US & Canada Tour Dates!!

It's good to see so many go to the US shows. I hope everyone who wanted tickets were able to get them. I may end up with a spare to the Boston show because my friend may end up bailing because she doesn't know the band, and she hates going to standing gigs.

My ticket for the DC gig arrived this week. Three months! That's a bloody long time...

According to an e-mail I got this morning from the 9:30 Club, Glasser will be opening for Elbow in September.

Myspace has a couple of songs up. A really interesting sound.

Atlantis, Center Stage, booked the day the tix went on sale! I cannot wait!!!

L

Update: I may actually need to back out of seeing the Elboys in Atlanta, due to possible scheduling issues. We were planning to have my mum and dad come to stay with my daughter for a couple of days so Mr Chrissie and I could make the trip up for the show. But that might not happen now, as my folks have another event that they may have to attend that same week. Without them, the plan's sunk! So we'll see how it goes. If it doesn't happen I'll be most unhappy, to say the least, BUT I did get to see them twice already this year in grand fashion, so I really can't complain too much. Still, I'm hoping for the best! *crossingfingers*

Personally i am dissapointed that I will not be able to catch them on this tour. I live in upstate NY and the only show that's reasonably close to me are toronto and ny, at 5 and 4 hours respectively. Unfortunately many, many, bands ignore this area and most believe that the only place in NY is the city. I would like to comment about them not wanting to tour stateside to spend time with their families. I understand that, i truly do, but their are alot of people in the states who won't get to see the band because this "tour" is only 6 or 7 dates and less than 2 weeks long. Unfortunately i believe that Elbow will lose alot of fans stateside unless they start touring a little more extensively. With that being said, hope everyone who can see them has a great time, and the new album is awesome!

stars112200 wrote:

I would like to comment about them not wanting to tour stateside to spend time with their families. I understand that, i truly do, but their are alot of people in the states who won't get to see the band because this "tour" is only 6 or 7 dates and less than 2 weeks long. Unfortunately i believe that Elbow will lose alot of fans stateside unless they start touring a little more extensively.

Hi, and nice to see another US fan here! I share your frustration with the limited touring that Elbow do here in the States. I went for several years as a fan before I was able to see them in concert, and for me it's always required a trip out of state, because Florida is not somewhere they include when they're over here. I think they really could have made a much bigger dent in the US market if they had been to a few more places earlier on in their career, because seeing them live is a hell of an experience between their onstage sound and Guy's charisma, and I expect they'd have had far more converts through gigs than they did through album releases here.

At this point, though, I think there are a couple of factors keeping them to a short tour schedule in the US. One is, as you noted, their interest in staying close to their homes and families. The other is that I believe they've sort of given up on cracking America in a big way. I think they saw their biggest commercial success in the UK coming after they released The Seldom Seen Kid, and when that still didn't bother the charts over here, I reckon they might have felt it wasn't gonna happen for them here. And it's true that America, in general, doesn't seem to "get" Elbow, so I don't actually blame them for wanting to stay in the areas where they feel they've seen a good response on past tours. I wish that wasn't the case, but it seems to be that way. I hope you do get a chance to see them live sometime, it's definitely worth the effort to catch them if it's at all feasible for you to travel to somewhere they're playing.

ChrissieInFL wrote:

The other is that I believe they've sort of given up on cracking America in a big way.

I think they could crack America, but I think that BARB! was almost consciously designed as an anti-America album.

To crack America, I wish the band would do tracks for soundtracks. Given the love of Stephanie Meyer for Elbow (seriously, Elbow songs are on most of her Twilight playlists), I'm surprised that the band hasn't recorded a song for the soundtrack to one of the Twilight movies.

I e-mailed All Songs Considered yesterday. NPR this week broadcast Bon Iver's concert from the 9:30 Club in DC, where Elbow is playing next month, and I suggested that perhaps it might be possible for Elbow to get the same treatment. Or, at the very least, maybe they could get Elbow in the NPR studios in DC for a Tiny Desk Concert podcast earlier in the day in the DC. (A Tiny Desk Concert is an interesting little program; bands come in, do a three-song gig in an office around a tiny desk, and that's put up as a podcast.)

What Elbow needs to crack America is exposure. I'm not sure that touring will do it. A soundtrack song or two might.

allyngibson wrote:

To crack America, I wish the band would do tracks for soundtracks. Given the love of Stephanie Meyer for Elbow (seriously, Elbow songs are on most of her Twilight playlists), I'm surprised that the band hasn't recorded a song for the soundtrack to one of the Twilight movies.

As repulsive as this concept is to me, I have to agree that such an appearance on a Twilight soundtrack couldn't hurt. I doubt the teenybop majority of the audience would end up getting too deep into most of the Elbow back catalogue as a result of this exposure, but it might give them a little more name recognition here if nothing else.

allyngibson wrote:

I e-mailed All Songs Considered yesterday. NPR this week broadcast Bon Iver's concert from the 9:30 Club in DC, where Elbow is playing next month, and I suggested that perhaps it might be possible for Elbow to get the same treatment. Or, at the very least, maybe they could get Elbow in the NPR studios in DC for a Tiny Desk Concert podcast earlier in the day in the DC. (A Tiny Desk Concert is an interesting little program; bands come in, do a three-song gig in an office around a tiny desk, and that's put up as a podcast.)

Niiice! NPR does some great music so this would also be a sweet deal for them.

