UNKLE MAKES DEBUT AS LIVE BAND WITH FALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES IN SUPPORT OF ‘WAR STORIES’

Press Release Content:
AUGUST 7, 2007

FR: ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/LIBBY HENRY

UNKLE MAKES DEBUT AS LIVE BAND WITH FALL
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES IN SUPPORT OF ‘WAR STORIES’

TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, AUGUST 10

Following a successful summer run of high-profile shows overseas including headlining the mainstage at Benicassim in Spain after Muse and the Glade Festival in Reading, U.K., UNKLE has announced it will come to North America this October for a short run of tour dates. Spearheaded by frontman James Lavelle, UNKLE for the first time ever will make its appearance as a live band. Utilizing guitars, bass, drums and synths set against a backdrop of intricate lights and AV screens for a one-of-a-kind audiovisual experience, UNKLE will perform material from their new album War Stories, as well as selections from the two previous UNKLE releases Psyence Fiction and Never, Never, Land. Check out live footage from the aforementioned Benicassim show here: http://unkle.com/UNKLE_live_Benicassim_2007.mov.

The UNKLE tour on this continent will encapsulate six special engagements kicking off October 18 at Webster Hall in New York City coinciding with the CMJ Music Marathon conference. Stops at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, Metro in Chicago, Echoplex in Los Angeles and Mezzanine in San Francisco follow. The trek will round out on October 28 in Las Vegas with UNKLE’s only U.S. festival show this year at the Vegoose Festival. Tickets for all the tour dates, except for Vegoose which are available now, go on sale this Friday, August 10. For information on where to purchase log on to www.unkle.com.

Released July 24 via James Lavelle’s newly formed Surrender All label, War Stories was co-produced by UNKLE and Queens Of The Stone Age producer Chris Goss and marries UNKLE’s trademark sound with traditional rock influences to stunning effect. Special guest vocalists and players include Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), 3D (Massive Attack), The Duke Spirit, Autolux, Gavin Clark of new U.K. group Clayhill, Psychonauts’ Pablo Clements, Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws and Eagles of Death Metal’s David Catching. Ian Astbury of The Cult lends his voice to the album’s current single “Burn My Shadow.” The video for the song–starring actor Goran Visjnic–has been added to MTV and FUSE.
View the video at: (www.unkle.com/Burn_My_Shadow_Video.mov)

Upon its release, War Stories garnered rave reviews in the press:

“British producer James Lavelle has crafted a gloriously disparate batch of desert-themed songs into an ominous dance record.” Album of the Month

—ESQUIRE (August 2007)

“The sound is big, bold and badass…Aggressive yet soulful, ‘War’ doesn’t just straddle the line between rock and electronica—it destroys it.”
–Molly Brown, BILLBOARD (July 28, 2007)

“A stormy set of dark, synth-streaked psych-rock jams that carries a whiff of tomorrow while looking back to the stomping proto-metal of Black Sabbath and Blue Cheer.”
–Mikael Wood, LOS ANGELES TIMES (7/22/07)

“…a tide of pounding drums and snarling guitars…”
–Nate Chinen, THE NEW YORK TIMES (6/24/07)

“With UNKLE’s third proper release, the outfit veer in two directions nobody foresaw: Live…and West- to record with stoner-rock icon Chris Goss…This organic indulgence is initially disconcerting, but upon closer inspection, UNKLE’s familiar, cinematic aesthetic reveals itself…”
–Tim Karan, ALTERNATIVE PRESS (September 2007)

“Here’s the thing about War Stories: it’s absolutely perfect…Seemingly born out of James Lavelle’s lust for evolution, Stories is a rock record settled deep in science fiction; Primal Scream meets Spiritualized meets all things psychedelic.”
–Mollie Wells, BUST (August/September, 2007)

“James Lavelle and Richard File fulfill their rock star fantasies with this nail hard, slam-to-the-head assault on the senses…War Stories is the perfect soundtrack to the coming apocalypse.”
**** out of 5 stars.
–Ken Micallef, URB (6/19/07)

“Utilizing a more organic, live-performance approach and bringing in a plethora of guest musicians has added several interesting levels to UNKLE’s latest, which is, by turns, aggressive and ruminating but never dull.”

**** out of 5 stars.
–Kristi Kates, REMIX (July 2007)

“Lavelle’s latest trip to Never Neverland is risky, but more accurately: hot.”
–Rachel Shimp, XLR8R (August 2007)

“With UNKLE’s versatile sound and Lavelle’s enthusiasm for the current scene, it is difficult to see how people couldn’t believe in his group’s efforts, whether they be young neon teenagers or refined old school clubbers. …with War Stories already sending ripples across the Internet and continued demand for his [James Lavelle] DJ skills, it doesn’t seem to matter; you’re either along for the ride, or you’re stuck by the side of the road.”
–Zel McCarthy, BIG SHOT (Issue #17, 2007)

“…Lavelle manages to maintain direction and an indefinable quality…”
–Melody Caraballo, VILLAGE VOICE (July 24, 2007)

“Lavelle assembled a dream-team collective for the latest set: Returning are Josh Homme, Massive Attack's 3D, and vocalist/co-composer Richard File. They're joined by The Cult's Ian Astbury, Nada Surf's Matthew Caws, and the Eagles Of Death Metal's David Catching, filling out a bizarre yet effective guest list.” B+
–Andrew Earles, THE ONION (7/24/07)

UNKLE’s North American tour dates are as follows:

Date	Venue	City
Thu 10/18	Webster Hall	New York, NY
Fri 10/19	Lee’s Palace	Toronto, ONT
Sat 10/20	Metro	Chicago, IL
Fri 10/26	Echoplex	Los Angeles, CA
Sat 10/27	Mezzanine	San Francisco, CA
Sun 10/28	Vegoose Festival	Las Vegas, NV

www.unkle.com
www.myspace.com/unkle

# # #

For more information on UNKLE, contact:
MSO 818-380-0400
Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
Libby Henry x224, lhenry@msopr.com

Press Release Date:
Tue, 2007-08-07 18:00

Press Release Link:
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Press Release Teaser:
UNKLE MAKES DEBUT AS LIVE BAND WITH FALL NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES IN SUPPORT OF 'WAR STORIES'