Karate Prep New Album, Tour U.S. in October

With a niche somewhere between Dischord and ESP, Southern Records' Karate have spent the last decade arting up a post-punk scene desperately in need of some lengthy guitar solos. Despite Karate's odd synthesis of free-jazz, blues and more traditional post-rock, the band has been generous enough with the pop elements to keep most folks' attention through the years. Now the band is preparing for the release of a new album, and gearing up ready for an extensive U.S. tour.

As previously reported, Southern will release Karate's sixth full-length, Pockets, on September 21st. Produced once again by Andy Hong, all indications point to Karate slightly changing direction here, moving away from the somewhat torpid inclinations of Some Boots and Unsolved. It also clocks in at under 40 minutes, for the first time since their second album, promising a generally uptempo sound more delicate and poppy than previous releases.

Former Codeine and Come guitarist Chris Brokaw guests on Pockets, and he'll be joining the band on tour, opening on nearly all dates (and, one would assume, playing guitar with them when required). Following the U.S. leg of the tour, the band will head overseas for dates in Europe and Japan, the latter of which ought to be particularly fond of the group. Dates:

09-24 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church (w/Engine Down, These Arms Are Snakes, Channels)
09-25 Baltimore, MD - Otto Bar *
09-26 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's *
10-01 Providence, RI - Century Lounge *
10-02 Portland, ME - The Space *
10-03 New Haven, CT - Bar Night Club *
10-12 Albany, NY - Valentine's *
10-13 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom Tavern *
10-14 Hamtramck, MI -Small's *
10-15 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasant's *
10-16 St. Louis, MO - Rocket Bar *
10-17 Chicago, IL - Schuba's *
10-18 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club *
10-19 Ames, IA - Maintenance Shop *
10-20 Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck *
10-21 Norman, OK - The Opolis (w/John Vanderslice) *
10-22 Dallas, TX - Gypsy Tea Room *
10-23 Austin, TX - The Parish Room (w/John Vanderslice) *
10-25 Tallahassee, FL - Club Downunder *
10-26 Tampa, FL - The Orpheum *
10-27 Orlando, FL - The Social *
10-28 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
10-29 Raleigh, NC - King's Lounge *
10-30 Richmond, VA - VCU's "Richmond Salons" (w/The Evens) *
10-31 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door *
11-05 Brooklyn, NY - Northsix
11-06 Cambridge, MA - Middle East
11-07 Cambridge, MA - Middle East

* w/ Chris Brokaw