Most everybody has heard about The Morning Benders by now, but how much do we really know about this indie band from Berkeley? (Four guys from the Bay, joking about matutinal alcoholism? A likely story!) Big Echo (TMT Review), contrary to what you might have assumed by the Benders’ surge in popularity, isn’t even their first album. I mean, had you heard about them before this spring? Yeah. Surprised? It helps when a member of Grizzly Bear co-produces. Get this, then — there’s also no connection with the mid-90s Calvin Johnson/Doug Martsch project The Halo Benders. More like The Truth Benders, if you ask me.
By now, The Morning Benders have been resounding across the States and Europe since early this year, and they don’t intend to put a halt to that reverb. After almost constant touring, both as headliners and supporting the likes of Broken Bells and The Black Keys, they’re continuing to spread Big Echo across the plains. Look out, Europe and North America — they’re comin’ back around. Around. Around. (And then heading to Australia for January dates, where the echo puns change into boomerang jokes.)
Tourdates:
09.11.10 - Berlin, Germany - Berlin Festival
09.12.10 - Heidelberg, Germany - Karlstorbanhof
09.13.10 - Cologne, Germany - Luxor
09.14.10 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli de Helling
09.16.10 - Aarhus, Denmark - Vox Hall
09.17.10 - Stockholm, Sweden - Debaser
09.18.10 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik
09.19.10 - Oslo, Norway - John Dee
09.21.10 - Haldern, Germany - Haldern Bar
09.22.10 - Dresden, Germany - Beatpol
09.26.10 - Winterthur, Switzerland - Sazhaus
09.27.10 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Effenaar
09.28.10 - Brussels, Belgium - Ab
09.29.10 - Paris, France - Nouveau Casino
09.30.10 - London, UK- Borderline
10.09.10 - Dallas, TX - Kessler Theater
10.10.10 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits
10.12.10 - Tempe, AZ - Clubhouse Music Venue
10.13.10 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
10.14.10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Music Box
10.15.10 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
10.16.10 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
10.18.10 - Seattle, WA - Neumo’s
10.19.10 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
10.20.10 - Vancouver, BC - Venue
10.22.10 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
10.23.10 - Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge
10.25.10 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
10.28.10 - Minneapolis, MN - The Varsity Theater
10.29.10 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall Ballroom
10.31.10 - Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
11.02.10 - Newport, KY - The Historic Southgate House
11.03.10 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
11.05.10 - Toronto, ON - The Mod Club Theater
11.06.10 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret du Mile-End
11.07.10 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge
11.09.10 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
11.10.10 - Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall
11.11.10 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
11.12.10 - Washington, DC - The Black Cat
11.18.10 - New York City, NY - Webster Hall
• The Morning Benders: http://www.themorningbenders.com
• Rough Trade: http://www.roughtraderecords.com
[Photo: Brooke Sheridan]