Pitchfork: Constantines Discuss New Album

The Constantines' debut Sub Pop release took the indie rock world by storm in 2003. Shine a Light provided the genre with a solid shot in the arm of post-punk rooted in traditional rock 'n' roll, at time when the the backwards gaze of the current crop of '80s-influenced bands was on the fast track to ubiquitous. Well, Toronto's finest Springsteen-Archers of Loaf fusers have been hard at work on a new record, due out October 11 on Sub Pop in the U.S. and Three Gut in their native land of Canadia. Shit, that's a long ways away. But look at the bright side; your anticipation this summer won't just be about back-to-school shopping.

We had a chance to talk with singer/guitar player Bry Webb on the phone recently and found out some news about the record. Apparently, with the shut down of the NHL this season, the band had only one place to turn their sportsman urges: curling. What is curling, you may ask? Well, apparently it's sort of like shuffleboard on ice, Canada loves it, and all this is important to know as Webb relates that the new album has some key curling references. In fact, possible titles include Tournament of Hearts (also the name of a women's curling tournament) and Hurry, Hard (something people say at curling events). The band also invited the Ontario women's curling team to one of their recent shows, but they didn't make it. Heartbroken though they were, the band trudged on.

The recording and mixing phases of the album are complete, but it has yet to be mastered, so there isn't a set tracklist thus far. But Webb provided some info on songs that will most likely be included: "Draw Us Lines", a song based on one chord, G, that goes on for about three minutes, "Hotline Operator", which contains "a few more chords," and "Soon Enough", a song that's more "mellow", a "summer" jam. The band recorded at Halla Music, a studio in a Toronto warehouse, and it was a self-produced affair. Bobby from Oneida, a band that the Constantines have toured with in the past, was around for much of the recording acting as sort of a "guru," according to Webb.

The Constantines will be on tour this July, traveling from the Northeast of America to the Midwest, before going back to Canada for a few shows. They'll embark upon a more extensive tour later on in the year. Many of the songs from the new album will be previewed on the road, as well as all your old faves, as they continue to make "original, weird music," as Webb aptly terms it. So visit www.curling.com, bulk up on your references, and be sure to cry out "Hurry, hard!" at a show near you. The dates:

07-07 Allston, MA - Great Scott *
07-08 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
09-09 Brooklyn, NY - Southpaw *
07-10 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar *
07-11 Pittsburgh, PA - Garfield Artworks *
07-12 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
07-13 Kalamazoo, MI - Kraftbrau
07-14 Cincinnati, OH - The Madhatter *
07-15 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern *
07-16 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
07-17 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar *
07-18 Madison, WI - Hi Noon Saloon *
08-06 Wolfe Island, Ontario - Musicfest
08-18 Hamilton, Ontario - The Underground +
08-19 Brantford, Ontario - Ford Plant +
08-20 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace +

* with Oxford Collapse
+ With Oakley Hall