Pelican is a large bird that resides primarily near the water. Pelican is also an instrumental metal band from Chicago. Ha! Got you with the classic bait-and-switch! You clicked this story thinking that it would be about your favorite bird, but now you have to read a story about your favorite instrumental metal band from Chicago. You’ve got to read this and… that sounds like it’s going to be okay for you. Really, what’s left to say about Pelican, the bird? There’s no blood in that stone, if you follow me.
But Pelican, the band? Plenty left to say about them! We could talk about how they haven’t put out anything since 2009’s What We All Come to Need and we just did. Let’s even talk about how they’re breaking that recorded silence by putting out a four song EP called Ataraxia/Taraxis through Southern Lord on April 10. Heck, while we’re chewing the fat, let’s touch on the fact that this marks a new stage in the band’s history, since all four members of Pelican live in different cities, leading to a greater focus on composition and utilizing different recording techniques.
All this talk about Pelican is making me thirsty and also hungry for fish. Let’s sit down and quench our thirsts. Sate our hunger for the sea’s delicious treats. While we’re sitting, we can talk more about Pelican. Did you know they’re going on a European tour in April? They are.
Ataraxia/Taraxis tracklist:
01. Ataraxia
02. Lathe Biosas
03. Parasite Colony
04. Taraxis
Pelican dates:
04.06.12 - Zottegem, Belgium - Dunk! Festival
04.07.12 - London, UK - The Garage *
04.08.12 - Birmingham, UK - Vudu Club *
04.09.12 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
04.10.12 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo
04.11.12 - Manchester, UK - The Ruby Lounge
04.12.12 - Brighton, UK - The Haunt
04.13.12 - Bristol, UK - The Cooler
04.14.12 - Tilburg, Netherlands - Roadburn Festival
04.15.12 - Paris, France - La Maronquinerie
04.16.12 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Jubez &
04.17.12 - Dudingen, Switzerland - Bad Bonn
04.18.12 - Milan, Italy - Magonlia
04.19.12 - Munich, Germany - Feierwerk &
04.20.12 - Berlin, Germany - Cassiopeia &
04.21.12 - Helsinki, Finland - Nosturi
* Chelsea Wolfe
& Tombs
• Pelican: http://www.pelicansong.com
• Southern Lord: http://www.southernlord.com
[Photo: Lisa Shelley]