Pitchfork

In what is sure to be the mini-tour that will challenge even the staunchest head-nodding indie rockers to keep their feet from moving to the groove, Brooklyn, NY-based Out Hud is planning a seven-date tour of the upper Midwest beginning at the end of the month. The band's sound, so aptly described by Pitchfork reviewer Eric Carr earlier this year, as "audio noir", will be arriving and mystifying your brain if you're lucky enough to live in MI, IL, MN, OH, or NY. Extremely complex and textured indie rock with a little disco, a little dub, even a little non-traditional string-oriented post-rock thrown in for good measure, the group presently finds themselves at the top of the roster of Chicago's Kranky label, in terms of groundbreaking artistic vision and gettin' pussy. It's all in the hair. Tour dates:

02-25 Detroit, MI - St. Andrew's Hall (with Ladytron & Simian)
02-26 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop (with Simian)
02-27 Columbus, OH - Wexner Center (with Ladytron & Simian)
02-28 Chicago, IL - Metro (with Ladytron & Simian)
03-01 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue (with Ladytron & Simian)
03-02 Chicago, IL - Fireside Bowl (with 90 Day Men)
03-07 New York, NY - Knitting Factory (with Liquid Liquid)

Forming in 1996 in Sacramento, CA before relocating to Brooklyn, the group consists of bassist Nic Offer, cellist Molly Schnick, guitarist Tyler Pope, drummer Phyllis Forbes, and mixing board wizard Justin Vandervolgen. Offer, Pope, and Vandervolgen share membership in !!! (pronounced "chik chik chik", or as we prefer, "The Exclamation Points") as well. Some members also did time in the now-defunct punk band The Yah Mos. Out Hud's stunning new release S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D., the title of which immediately conjures up visions of all caps, false-acronymic, technology-purveyors like U.N.K.L.E., but awesomer, is already turning heads and ears all over the world wide web and looks to be the record that puts the band on the map. Previously, the group had released just a few vinyl-only singles and EPs (on Red Alert, Dead Turtle, GSL, and 5 Rue Christine) and built a tight-knit cadre of fans through their impressive live shows. But this is the year the lid flies off the jar, baby! Tell em you heard it here first.