Stewart is joined by new full-time band member Angela Seo on piano, synth, and drum programming; with production handled by Jamie and Deerhoof's Greg Saunier. Together they've crafted a fully grown sound for Dear God, I Hate Myself with elements from goth and pop that are expertly performed by a crop of brilliant musicians. Saunier himself plays on much of the record as does Ches Smith (John Zorn, Terry Riley, Marc Ribot) who supplies timpani, conga and moog along with a broad range of other instrumentation. Deerhoof's John Dieterich is all over a rendition of the traditional folk song "Cumberland Gap" and Xiu Xiu is even joined by the Immaculata Catholic School Orchestra in Stewart's ode to heartbreak and healing, "This Too Shall Pass Away (for Freddy)." The title track, one of four songs done primarily on a Nintendo DS, explores the relationship between faith and despair with a layer of commentary provided by the bizarre sounds of the music itself.

Xiu Xiu's new album Dear God, I Hate Myself will be released by Kill Rock Stars on February 23, 2010. That's the cover art above. On March 17th, Xiu Xiu leaves on a tour with Tune-Yards that includes the just-announced Bowery Ballroom show (on AmEx presale now). Tune-Yards also has that show coming up at The Bell House even sooner. All dates, with new Xiu Xiu tracklist, below...

Continue reading "Xiu Xiu - new album details & 2010 tour dates w/ Tune-Yards"

by Andrew Frisicano

DOWNLOAD: Xiu Xiu - I Do What I Want When I Want (MP3)

Xiu Xiu's Jamie Stewart @ LPR (more by Zach Stern)

It has been five years since Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu went on a solo tour...

The sets from this tour will be from a repertoire of over 80 songs plus several brand new pieces from a new Xiu Xiu record tentatively scheduled for a 2010 release to be called Dear God, I Hate Myself. The shows will be played in the most intimate of arrangements with just electric guitar, bird call whistles and a stylophone (a late 60s toy synth that one plays with a pen). Stewart will be playing several songs that have never been heard live before and some that haven't been heard in many years.

There will also be a parallel photo project in which long time Xiu Xiu accomplice/art brut David Horvitz and Stewart will take a solo photograph portrait of every single person at every single show. This includes the audience, the sound people, the promoter - everyone. These will all be posted on the Xiu Xiu blog and the best 300 will be published as a book. And don't worry about looking your best before you get there. Xiu Xiu combs will be available for you to fix up your hair. [Kill Rock Stars]

The first part of Stewart's tour runs through April, and includes a stop at NYC's Monkey Town on Monday, April 6th. Reservations (presuming the 50-person space hasn't filled) are available for that show's early and late sets.

For the second part of the tour, Stewart will head to Europe in May.

The photo project described above won't be David Horvitz's first time touring with Stewart/Xiu Xiu. Horvitz has been documenting Xiu Xiu tours for a while, and his photos of past tours have been distributed in book form (as Xiu Xiu: The Polaroid Project) and via your local Walgreens.

Recently, Stewart played a solo set at a Housing Works Bookstore &
Cafe benefit last December (Bjork and Dirty Projectors will play a benefit at the space this May.)

Stewart's also been playing with new group Former Ghosts, who have two recordings planned for '09: a "tba" full length on Upset the Rhythm Records and a split 12" w/ Felt Drawings on YoungCubs/Monsterhaus.

All tour dates and two videos from Xiu Xiu's 2008 Women as Lovers LP (Kill Rock Stars) below...

Continue reading "Xiu Xiu - 2009 solo tour dates, a photo project & a new band"

Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu is playing a solo show at the Lutheran Chuch of the Messiah in Greenpoint on January 4th. He's also suing Rolling Stone.