Pitchfork: The Polyphonic Spree Announce U.S. Dates

The Polyphonic Spree Announce U.S. Dates
McDonalds drive-thrus unprepared for order of two of every animal

In the bleak alt-rock desert that was the summer of '95, Tim DeLaughter was still known just as the guy from Tripping Daisy, whose single "I Got a Girl" had exactly one redeeming quality: It wasn't The Presidents of the United States of America's "Lump". If you'd told someone at the time that in under 10 years Tripping Daisy's lead singer would be leading a few dozen people around in brightly colored robes, 20 bucks says they would have thought "cult slayfest," not "euphoric pop group."

But here it is all 2004 and shit, and DeLaughter's resume now includes two (2) critically lauded albums with The Polyphonic Spree and zero (0) disturbing ritual murders (that we know of). Following a stadium tour this past April with David Bowie (okay, opening for Bowie), the Spree have secured TV spots on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (aired July 27th), The Late Show with David Letterman (to air August 27th) and PBS's Austin City Limits (to air in November). In August, they'll undertake a very tightly focused promenade through a handful of American metropolises. If you think "more" is better than "less"-- and among Spree fans we must assume this is not uncommon-- Ticketmaster is offering discounted two-day passes for the Chicago and Boston sections of the tour. Crowded stages commence hence:

08-13 Chicago, IL - Park West
08-14 Chicago, IL - Park West
08-16 Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club
08-18 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
08-19 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
08-21 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
08-22 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
08-24 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
08-25 New York, NY - Irving Plaza

All this hoopla comes as a result the band/choir/mob's second album, Together We're Heavy, released just over two weeks ago on Hollywood Records. The first single off Heavy, "Hold Me Now", is available in the UK with a previously unreleased B-side titled "Working Out the Kinks".