Pitchfork: Decemberists Play Noise Pop, Tour U.S. Through April

Decemberists Play Noise Pop, Tour U.S. Through April
The little tain that could

[Updated Wednesday, February 4th, 2004 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Eric Marth and Joshua Sharp report:
Batten down the hatches, ladies and gents-- the seafaring Decemberists are setting out on another continental tour. Two thousand and three was quite a year for our Decemberists. From nowhere, they warmed our hearts with their debut, Castaways & Cutouts, and just as the aorta was starting to cool, they gave us Her Majesty, the Decemberists. As previously reported, the nautically-inclined folk-rockers have prepared a bit of a concept EP: one song in five parts entitled The Tain, which is based upon a piece of Irish mythology of the same nomenclature. The record is set for release on February 24th, a few dates into the band's North American tour.

The Decemberists will be joined by humor-minded country artist Tom Heinl, as well as coastal England's Clearlake, whose somber and infectious Cedars ranks among the finest rock albums of 2003 (regardless of its performance on our collective top 50). The Decemberists' itinerary also includes two shows with the Walkmen, as well as stops at SXSW and San Francisco's Noise Pop festival, both sporting stellar ensembles and multiple days of underground fun. Hop on the boat:

02-10 Victoria, British Columbia - The Lucky Bar (w/ The Walkmen)
02-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards on Richards (w/ The Walkmen)
02-28 San Francisco, CA - American Music Hall (Noise Pop festival)
03-10 Boise, ID - Neurolux *
03-11 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
03-12 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
03-13 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad *
03-16 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
03-17 Houston, TX - TBA *
03-18 Austin, TX - TBA (SXSW, Kill Rock Stars party)
03-20 Austin, TX - Buffalo Billiards (SXSW, Kill Rock Stars showcase)
03-22 Athens, GA - 40 Watt #
03-23 Washington, D.C. - Black Cat #
03-24 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber #
03-26 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom #
03-27 Cambridge, MA - TT the Bear's #
03-28 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University #
03-29 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern #
03-31 Grinnell, IA - Grinnell College *
04-01 Chicago, IL - Schuba's *
04-02 Chicago, IL - Schuba's *
04-03 Columbia, MO - Mojo's *
04-05 Tucson, AZ - Plush *
04-06 San Diego, CA - Casbah *
04-07 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *