NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/ Rykodisc) - Justin Currie, founder and voice of Scottish pop/rock band Del Amitri, is set to embark on a U.S. tour this spring in support of his Rykodisc debut, "What Is Love For." The tour will begin on April 13 in Nashville, TN and continue through April 27. The two week, whirlwind tour will see Currie visit Chicago, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Atlantic City, New York City and Philadelphia.
Justin Currie's debut solo album has been well received in the press with Jim Farber of the New York Daily News proclaiming "What Is Love For" the best album of 2007. And, MOJO Magazine writes in a four star review, "Saying Currie knows how to craft a song is a bit like saying Caravaggio could paint..."
The new single, scheduled to hit radio airwaves in late March, is "No, Surrender," an "eloquent, bitter, epic indictment of corruption and privilege, swathed in strings." (USA Today)
Currie further comments about the song, "The comma in the title reverses the intractable cliche of, 'Never Give In' to, 'No, I Just Give Up.' It's a lament of resignation rather than a storm of protest. You might even call it a pissed-off threnody. The strings were arranged by a good friend, Jotie Osahn, and were recorded by eight players in a grim little basement below a hair salon. If you listen closely you might detect the sound of sedate elderly ladies having their perms dried."
As lead singer and main songwriter of Scottish popsters Del Amitri, Currie established an enviable reputation for sterling melodic craftsmanship and pithy, forthright lyrics. "What Is Love For" maintains those qualities, while achieving impressive new levels of musical and emotional immediacy. "What Is Love For" features 11 Currie compositions whose pensive meditations on love's darker margins are supported by spare, organic arrangements. The self-produced album features Currie on various instruments, along with an assortment of players including Currie's longtime Del Amitri partner Iain Harvie and fellow Del Amitri alumnus Andy Alston.
Don't miss Justin Currie performing live in the following cities:
April 13 3rd & Lindsley Nashville, TN
April 15 Schubas Chicago, IL
April 17 Fine Line Minneapolis, MN
April 18 Shank Hall Milwaukee, WI
April 20 Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, CA
April 21 Cafe Du Nord San Francisco, CA
April 24 Jammin Java Washington, DC
April 25 House of Blues Atlantic City, NJ
April 26 Joe's Pub New York, NY
April 27 World Cafe Philadelphia, PA
Rykodisc, the label home to Justin Currie, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2008. As a way of saying thanks for supporting our music, Rykodisc is offering five free downloads on the 25th day of each month in 2008. The downloads are available at www.rykodisc.com. Keep listening!