Pitchfork: Devendra Banhart Launches 45-Date World Tour

Devendra Banhart Launches 45-Date World Tour
Thrift store dress still not as pretty as Cobain's

On his nigh-immaculate new release Rejoicing in the Hands, freak/folkie Devendra Banhart sets sweetly simple melodies to cryptic metaphors and surreal, acid-drenched imagery that recalls the psych weirdness of Skip Spence and Syd Barrett as much as it does Neutral Milk Hotel and Nick Drake. Already a hot-shit contender for 2004 critics' list, the album creates a sparse, beautiful setting for Banhart's unusual vocal style, besting his divisive 2001 debut, Oh Me, Oh My...

Now, with the album hitting heavy rotation on indie record store P.A.'s nationwide, Banhart's ready to take his pretty songs all over the globe: He's just announced an extensive, transcontinental itenerary for the upcoming summer. Kicking off next week at London's Water Rats, Banhart will spend 14 days making his way across Europe before returning to the States for a whirlwind 31-date tour-- which is perhaps just the beginning: Though Rejoicing in the Hands was only released last week, Banhart has already announced plans for another collection of songs to be released in September. Entitled Nino Rojo, the full-length is said to contain yet another 16 songs, recorded during the Rejoicing in the Hands sessions but in a slightly different vein than that material.

In the meantime, catch him on the road, where he'll be joined by like-minded songwriter (and harpist!) Joanna Newsom. Famously referred to by Will Oldham as being among his favorite storytellers, Newsom will be touring in support of her new Drag City release, The Milk-Eyed Mender. Also in tow are the psych-folk troupe Vetiver, of which Banhart is a member and Newsom is a contributor. Dates:

05-05 Los Angeles, CA - KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic
05-13 London, England - Water Rats
05-14 Bristol, England - Cube Cinema Art Fest
05-15 Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Paradiso
05-18 Brussels, Belgium - Ancienne Belgique
05-19 Paris, France -� Guinguette Pirate
05-20 Stockholm, Sweden - Accelerator
05-21 Gothenburg, Sweden - Pusterviksbaren
05-22 Oslo, Norway - Garage
05-24 Hamburg, Germany - Meanie Bar (free show)
05-25 Munich, Germany - Monofaktur
05-27 Milan, Italy - LA Casa 139
05-28 Rome, Italy - Init Club
05-29 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival
05-30 London, England - ICA
06-04 Portland, OR - Berbatis Pan *
06-05 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe *
06-07 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
06-08 Denver, CO - Revoluciones Collective Art Space *
06-10 Columbia, MO - Ragtag Cinemacafe *
06-11 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *
06-12 Minneapolis, MN - Woman's Club Theater *
06-13 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge *
06-15 Detroit, MI - Stormy Records Space *
06-16 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom *
06-17 Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks *
06-18 Amherst, MA - Unitarian Meetinghouse *
06-19 Cambridge, MA - Brazilian Cultural Center *
06-20 Providence, RI - AS 220 Art Space *
06-21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *
06-23 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
06-24 Arlington, VA - Iota Cafe *
06-25 Baltimore, MD - Mission Space Gallery *
06-26 Carrboro, NC - Room Four *
06-27 Winston-Salem, NC - Project Space 211 *
06-29 Atlanta, GA - E.A.R.L. *
06-30 Nashville, TN - 5 Spot Cafe *
07-01 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone Cafe *
07-02 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room *
07-03 Houston, TX - Orange Show Center for Visionary Arts *
07-04 Austin, TX - Flamingo Cantina *
07-06 Tucson, AZ - Hotel Congress Ballroom *
07-07 Phoenix, AZ - Modified *
07-09 Los Angeles, CA - Headquarters Gallery *
07-10 Sacramento, CA - Old Ironsides *
07-11 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall *

* w/ Joanna Newsom and Vetiver

In related news, Banhart has curated and designed a compilation disc entitled Golden Apples of the Sun, featuring artists such as Six Organs of Admittance, Iron & Wine, Scout Niblett, Little Wings, Espers, and the aforementioned Vetiver and Joanna Newsom. The disc is available exclusively from the website of Arthur magazine, and is limited to a 1,000 copy run. Additionally, any early risers reading this story before 11:15am PST can tune into KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic program to hear an in-studio performance and interview with Banhart.