Mission of Burma have several dates scheduled for the first half of 2010 in support of The Sound The Speed The Light.

01/15: Boston, MA @ The Paradise w/ The Konks
01/16: Boston, MA @ The Paradise w/ Bunnies
01/29: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
01/30: New York, NY @ Bower Ballroom

02/18: Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church w/ Sleeper Agent
02/19: Richmond, VA @ The University of Richmond, Tyler Haynes Commons
02/20: Washington, D.C. @ The Black Cat w/ Office of Future Plans

04/07: Newport, KY @ The Southgate House
04/08: Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig
04/09: Madison, WI @ High Noon
04/10: Chicago, IL @ The Double Door

In addition to the U.S. performance dates above, Mission of Burma have been confirmed for a couple of European festival dates as the summer nears in May.

05/15: Minehead, UK @ All Tomorrow’s Parties
05/27-29: San Miguel, Spain @ Primavera Sound Festival

Andrew Jackson Jihad
“Heartilation”
from Can’t Maintain
(Asian Man Records)

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Tour Dates
all dates w/ Kepi Ghoulie and Partners in 818

01/01: San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
01/02: Highland, Park, CA @ Juanitas
01/03: San Pedro, CA @ Harold’s Bar
01/04: Fresno, CA @ Starline
01/05: Stockton, CA @ Plea for Peace Center
01/06: Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place
01/07: San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
01/08: Portland, OR @ The Artistery
01/09: Olympia, WA @ The Overcast Project
01/10: Seattle, WA @ Healthy Times Fun Club
01/11: Seattle, WA @ The Morgue
01/12: Bremerton, WA @ The Charleston
01/14: Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s Fungarden
01/15: Santa Barbara, CA @ Biko Garage
01/16: Ventura, CA @ Billy O’s
01/16: Riverside, CA @ Back to the Grind
01/17: Echo Park, CA @ Echo Curio

Javelin
Javelin
(Thrill Jockey)


Javelin is two cousins and a lot of samples, and it will give some idea of what’s happening here if I repeat the part of their press material that notes they’ve played a gig in the children’s branch of the Olneyville Public Library in Rhode Island. If you have children and Javelin perform a show near you, and you don’t take them, you will be arrested; it’s abuse, dude, not to let your kids get jiggy to this stuff. If you don’t have children, then you should take your nephew or niece or neighbor or grandkids or whatever. If you hate children, then you can go just to make yourself happy.

This is a short little record of five songs and sixteen minutes, and allow me to list the titles: “Lindsey Brohan”, “Unforgettable Super Lady”, “Soda Popinski”, “Radio”, “Twice”. You could buy this limited editon 12” record for the song titles alone. Sometimes it’s a little hip-hoppish, sometimes it’s a little soulish, or funkish, or latinish. It’s always a whole bunch of fun (no –ish).

People who don’t smile listening to this music need to check for a heartbeat; the beats and melodies jab at the corners of your mouth and push them upwards. “Soda Popinksi” is a little gem of genius that begins and ends with a little kid telling a rhyme about George Washington and works that little kid’s voice into a goofy mmmmmmmm while the rest of the song doodley-doos and soda popinskis.

The best thing about this short little record is that it manages to be joyful and fun and interesting and utterly devoid of cynicism without being obnoxiously saccharine or twee. You can dance to it, you can sit and head-bob to it, you can take your kids to the library to hear it performed.

You’d better go and buy “Javelin”, because one day you’re going to find yourself having gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, and you’re going to put this album on, and you’re going to feel better. And if that isn’t enough for you, well, it should be.

They’re releasing another 12” on Thrill Jockey next year, and a full length album on Luaka Bop sometime thereafter, and I suggest you keep your ears open for them. Hooray!

Brimstone Howl
“Suicide Blues”
from Big Deal. What’s He Done Lately?
(Alive Records)

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