BURBANK, CA. (Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records) - The New York-based quintet, Men, Women & Children, will embark on a fall US tour supporting Gang of Four, kicking off on
September 29th in Providence, RI. Ex-Glassjaw guitarist Todd Weinstock leads Men, Women & Children in an exuberant mix of rock, electro, funk, and a dash of disco. "The album is really all over the place," says Weinstock, something he attributes to working with several producers. The debut album is currently being mixed with Alan Moulder (NIN/Smashing Pumpkins) and Gareth Jones (New Order/Interpol).
Besides Weinstock on guitar, Men, Women & Children is TJ Penzone (vocals), Rick Penzone (bass), Nick Conceller (keyboards and programming), and David Sullivan Kaplan (drums). "These are all guys I've gotten to know over the years," says Weinstock, who formed the group in March of 2004. "It was only supposed to be a joke. We were going to do a few songs for fun then go back to our lives. Within six months, the band became the only thing that mattered." Men, Women & Children signed to Reprise in August of last year.
"Everyone in the group has something special to offer," Weinstock says. "That's definitely a big reason why our music comes from so many angles. Someone will bring in an idea, and it always morphs into something completely different."
Weinstock cites a long list of influences on Men, Women & Children - everything from Kraftwerk and '70s-disco forefather Giorgio Moroder to Prince, the Talking Heads, Led Zeppelin and The Time. "We wanted to make a record that was fun to listen to," he says explaining the music's dancefloor-friendly feel. "People always say their favorite music is therapeutic. In the '70s, people went out and danced to funk to forget their problems. I feel like a lot of music doesn't make people feel good anymore. People seem to always be feeling sorry for themselves. Not us."
Men, Women & Children tour dates with Gang of Four:
9/29 Providence, RI Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
9/30 Northampton, MA Pearl Street
10/03 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
10/04 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theatre
10/05 Baltimore, MD Sonar
10/06 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
10/08 Atlanta, GA Earthlink Live
10/10 New Orleans, LA House of Blues
10/11 Houston, TX Meridian
10/12 Austin, TX Emo's Alternative Lounging
10/13 Dallas, TX Gypsy Tea Room & Ballroom
10/15 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
10/16 Magna, UT Great Salt Air
10/18 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre
10/20 Los Angeles, CA Avalon
10/21 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
