Studio-centric wunderkind John Vanderslice must be a huge fan of Jack White’s music. I mean, first he releases White Wilderness (TMT Review) in collaboration with San Francisco’s Magik*Magik Orchestra, which I presume is some sort of all-White Stripes tribute album. Then, no sooner do Jack and Meg call it quits then the guy springs into action, announcing that he’s putting a touring duo together that can play those songs all across North America in the manner Jack and Meg intended! What a guy!
After heading down to SXSW in March, Vanderslice will hit the road in earnest this April, with drummer/percussionist Jason Slota doing all of that deceptively easy Meg stuff. He’s also taking his old pal Damien Jurado along as the opener for most of the dates, which is perfect because no one ever gets to a White Stripes show on time. I still don’t really get how the orchestra thing really fits in with all of this; or why Vanderslice would be so willing to trade in his usual, exquisitely-crafted studio pop to play two-piece garage rock written by someone else, but oh well. Great genius is not to be understood, I guess. Just appreciated.
Dates:
3.16-20.11 - Austin, TX - SXSW
4.18.11 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
4.20.11 - Vancouver, BC - Media Club
4.21.11 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
4.22.11 - Kennewick, WA - The Stove Top
4.23.11 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
4.25.11 - Provo, UT - Velour
4.26.11 - Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court
4.27.11 - Denver, CO - Hi Dive *
5.01.11 - Iowa City, IA - The Mill *
5.02.11 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall *
5.04.11 - Urbana, IL - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts *
5.05.11 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop *
5.06.11 - North Manchester, IN - The Firehouse *
5.07.11 - Fort Wayne, IN - The Brass Rail *
5.08.11 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot (Pike Room) *
5.10.11 - Toronto, ON - The Drake Hotel *
5.11.11 - Buffalo, NY - The Ninth Ward *
5.12.11 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge *
5.13.11 - Brooklyn, NY - The Rock Shop *
5.15.11 - Allston, MA - Brighton Music Hall *
5.16.11 - Millford, CT - Daniel Street Club *
5.17.11 - Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda’s *
5.18.11 - Washington, DC - Black Cat Backstage *
5.20.11 - Nashville, TN - The Basement *
5.24.11 - Austin, TX - The Mohawk
5.26.11 - Phoenix, AZ - Rhythm Room
5.27.11 - Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
5.28.11 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
* Damien Jurado
• John Vanderslice: http://www.johnvanderslice.com
• Dead Oceans: http://www.deadoceans.com
