Pitchfork

Gang of Losers? Pshaw! Just look at those Dears in that there press photo. They are looking mighty swank, mighty swank indeed. And not the least bit loser-y. However, it takes a pretty penny to score such nice digs, and the Murray Lightburn-fronted Montreal sextet probably has a few bills to pay off, so they're taking to the open road this fall.

The tour kicked off last night in Bristol, and continues across England and Europe before swinging back this way for a Canadian homecoming (including an impressive four gigs at Toronto's Lee's Palace) and, finally, eight U.S. dates. Expect a full-fledged tour of the States early next year.

Joining the Dears for those States dates are fellow Arts&Crafts signings Young Galaxy, comprised of Montreal residents Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless. If you can't wait until spring 2007 to scoop up the Young Galaxy debut, click here for a (zipped) mp3 of their gorgeous, cosmic spiritual "Swing Your Heartache".

On a more serious note, click below as well to check out the new video for the Dears' "Whites Only Party", from Gang of Losers, which juxtaposes footage of civil rights activists with film snippets of corny, Hollywood-groomed drones and shots of the band rocking a live gig. Food for thought, as they say.

En-Dear-ing:

10-26 London, England - KOKO
10-28 Groningen, The Netherlands - Vera
10-29 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
10-30 Paris, France - Maroquinerie
10-31 Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Milky Way
11-02 Hamburg, Germany - Molotow
11-03 Berlin, Germany - Mudd Club
11-04 Munster, Germany - Gleis 22
11-05 Cologne, Germany - Gebaude 9
11-06 Munich, Germany - Ampere
11-08 Rome, Italy - Circolo Degli Artisti
11-09 Milan, Italy - Transilvania
11-10 Lausanne, Switzerland - La Romandie
11-14 Ottawa, Ontario - The New Capital Music Hall
11-15 Kingston, Ontario - A.J.'s Ale House
11-16 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
11-17 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
11-18 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace (two shows)
11-21 Winnipeg, Manitoba - The Venue
11-22 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - University of Saskatchewan
11-23 Calgary, Alberta - University of Calgary
11-25 Edmonton, Alberta - The Starlite Room
11-27 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
11-28 Seattle, WA - Neumos *
11-30 Portland, OR - Doug Fir *
12-01 San Francisco, CA - The Independent *
12-02 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater *
12-04 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge *
12-05 Denver, CO - BlueBird Theater *
12-07 Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line Café *
12-08 Chicago, IL - Metro *
12-14 Montreal, Quebec - Spectrum

* with Young Galaxy