Elbow To Support REM

Elbow are pleased to announce they'll be joining forces with one of the biggest bands in the world this summer when they support REM on a string of German dates.

The band will provide support for Michael Stipe et al at dates in Stuttgart, Loreley and Wurzburg.

It all happens in August and if this isn't a marriage made in musical heaven we don't know what is.

Here are the full details of what is sure to be a classic set of shows...

Aug 19 - Stuttgart, Ehrenhof
Aug 20 - Loreley, Freilichtbuhne
Aug 22 - Wurzburg, Marienfest.

Purchase your tickets at www.eventim.de now.

tut tut tut, REM should be supporting Elbow.

Dabamash wrote:

tut tut tut, REM should be supporting Elbow.

Ummmmmm...no. No they shouldn't. Sorry, but I'm old and I remember when REM were the shizz. They were like my Beatles growing up. Much love and respect to Elbow of course, but the body of work REM has produced since the dawn of the '80s gives them the edge, even considering that they've put out a lot of suckish stuff recently. They're Rock & Roll Hall of Famers for a reason though, and Elbow headlining over them would be wrong, wrong, wrong. Sorry, just having a Mrs. Brady, Old Lady moment ("I remember when children had respect for their elders and thruppence ha'penny would buy you a house...")!

I think it's gonna be great exposure for the band to be supporting someone like REM, and props to REM for choosing/approving our 'bow boys.

MagicalTrevor wrote:

I think it's gonna be great exposure for the band to be supporting someone like REM, and props to REM for choosing/approving our 'bow boys.

I'll second that emotion. Only sorry it's all happening in Germany 'cause that would pretty much be the ultimate musical buzz for me!

I'd willingly give any ligament to see one of these shows in Germany. And I'd have to agree with you, Chrissie, there's no way that REM could ever be considered as support to Elbow. They have a level of fame that Elbow hasn't been able to reach and it's still uncertain if they'll be able to tap into it or not. I recall one of the most puzzling support acts that Elbow has ever done and that was for Snow Patrol, but they're definitely supporting an amazing band. REM's last few albums don't compare to their 80's material, but their latest album is actually pretty good although I favor the old music over the new.

Sounds like hell to me... and I'm not talking about Elbow!

REM

No pun intended!

woah woah, the REM/Elbow thing was a joke, no need to take it serious ppl.

Dabamash wrote:

woah woah, the REM/Elbow thing was a joke, no need to take it serious ppl.

Ah the joy of internet forums...no one can tell who's serious or not!

Dabamash: No worries man, glad to hear you were only funnin'! Just defensive of my boys from GA, that's all. I go waaaay back with them as a fan so I can't help it!

Mrs. Trev: Awww, I don't think they'd put you to sleep. I've seen REM live many times, and the only time they threatened to put me to sleep was on the Green tour in '88, when Mr. Stipe seemed more interested in lecturing than singing and the pretentiously arty video projections jut became overwhelmingly silly after a while. But even then the music sounded great, and that has always been consistent at every show I've seen. All their recent live work has been far more powerful and streamlined, thank God. I think they've realized that they aren't bulletproof and that they have to work extra hard to win back fans they may have lost during their recent spate of crap records.

But hey, different strokes for different folks! It's all good, peeps.

MagicalTrevor wrote:

I think it's gonna be great exposure for the band to be supporting someone like REM, and props to REM for choosing/approving our 'bow boys.

I agree. Great news...Maybe REM will get them to play on Sziget fest, too...That would be a dream come true...

OMG...what a dream ticket!
I too grew up with R.E.M. in the 80s, saw them every chance I got. The 1985 show in Dallas (Fables of the Reconstruction) remains the best live show I have ever seen, and Murmur is still easily in my top 5 albums of all time. I listened to it just recently and found myself thinking, "Ah...the days when you could hardly understand a word Michael Stipe was singing...and it didn't matter a damn."
I agree about their post-80s stuff, although I have been quite impressed by what I've heard on the new album.
Sigh...what I wouldn't give to be at one of these shows...

ChrissieInFL wrote:

Mrs. Trev: Awww, I don't think they'd put you to sleep.
But hey, different strokes for different folks! It's all good, peeps.

Yep... they just don't do it for me and I hate his voice.

Can Elbow not support on REMs UK dates? As i am going that would be near perfect lineup for me other than maybe REM but i am getting into them more.
REM
Editors
Guillemots
ELbow??????

I'm with ChrissieInFL as another long-time REM fan. I've even been to Athens GA and met the fan club lasses (Meredith and ?) outside the 40 Watt club.
Cue # "Pilgrimage#

Granted the last few albums bar 'Accelerate' have pushed loyalty to the limits, but their stuff with IRS stands up well as early indie classics. No idea why the slow descent happened when they went to Warner though...

I will see them in Würzburg, I hope I'll get first row because I'm too small for back rows...
btw, they changed the venue, they will be at the "Residenzplatz" instead of the Marienfeste. Even better, because it's only about a mile from my hotel.
And keep your fingers crossed that the weather will be fine...