According to a report from Billboard.com and confirmed by R.E.M.’s and Modest Mouse’s handlers, Modest Mouse and The National will serve as the opening acts on R.E.M.’s upcoming tour. Representatives for The National had been listening to Boxer too often, and were too lachrymose to respond with anything other than muted whispers and resigned attempts at defiance.
This will mark R.E.M.’s 437th official tour, and will be in support of upcoming release Accelerate, the follow-up to turd-in-the-punchbowl Around the Sun. Although fans’ expectations are that the new album will crush Around the Sun like a grape, it must be pointed out that the new album is being released on April Fool’s Day. Not to mention that Athens, Georgia's finest have been stuck in a vacuum of suck since the release of New Adventures in Hi Fi.
Tour dates and ticket prices have not yet been announced. If ticket prices are set based on the number of times Michael Stipe preens and gives the audience sinister glances or the number of times Isaac Brock barks and yelps, fans can expect to pay a premium.
Regardless of past studio album transgressions, R.E.M. still remains a great live act, even if Mike Mills has retired the sequin jackets from the Monster era, Peter Buck still looks a little surly on stage, and Bill Berry no longer mans the skins. Coupled with Modest Mouse and current best band on the indie planet The National, this tour should hold nice treats for fans of any of the three bands.
I’m even told that this here dinosaur band called R.E.M. has had something of a lasting impact on current bands like Modest Mouse and The National. With the quality of music being released by these bands, it’s clear that this influence came from albums like Murmur and Reckoning than Up, Reveal, or Michael Stipe Sings the Ballads of Appalachia.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nicely done. You are a very fuuny man, Mr. Whelchel...
-Glen
2 - Mark Saleski
i have heard the live demo REM recordings and am expecting a fabulous record.
3 - Charlie
Regardless of how the new album sounds, this tour is going to rule! I don't know if I'm going to be able to afford it though. It will be expensive as has been mentioned (and probably worth it for whoever shells out the dough). With Modest Mouse and The National opening, this is one of the best 3-for-1 shows I've heard of in a while. Great picks by R.E.M.
4 - Triniman
I'm disappointed that the tour will be so short. What else do they have planned for the rest of the year?
With their popularity fading, they should really tour like crazy to win back fans and sell product.
5 - brian
ha! turd-in-the-punchbowl! Priceless!
6 - Angie
We saw them perform last night in Minneapolis, and this show rocked! Had never heard of the opening bands, but LOVED The National. Modest Mouse's music was good, but the singer screamed all his songs. I also didn't get the idea behind having two drummers since they both seemed to be playing the same thing the whole time. Maybe seeing them "battle" would've added a little more. R.E.M. is as cool as ever. Michael forgot the words to one song and they had to start over, but it made the show more real for us. Was a great moment when they all gathered in one small spot on stage with no drums and minimal instruments and jammed. Gave us insight into how they put their music together. Also, a 4.5 hour show. Was worth the money and our three-hour travel!