scott Amendola) on bass. Hoff joins somewhat recent addition Ches Smith (who also plays with Hoff in Good for Cows) and near-constant companion Caralee McElroy in the ever-tempestuous orbit of Jamie Stewart.

To celebrate Xiu Xiu version 4.0, Stewart will-- what else?-- embark on a solo tour. He has four West Coast dates lined up in June, all of them with recent Xiu Xiu tourmates Shearwater.

The newly re-christened Xiu Xiu quartet has five dates on the calendar as well, as previously reported. They recently hit us with the second Larsen collaboration as XXL, Spicchiology? (Important Records), and a split 7" on Stickfigure Records, with a Polaroid book on the way. Look for Xiu Xiu's sixth album-- featuring the talents of Michael Gira (Swans, Angels of Light), Greg Saunier, and John Dieterich (both Deerhoof)-- on Kill Rock Stars in early 2008.

Xiu Xiu:

06-25 Ottawa, Ontario - Barrymore's (Capital Idea! Festival)
07-25 Ferrara, Italy - Sotto le Stelle Festival
07-26 Graz, Austria - Postgarage
07-27 Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia
07-28 Emmaboda, Sweden - Emmaboda Festival

Jamie Stewart solo:

06-19 Los Angeles, CA - Echo *
06-20 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill *
06-21 Portland, OR - Dante's *
06-22 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe *

* with Shearwater