Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Art Brut Announce Mini September Tour, Including 3 US Festivals

Bumbershoot (Seattle, WA) - Hideout Block Party (Chicago, IL) - Monolith Festival (Red Rocks, Co)
Secret Fall Tour Still To Come / "It's A Bit Complicated" Out Now On Downtown Records

Check Out Art Brut Backstage at The Conan O’Brien Show with the one and only Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) - Best Friends Forever!
"Very very cool...the most entertaining [band]...they're great" - Daniel Radcliffe on Art Brut, to Conan O'Brien

Spin Magazine “Complicated shows a real grasp of musical history.” [Jul 2007, p.99]

Pitchfork Media “By only gently nudging the musical formula on It's a Bit Complicated, Art Brut have succeeded in crafting a satisfying half-mature sequel, but may have only delayed, rather than thwarted, the sophomore jinx.”

Rolling Stone “It all adds up to something lovably unpretentious – and pretty unique.”

Entertainment Weekly “Idiosyncratic yet entertaining guitar-based pop.” [22 Jun 2007, p.69]

Los Angeles Times “ As good as much of the new British rock can be, it is experiencing a creeping seriousness these days. "It's a Bit Complicated" is a welcome corrective.”

Fresh off their “Direct Hit” performance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien, Art Brut return to the US this September for a slew US festivals and a handful of dates in between. Art Brut are currently celebrating rave reviews to their sophomore release "Its A Bit Complicated" out now on Downtown Records. In honor of this much festive occasion, Art Brut have been touring the world and will return to the US for a very special tour in late Fall.

It makes sense that Art Brut share its name with the mid-20th century art movement characterized by a breaking of traditional cultural boundaries. Much like that Art Brut—outsiderish, rebellious, punk before punk— this Art Brut, too, is deliciously libertine.

Art Brut was willed into being in 2003 by its sardonic frontman Eddie Argos. Argos seemed to think that everyone should be in a band—why not? Jonathan Richman-obsessed and more of a talker than a singer, Argos fronted The Art Goblins in his native Bournemouth, before packing up for London and convincing guitarists Jasper Future and Ian Catskilkin, bassist Frederica Feedback and drummer Mikey B to record a demo. The band recorded Brutlegs in 2004, and it included early versions of “Modern Art,” “Formed a Band,” and “Moving to LA.” “Emily Kane” was released in early 2005, about, yes, Argos’ actual high school love. It didn’t win her back (she’s got a boyfriend, natch), but it did turn Art Brut into a buzz band in their native UK.

A few months later the band released Bang Bang Rock and Roll. Touring commenced. They played with Oasis, and performed at Coachella. Then came the cover of Rolling Stone in Germany. There seemed a good chance that Argos might get his long-held wish of playing on Top of the Pops (it never happened).

While they haven’t yet written the song that “makes Israel and Palestine get along,” as promised in “Formed a Band,” Art Brut have succeeded in garnering a dedicated legion of fans and copycats. It’s all part of Argos’ master plan—Art Brut “franchise” bands. He swears there’s “at least 30 or 40 around” and it’s cutthroat competition to be the best. In a recently held battle of the franchises Art Brut 7 won (they’re Argos’ favorite). Art Brut 4 is rather sour about that.

Having just finished the band’s second full-length, It’s a Bit Complicated, Argos and crew are set to head back on the road this spring and summer, playing dates across the U.S. and Europe with Maximo Park in tow. Argos claims the new record is poppier than the first—could that be possible? Either way, with tracks titled “Pump Up the Volume” and “I Will Survive,” expect it to be tongue-in-cheek and rancorously funny.

And yes, it might just lead to peace in the Middle East.

Art Brut Sept Tour

Sep 2 Sun-Bumbershoot- Backyard Stage Seattle WA
Sep 3 Mon-Richards On Richards Vancouver BC
Sep 5 Wed- The Warehouse Calgary AB
Sep 6 Thu- Starlite Room Edmonton AB
Sep 7 Fri- Pyramid Cabaret Winnipeg MB
Sep 8 Sat- The Hideout Block Party Chicago IL
Sep 11 Tue- Key Club Los Angeles CA
Sep 13 Thu- Beauty Bar Las Vegas NV
Sep 14 Fri- The Mohawk Austin TX
Sep 15 Sat- Monolith Festival at Red Rocks Morrison CO

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