Solid Entertainment, 95bfm, Radio Active, RDU, Cheese On Toast and Alt TV present THE DODOs plus very special guests THE RUBY SUNS
Christchurch * Al’s Bar Thu 8th Jan
Wellington * SFBH Fri 9th Jan
Auckland * Kings Arms Sat 10th Jan
Leigh * Sawmill Café Sun 11th Jan
Solid Entertainment is thrilled to be bringing the absolutely astonishing DODOS for the first time to New Zealand. The DODOS are one of our greatest ever live discoveries, seen entirely by chance (at SXSW) playing one of the most combustible, spontaneous, unhinged folk rock pop sets we have been lucky enough to stumble across.
Moments like this do not come along very often, and when they do you’ve gotta grab them.
There will be four shows. Four chances to witness an act that leaves jaws on floors and heads spinning on ceilings. But wait, there’s more, they’ve grabbed our very own RUBY SUNS to tour with them in Europe and are bringing them back for a mouth-watering double-billing on all the NZ dates. Huzzah!
The DODOS are a country-blues folk act who play like a rock n roll band.
“Across an amazing seven shows in four days the band literally blew our minds - we saw beautiful acoustic shows where the vocals and words shone out, and then gigs that had everyone talking about Led Zeppelin and ROCK!!” (Mark Bowen, on signing the band to Wichita Records.)
Hailing from San Francisco) The DODOS are lead singer and country guitarist Meric Long who alternates between fingerpicking and breakneck strumming. Metal influenced drummer and locomotive percussionist Logan Kroeber (includes shoes fitted with tambourines) & Joe Haener playing vibraphone, toy piano, percussion and trash can.
THE DODOS are a three pronged vocal mix of psychedelic freak-folk & pop melodies, intricate guitar picking loops and a rhythmic intensity seldom seen but perfectly matched to the west African beats & stomps of the drummers onslaught!
We saw them by accident, but of course other people knew……
2008 has seen superlative after superlative being heaped upon their wonderfully freewheeling second album Visiter, marking the DODOS out as one of the most exciting acts of the year.
“Every once in a while an album emerges from the wild undergrowth of indiedom to blow you away.
This is one of them” (4.5/5) The Sun, UK
Folk music is, of course, the new black right now; some few examples might be good (Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Cass McCombs), but the majority of it is lazy, derivative , dull and played mainly by trust-fund kids who’ve never even heard of Woody Guthrie……Enter The Dodos……one of the summer’s must-have releases. (NME)
‘Red & Purple’ and ‘Fools’ were two album highlights opening doors at radio and TV around the world, with the former charting AT #1 ON THE ALTERNATIVE NZ RADIO chart in July of this year.
You’ll find more album quotes at the foot of this press release to give you a flavour, meanwhile bear in mind that whatever the DODOS do on record, they deliver it live…….in spades……and then some!
“There might be three people on stage, but it feels like the entire contingency of The Arcade Fire is hidden just around the corner.” (Manchester Evening News)
“An acoustic –and- percussion duo at their core, Dodos manage to hit with a full-band force that’s even more pronounced in their astounding live sets” (Pitchfork)
“it sees them stretching the folk blueprint to snapping point by playing it like it was good, old-fashioned rock’n’roll… with added trippy bits.” (NME)
“The San Francisco trio performed with such energy and intensity that their clothes were soaked in sweat midway through the first song. “ (The Scotsman)
THE RUBY SUNS, led by Ryan McPhun are an Auckland based band signed to Lil’ Chief in NZ and the mighty Sub Pop label in the States. McPhun has also enjoyed stints in Tokey Tones, The Reduction Agents and The Brunettes with whom he toured the US with The Shins. Never one to stand still he took The Ruby Suns overseas earlier in the year to tour in support of their album and in doing so scored a European tour with the Dodos. Who immediately requested they play together on the New Zealand dates. Lovely!
