Pitchfork: Headphones Head Out on Tour

When Pedro the Lion's David Bazan isn't writing emotive, melodic rock based on simple but elegant chord structures and lyrical narrative streaks with guitars, he's writing emotive, melodic rock based on simple but elegant chord structures and lyrical narrative streaks with synthesizers. That's right, the debut of Headphones, his new project with cohorts Tim Walsh (Pedro, TW Walsh) and Frank Lenz (Starflyer 59), out on Suicide Squeeze on May 10, does sound a bit like a digital version of Pedro the Lion, but if it ain't broke, why fix it? Plus, Bright Eyes is all over that shit, and people seem to like them.

The new project, in addition to a new sound, gives Bazan yet another reason to hit the road: after spending the better part of 2004 on tour, he just finished up a tour in his Pedro incarnation with Low, and will be heading out again posthaste. Headphones got a bit of a tune-up at this year's South by Southwest festival, and now they'll be playing shows from coast to coast beginning in mid-May, with labelmates Crystal Skulls along for the ride. Get your note cards ready for the question and answer period, a staple of Pedro the Lion shows that we're all hoping he carries over to this tour. The dates:

05-15 Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
05-16 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
05-17 Washington, DC - Black Cat
05-18 Brooklyn, NY - Northsix *
05-19 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's *
05-20 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian *
05-21 Cleveland, OH - The Grog Shop *
05-22 Chicago, IL - Schubas *
05-23 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry *
05-26 Bellingham, WA - Viking Union *
05-30 San Francisco, CA - Slim's *
05-31 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
06-01 Pomona, CA - Glass House *
06-02 San Diego, CA - The Casbah *
06-03 Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse *
06-05 Austin, TX - The Parish *
06-06 Denton, TX - Dan�s Silverleaf *
06-08 Denver, CO - Rock Island *
06-09 Salt Lake City, UT - Velvet Room *
06-10 Boise, ID - Neurolux *
06-11 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge *
06-12 Seattle, WA - Neumo�s *

* with Crystal Skulls

Meanwhile, Bazan also has a few solo and Pedro the Lion dates lined up before the Headphones tour, like so:

04-30 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre (David Bazan solo, w/ Norfolk & Western, M. Ward)
05-02 Champaign, IL - Illinois Disciples Foundation
05-03 Decatur, IL - Millikin University
05-05 Ellensburg, WA - Club Central, Samuelson Union, Central Washington University
05-14 Orlando, FL - Cornerstone Festival (David Bazan solo)