Bear vs Shark at Bowery Ballroom
photo by Stephanie Augello

tours announced: Bear Vs Shark, Book of Love, Cactus Blossoms, Jack White, more

Bear vs Shark at Bowery Ballroom
Bear vs Shark at Bowery Ballroom (photo by Stephanie Augello)

BEAR VS SHARK

Early 2000s post-hardcore greats Bear vs Shark went on a reunion tour in 2016 and the reunion isn’t over yet. They announced a one-off in Cleveland with two very solid younger bands, Signals Midwest and Runaway Brother. It’s not a tour, but it’s good news that this band is still going.

JACK WHITE

Jack White’s new album, Boarding House Reach, is out next week and he just announced very intimate release shows in NYC, Los Angeles and London. Like the rest of his tour, these are “camera-free shows.”

BECK

Beck has just expanded his 2018 tour to include some of the most iconic venues in North America, including Hollywood Bowl, Madison Square Garden and Red Rocks. We’ll have a BV presale for the MSG show.

LIZ PHAIR

With a new box set that reissues both her classic Exile in Guyville and her Girly-Sound cassettes, Liz Phair is playing shows in June where her entire set is comprised of early ’90s songs.

BOOK OF LOVE

Eighties-era synthopop band have been back in action for a few years now and are touring this spring and summer, including a special 30th anniversary celebration of their album Lullaby at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre on June 21. All tour dates are here.

LOTS MORE ’80S BANDS

Need more new wave? There are tons of ’80s bands on tour this summer, including Culture Club with Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, the Retro Futura tour (with ABC, Belinda Carlisle, Modern English, Limahl and more), and Midge Ure and Paul Young. Break out those skinny ties.

THE CACTUS BLOSSOMS

Minneapolis band The Cactus Blossoms, whose retro style and Everly Brothers-inspired sound fit right in on Twin Peaks: The Return last year, are on tour in April, including a show at NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on April 18. All dates are listed here.

OMNI

Wiry Atlanta trio Omni had to cancel their tour last fall, but are now back on the road (they’re at SXSW as we speak) and will swing through NYC to play Baby’s All Right on May 13. Listen to last year’s excellent Multi-task, and check out all their tour dates, here.

FLAT WORMS

Los Angeles trio Flat Worms make cinderblock-on-the-accelerator punk for Vespa riders who dig Godard and Truffaut, and who wouldn’t hesitate to trash the place, but would come back the next morning to help clean up. Their 2017 self-titled album for Castle Face was great, and they’ve got a string of European tour dates beginning in May, as well as an NYC show at Union Pool on May 4 with Honey and Pale Joyride. All dates are here.

NEW FOUND GLORY’S FEST WITH THE MOVIELIFE, HOT ROD CIRCUIT AND MORE

Not only are New Found Glory taking the reunited Movielife on tour this year, they’re also throwing their own festival, called Breakfest, and they booked them along with the reunited Hot Rod Circuit whose shows are still few and far between. They’ve also got promising garage rock band Daddy Issues and more.

See you in Austin for SXSW. BrooklynVegan has 3 day parties and 2 night shows this year:
3/15-3/17: Lost Weekend @ Cheer Up Charlies (FREE day parties) – RSVP now
3/15: Brooklyn Bowl Family Reunion BV Showcase @ Scoot Inn (night)