3/29/07--Not Nearly Enough Info To Satisfy You
We're about one update away from revealing some intense details surrounding the eagerly awaited 4th album by The New Pornographers. And at the risk of stringing you along for at least a couple of weeks, today you'll just have to settle for the following dates :

4/28 Indio CA Coachella Music Festival
7/4 New York NY Battery Park — The Lawn
7/15 Chicago IL Pitchfork Festival

10/24/06 —New Pornographers Go Down Under
The New Pornographers have just confirmed December tour dates for Australia. While those of us in New York will spend the month obsessively donning and doffing extra layers to deal with the cold, Carl Newman and company will be able to take a page from the Kinks and surf at the beach on a sunny Christmas Day. Not the hard knock life on tour from "Miracle Mile," "Lodi," or "Homeward Bound," huh? Check out the full details HERE.

10/04/06 —Todd Fancey talks New New Pornographers
Just as the New Pornographers prepare to don smoking jackets and reading glasses to hobnob with the intelligentsia at this Friday's New Yorker Festival, guitarist Todd Fancey gives Pitchfork a progress report on the band's upcoming fourth album. "[Carl is] working on [the New Pornographers album] now [in New York], and as a band we're going to rehearse the songs on tour in October at soundcheck. So we'll rehearse the songs, go over the tempos. Then [drummer/producer] Kurt [Dahle] will probably get the files in Vancouver and work his ass off again like he did on Twin Cinema and get the drums down. There will be file-sharing going back and forth between the coasts. And then it's [touring] Australia [and] Japan. It's busy times, and I guess we wouldn't have it any other way," said Fancey.

The brackets are theirs, and I can only hope they replace inexplicable Canadian slang. Brave the baby blue background and read it for yourself.

07/26/06 —New Pornographers: irresistible pop juggernaut?
Taste of Detroit? Central Park Summerstage? Lollapalooza? Austin City Limits? The New Yorker Festival (October 7)? The stages keep getting bigger and the stakes grow even higher as the New Pornographers endeavor to find out if there's even one remaining person on this continent who can resist the charms of 'Twin Cinema'. The answer oughta be "no", but neither band nor label can be blamed for wanting to make sure.

06/01/06 —New Porno's wave their hair in the open air
July 2-Detroit, MI at Comerica TasteFest
July 16-Ottawa, ON at Ottawa Bluesfest

August 3-New York NY at Central Park Summerstage
August 5-Chicago IL at Grant Park, Lollapalooza 2006

September 15-Colonia Mixcoa, Mexcio at Bulldog with Porter and Nina
September 17-Austin TX at Zilker Park, Austin City Limits

We've been informed there's a broadcaster in Amarillo, TX that claims to showcase "the Rick Dees' of Tomorrow" that's been playing "Sing Me Spanish Techno" some 200 times a week. If only every town in the world had such a radio station.

04/27/06 —New video; European Tour

the new video for "Sing Me Spanish Techno" directed by Michael Palmieri can currently be seen on iFilm. Though this is yet another amazing clip from the New Pornographers, there ain't nothing like the real. There isn't anything like the real thing, either.

Mon 1st May: Vera, Gronigen, Netherlands
Wed 3rd May: Loppen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Thurs 4th May: TBA, Malmo, Swden
Fri 5th May: Accelerator, Stockholm, Sweden
Sat 6th May: Bergenfest, Bergen, Norway
Sun 7th May: TBA, Oslo, Norway
Mon 8th May: Voxhall, Aarhus, Denmark
Tues 9th May: Gleis 22, Munster, Germany
Wed 10th May: TBA, Berlin, Germany
Thur 11th May: Chelsea, Vienna, Austria
Fri 12th May: Feierwerk, Munich, Germany
Sat 13th May: TBA, Koln, Germany
Sun 14th May: Tivoli De Helling, Utrecht, Netherlands
Tues 16th May: Koko, London, UK (with Spoon)
Wed 17th May: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, UK
Thurs 18th May: ABC2, Glasgow, UK
Fri 19th May: Cockpit, Leeds, UK
Sat 20th May: The Great Escape, Brighton, UK
Sun 21st May: All Tomorrow’s Parties, Camber Sands, UK

July 2 - Comerica Tastetest Festival, Detroit, MI
July 16 - Cisco Systems Blues Fest, Ottawa, Ontario

August 3 - Central Park Summerstage, NYC, NY, with Calexico and The Frames
August 5 - Lollapalooza, Chicago, IL
August 12- Gas Works Park, Seattle WA

September 15 - Bulldog, Mexico City, Mexico
September 17 - Austin City Limits Festival, Zilker Park, Austin, TX

03/10/06 —Nominated for colder, northern Grammies
Currently on a sold-out tour of North America with Belle & Sebastian, the New Pornographers have been nominated for a Juno award in the category of "Best Alternative Album". The awards are taking place in Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 2nd. We don't know much else about the affair other than a) the Juno's are often refered to as "The Canadian Grammies" (which is kind of a drag for the organizers, we suspect) and b) Matt Stairs is _not_ the host.

