The Ike Reilly Assassination Continues Touring Assault On America

CHICAGO, IL. ( Sixthman) - The Ike Reilly Assassination, which hails from Chicago, has been busy touring the United States for the past six months and making many new fans along the way with their impressive and, as several writers have called it, "incendiary" live show. New York City shows have been drawing punk rock luminaries and music movers and shakers for months now. Additional tour dates for the next few weeks will have the band sweeping across the Midwest (see tour dates below). Press has been especially supportive of the band's latest album "Sparkle In The Finish"; in recent months, Ike has been featured on the cover of the arts section of the New York Times, while stellar reviews have been pouring in: Maxim gave it 4 out of 5 stars, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Boston Herald both gave it 3 ? out of 4 stars, the Knoxville News-Sentinel gave it 5 out of 5 stars, while the Chicago Tribune called it one of the top 10 indie albums of 2004. In a scenario that is highly unusual for an indie band, VH1 News is airing a news item on the band repeatedly during their morning time slots over the next few weeks.

A huge feature in the Boston Globe trumpeted last month that the IRA's latest album is: "�[an] unusual amalgam of beat-savvy garage-punk� Unlike the frustrated toll booth workers, young punks on the make, and hard-luck losers in the songs, Reilly's emerged from the rubble of his major label experience with no regrets and another artistic triumph." On the same day in December, the Philadelphia Inquirer commented that Reilly has released: "�two astonishing albums - 2001's 'Salesmen and Racists' and the new 'Sparkle in the Finish' - that are everything rock-and-roll ought to be. They seethe with in-your-face attitude, they're funny and profane, provocative and occasionally profound. And man do they rock. In Reilly's wise-guy street poetry the words tend to tumble out in torrents, sometimes in a hip-hop cadence, sometimes in a hipsterish, talking-blues fashion. Usually these rapid-fire verses are held together by thunderously catchy hooks."

Last week, the IRA was one of the featured bands in New York City for Virgin Megastore's "100 Acts of Relief" nationwide event. The proceeds from all of the performances at Virgin locations will go to the Red Cross for tsunami survivor relief. The band also taped a performance for New York City television show "Fearless Music" while in town.

The Ike Reilly Assassination released "Sparkle In The Finish" on the Rock Ridge Music label on October 12, 2004. The IRA, which is led by Ike Reilly, is rounded out by Reilly's long-time bandmates Dave Cottini, drums; Tommy O'Donnell, bass; Phil Karnatz, guitar; and producer Ed Tinley on piano and guitar. "Sparkle In The Finish" is distributed by Sixthman/ADA.

www.ikereilly.com.

TOUR DATES:

1/25 Lawrence, KS The Granada
1/26 Kansas City, MO The Brick
1/27 Champaign, IL Courtyard Caf�/Univ. of IL
1/28 Cedar Falls, IA The Reverb
1/29 Kirksville, MO The Dukum Inn
1/30 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
1/31 Columbia, MO Mojo's
2/1 St. Joseph, MO The Bone
2/2 Lincoln, NE Duffy's Tavern
2/3 Menomonie, WI UW Stout Student Rec Center
2/4 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
2/5 Milwaukee, WI Mad Planet