I really don't know what it would take for them to break big here, if they haven't yet. They have pushed themselves as an album band, and without that "big single" to catch people's ears here, I think they are at a major disadvantage. But then again, I don't think they're overly fussed about that fact, for some reason. If they're where they wanna be here, then good for them. But if they did still want to conquer the States, I am not sure what strategy would be the best one for them to use. They are a very acquired taste, even in the UK, where it took a while for the general public to catch on. I wish they were huge here, since I always felt they deserved to be the biggest band in the world anyway. Just don't know if too many other Americans agree with me, unfortunately.

ChrissieInFL wrote:

As repulsive as this concept is to me, I have to agree that such an appearance on a Twilight soundtrack couldn't hurt. I doubt the teenybop majority of the audience would end up getting too deep into most of the Elbow back catalogue as a result of this exposure, but it might give them a little more name recognition here if nothing else.

I agree that this is better than nothing, and unfortunately twilight would be a huge pull for them here in the states, most bands who are on those soundtracks have a bump in success. I think this is a good point, i'm not sure about everyone else but i saw 0 promotion for BARB, here in the states. I never saw them on shows, never saw reviews in magazines, rolling stone, billboard, ew, really any reviews. In fact for the first few months I couldn't find a single place that was selling the album, it was itunes or import only. Unfortunately you may be correct that they have given up on "cracking" the us, which unfortunately will lead to less touring then they do now.

ChrissieInFL wrote:

They are a very acquired taste, even in the UK, where it took a while for the general public to catch on. I wish they were huge here, since I always felt they deserved to be the biggest band in the world anyway. Just don't know if too many other Americans agree with me, unfortunately.

I agree with you, unfortuantely radio here does not embrace them, which is sad. Unfortunately this has been the case with the band Athlete also, a super talented band from the uk that never made it here, and probably never will.

I may go to the toronto show, i have to figure out if it's going to be feasible. Unfortunately it's a short two weeks after the national in philly (yay!) but I am seriously considering the five hour drive, mostly because i just don't know when they will be back.

allyngibson wrote:

...maybe they could get Elbow in the NPR studios in DC for a Tiny Desk Concert podcast earlier in the day in the DC. (A Tiny Desk Concert is an interesting little program; bands come in, do a three-song gig in an office around a tiny desk, and that's put up as a podcast.)

That would be awesome! Stars did one pretty recently, it was amazing!

I read that the show in Boston is sold out. I'm uber excited about that. I hope that it's a good crowd filled with Elbow fans, and not just curious college kids looking for something to do on a Monday night at a local club. I can't wait for September 26th to arrive. Will anyone else be at the show?

ChrissieInFL, how is the sitaution with your US show? Will you and hubby be able to make it, or did you definitely have to cancel?

Anyone else going to the Austin City Limits Festival?

AyannaD wrote:

I read that the show in Boston is sold out. I'm uber excited about that. I hope that it's a good crowd filled with Elbow fans, and not just curious college kids looking for something to do on a Monday night at a local club. I can't wait for September 26th to arrive. Will anyone else be at the show?

ChrissieInFL, how is the sitaution with your US show? Will you and hubby be able to make it, or did you definitely have to cancel?

AyannaD, nice to hear that the Boston gig's a full house! I bet you're so excited - hope you have an awesome time (as if there's any other type of time you could have at an Elbow concert!)

And thanks for asking - I am 90% sure I'll be going to Atlanta; plane tickets and hotel room are bought already, but we may have a last-minute hassle which we would have to stay home for. I think I'll be there though, so here's hoping!

Oh Chrissie! You've GOT to go!!!
Go Chrissie! Go Chrissie! Go Chrissie!!!!!!

Jones wrote:

Oh Chrissie! You've GOT to go!!!
Go Chrissie! Go Chrissie! Go Chrissie!!!!!!

Hee! Thanks for the encouragement Joanie - believe me, if there is ANY way I can be there, I will.

Fingers crossed Chrissie!

I'm sure you'll get there Chrissie - don't forget your sign!

Thanks ladies! I am waiting to hear from my folks which should happen by this Wednesday or so; if they're on board to watch the young'un, I'm home free for ATL!

UPDATE - for those who want to know...I will be going to Atlanta show! My issues appear to be resolved, and I am STOKED, y'all!

pleased to hear - have a great time Chrissie !

In Austin for the ACL. Elbow must be nearby and have brought some Manchester weather with them as the drought has now ended. Goodbye triple digit temperatures.

ChrissieInFL wrote:

UPDATE - for those who want to know...I will be going to Atlanta show! My issues appear to be resolved, and I am STOKED, y'all!

Fantastic Chrissie!
Great news!
Have a great time!!!

evilpixie wrote:

In Austin for the ACL. Elbow must be nearby and have brought some Manchester weather with them as the drought has now ended. Goodbye triple digit temperatures.

Grrrr. Yes, we hate you all, Evil Pixie and we're bursting with jealousy! You deserve all the rain!

(Actually, sniff, we all wish we could be there... Have a great time, you lucky divil!!! )

ChrissieInFL wrote:

UPDATE - for those who want to know...I will be going to Atlanta show! My issues appear to be resolved, and I am STOKED, y'all!

Excellent news!!! We want full details afterwards please!!!

Thanks, ChrissyBoy, Jones & Ticky - and full details will be forthcoming, don't you worry about that! Wish y'all were here to see it with me, I really and truly do. But at least Mr Chrissie will finally get to join me for once, so that'll be lovely. Oh my, less than 48 hours to go...CAN'T HARDLY WAIT!!!