12/01/05 — The New Pornographers return to Britain
The New Pornographers come back to Great Britain this weekend, as follows:

DECEMBER

sunday 04 - Manchester, GB - Night and Day
monday 05 - Nottingham, GB - Rescue Rooms
tuesday 06 - Glasgow, Scotland - ABC2
wednesday 07 - London, GB - Islington Academy Bar

10/25/05 — iTunes Session posted
The New Pornographers iTunes Session has been posted over at iTunes... exclusive 4 songs recorded in SF during their trek down the West Coast in August during release week.

10/11/05 — First UK and European dates announced!
as the global acclaim for 'Twin Cinema' continues to swell, the New Pornographers' US tour with Destroyer and Immaculate Machine laying waste to towns big and small. OK, that's a slight bit of hyperbole. The towns are still standing. But the hearts and minds of those in attendence will never be the same again. Blaine Thurier's video for "Use It" (featuring David Cross and Nardwuar The Human Serviette can be seen here.

The New Pornographers' years-in-the-making first ever UK and German appearances have just been confirmed:

November 1 - The Borderline, London, UK
November 3 - 93 Feet East, London, UK

November 20 - Arena, Wien, Austria
November 21 - Kleine Elsehalle, Munchen, Germany
November 22 - Hirsch, Nurnberg, Germany
November 23 - Forum, Bielelfeld, Germany
November 25 - Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, Germany
November 26 - Postbahnnof, Berlin, Germany
November 27 - Festsaal Casino/Universitaet Westend, Frankfurt, Germany
November 28 - ZAAK, Dusseldorf, Germany

Look for additional dates to be announced soon, on the tours page.

In addition, they'll be playing Seattle's Pyramid Brewery in the midst of all this, on November 19.

09/07/05 — "Use It" video
The video for "Use It," directed by the great Blaine Thurier and featuring the great David Cross, is available on the great twincinema.net website. But it's also available here.

09/06/05 — twincinema.net launched, New P's on US TV
Please, check out twincinema.net and don't think we're too modest to hear what you think. Welcome to Gloatsville, Population US. #44 with a bullet on the Billboard Top 200, the New Pornographers' 'Twin Cinema' is not only a strong candidate for Album Of The Year status, but the band are fast becoming multi-media fixtures in ways we can barely keep track of. Recent radio sessions for KEXP and KCRW are archived, there's a forthcoming iTunes session planned, a spate of West Coast instores were performed to overflow crowds, and there are two upcoming network TV appearances:

September 16 - Late Night With Conan O'Brien (NBC)
September 29 - Last Call With Carson Daily (NBC)

Lovers of rock conventions (and haters of conventional rock) can catch the New Pornographers during CMJ when they hit Bowery Ballroom on the 15th of September for a special early evening performance.

Kurt, Blaine and Carl have all been spotted on Al Gore's much publicized Current channel, but the TV in this hotel only gets Fox News. So I'll have to just imagine how great that was.

US dates in September/October will be closely followed by UK/EU shows in November and more December. Watch this space (and other spaces) for more details.

08/26/05 — Hear The New Pornographers on KCRW today!
They go on at 11:15 am West Coast time. That's 2:15 for all us East Coasters. Tune in if you live in the LA area, or check it out at kcrw.org.

07/27/05 — Frenzied activity leading up thru week of release
There's been frenzied activity in the run-up to the release of the 3rd NP's masterpiece, 'Twin Cinema' on August 23. The band's June visit to the East Coast was highlighted by a massive free gig in Brooklyn's Prospect Park, along with recording a session for Brian Turner's WFMU program, which will air on August 16 between 3-6pm. Last weekend, Nardwuar The Human Serviette and David Cross joined the New Pornographers for the making of their latest video, "Use It," which you'll be seeing on this site (and hopefully your TV set) before long.

photo by Steven Dewall

Lovers of early morning radio and/or new ways for Steve Lamacq to expand his global influence can check out the New Pornographers in session on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic", Friday, August 26.

