Now that Ariel Pink is “popular” and “awesome” instead of “annoying” and “a confusing Animal Collective joke,” you better believe he’s taking advantage of it. His band’s 4AD debut record, Before Today, will be released worldwide June 8 on CD, LP, digital download, sheet music for castrate, and hand-cranked music box. Meanwhile, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti will be haunting New York’s Mercury Lounge on May 4 for a (sold out) show before heading to Europe to “chill out for a month or two.” Or tour there. I don’t know. Either way, the band, which now consists of Pink (vocals), Tim Koh (bass/vocals), Kenny Gilmore (guitar/vocals), and Aaron Sperske (drums/vocals), will then return to North America on July 9 for a triumphant run of North American dates to support that new record.
In case you were wondering, Before Today was recorded in Encino at the House of Blues (once Tito Jackson’s home studio) with Sunny Levine (grandson of Quincy Jones!) and Rik Pekkonen (Bill Withers, Seals & Crofts, Bread), as well as at the band’s home studios. Prior to its release, the band will release “Round and Round” (backed with “Mistaken Wedding”) as a limited edition 7-inch and digital download single on April 26. As a bonus, REAL FANS can hear “Round and Round” at the Chocolate Grinder right now and new subscribers to the band’s mailing list can also download the track as a free MP3 here. Poseurs will be kicked in their digital asses out the digital door.
Ariel Pink’s Haunted North America:
05.04.10 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
07.09.10 - Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex
07.10.10 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo’s
07.12.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
07.13.10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
07.14.10 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore
07.16.10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
07.17.10 - Denver, CO - Bluebird
07.19.10 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
07.20.10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
07.21.10 - Detroit, MI - Pike Room
07.22.10 - Toronto, ON - Mod Club
07.23.10 - Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
07.24.10 - New York, NY - The Fillmore / Irving Plaza
07.25.10 - Boston, MA - Middle East
07.27.10 - Philadelphia, PA - JB’s
07.28.10 - Washington, DC - Rock N Roll Hotel
07.29.10 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
07.30.10 - Atlanta, GA - Earl
07.31.10 - Birmingham, AL - Bottletree
08.02.10 - Denton, TX - Hailey’s
08.03.10 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
08.05.10 - Tucson, AZ - Plush
08.06.10 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
08.07.10 - Costa Mesa, CA - Detroit Bar
• Ariel Pink: http://www.arielpinkshauntedgraffiti.com
• 4AD: http://www.4ad.com
