Pitchfork

In a bid to ward off Seasonal Affective Disorder, the men of Summer Hymns take to the road this winter, playing shows across the United States in support of their latest long-player, last year's Misra Records release Backwards Masks. The tour kicks off in sexy Lexington, Kentucky and swoops up north before settling at last in august Augusta, Georgia.

While the all-too-pleasant vibe of Backwards Masks may have driven some to self-immolation, the open road affords Summer Hymns ample opportunities to inject some spark and spontaneity into their music. Some ideas: wear papier-mâché masks modeled after the dudes/dudette from Lordi; throw candy canes and/or razorblades at the audience; only perform a cappella Prince covers.

Get to these gigs early to catch Folklore, a new project from Elf Power guitarist Jimmy Hughes with quite an intriguing premise. On its concept LP The Ghost of H.W. Beaverman-- which features guest appearances from pretty much half the population of Athens, Georgia-- the combo "takes ghost stories based in the mountains of upstate New York and dissects them into the myths and rumors from which they are based," according to the website/blog of Folklore's publicist.

Sample tune "H.W. Beaverman" ain't too shabby, packing enough melody into its layers and vocal cataracts to make it worth a download-- which, conveniently enough, you can do by clicking below.

Winter Hymns:

01-23 Lexington, KY - Mecca *
01-24 Urbana, IL - The Canopy Club *
01-25 Madison, WI - King Club *
01-26 Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen *
01-27 Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews *
01-28 Bloomington, IN - Art Hospital *
01-29 Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar *
01-30 Akron, OH - Lime Spider *
01-31 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox *
02-01 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar *
02-02 New York, NY - Cake Shop *
02-03 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall *
02-04 Philadelphia, PA - Manhattan Room *
02-09 Columbia, SC - The (Art) Garage *
02-10 Augusta, Georgia - The Soul Bar *

* with Folklore