English post-punks Wire are… how do you say? Living legends. No, wait. That makes ‘em sound venerable and old, kinda like a 500-year-old tree that only grows on a certain mountaintop in Tibet and one time each century produces some crazy-ass exotic fruit that is then profiled in a lengthy National Geographic profile. Because Wire — whilst totally “venerable” and totally in the punk rock game since 1976 — are anything but antiquated once-a-century producers. These guys are still on the road, still bringing abrasive, beauteous art punk to fans new and old, and still churning out ever-evolving sounds in their impressively prolific list of releases.
So add another one to that list of records, and add another tour to your calendar. Because Colin Newman and co. are heading back on the tour circuit, and when I say back I mean BACK. The gents spent the first half of 2011 on a worldwide tour in support of their latest, Red Barked Tree (TMT Review), and now they’re gearing up for a month-long jaunt across Ireland and the UK, with stops in several cities they haven’t graced since their first visits in the 1970s. Yankee noise rockers Talk Normal will be accompanying the almighty Wire as they navigate the lush green roads of the British Isles, and they’ll be bringing along a very special album: a live recording of a prestigious (yet unnamed and mysterious) show from Wire’s tour earlier this year, released on the band’s very own Pink Flag label. Take note, Wire completists: this mystery album is exclusive tour merchandise and won’t be available in shops until after the tour has wrapped.
Dates:
11.15.11 - Birmingham, UK - HMV Institute
11.16.11 - Manchester, UK - Manchester 3
11.17.11 - Edinburgh, UK - Liquid Rooms
11.18.11 - Glasgow, UK - The Arches
11.19.11 - Newcastle, UK - Academy 2
11.20.11 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
11.22.11 - Brighton, UK - Concorde 2
11.23.11 - London, UK - XOYO
11.25.11 - Liverpool, UK - Academy 2
11.26.11 - Dublin, Ireland - Whelans
11.29.11 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
11.30.11 - Exeter, UK - Phoenix
12.01.11 - Cardiff, UK - The Globe
12.02.11 - Oxford, UK - Academy 2
12.03.11 - Sheffield, UK - The Plug
• Wire: http://www.pinkflag.com