Hey kids, do you love Middle Eastern music but hate the paralyzing stereotype of fanaticism and chaos that comes with enjoying it? Have you been looking for a genuine dose of incense-drenched North African guitar grooves without that pesky stigma of perpetual instability? Hmm, but have you been looking... locally? Let’s say around Arizona or California ways? Ha, I’m not surprised! If you’d looked ‘round there, you would’ve already found former Sun City Girl Sir Richard Bishop, and boy howdy if that white boy ain’t programmed by God or Allah or whoever else to provide the perfect soundtrack for a litter to carry the most beautiful virgin in the Ottoman Empire through a particularly busy Tangiers market soon as his hands touch guitar.
In fact, ‘ol Richard is heading out on a U.S.A. tour pretty damn soon. Plus his brand new album The Freak of Araby will be out May 26 through Drag City, giving you the perfect opportunity to savor the luxurious aroma of recorded Middle Eastern guitar music that doesn’t support terrorism! We’re all winning today, America!
Tourdates:
05.22.09 - Oakland, CA - The Stork Club
05.29.09 - Santa Cruz Mountains, CA - Historic Brookdale Lodge *
05.31.09 - San Diego, CA - Bar Pink
06.01.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Modified Arts
06.03.09 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
06.04.09 - Austin, TX - Mohawk
06.08.09 - Athens, GA - Tasty World
06.09.09 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
06.10.09 - Greensboro, NC - Square One
06.11.09 - Baltimore, MD - The Talking Head Club
06.12.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
06.13.09 - New York, NY - Studio at Webster Hall
06.14.09 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg $
06.16.09 - Easthampton, MA - Flywheel
06.17.09 - Boston, MA - Middle East Upstairs
06.18.09 - Portland, ME - Space Gallery
06.20.09 - Montreal, Canada - Lab Synthese
06.21.09 - Toronto, Canada - Music Gallery
06.22.09 - Rochester, NY - Bug Jar
06.23.09 - Pittsburgh, PA - Your Inner Vagabond
06.24.09 - Louisville, KY - Skull Alley
06.25.09 - Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle
06.26.09 - Iowa City, IA - Picador
06.27.09 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
06.30.09 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile
07.01.09 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
07.02.09 - Eugene, OR - University of Oregon Campus
07.03.09 - San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
* Bachelorette
$ Bill Callahan
