Pitchfork

New Jersey yeast-rockers Rye Coalition may be entering hostile territory in late February, as they've been tapped to open for stoner royalty. Queens of the Stone Age loves to challenge themselves by following acts with exceptional live shows and are toting the band along on their winter tour. To be successful, the Rye guys have to get their energetic live show to coincide with, rather than disturb, the hallucinations of a mass of tripping adolescents who've raided every drug cabinet, tool shed, and cleaning closet in a forty-mile radius of each respective stop.

But the dudes aren't sweating it. Rye drummer Dave Leto told us to pass a message along to closed-minded Queens fans: "If they are not [into the show] they can all line up to be given black eyes after the show... they better recognize!" Leto's comments were followed by a chicken-like neck movement and three sharp fingersnaps. Dates:

Rye Coalition dates (supporting QOTSA):
02-22 Las Vegas, NV - The Joint
02-23 Pomona, CA - The Glass House
02-25 Anaheim, CA - The Grove
02-26 Ventura, CA - Ventura Theatre
02-28 San Diego, CA - Rimac Arena
03-01 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theatre
03-02 Phoenix, AZ - Nita's Hideaway
03-04 El Paso, TX - Xcape Club
03-05 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
03-07 Lubbock, TX - Canyon Amphitheater
03-08 Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
03-09 Tulsa, OK - Cain's Ballroom
03-10 Ft. Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
03-11 San Antonio, TX - Sunset Station
03-14 Austin, TX - Buffalo Billiards (Tiger Style Records SXSW Showcase)

The Rye was set to open for indie-legends Mission of Burma, but being in Las Vegas for the start of the QOTSA tour and in Philly for Burma proved to be a slight difficulty. Remember, these guys tour in a van-- and speaking of, they have yet to secure one for their west coast trip, according to Leto. Any fans out there with former hippie parents and an old VW they could consider loaning the guys-- even if the backseat's been pulled out and replaced with a mattress bearing thirty year-old sin-- should consider contacting the label. As previously reported by Pitchfork, Tiger Style is ready to let loose the band's Jersey Girls EP on February 18th. The disc contains a track from last year's LP, On Top, a couple songs off the out-of-print ZZ Topless EP, and four spankin' newbies. Leto also mentioned that a new album was in the works, saying that tour setlists will include the bulk of On Top, a small sampling of the EP, and some tracks destined for their new LP. So check out the Rye on the road, and if you ain't down, stand outside and feel like Moby with a sweet post-show beating.