Pitchfork

After raiding the deep pockets of Dreamworks, dumping the Jonathan Fire*Eater moniker, swapping out two members, putting out Pitchfork's #27 album of the year, and touring the UK with Idlewild, The Walkmen are ready to stick it to America. Still supporting Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone, the band is marching down the west coast, starting this month, hand-in-hand with Canadian pop/punk/new wave fusion phenom, Hot Hot Heat. The Canucks broke out of their icy anonymity late last year while touring the US and also scored the #19 position on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2002, with their Make Up The Breakdown. Hey, not that we're keeping score or anything, but that's eight full slots higher than their tourmates. Looks like the Walkmen are buying the first round. Tour dates:

01-23 Vancouver, BC - Croation Cultural Center (w/The Organ)
01-24 Seattle, WA - Graceland (w/Hint Hint)
01-25 Portland, OR - Hollywood Theater (w/Hint Hint)
01-27 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
01-28 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill (w/Longwave)
01-29 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour (w/Longwave)
01-30 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour (w/Detachment Kit)
01-31 Pomona, CA - Glass House
02-01 San Diego, CA - Casbah (w/Moving Units)
02-04 Sacramento, CA - Capitol Garage
02-05 Eugene, OR - Wow Hall
02-07 Seattle, WA - Vera Project

As to dismiss with any dick-measuring contests, the two bands have diplomatically decided to switch-off on headlining duties for the new tour. The Walkmen have been writing new material while on the road, and will be putting together a half-and-half set of new and old songs. And even though they're looking towards a fall release for their new album, they're still releasing singles from Everyone, as the video for "We've Been Had" should be hitting MTV2 shortly. The video features the band in a retro black-and-white scene that befits their sound with the members, according to the band, beating "the holy hell out of each other." Hot Hot Heat is peeking into TV too, with mention as an MTV2 "Artist to Watch 2003." A video for "Bandages" has hit the airwaves recently, proving that MTV, even at its most hip, is still a year behind.