PHANTOGRAM AND THE VELDT TO EMBARK ON EAST COAST TOUR MARCH 11-17
Alternative pop icons Phantogram and shoegaze alternative soul pioneersΒ The Veldt have announced they will play six exclusive U.S. East Coast 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.
PhantogramΒ is touring in support of their recently released their third studio album ThreeΒ (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 theyβve 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 Chicagoβs Riviera Theatre, followed by dates in St. Paul, MN (Palace Theatre), Madison, WI (Orpheum Theater), Urbana, IL (Canopy Club), Cincinnati, OH (Bogartβs), and Atlanta, GA (The Tabernacle).
The Veldt are touring in support of their EP The Shocking Fuzz of Your Electric Fur: The Drake Equation β the bandβs first new recordingΒ 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 andΒ Emm Gryner.
The Veldt formed in the late 80βs 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,Β The VeldtΒ embarked on a musical journey that changed their lives. The soon found themselves in the studio with dream-gaze guruΒ Robin Guthrie, touring America withΒ Cocteau Twins and the UK withΒ The Jesus and Mary Chain and working with leading producersΒ Lincoln Fong of MooseΒ on their debut albumΒ ‘Marigolds’Β andΒ Ray Schulman (Bjork, Sugarcubes, The Sundays)Β on Afrodisiac.Β 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, includingΒ TV On the Radio.
The Veldt have collaborated withΒ TV On The Radio, Mos Def, The Jesus & Mary Chain, Lady Miss Kier (Deee-Lite), and most recently withΒ A.R.Kane, and have shared the stage with the likes ofΒ The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Cocteau Twins, Manic Street Preachers, The Jesus and Mary Chain, OasisΒ andΒ Living Colour.
The band reformed in 2016 and their new EP started to make the rounds with a 2016 vinyl release via Manchesterβs Leonard Skully Records. Their return was met with incredible enthusiasm and significant press attention, including fromΒ The Guardian (UK),Β who say βthe new songs invite paradoxical praise: serenely assaultive and vertiginously soothing.βΒ In the past year, the band did a mini-tour withΒ The Brian Jonestown Massacre, embarked on two Canadian tours, toured and playedΒ multiple festivals across Europe.
Tour Dates
Saturday, March 11: Β Chicago, IL β Riviera Theatre
Sunday March 12: Β St Paul, MN β Palace Theatre
Monday March 13: Β Madison, WI β Orpheum Theatre
Tuesday March 14: Β Urbana, IL β Canopy Club
Thursday, March 16: Β Cincinnati, OH β Bogartβs
Friday, March 17:Β Atlanta GA β The Tabernacle