From today's Pitchfork NewsWire:

The Decemberists Gear Up to Record Next Album, Premiere Songs on Newly Announced Tour Dates

A tale of 26 cities
Chris Rediske reports:
I tell you, it's getting so you can't swing a dead cat without hitting The Decemberists! Colin Meloy and his merry band are heading out on their umpteenth swing through these here United States, proving once and for all how much they really like their tour bus (and you!). However, this time around, they do have an ulterior motive-- one that should give you a reason to turn off the TV, hit the club, and see them again: They'll be previewing some of the songs to be featured on their upcoming album.

Pitchfork contacted Meloy and confirmed that The Decemberists are planning to head into the studio this summer to record their third full-length for Kill Rock Stars. If you're keeping count, that'll make three albums and two EPs in the same time that The Cure have released... well, basically nothing.

This latest round of dates is actually the second leg of the "Never Send to Know With Whom the Van Rolls, It Rolls With Thee" tour, and if you think we're kidding, you can head on over to The Decemberists' website and buy a t-shirt to that effect. And several other effects. They'll be supported by The Long Winters and The Places (but not The The) on all dates, except May 19th and June 18th, both of which are festival shows. Insert obligatory list of dates, cities and clubs here:

04-30 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
05-01 Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe
05-27 Portland, OR - Aladdin
05-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richards on Richard
05-29 George, WA - Sasquatch Festival
05-31 Salt Lake City, UT - Lo Fi Café
06-01 Denver, CO - Gothic Theater
06-03 Minneapolis, MN - 400 Bar
06-04 Chicago, IL - Metro
06-05 Detroit, MI - Shelter
06-06 Toronto, Ontario - Lees Palace
06-07 Montreal, Quebec - El Salon
06-08 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
06-10 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
06-11 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
06-12 Boston, MA - Paradise
06-14 Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club
06-15 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
06-16 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
06-17 Atlanta, GA - Echo Lounge
06-18 Birmingham, AL - City Stages Festival
06-19 Nashville, TN - Exit/In
06-21 Dallas, TX - Trees
06-22 Austin, TX - The Parish
06-24 Tucson, AZ - Plush
06-25 San Diego, CA - Casbah
06-26 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey
06-27 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
06-28 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall



Damn! You see my problem. I'm not going to be in San Francisco for their June shows. Not that I haven't seen The Decemberists a few times in the last year - but, yo, new songs! New album! I love those guys. I'm going to try to go to one of those NYC shows.

(yeah. i'm crazy.)