Pitchfork

[Posted Thursday, October 9th, 2003 05:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

StarTime International Records reports that favored and reformed math-rockers The Natural History, who long ago abandoned their proclivity for eighteen-string fretless bass in favor of a potent, where-the-hell-did-that-come-from sort of symbiosis of Elvis Costello and Wire, are playing some shows in October. Note how I restrained from calling it "Rocktober," a joke so pounded into triteness and defeat that it rivals references to "Freebird" in terms of overexposure and creative laxity-- and the status of "Freebird" as the most clichéd ironic indie reference is already being threatened by the new and disturbing proclivity of scenesters in Buddy Holly glasses riffing on "Rock You Like a Hurricane" at every opportunity.

The Natural History's last album, Beat. Beat. Heartbeat, boiled down post-punk and soul singing to their basic infrastructure and remains an example of how to keep a song at once simple and interesting: by locking onto an infectious melody, a cardiac rhythm germane to the album's title, and riding the groove into infinity. You want tour dates? We got tour dates:

10-09 Washington, D.C. - Black Cat (w/ Radio 4)
10-10 Boston, MA - Middle East (w/ Radio 4)
10-15 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
10-16 Nashville, TN - The End (w/ The Carlsonics)
10-17 Newport, KY - Southgate House (w/ Ozma and The Oranges Band)
10-18 Milwaukee, WI - Onopa Brewing Co. (w/ The Joggers)
10-19 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop (w/ The Anniversary)
10-20 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge (w/ The Anniversary)
10-21 Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theatre (w/ The Anniversary)
10-22 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw (CMJ StarTime Showcase)