Royal Trux regret to announce the cancellation of at least seven US shows, due to a grave illness in Jennifer Herrema's immediate family. All shows through July 4th are cancelled and the rest of the US tour has been put on tentative status. Although Jennifer has every intention of continuing to tour behind Pound for Pound, RTX's latest (and greatest) album, RTX and Drag City wholly support Jennifer's decision to take time off the road so she can be with her family in this time of need. Fans should take heart - Royal Trux have every intention of rescheduling the canceled dates as soon as the situation permits. Our thoughts are with Jennifer and her family in this sad and painful time. Royal Trux look forward to playing more shows and appreciate the great response from the people who've come to the concerts in the last two weeks. The following shows have been CANCELLED: Mon June 26 Iowa City IA Gabe's Oasis These shows are now TENTATIVE: Fri July 14 Asheville NC Vincent's Ear SMOG OVER UK! The next night, Jim O’Rourke was the Meltdown ticket of the night, playing right next door to at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and as had happened the night before, a small nation of people crammed themselves into opulent surroundings to hear the musical musings of a man who will surely be numbered among this new millennium’s best and brightest. Yes, once the bombs come and it’s all said and done, Jim O’Rourke’s winsome melodies will be coursing through the heads of survivors everywhere! The Jim O’Rourke band included some of Jim’s favorite collaborators, including Rob Mazurek, Darin Gray, and Sean O’Hagan. After their command performance, they musicians were ushered into a sub-basement, where they came face-to-face with the curator of the Meltdown himself, the unbelievable Scott Walker! What else can we tell you, dear readers? O’Rourke nearly collapsed in a heap on the floor – as did Walker! These meetings of the minds can be very draining, apparently. Thank god O’Hagan was there! Before long, they were all gathered around a piano, singing “Walk On By,” in a harmonically delicious three-part round. What would you have given to be a fly on those dank walls? Anyhow, long story short, O’Rourke’s somewhere in France today, reunited with his adopted Sonic Youth family. Their circus-like adventures will take them across the civilized world throughout the summer! And as for Smog, following his encounter with Scott Walker, he slipped off to the continent to play a few more shows for the indigenous people of Europe. Word is, they sang along with every word at every show from France all the way up the pike to Denmark! Yeah, they sang along but did they really get it? Check in next week and see! NEXT WEEK! Drag City
If you weren’t in Chicago last Friday, you better have a damn good excuse! That’s right, because Royal Trux were in town playing at that schiessehole, the legendary Empty Bottle! It was an amazing show, hard-hitting but laced with humor throughout. And that’s the good news – read on, dear reader, for the worst is yet to come.
Wed June 28 Lincon NE Duffy's Tavern
Thu June 29 Lawrence KS Replay Lounge
Fri June 30 St. Louis MO Side Door
Sat July 1 Champaign IL High Dive
Mon July 3 Columbus OH Bernie's
Tue July 4 Newport KY Southgate House
Sat July 15 Athens GA Caledonia
Sun July 16 Nashville TN The End
Mon July 17 Birmingham AL The Nick
Wed July 19 New Orleans LA Tipitina's
Thu July 20 Houston TX Rudyard's Pub
Fri July 21 Austin TX Emo's
Sat July 22 Dallas TX Club Clearview
Mon July 24 Albuquerque NM Launch Pad
Wed July 26 Tucson AZ Solar Culture Gallery
Thu July 27 San Diego CA Casbah
Fri July 28 Los Angeles CA Vinyl
Sat July 29 San Francisco CA Bottom of the Hill
Tue Aug 1 Seattle WA OK Hotel
Wed Aug 2 Vancouver BC CAN Brickyard
There will be an announcement as to which shows will and will not occur as soon as possible, so please stay tuned.
Meanwhile, back in England – Smog’s big night at the Meltdown Festival has come and gone. But not without a furious outpouring of fandom from his UK fans! Yes, they were there en masse Tuesday night at the Royal Festival Hall. Witnesses couldn’t remember a time when the joint had been so full of punters. You could have cut the tension with a knife from the moment Bill “Smog” Callahan took the stage with nary a greeting for the frenzied throng. As the band began to play the delicate pop of the most recent Smog records, the classic surroundings of the Royal Festival Hall began to tremble with the weight of the tremendous display of humanity coming from the stage. Smog, you see, is not just your favorite singer-songwriter of this age – he’s also the heaviest human soul currently singing for a living.
The low-down on the David Grubbs tour! Our ever-immanent release date! More Trux Talk! And enough other gab to make you gag!
Until then...
June 29, 2000