TICKETS ONSALE THURSDAY OCTOBER 16TH FROM
Ticketmaster > 09 970 9700 Auckland > Wellington 04 913 0044 > Christchurch > 03 955 0044
www.ticketmaster.co.nz > and Real Groovy Records
For More Information
Rob Jefferson > Solid Entertainment > 09 300 4445 > rob@solidentertainment.co.nz
Jerome Buckleigh > Shock Entertainment > 09 353 6962 > jerome@shockrecords.co.nz
www.myspace.com/thedodos
http://dodosmusic.net/home.html
One of 2008s best albums (Sunday Star Times)
Its not your typical, turn it up to 11-type noise, more an enthusiastic clatter that works itself into a berserk lather and explodes. (NZ Herald)
A lyrical and musical knockout, spearheaded by the miraculous Fools, Visiter could be one of the best albums of the year. (Under The Radar)
Visiter ends up being one of the most welcoming (and welcome) records of 2008 so far. (Pitchfork)
Folk music is, of course, the new black right now; some few examples might be good (Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Cass McCombs), but the majority of it is lazy, derivative , dull and played mainly by trust-fund kids who’ve never even heard of Woody Guthrie……
Enter The Dodos……one of the summer’s must-have releases. (NME)
one of the best that New Weird America has thrown across the Atlantic in a long, long time. (MusicOMH)
Visiter suggesting both a rhythm-centric Shins and a more hard-bitten Feelies. (Uncut)
Infectious, propulsive, unselfconscious, The Dodos are good enough to keep such company [as Brian Eno or David Byrne]. (Mojo)
Visiters experimental pop is so joyous and liberated-sounding that its difficult not to get swept along in its wake. (Allmusic)
Kroebers drums dont just provide the backbone to the album, theyre the central nervous system that works in tandem with his partners impeccable guitar work (most notable on "Jodi"). And speaking of nervous systems, if Visiter doesnt make you tap, nod, shake, or just plain move, then you dont have one. (Slant)
All of the comparisons aside, this is an impeccable album. Every song on here is filled with its own outstanding moment and every other second is a second filled with staggering, excellent music. The Dodos have shaped and formed a superb blend of intricate drumming, remarkable acoustic guitar and touching vocals—this is truly something exceptional. (Delusions Of Adequacy)
"Psych-folk-pop" has been coined by American critics to describe San Franciscos Dodos, a percussion-heavy, acoustically-inclined duo. Their second album does contain psychedelic, folk and pop elements, but that doesnt convey the half of it. The beat, supplied by the incredibly dexterous Logan Kroeber, is the thing here; influenced by African and heavy rock drummers, hes a formidable presence. Singing, guitar-playing Meric Long has a relatively lesser role, but his faded croon adds texture, and sometimes his guitar turns a song like Joes Waltz into a freakathon that leaves you breathless. At 59 minutes, it feels long, but thats the price you pay for experiments such as The Season and charming oddities such as God', a bit of laid-back Americana employing sleigh bells. Its easy to see why they were a bit of a sensation at SXSW. (The Guardian)
Some more highlights from 2008……
The Guardian 4/5 ”a sensation”
Pitchfork Best New Music - 8.5 "one of the most welcoming (and welcome) records of 2008 so far."
Mojo “Infectious, propulsive, unselfconscious. One of the most engaging albums of 2008” (4/5)
NME “One of the summer’s must have releases” (8/10)
The Sun “Every once in a while an album emerges from the wild undergrowth of indiedom to blow you away.
This is one of them” (4.5/5)
The Fly “The Dodos are essential listening” (4/5) Album of the month
Alternative Press 4/5 “Pretty awesome, seriously"
Myspace.com - Featured Artist Of The Week (TWICE)
NY Times - Pick Of SXSW
The Times - # 1 in top 5 bands of SXSW
“Pounding drums delivered like bombs dropping”
NME - # 3 in top 10 bands of SXSW
Music Week/MTV best of SXSW Covermount
Q “Bewitching” (4/5)
Uncut “Impressive” (4/5)
Time Out “Entrancing” (4/5)
Rock Sound “Magical” (8/10)
Drowned In Sound “A hidden treasure” (8/10)
Spin ****
