Dismemberment Plan Reunite

Okay, we're a little late to the party on this one: apparently the memo came trhough about a week ago. That being said, just in case you missed it (like we did), here's the down low: Dismemberment Plan will be appearing at Webster Hall on January 30th of next year.

This isn't entirely unheard of, as the band have reunited for one-offs in the past. Apparently this one is another one (or rather, five) off, and is to celebrate the forthcoming reissue of Emergency & I. What remains to be seen is whether it would indicate a greater end to Travis Morrison's self imposed musical hiatus.

As huge fans of Travis and the band, we couldn't be happier to see this occurring, even if the haters think it's way too much of a nostalgia (or ego!) trip for the band. The fact of the matter is that these are some great tunes that people are psyched to hear, so why not enjoy it while you can? See you out there!

Dismemberment Plan Emergency & I Reunion Tour

Fri, January 21st Washington, D.C @ Black Cat
Sat, January 22nd Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
Thu, January 27th Philadelphia, PA @ The Starlight Ballroom
Fri, January 28th Boston, MA @ Paradise
Sat, January 29th New York, NY @ Webster Hall

mp3: Dismemberment Plan - The Ice Of Boston

Travis Morrison Hellfighters @ Rickshaw Stop

These days, it's seldom that you see a band that is completely willing to wear their heart on their sleeve and completely obviously immerse themselves in the joy of playing music. It's even more unusual that you see a band that can do this and also deliver a technically robust set of rock and roll songs. Last night at the Rickshaw Stop, Travis Morrison Hellfighters did exactly that.

The band played a set largely dominated by their album All Y'All - and it fared quite well. The material not only held up live, but was even further bolstered by Morrison and the band's energy. At first we were a tad skeptical of Morrison's overt enthusiasm, but it soon became clear that it wasn't any kind of "act", and from there on out it really drove the rest of the set for us.

We were pleasantly surprised at the band's ability to meet the high demands of the arrangements on the record. Having 3 multi-instrumentalists on board certainly helps, and the band's rotating cast of characters really helped to keep the sound fresh.


Morrison also played three new songs: "Henrietta", "Cruisin'", and "Moneytown". We managed to snag a vid of "Henrietta", so here you go (Yes, we were standing right in front of the guitar amp. So, sound quality leaves something to be desired.):


It's no secret that we love this record, and if you haven't figured it out, we really enjoyed this show. It was full of enthusiasm and vigor that is so often missing from touring bands. We really hope Morrison and Co. get the momentum building and keep this tour going past the current dates. If they're coming to your town, we really encourage you to get out and see it. (We bought a t-shirt, and we haven't done that in like, 2 years)

Travis Morrison Hellfighters @ Rickshaw Stop 3/20

Well, we named his latest album one of the best of '07, and we've been eagerly awaiting Travis Morrison's arrival here on the West Coast, and now the time has come! While it's not listed as of yet on the band's official site, The Rickshaw Stop has posted the show, and tickets are available now. So, yes: tiny room, awesome band, great album. We'll be there.

mp3: Travis Morrison Hellfighters - As We Proceed
stream: Travis Morrison Hellfighters - All, Y'All

Travis Morrison Gets Kicked In The Nuts Again

In what seems to be turning into some sort of running gag, Pitchfork has once again completely reamed Travis Morrison (formerly of Dismemberment Plan) over a new disc: All Y'All. Their now-famous review of his previous album has been used a number of times as an example of the unreasonable amount of sway that the 'fork has over the indie rock scene these days. I've actually really enjoyed both of these solo releases quite a bit and don't understand the hellbent criticism. Anyway, I was disappointed to see that all of his currently scheduled dates are extremely DC-local: I hope the negative vibe isn't keeping him from getting out and about, particularly to the West Coast. We'll have to see. In the meantime, ignore the negative hype, and decide for yourself. The full album is currently streaming over at Travis' site.

mp3: Travis Morrison - As We Proceed