Wayward Luminaries,
After eight years of hard work, four albums, several hundred concerts, and enough tour kilometres to circle the earth four times. We have decided to put A Northern Chorus to rest.

I don't think it's really possible to sum up what this band has meant to us. It's been such an ingrained part of our lives. The only way to come close would be to list everyone that has supported us along the way. That would definitely bring back a flood of memories. BUT, that would take several pages, so... You know who you are.

While it's not feasible to head out on a "farewell tour" of sorts, a huge thanks goes out to all the ANC fans across the globe. We will be playing two farewell shows in Canada.

June 27-Toronto @ The Horseshoe
w/Electroluminescent, Bellewoods, Dan Griffin and The Regrets, ANC

June 28-Hamilton @ The Casbah
w/Electroluminescent, Tusks, ANC

Thanks for listening. ANC

Hello all just thought we'd give you an update of how our US tour with Aereogramme and The Twilight Sad went.  If anyone's' been keeping up with the Aereogramme myspace blog Campbell sums it up beautifully.
We started our journey, unfortunately without Aereogramme, in Philadelphia PA.  We arrived at the venue, Johnny Brenda's, and met our touring mates The Twilight Sad, Glasgow (FAT CAT RECORDS) and their tour manager/sound guy Jeff.  After drinking a number of cocktails each, which actually surpassed the amount of people at the show, we started to understand what they were saying.  The show itself as you can imagine wasn't the greatest but the venue treated us extremely well.  A great gesture for the first night of tour.

NYC at the Knitting Factory was next. We feel like we've graduated at that venue due to our floor climbing status.  We've played all three bars in the building and we finally were able to play the main stage where I've seen Mice Parade and Mark Gardener from Ride play.  The show for a Monday evening was pretty well attended. Both bands played really well that night.  The sound was truly incredible in that room.   

After a day off, and the beginning of the Aereogramme t-shirt fiasco, we returned to Cambridge MA.  This would be our 5th show in the area in the last few years.  After a very long day of trying to keep out of the rain we arrived at The Middle East, for anyone who hasn't been there, is just an awesome venue.  They have some of the best food I've ever had, and when you're along way from home and poor it makes all the difference.  The show went really well for The Twilight Sad and us.  There were probably 60 or so people there who were all silent during our set.  After the show we met up with our friend Jon Whitney (Brainwashed music) and he graciously put us up for the night.

Main Hall in Montreal was our next destination.  We had to drive from Boston to Montreal, which wasn't a big deal except for the weather.  I often forget how drastically it can change when driving through that area.  We drove through sun, rain, sleet, and snow.  Needless to say Montreal was very cold as it always is and not a one of us was prepared for the cold.  We met our friend Sophie, who's let us sleep on her floor countless times, and retired for the evening.  As a side note here I had the best breakfast of the whole tour.  I've forgotten the name of the restaurant but holy f@#@$% eggs benedict!!

Toronto at the Elmocambo was a great show for both bands.  Our friends, The Rest (Hamilton ON) opened the show that evening.  It was really great to finally play a busy show.  Also, it was nice for the band, except for me, to have a night at home.  I on the other hand stayed at the newly built Black Mountain Lodge in Toronto and drank scotch and played video games until 4 am.

Hamilton was day 7 of the tour and proved to be one of the most exhausting days of my life.  After waking up in Toronto, not so refreshed, I had to stumble down to Long and Mquade to secure a keyboard for Aereogramme for when they join the tour.  The rest of the day was filled with trailer rentals, organizing t-shirts, and finally listening to some records at home, Jim O'Rourke I think.
The show was probably our best turn out since the Raven days, if anyone remembers.  Finally, sleep in my own bed.  Uhhh…..

Border town, Windsor, April 8th at PHOG.  
I find sometimes we're too punctual of a band.  Arriving hours before load in for some reason.  So, when we pulled up far too early at PHOG we found a little African restaurant just down the street for dinner.  We thought we'd be in and out in no time.  The food was awesome but I don't think I've ever waited that long for food before.  No joke, 45 minutes and we were the only people in there.
Owen had a theory that it wasn't actually a restaurant and we had just called their bluff.  You had to be there.
The show was okay for attendance.  Not our best Windsor show.  I think the fact that it was Easter Sunday had something to with it.  Regardless, our friends YellowWood played a great set and we had a fun time.

