Pitchfork: Echo and the Bunnymen Reveal Dates

"Under blue moon I saw you/ So soon you'll take me/ Up in your arms, too late to beg you/ Or cancel it, though I know it must be/ The killing time/ Unwillingly mine..." Recognize those lines? No? How about if you picture the lyrics sung by a lip-pouting, trenchcoat-clad, cocksure Liverpool singer from a 1980s combo that enjoyed some success but were never as heralded as their contemporaries the Smiths and U2? Ah yes, Echo and the Bunnymen! If you never have had the chance to listen to the band's zenith, "The Killing Moon", you'll get your chance to hear it played live soon enough, because the band that time forgot is back for another kick at the can, having just announced the start of a tour that will commence in Nottingham on October 22.

And why not? If Morrissey and Bono can continue to shake their respective bon bons to the delight of newer and newer audiences, then certainly we can't begrudge the other romantic and heroic singers from the 1980s to attempt the same. The dates will be in support of the new album, Siberia, the release date of which has been put back to September 19 in the UK (September 20 in the U.S.). Following enthusiastically received slots at Glastonbury and T in the Park festivals, Echo will be playing more festival dates in the UK and Europe before starting the Siberia tour in earnest. According to the band's website, there are sure to be more dates announced this week, but below is the initial bunch-- keep your fingers crossed for North American dates, especially any of you who have longed to sing along to, "I can see you've got the blues/ In your alligator shoes/ Me, I'm all smiles...I got my crocodiles."

07-16 Guildford, England - Guilfest
07-29 Vilar de Mouros, Portugal - Vilar de Mouros Summer Festival
07-31 Benidorm, Spain - Benidorm Music Meeting
08-13 Tokyo, Japan - Chiba Marine Stadium
08-14 Osake, Japan - Intex
08-26 Leeds, England - Bramham Park (Carling Leeds Festival)
08-28 Reading, England - Richfield Avenue (Carling Reading Festival)
09-06 Urbino, Italy - Frequenze Disturbate Festival
10-22 Nottingham, England - Rescue Rooms
10-24 Sheffield, England - Leadmill
10-27 Manchester, England - Academy
10-30 Birmingham, England - Academy
10-31 Portsmouth, England - Pyramid Rooms
11-01 London, England - Shepherd's Bush Empire