Pitchfork

Last year, Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band tried to break onto the web-rock scene by purposefully withholding their music from the web. Instead of posting a few songs on MySpace, they uploaded a few silly instructional videos about "technology" and "homeostasis" to YouTube.

And in the tradition of things so crazy they just might work, the band got some blog attention, released an EP co-produced by Scott Colburn (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective), played a few shows, got signed to Dead Oceans, and now they're ready to release their self-titled debut album on March 10. Only in 2009, folks, only in 2009.

Blog-ready gimmicks aside-- they also boast a 13-year-old drummer, Marshall Verdoes, who happens to be singer-guitarist Benjamin Verdoes' brother-- MSHVB are currently taking a more traditional route to their music career: touring behind their album all over the country this spring. It might not be sexy but it works. Track list and dates below.

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

01 Who's Asking
02 Masquerade
03 Cheer for Fate
04 Anchors Dropped
05 Going on a Hunt
06 A Year or Two
07 Albatross Albatross Albatross
08 Dull Reason
09 Little Red Shoes
10 En Fuego
11 On the Collar

02-26 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Shop (Noise Pop) %
03-18 Denton, TX - Dan's Silverleaf ^
03-19 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-20 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-21 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-22 San Antonio, TX - Rock Bottom *
03-24 Tucson, AZ - Solar Culture *
03-25 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
04-26 Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar *
03-27 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo *
03-30 Portland, OR - Doug Fir *
04-01 Vancouver, BC - The Media Club *
04-03 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
04-04 Denver, CO - Hi Dive *
04-06 Omaha, NE - Slowdown JR *
04-07 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
04-08 Madison, WI - The Frequency *
04-09 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
04-10 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
04-18 Urbana, IL - Courtyard Café

* with Le Loup
% with Goblin Cock
^ with Disappears