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ROBYN HITCHCOCK & the Venus 3 - new album out now (w/ Colin Meloy), 2009 TOUR DATES (w/ Irving Plaza)

Good Night Oslo

“On February 17th Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 – comprised of R.E.M’s Peter Buck on guitar, Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M.) on bass and drummer Bill Rieflin (Ministry, R.E.M.) – will storm back onto the pop music landscape with Goodnight Oslo, the follow-up to their critically lauded 2006 album Olé Tarantula.

Olé Tarantula marked the beginning of a stark renaissance in the career of one of Britain’s most enduring songwriters and performers, reinvigorating his unique artistic voice and illuminating his influence on another generation of psychedelic folk disciples. Continuing Olé’s trend, Goodnight Oslo explodes the Hitchcock myth with an album of pure pop mastery complete with horns, jangling guitar hooks and signature Hitchcock-ian word paintings that prove the Englishman’s creative engine is more fiery than ever. Goodnight Oslo harkens back to Hitchcock masterpieces Underwater Moonlight and Globe of Frogs, with early opinions calling it one the best albums of his already storied career.

The album features guest vocals from Colin Meloy (The Decemberists) and Sean Nelson (The Long Winters, Harvey Danger). One man horn section Terry Edwards contributes signature stabs and sweeps, adding color what Robyn refers to as, “The best record of my adult life,” and his unique vision of pop music in a perfect world.

Much about finding a return route out of the rabbit hole, Goodnight Oslo is bright and shining, further delineating this era from the frequently dark nature of his earlier work. Says Robyn, “These songs are largely about breaking out of a negative cycle, and believing that change can happen. It’s not a recovery album or a therapy album per se; it’s just a sign to the exit.”

Oslo comes on the heels of 2 meticulously curated retrospective boxed sets. I Wanna Go Backwards and Luminous Groove combine to reissue six albums (plus 4 discs of rarities) worth of Hitchcock’s 1980’s Egyptians and solo output.” [PR]

Colin Meloy appears on Robyn’s new album, and Robyn does the same for Colin’s.

Robyn’s last NYC show was at Symphony Space. His next one is at Irving Plaza on April 11th. Tickets are on sale. While in town, there’s a good chance Robyn will also visit The Red Flame Coffee Shop (W 44th St.), Cafe Figaro (Bleecker & MacDougal), The Campbell Apartments (15 Vanderbilt Ave between E. 42nd & 43rd), Nat Sherman’s (5th Ave & 42nd St), Fred’s at Barney’s (Madison & 61st), and Nikko’s (on Broadway & 76th).

All tour dates below…

Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 – 2009 Tour Dates
Feb 17 The Junction Cambridge
Feb 18 The Fleece Bristol
Feb 19 The Globe Cardiff
March 21 The Triple Door Seattle
March 25 The Annandale Hotel – Sydney NSW Sydney
March 27 The Corner Hotel Richmond, Melbourne
March 28 The Apollo Bay Music Festival Apollo Bay, VIC
April 3 Antone’s Austin, TX
April 4 The Grenada Theatre Dallas, TX
April 6 Exit / In Nashville, TN
April 7 The Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
April 8 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC
April 9 The Black Cat Washington, DC
April 10 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, PA
April 11 Irving Plaza New York City, NY
April 13 The Paradise Boston, MA
April 14 The Higher Ground Showcase Burlington, VT
April 16 The Mod Club Toronto, ON
April 17 The Magic Bag Ferndale, MI
April 18 Epiphany Chicago, IL
April 19 The Varsity Theatre Minneapolis, MN
June 13 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival Manchester, TN