Pitchfork

Photo by Kathryn Yu

At this point, Of Montreal is basically Gwar, except glammier and less scary (more sparkles, less fake blood). But the Athens pop-theatre institution still keeps it real with its Elephant 6 people. And when keeping it real means recording a split 7" single for a tiny uber-twee indie label's monthly singles club, they're ready to take one for the team.

And so the band has joined indie-pop brothers-in-arms like Apples in Stereo and Tullycraft in recording something for Athens label Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records' singles club. On Of Montreal's split, they'll share space with their own multi-instrumentalist James Husband. The band reports that their contribution will probably ship in May. And though they may eventually sell individual copies of that 7", right now the only way to make sure you get a copy is to sign up for HHBTM's singles club.

In other, slightly juicier Of Montreal news, kabuki-painted frontman Kevin Barnes has graciously given some love advice to the readers of Drowned in Sound, which is exactly what you want from a dude who wrote an entire album about arguing with his wife. However, a lot of Barnes' counsel is kind of disappointingly dry and pedestrian. More "you just have to be confident," less "strap on your gold lame thong and ride a white horse into her office." But Barnes does offer a few gems, and as a public service, we've picked them out:

-- " I like slip ons, canvas trainers... I have on blue ones, I like colour, I always wear colourful socks and shoes."

-- "Puking is the line for me. I mean I can be jumping on tables and that's okay, but as long as I'm not puking then I haven't crossed the line."

-- "It could be a bit awkward if you're super excited to be with the person and you have to pace yourself or maybe pull out for a little bit or something. They say thinking about other things is a good trick, like being in school or whatever. But I wouldn't think about like, your grandma's vagina, it'd kill the erection, you don't wanna ruin the moment."

Got that, guys? Colorful socks.

Of Montreal also recently announced a run of U.S. tour dates in April, including three nights at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Of Montreal dates:

02-19 Pomona, CA - The Glasshouse
02-21 Honolulu, HI - Loft Gallery & Lounge
02-25 Auckland, New Zealand - Kings Arms
02-26 Melbourne, Australia - San Francisco Bath House
02-28 Perth, Australia - Perth International Arts Festival
03-03 Sydney, Australia - Manning Bar
03-04 Brisbane, Australia - The Zoo
03-05 Melbourne, Australia - The Hi-Fi
03-07 Golden Plains, Australia - Golden Plains Festival
03-10 Osaka, Japan - Club Quattro
03-12 Tokyo, Japan - Duo Music Exchange
03-15 Singapore, Singapore - Esplanade Theatre (Mosaic Music Exchange)
04-13 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
04-14 Baltimore, MD - Sonar
04-15 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04-16 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04-17 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04-19 New Haven, CT - Toad's Place
04-20 Boston, MA - Paradise
04-21 Boston, MA - Paradise
04-22 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero
04-23 Covington, KY - Madison Theater
04-24 Columbia, MO - The Blue Note
04-25 Norman, OK - Norman Music Festival