The next day we arrived at the Windsor/Detroit border only to be shocked I'll say when a drug dog stopped, well hesitated when running past our van.  One of the handlers started asking us about our drug habits and basically accused us of having some kind of narcotics on board.  When Stu told him we didn't have any drugs he replied 'Are you calling my dog a liar'.  Stu actually had to tell the man 'No your dog isn't a liar, sir'.  All of us were sure this was going to be the one crossing where more than our van would be searched.  It turned out to be nothing in the end. As soon as we got to the border they saw we had visas and let us right through without stopping us.

Chicago was a really good show.  The Twilight Sad had a great draw in that city and crowd was extremely kind to us.  This was also the second instance of the Aereogramme t-shirt fiasco where the shirts didn't show up to address we shipped them to.  It was also the first of two van breakdowns.  

The next day was awful.  We got our van fixed.  All the electronics died the night before and we were left with no speedometer, odometer, brake lights or turn signals.  After waiting all day at the Ford dealership for our van we set out for Minneapolis.  We made it just in time to load in on the stage to play. Being this late wasn't so bad except for the fact that I could have seen Celtic frost play in the main room at 7th street entry.

Our next stop would be Winnipeg.  It's always been such a great city for us.  We've made a lot great friends there over the years and we were able to catch up with most of them.  Some friends of ours, Sortie Real, opened the show to very good-sized crowd.  If you haven't heard them before check them out.  www.myspace.com/soritereal
Unfortunately we had to leave right after the show for our first all night drive of the trip to Canmore AB.  For anyone that's toured the west coast of Canada before they know what this drive is like.  It's very flat, straight and long, and I stress long.  I did the first shift, 2am until 8am in the morning.  Drives like these always scare me to death.  The only thing to do is drink coffee and red bull with the windows down.   Very large doses of Van Halen are a must on this kind of drive.  
At about 5pm that day we were just north Calgary when our second van issue reared it's head.  Something in the engine seized and the drive belt became tangled up inside the engine.  We pulled up to the canmore hotel opened up the hood only to find coolant pouring out of the engine.
That night wasn't much better.  The canmore hotel is one of those shows you play for the money, alcohol and rooms.  It's definitely not for the audience appreciation.  We did have a few people drive up from Calgary for the show.  I'm pretty sure they got their moneys worth, as we had to play three sets, twenty songs in total.  We were playing material we hadn't played in over two years.  One song in particular our drummer Craig had only heard once.  

Because of our van issues we had to miss our Seattle show and meet up with The Twilight Sad and a very jet lagged Aereogramme in Portland.  Well, actually we met Aereogramme in Seattle where I had to rent them a van for the tour.  It ended being okay but there was a moment where we thought the rest of the tour was going to be cancelled due to Budget rent a car's policies.  Go Avis people, they're much more hospitable.

Portland was a lot of fun.  All three bands were finally together at last and the real portion of the tour was to begin….or so we thought.
After the show would be our second over night drive.  I actually had no idea we were doing this.  I figured we'd drive for an hour or so find a motel then do the rest of the drive that day.  It's amazing what the free pour will do to you. Those of you not familiar with this just go to any bar in the US and ask for wild turkey or any whiskey and see what happens.  I woke up at 6am in morning in the back of the van and to my surprise Stu was still driving.  Not the greatest day of my life but we made to San Francisco for plenty of time for load in.  

The Independent in San Francisco is probably one of the best rooms we've ever played.  They have a really great staff their.  Everyone was extremely nice and they treated us like kings.  Best sound guys ever!! The only problem was that San Francisco wasn't really into ANC, The Twilight Sad or Aereogramme.  Let's just say that the attendance wasn't so hot.  After eating the remainder of the rider and Craig managing to spill on then eat salsa from his glasses, we hit the road.

