Today’s recap includes expanded tour itineraries, new outings and more as compiled by TicketNews on October 27, 2008.
In touring news, a highway accident forced punk rockers Against Me! to cancel one show on their current tour with Ted Leo & The Pharmacists. The band’s bus skidded out of control after hitting a patch of ice on the road, causing the attached cargo trailer to come unattached and flip, spilling equipment and merchandise across the road. No one was hurt in the accident. … The iconic and influential Wu-Tang Clan is hitting the road later in the year to support their 2007 album, “8 Diagrams.” Almost 30 dates have been announced with more to come. … Hard rock band Disturbed is touring North America for the third time this year, as the band continues to support the early summer release “Indestructible.” The tour kicks off after Disturbed completes its current European jaunt.
In industry news, Neil Diamond has been named the 2009 MusiCares Person of the Year for his artistic and philanthropic achievements. Diamond will receive the award on February 6, 2009, during the annual Grammy Week gala dinner and concert. … Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are going to court over the ASPCA’s accusation that the circus, run by Feld Entertainment, mistreats or abuses the Asian elephants involved in its performances. The circus denies the allegations, citing years of government approval and above-standard conditions, and has filed a counter-suit to be addressed after the initial trial concludes.
Those are the full stories for the day, but there’s always more new in the busy world of concerts and tours. For updates in brief, read on.
Kanye West is continuing his globetrotting with a few more international shows. With a UK run and dates in New Zealand and Australia already set, the performer has added a two-show run in China and a few mainland Europe dates. The China concerts are November 1 at Gymnasium in Beijing and November 3 at Peoples Grand Stage in Shanghai. After that, West has nine shows in the UK and Ireland, followed by a new show in Germany on November 19 at Konig-Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen. Two more concerts have also been added for November 21 at Forest National in Brussels, BEL, and November 26 at Ahoy in Rotterdam, NET.
Vampire Weekend has added a few more U.S. shows to its late 2008 itinerary, which already includes a November 20 gig at Roseland Ballroom in New York City, a December 1-2 set at 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, and a December 8 gig at the Wellmont Theatre in Montclair, NJ. The band also has a December 3, 4, and 6 run at Terminal 5 in New York City. The additional dates fall on December 7 with a concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston, MA, and a December 12 concert at McMenamins Crystal Ballroom in Portland, OR.
Kaiser Chiefs will end the year with a handful of shows in North America and Japan in November. But come the New Year, the band will be back on the road in a big way. The rockers launch their European tour on January 19 at Columbiahalle in Berlin, GER, and continue n the road through a March 6 gig at Wembley Arena in London, UK. Other stops include a January 24-25 run at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, BEL, a February 5 concert at Alcatraz in Milan, ITA, and a February 16 gig at Heineken Music Hall in Amsterdam, NET.
Feeder has rescheduled its tour of Japan, which was originally slated for early October. The five-date trek will begin early next year, running February 22 at Akasaka Blitz in Tokyo through February 28 at Drum Logos in Fukuoka. The band will also be continuing their regularly scheduled tour of the UK, though a fire ripped through the crew bus over the weekend. No one was injured in the fire, and the band did not announce any show cancellations or postponements as a result. The tour continues tonight (October 27) at Rock City in Nottingham and concludes December 2 at Pyramid Centre in Portsmouth. A few new shows have been added to the books, including a November 18 show at The Astoria in London, which follows the November 17 gig at the Carling Academy Brixton in the city.
The Breeders have a mid-November tour of the U.S. falling into place. The trek is currently set with five West Coast dates, beginning November 11 at Neumo’s in Seattle, WA. The Breeders will play on with a November 12 show at Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR, followed by a November 14-15 set at Slim’s in San Francisco, CA. The rockers are currently set to wrap the jaunt on November 17 with a concert at The Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to the U.S. run, the group has one show set outside the country: November 8 at Villa Dos Galpoes in São Paulo, BRA.
