Pitchfork

We like to rag on the Mars Volta 'round here, but the truth is they seem like pretty chill dudes who would probably be fun to hang out with. They also have good taste.

Mars Volta guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is a co-owner of the California record label Gold Standard Labs, an imprint that, for a brief moment a few years ago, was seriously the coolest label on the planet. They put out records by !!!, Out Hud, the Rapture, the Faint, and the Locust before anybody really cared about any of those bands, standing at the forefront of the noizecore and dance-punk movements.

The GSL legacy continues with the label's first package tour, which kicks off this weekend in L.A. It features three acts "handpicked and endorsed by The Mars Volta", but don't hold that against them: GoGoGo Airheart were angling their guitars back when everybody was still holding them horizontally, rapper Subtitle is part of the Islands crew (see today's headlining story), and the Jai Alai Savant features members of the sorely missed Philly dub-punk band Franklin. The latter band also has a song called "Scarlett Johnasen Why Don't You Love Me", which automatically makes them awesome, even if they spelled her name wrong.

The whole package:

02-19 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo (GoGoGo Airheart only)
02-21 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
02-22 Lawrence, KS - Replay Lounge
02-23 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry *
02-24 Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis *
02-26 Urbana, IL - The Iron Post *
02-27 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
02-28 Kalamazoo, MI - Kraftbrau *
03-01 Bowling Green, OH - Howard's Club *
03-02 Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar *
03-03 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox *
03-04 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place *
03-05 Cambridge, MA - Middle East *
03-06 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
03-07 Philadelphia, PA - The Khyber *
03-08 Washington, DC - Warehouse Next Door *
03-09 Raleigh, NC - King's Lounge *
03-10 Atlanta, GA - The Earl *
03-11 Jacksonville, FL - TSI *
03-12 Tampa, FL - New World Brewery *
03-15 Austin, TX - Room 710 (GSL/Satellite City SXSW showcase)*#$
03-16 Austin, TX - Room 710 (GSL/Skyscraper SXSW day party) $%
03-20 Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
03-21 Phoenix, AZ - Modified

* with the Jai Alai Savant
# with Dmonstrations, Die Princess Die, , Darker My Love, Your Enemies Friends
$ with Coaxial
% with GoGoGo Airheart with Why?, Broken Spindles, An Albatross, Anavan