King Khan might rightfully be accused of attempting to earn the title of hardest working performer in show business. Following a year that saw the release of three albums and several tours of the US, Europe, and beyond with multiple musical outlets, Khan is bringing the celebrated psychedelic soul big band explosion King Khan and The Shrines back to North America. The three week run of dates, which starts in Atlanta and culminates at Coachella on April 18th, marks their first jaunt in the States since last year’s tour in support of the domestic release of the band’s classic What Is?! album on Vice Records.
Those who have seen the band know what to expect- and are most likely planning to attend. To the uninitiated: a sweat soaked stage being rocked into a psychedelic oblivion as a sonic pastiche of horns, drums, bass, guitar, and organ weave a gritty soul canvas for Khan to splatter with his infectious persona. Other acts at Coachella be cautioned: the Rock Messiah will be performing in your midst and he intends to take no prisoners.
Welcome to the summer-is-finally-approaching Daily Rind Newsletter. Hope you’re enjoying the heat wave – we certainly are! Heating up our Featured Artists section are the rowdy antics of King Khan And The Shrines and legendary Living Legends MCs, The Grouch & Eligh. We’ve got brand new free tracks from former Tangiers rocker Josh Reichmann, Hills star Heidi Montag, country outlaw Dale Watson and the Danish club-thumpers Fagget Fairys. Our videos section features new ones from PJPJ, Grouch & Eligh and Yo Gotti, along with a behind-the-scenes look at DJ Green Lantern’s latest protégé, Johnny Polygon. We’ve got plenty more up and coming acts of the moment in our Bubbling Up section, and as always, there’s lots more In Stores Now. And you better start getting ready now for what’s Coming Soon, including David Lynch’s favorite ladies Au Revoir Simone and one of the most looked-forward-to records of 2009, Passion Pit’s debut LP Manners.
For Khan fans residing in the U.S of A, the official release of What Is?!, the King’s stellar 2007 soul punk shootout with The Shrines, has finally hit our shores. To celebrate its stateside unveiling via Vice Records, the folks at AOL Spinner are offering up a full album listening party.
Stream King Khan and The Shrines’ What Is?! [Vice Records; April 21st] At AOL Spinner
Go Here To Buy What Is?!:
Vice
Amazon
eMusic
Newbury Comics
In other Khan news, yesterday Pitchfork exclusively premiered a video for the rowdy, rabblerousing “Land of the Freak,” replete with miles of 8mm footage to match the track’s toasted, vintage vibe. Directed by Prichard Smith, the video was inspired by roll upon roll of Shrines footage filmed from past European tours, and various one-off dates in New York and beyond. Speaking of dates, The Shrines are set to launch a US tour next week in Washington, DC, documenting their exploits with an exclusive video blog at Imeem.
Watch The New Video For “Land of the Freak” [Vice Records]
Download and Share King Khan’s “Land of the Freak” From What Is?!
For More Information:
German-based dynamo’s King Khan and The Shrines, mere days from unleashing What Is?! to American audiences for the first time, just couldn’t wait any longer. They’ve decided to give listeners an early peek at the delightful romp via a full album stream at Imeem. The album that Pitchfork deemed “goofy, affecting, nostalgic, and cathartic all at once, at every moment” will be catapulted onto an unassuming public on April 21st via Vice Records.
Stream King Khan and The Shrine’s What Is?! [Vice Records; April 21st]
This comes just days after their announcement that the iTunes version of the album would include an extra-special, full 20 minute live video/documentary entitled Mr. Supernatural. In true Khan fashion, the grainy, 8mm style video (trailer here!) showcases the band flailing about wildly during one of their always-captivating live performances. But don’t get too jealous of the footage! King Khan and his cronies will be wreaking havoc in a town near you soon. Kicking off at the 9:30 Club in DC, the gang will be keeping a video blog on Imeem, to be updated each week with assorted tour shenanigans and show hijinks aplenty.
King Khan And The Shrines Tour Dates:
04-29 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
04-30 First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, PA
05-01 Music Hall of Willamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
05-02 Maxwell’s – Hoboken, NJ
05-03 Santos Partyhouse – NYC
05-07 Paradise – Boston, MA
05-08 Babylon – Ottawa, ON
05-09 La Sasa Rossa – Montreal, PQ
05-12 Phoenix Theatre – Toronto, ON
05-13 Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
05-14 Wexner Center – Columbus, OH
05-15 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
05-16 Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
05-19 The Warehouse – Calgary, AB
05-20 The Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
05-22 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
05-23 Sasquatch Festival – Quincy, WA
05-25 Dante’s – Portland, OR
05-28 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
05-29 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
05-30 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
Download and Share King Khan’s “Land of the Freak” From What Is?!
King Khan And The Shrines’ What Is?! is due in less than two weeks, and the sweat-soul madness of “Land of the Freak” is running wild across the web. iTunes purchasers can look forward to an extra special addition to their version of the album – a 20-minute live video/documentary. It’s called Mr Supernatural, and features content filmed from the tour in support of the Khan album of the same name. Yesterday, Prefix premiered the trailer for the film, which features Khan and company’s storied stage show. Speaking of the stage show, Khan’s US tour kicks off at the end of the month at the 9:30 Club in DC.
King Khan And The Shrines Tour Dates:
04-29 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
04-30 First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, PA
05-01 Music Hall of Willamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
05-02 Maxwell’s – Hoboken, NJ
05-03 Santos Partyhouse – NYC
05-07 Paradise – Boston, MA
05-08 Babylon – Ottawa, ON
05-09 La Sasa Rossa – Montreal, PQ
05-12 Phoenix Theatre – Toronto, ON
05-13 Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
05-14 Wexner Center – Columbus, OH
05-15 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
05-16 Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN
05-19 The Warehouse – Calgary, AB
05-20 The Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
05-22 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
05-23 Sasquatch Festival – Quincy, WA
05-25 Dante’s – Portland, OR
05-28 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
05-29 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
05-30 Echo – Los Angeles, CA