An MP3 of 'Twin Cinema's' "Use It" can now be downloaded at your convenience.

the following New Pornographers dates are confirmed. Which means we're not making it up this time.

August 22 - Sonic Boom, Seattle instore performance (11pm)
August 24 - Amoeba, San Francisco, instore performance (7pm)
August 25 - Tower Sunset, Hollywood, CA instore performance (7pm)
August 26 - Galaxy Theatre, Santa Ana, CA
August 27 - Lou's Records instore performance, San Diego, CA (2pm)

September 22 - Victoria, BC at Sugar
September 24 - Seattle at Showbox
September 28 - San Francisco, CA at Bimbo's
September 29 - San Francisco, CA at Bimbo's
September 30 - Solana Beach at Belly Up Tavern

October 8 - Kalamazoo, MI at Kraftbrau
October 11 - Boston, MA at The Roxy
October 12 - New York at Webster Hall
October 13 - New York at Webster Hall
October 16 - Carrboro, NC at Cat's Cradle
October 18 - Nashville, TN at Mercy Lounge
October 20 - Chicago, IL at Metro

(all dates outside of record stores with Destroyer and Immaculate Machine)

(keep checking the tours page for updates as well)

07/21/05 — 2nd MP3 posted
Download an MP3 of "Use It" from the music page.

07/15/05 — Preorder discount with free unreleased 7"
Preorder the album for only $10 (a $2 discount) on the Matador Store, and get a limited one-sided 7" with an unreleased New Pornographers song. Supplies are LIMITED on the 7", and will be strictly first-come first-serve!

Also check out the new bio, which comes with a song-by-song explanation of the new album by Carl.

06/08/05 — June touring

Photograph by Steven Dewall

Is 'Twin Cinema' (August 23) the most eagerly awaited album of 2005? How do we even try to quantify such a thing? Either we're telling the truth or we're lying on your behalf.

JUNE
* 22-Hoboken, NJ at Maxwells
* 23-Hoboken, NJ at Maxwells
* 24-Lancaster, PA at Chameleon Club
* 25-Brooklyn, NY at Celebrate Brooklyn
* 26-Northampton, MA at Pearl Street Nightclub

SEPTEMBER
* 23-Vancouver BC at Commodore Ballroom
Special Guest: Destroyer
* 29-Los Angeles, CA at Henry Fonda
Special Guests: Destroyer, Immaculate Machine

OCTOBER
* 15-Washington, DC at 9:30 Club

More fall dates to be announced

04/28/05 — First MP3 from 'Twin Cinema'
The first MP3, the title track, has been posted from the upcoming 'Twin Cinema' album, to be released on August 23.

01/26/05 — Carl Newman writes
"We're hard at work on our new album, which should be in the hands of Matador by mid-March, and in the hands of real people sometime in late summer. Maybe September? I don't know. If it was up to me it would come out two weeks after we finished it, but that's just not how it's done.

"We've become fascinated by the ability of the ebow and baritone guitar to sound kind of like a cello. This fixes the problem of wanting cello, but not wanting a cello player in your band. They take up way too much room. We can also get that Creation bowed guitar sound without bowing the guitar, and looking like a guitar-bowing idiot.

"Dan's been coming around alot and recording with us, more than on Electric Version, so that's cool. This album will have the Jackie sequel, "Jackie, Dressed In Cobras", for those of you that always wondered where Jackie's life took her/him. Neko's gonna come and sing, Nora's gonna come and sing, and my long lost niece is gonna come and sing with us too. Not because she's my niece, but because she's really good. I want a lot of singers. I think it will be good.

"Various unintentional influences have crept into our work, some of which are quickly removed: The Moody Blues, Tubeway Army, Wings, always Wings, never The Beatles, Eno of course, you can't play ebow without sounding like Eno, Modern English, middle period post-Gabriel Genesis, The Stranglers, the vocal inflections on "Dreadlock Holiday" remain a steady influence, we're still trying to find a way to insert some dub/white reggae in the mix, just as an intellectual exercise, to see if we can do it without being dropped from the label. I know it sounds awful but it will all work out."

09/03/04 — Blaine Thurier writes:
"My film MALE FANTASY is screening at the star-studded Toronto International Film Festival in September. I'm also going into production on the erotic farce, MOMO, shooting in Los Angeles in October. I'll also be very busy checking AC Newman's mail while he's in San Francisco."

