Alternative pop icons Phantogram and shoegaze alternative soul pioneers The Veldt have announced they will play six exclusive Eastern U.S. cities before the former departs for their European tour. The duo will again return to the U.S.A. in mid-April for two separate appearances at Coachella.
Phantogram is touring in support of their recently released their third studio album ‘Three’ (Republic Records). Consisting of Josh Carter (guitars) and Sarah Barthel (keyboards), the duo formed in 2007. On ‘Three’, they take their sound in an enthralling, darker direction, adding new textures to their signature style. This album represents a new creative peak they’ve been building towards for nearly a decade. The latest chapter in the duo’s impressive ascent to the forefront of alternative pop, this iridescent record glows with warmth even as it explores the desolation of personal pain. This is also proof that nothing, at this point, can hold them back.
This six-date joint tour kicks off on Saturday, March 11 at Chicago’s Riviera Theatre, followed by dates in St. Paul, MN (Palace Theatre), Madison, WI (Orpheum Theater), Urbana, IL (Canopy Club), Cincinnati, OH (Bogart’s), and Atlanta, GA (The Tabernacle).
The Veldt are touring in support of their EP ‘The Shocking Fuzz of Your Electric Fur: The Drake Equation’ – the band’s first new recording in fifteen years, which will be released worldwide on June 2 via Schoolkids Records, home to artists such as Adam Franklin & Swervedriver, Tommy Keene and Bettie Serveert with a history of collaboration with artists such as New Model Army, Daniel Lanois and Emm Gryner.
The Veldt formed in the late 80’s in Raleigh amongst the royalty of the legendary North Carolina music scene, including bands such as Superchunk, Archers of Loaf, The Connells, Dillon Fence, The dBs, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Ryan Adams. Pitchfork recently included their album ‘Afrodisiac’ in the top 50 shoegaze albums eve released. Today their musical output is in the same ballpark as A.R.Kane, Cocteau Twins, Massive Attack, and Jesus & Mary Chain.
Signed to Capitol Records in 1989 and eventually Mercury Records, The Veldt embarked on a musical journey that changed their lives. The soon found themselves in the studio with dream-gaze guru Robin Guthrie, touring America with Cocteau Twins and the UK with The Jesus and Mary Chain and working with leading producers Lincoln Fong of Moose on their debut album ‘Marigolds’ and Ray Schulman (Bjork, Sugarcubes, The Sundays) on ‘Afrodisiac’. The Veldt were a sensation from the start and part of a movement of innovators, who came of musical age at a time when rhythmic rebels were reflective, gritty and wild. Their sound inspired future generations of alternative artists, including TV On the Radio.
The Veldt have collaborated with TV On The Radio, Mos Def, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), and most recently with A.R.Kane, and have shared the stage with the likes of The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Oasis and Living Colour.
The band reformed in 2016 and their new EP started to make the rounds with a 2016 vinyl release via Manchester’s Leonard Skully Records. Their return was met with incredible enthusiasm and significant press attention, including from The Guardian (UK), who say “the new songs invite paradoxical praise: serenely assaultive and vertiginously soothing.” In the past year, the band did a mini-tour with The Brian Jonestown Massacre, embarked on two Canadian tours, toured and played multiple festivals across Europe.
[table caption=”Tour Dates” width=”681″ colwidth=”100|100|100|25|250″ colalign=”left|left|left|left|left”]
Day,Date,City,State,Venue
Saturday, March 11,Chicago, IL,Riviera Theatre
Sunday, March 12,St Paul, MN,Palace Theatre
Monday, March 13,Madison, WI,Orpheum Theatre
Tuesday, March 14,Urbana, IL,Canopy Club
Thursday, March 16,Cincinnati, OH,Bogart’s
Friday, March 17,Atlanta,GA,The Tabernacle
[/table]
Feature image by Timothy Saccenti.
“With Danny’s enveloping hooks, Daniel’s swooning falsetto… the new songs invite paradoxical praise: serenely assaultive, vertiginously soothing”
– The Guardian“Atmospheric sounds… their presence in and of itself is historic”
– Noisey / VICE“They’re in the moment, with a perfect blend of past, present, and future”
– Wax Poetics“The Veldt are a unique and singular, musical proposition – authentic American soul music, without post-modern irony, without cliché. If theVelvet Underground had left the Factory and toured with STAX … They are Kane’s kissing kousins”
– Rudy Tambala (A.R. Kane)“Their awesome wobbly psychy guitar music and from-the-heart soulful vocals are as wonderful as ever…myself and Robin Guthrie are just 2 screaming fans”
– Creation Records’ Founder Joe Foster“For black artists, doing anything outside of the bubble, beyond what’s derivative of what white kids are doing, being able to express yourself honestly, is not celebrated at all. So when I heard these guys, it gave me confidence”
– Doc McKinney (The Weeknd, Drake, Estherio)“No matter how futuristic space-age cyberpunk the music became, Daniel’s vocals was the gravity that kept us from floating away completely”
– Michael A. Gonzales, Soulhead“A reply to anyone who thinks that soul is missing from the indie-rock scene”
– Village Voice“Equal parts Jesus and Mary Chain and James Brown”
– NY Press
