To help promote their new album, Wood/Water, the Milwaukee based outfit The Promise Ring played an intimate in-store performance at the Tower Records in Chicago on Wednesday night. The makeshift stage was dressed with exotic plants, matching the album cover, as the Ring introduced new songs to old fans. This was probably the 40th time that I have witnessed a Ring show, and my first unplugged encounter, which I must say was really pulled off well.
ìMy Life Is At Home,î ìBecome One Anything One Time,î ìGet On The Floorî, ìStop Playing Guitar,î were the new flavors savored by the ears of about 100 kids who seemed to know every song, considering that the album is officially two days old. The power of the Internet is strong. The band pulled out a couple of dusty treasures from the chest, including ìScenes From The Parisian Lifeî (which was on an early 7î and later on The Horse Latitudes EP) and ìRed and Blue Jeansî (from Nothing Feels Good). Everything sounded really, really good. The new keyboardist (no idea what his name is) added a lot of intricate sound effects and backing vocals, which definitely add value to these luscious ballads. Davey and Jason were excited about buying the same acoustic guitar, as Davey worked on his stand-up material in between songs.
The Promise Ring begin their US tour on April 27 in Minneapolis, along with openers The Weakerthans who I hear are socialists or specialists or believe in something ending in ìist.î
04.27.02 – Minneapolis, MN (Quest)
04.28.02 – Lawrence, KS (Bottleneck)
04.29.02 – Denver, CO (Ogden Theatre)
04.30.02 – Salt Lake City, UT (X-Scape)
05.02.02 – Bellingham, WA (Western Washington U.)
05.03.02 – Portland, OR (Roseland Theatre)
05.04.02 – Seattle, WA (Crocodile CafÈ)
05.06.02 – San Francisco, CA (Slim’s)
05.07.02 – San Francisco, CA (Slim’s)
05.08.02 – Los Angeles, CA (Knitting Factory)
05.09.02 – San Diego, CA (The Scene)
05.10.02 – Los Angeles, CA (Knitting Factory)
05.11.02 – Pomona, CA (Glass House)
05.12.02 – Tempe, AZ (Nita’s Hideaway)
05.14.02 – Austin, TX (Emo’s)
05.15.02 – Dallas, TX (Tree’s)
05.17.02 – Chicago, IL (Empty Bottle)
05.18.02 – Detroit, MI (St. Andrew’s Hall)
05.18.02 – Toronto, ON (Lee’s Palace)
05.20.02 – Boston, MA (Paradise)
05.21.02 – Washington D.C. (Black Cat)
05.22.02 – New York, NY (Bowery Ballroom)
05.23.02 – Philadelphia, PA (T.L.A.)
Source: Jason Anfinsen
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