07/19/04 — John Collins writes:
"Currently I'm trying to do my taxes for the last three years and it's just going great thankyouverymuch! Also, anxiously awaiting Matador intern-cum-beatpoet-style traveler Matt LeMay and two of his bandmates who are doing the Grand Tour of indierock chesterfields this summer, arriving in just a couple of hours. Ah, summer in southwestern B.C. I pity everyone everywhere else. My partner in all things rockin' David and I are outfitting a new recording studio space in a little hood in Vancouver that our friend Lois from Olympia likes to call 'crackton'. Come One Come All! We're also working, as always, on some of internationaly celebrated conceptual artist Rodney Graham's great songs. Look for his LP/CD 'Rock Is Hard'.

"My other band thee Evaporators is heading out with Kurt Dahle on drums for a week long tour down the coast with head-bangers the Icarus Line starting july 20. While we're out David, Pete Borne from Carls band and I are going to play a show in L.A. at spaceland thursday July 11 with Rodney who is opening a show at MOCA.

"Currently listening to the amazing Cello/Mandolin/Loop/Vocal duo/trio The Winks. LABEL OWNERS looking for some more quixotic genius rock that sounds nothing at all like the New Pornographers? Prepare to fall in love! They're just so cute you want to pinch their cheeks. But watch out, they slay on cello. They're touring the west coast right this very moment.

On iTunes player right now, Radio Birdman."

12/15/03 — New video finally posted
Our apologies for the delay -- you can now view the video for "All For Swinging You Around" in either Real Player (recommended) or Windows Media Player, on the music and video page.

11/20/03 — The remastered 'Mass Romantic' is out

The New Pornographers' debut album 'Mass Romantic' finally receives a US release, gloriously remastered and at mid-price. Available on CD and vinyl at great record shops near you, or direct from the Matador Store.

11/05/03 — New video
Music videos, we love 'em. Even when the artists themselves don't appear in them. Blaine Thurier's clip for "All For Swinging You Around" can be seen on classy cable outlets near you. Miwa notes : "none of this double dutch jump roping is superimposed. This is the real shit. An organized sport since 1973." Up on the video page within the next three weeks.

You can also observe classic New Pornographers videos like "Letter From An Occupant" and "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism" here (link) from the newly remastered U.S. edition of the first NP's album, 'Mass Romantic'.

The New Pornographers' schedule tour of the Europe - due to start in just a few days, is postponed due to circumstances beyond our control. But we're hopeful that said dates will be rescheduled for early in 2004. We'll let you know here, or perhaps you'll check in at the newly offical New Pornographers website.

08/06/03 — New tour dates; 'Mass Romantic' remastered, repriced

There are a pile of new tour dates on behalf of 'The Electric Version' listed in the appropriate section --- if you don't wanna be caught standing outside like Steve Morse walking his dog, buy your tickets now. The US reissue of 'Mass Romantic' is coming from Matador this autumn --- does fully remastered mean you should buy it again? If you want to stay on our good side, the answer is yes. And don't forget it will be at mid-price. Buy it now.

06/12/03 — Apple Listening Party starts today

Stream the entire 'Electric Version' album starting today, courtesy of our friends at Apple. You will need to have the latest version of the QuickTime software and/or plugin.

02/03/03 — The New Pornographers on Matador
Here at Matador HQ we've had to order an extra big prescription of Calm The Fuck Down Pills because we've just completed a licensing agreement with Mint Records to release the longawaited 2nd album from THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS in the USA. This May, Carl Newman, Kurt Dahle, Blaine Thurier, Neko Case, John Collins, Dan Bejar and Todd Fancey return with the 2nd New Pornographers album, 'Electric Version' the long anticipated followup to the Juno Award winning 'Mass Romantic' --- an album acclaimed far and wide as one of 2001's finest (despite being released in 2000). Ever bit as infectious & explosive as this supergroup's debut, 'Electric Version' is a hyperkinetic pop masterpiece crammed with more information than most bands manage in a lifetime.

1. The Electric Version
2. From Blown Speakers
3. The Laws Have Changed
4. The End of Medicine
5. Loose Translation
6. Chump Change 7. All for Swinging You Around
8. The New Face of Zero and One
9. Testament to Youth in Verse
10. It's Only Divine Right
11. Ballad of a Comeback Kid
12. July Jones
13. Miss Teen Wordpower