LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Blue Aeroplanes Official Website) - The Blue Aeroplanes hit the US shores for the first time in 13 years with appearances at South by Southwest
Music and Media Conference. A long time part of the Bristol, England, music scene that spawned great bands like
Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tricky, the Aeroplanes hold a special place in the history of British pop music. The current schedule includes two gigs with more to be announced.
Thursday, March 19
Official South by SouthWest Showcase
Elysium - 7th & Red River
8pm
Saturday, March 21
Yard Dog Gallery Party
1510 S. Congress
6pm
With a new album in the can, When Things Are Good, sounding like a collision between the Hold Steady, Lou Reed with a British accent and Bright Eyes, the Aeroplanes are heading to Austin with their greatest statement of intent yet. The new material includes the monstrous punk-pop soon-to-be classic '25 Kinds Of Love', the funky, somehow Skynyrd-y groove of 'One World Passport' and deceptively jaunty Hollywood critique 'Great Movie Cliches.' The new repertoire also includes songs about novelists, cancer, 22 year-old Scarlett Johanssen lookalikes, birthday suits, LA hotel love, Paul Klee and the Devil.
When Things are Good, is the first album since 2006's UK-only release Altitude, which was preceded by the critically acclaimed Swagger Deluxe. Having received critical accolades in the UK, Altitude was never released in the US, but the band is eager to play the songs for new fans, old fans and industry representatives alike and hopes to get the new material picked up on this side of the pond and elsewhere.
Formed in the early 1980's from the ashes of notable Bristol post-punk poetic pranksters the Art Objects, the Blue Aeroplanes have ignored the dictates of fashion (or common sense) ever since with their unique blend of rock, pop, folk, poetry, dance, art and mayhem. Their classic first album Bop Art appeared on their own label in 1984 and was rapidly picked up by the Abstract (US) and Fire (UK) labels.
Tolerance and Spitting Out Miracles followed, spawning a huge UK and European following leading to the band's 1990 signing to Ensign Records (Chrysalis in the US). Tours with REM (huge fans of the BA's!) and the Church and the release of UK chart albums Swagger and Beatsongs followed, before a series of label issues forced the cancellation of their first American headlining tour, just as their trans-Atlantic pop cross-over single 'Yr Own World' was receiving strong airplay across the country.
Out of step with both Brit-Pop and grunge, the band signed to Beggars Banquet and released Life Model and Rough Music in 1994 and 1995. At this point, things became slightly murky and confused as a succession of incidents including death, madness, divorce and family problems (the Aeroplanes membership has involved more than a dozen siblings, almost certainly a record) resulted in leader Gerard Langley retreating to Bristol, England to write his definitive (though still unfinished) History Of Rock Music.
Back stronger than ever with one of the best line-ups yet, Langley and crew are ready to set alight the stages of Austin with some of their most vibrant material ever. Interviews are currently being scheduled.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Leah Selvidge
Other Worldly Contact
512-775-6255
[email protected]
THE BLUE AEROPLANES ONLINE:
www.myspace.com/blueaeroplanes
www.theblueaeroplanes.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blue-Aeroplanes/52697487161?ref=nf
SOME KIND WORDS ABOUT 2006's ALTITUDE:
'The best band to emerge from the West Country and one of the most innovative rock bands period�.Altitude finds them climbing back to the summit. Bucolic folk-pop, fuzz-infused guitar heroics, jangly melancholy, Bert Jansch-style acoustic vamping�.Pure, unfettered genius.' Time Out 5/6
'Altitude finds the Aeroplanes racing along the runway at some speed towards the stratospheric flights fans know they are still capable of.' London Sunday Times
'The Blue Aeroplanes are cruising at high altitudes once again.' The Sun
'The reappearance of the Blue Aeroplanes with this kind of verve and sophistication is a truly celebratory event.' Zero UK
