A bit of confusion struck the indie rock blogosphere last week after Pitchfork announced that The Shins, one of the standard bearers for indie rock in the aughts, had left Sub Pop, one of the biggest and most revered indie rock labels in the country. The band was said to be working on new music with no set release date. The day after making the announcement, Pitchfork clarified the news the next day, reporting that Sub Pop has said that The Shins' contract with the label has merely expired, and the band is on writing hiatus and has no definitive future plans.
Well, if you're scratching your head, recall that Shins manager Ian
Montone told Billboard last year that the band was planning to release its next album through singer James Mercer's Aural Apothecary label. Sub Pop has left open the possibility that the band will keep some sort of partnership with the label.
It's all so confusing. But I suppose that if you're desperate to know just what the band is doing, just ask the boys yourself on their just-announced tour!
05.02.09 - Bellingham, WA - Red Square on Campus
05.04-05.09 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
05.06-07.09 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
05.09.09 - Oakland, CA - The Fox
05.10.09 - Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Palladium
05.11.09 - San Diego, CA - Soma
05.13.09 - Richmond, VA - The National
05.14.09 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
05.15.09 - Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
05.16.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
05.17.09 - Wellmont, NJ - Wellmont Theater
05.18.09 - New York, NY - Terminal 5