Pitchfork

Castanets are coming to a city near you (if you live near one of the following cities, of course). Pitchfork spoke to band leader Ray Raposa via e-mail and he told us a bit about the tour, as well as upcoming projects. The tour, which began in mid-February, will be "picking up folks for the band along the way as befits their schedule." Raposa said those artists may include Otto Hauser, Jana Hunter, Paul Goode, Nick Hennies, the Vanishing Voice, Sayard Egan, Nick Delffs, and "many others will be coming and going as the states do."

In speaking to Raposa, we also learned that the band is working on two separate projects: an upcoming full length album and a split EP with Create(!)(Parenthetical exclamation is part of the band's name, not my extreme excitement). The album, which is being produced by Nathan Delffs, will likely feature a number of guests, including Sufjan Stevens, Daniel Carter, the Viking Moses, and "a whole host of Californians familiar from the Cathedral record." He also says that the content of the album "may be about two characters going for a walk and maybe not finding what they set out for." Meanwhile, the split EP will be released either in 7- or 12-inch format and "will not be about anything in particular." No release date has been set for the full-length, but Asthmatic Kitty should put out the EP sometime in July.

If this news doesn't satisfy you, both Raposa and Sayard Egan will be keeping a tour journal which should be available on the Asthmatic Kitty website beginning in early March.

For now, go check this band out:

02-25 Montague, MA - The Bookmill
02-26 Brooklyn, NY - Glasshouse Gallery
02-27 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
02-28 Philadelphia, PA - Kensington South Forum
03-01 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
03-02 Washington, DC - Ivory Tower Community Room (George Washington University)
03-03 Chatlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
03-04 Chapel Hill, NC - The Nightlight
03-05 Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
03-06 Jacksonville, FL - TSI
03-07 St. Augustine, FL - Cafe 11
03-09 Tampa, FL - New World Brewery
03-10 New Orleans, LA - Circle Bar
03-11 Houston, TX - Walter' s
03-14 Austin, TX - Church of The Friendly Ghost
03-16 Austin, TX - Emo's (SXSW)
03-19 Austin, TX - Maggie Mae's (SXSW)
03-24 San Diego, CA - Scolari's Office