San Luis Obispo and Downtown Brew (home of bubblegum alley) was our next stop and also had a very selective audience.  However, it was the first night of a string of great Motel 6 parties that would last over the next week or so.  These parties would usually include quite a bit of whiskey a very small acoustic guitar and prank phone calls.  I forgot how much fun those can be until The Twilight Sad and Aereogramme brought back the memories.  
San Diego was okay.  We played The Casbah to a slightly larger crowd than we had been used to in the last few days.  There were actually people there to see a show!!  

Hollywood was next at the Knitting Factory and it was one of the best shows we had on the tour for all three bands.  We were also able to see some of Hollywood Blvd.  It's such a ridiculous place.  I have always equated it with movies and David Cross references but it's actually just like that.  Weird people on the street dressed up like darth vader, among others, and a Charlie Chaplin impersonator who didn't seem to be getting much business.  Oh yeah and all those stars in the sidewalk that we've heard so much about.  I can't believe that Paula Abul has a star.  No way does she deserve that!!
After the show one of Aereogramme friends, who turned out to be Tools tour manager, took us out for drinks at Tinys.  I'm wondering if it was the women Iain and I were badgering to do the molly ringwold dance?  Either way it was an evening to be remembered.  Oh yeah and we saw The Brian Jones Town Massacre's tour manager.  Remember the really tall blonde guy in Dig that gets screwed over?  I've forgotten his name, but it was definitely him.  

Phoenix and Modified Arts was our next host.  A small but great room with a minimal PA, but it gives of a really good house show atmosphere.  This would prove to be one of our record-breaking nights for merch.  It seems that no one really knew who we were, we were basically playing to Aereogramme's crowd, but we sold a tone of cds.  

Another Motel 6 party goes down.

One day off to drive through the desert, with drug checkpoints, snake scares and with general exhaustion we end up in Austin TX.
It was weird going back there for a second time.  Especially since we had spent the week at SXSW one month before.  There was somewhat of a similar feel that night also.  They close down 6th street for a few blocks.  Every bar is a music venue but there aren't as many people.  The show was okay not as good as our SXSW outing but that's to be expected.  It's also the site of the end of Aeroegramme's t-shirts fiasco.  These t-shirts saw more of America than most people will ever see in their entire lives.  Their journey started off in Philadelphia where they were printed, shipped to New Jersey where they were then re-routed to Cambridge by way of our van.  From Cambridge the 200 or so shirts were then routed again to Chicago where they didn't show up.  From Chicago they flew to Seattle then finally arrived in Austin TX.  What a journey for bunch of fabric!!  Man UPS needs to get their shit together.

Denton TX would be the last night for The Twilight Sad.  We had so much fun with these guys.  They're all really down to earth people who love music and a good time.  We miss all of you, James, Andy, Mark, Craig and Jeff.  We all decided that this last night for them would have to go out with a serious bang.  
Babies, I've got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECYOf7czHP0
The final Motel 6 big party goes down.  We have a lot of video footage of this but it's probably not good for anyone but ourselves.
The next morning we all share our last meal with The Twilight Sad before their departure back to Scotland.  There's nothing like eating Denny's for 3 weeks to really put a gut on a man.   And oh what glorious guts we had.

Houston proved to be a dud.  The show was cancelled due to lack of interest I think.  Oh well, we went out for some great Thai food at least.

The next morning we set out for New Orleans.  This would be a show booked by me, in all my wisdom, to not have a day off.  Wow what a grave error in judgment.  We pulled into New Orleans and followed our map quest directions and noticed that the city was becoming more delapitated with each mile.  By the time we got to the venue we saw the 'appetite for destruction' hurricane Katrina really had.  I've never seen poverty like that before.  It was terrifying and a huge eye opener to the third world poverty that exists in the US.  We made a group decision that we would not play the show for fear that our gear or ourselves may be harmed.  I'll apologize to the promoter now if he's reading this.  I lied and said our van had broken down.  I almost told the truth but…there was no way we were getting out the van.  Sorry.
After one beer on famous bourbon street we drove to Mobile Alabama, the most monetarily ignorant city ever, for sleep.

Atlanta Georgia proved to be a pretty good show for Aereogramme and us.  A little bit sparse but those who were there seemed to enjoy it.  We also got to learn about Aereogramme's vast knowledge of Iron Maden and other great metal bands.  Once again, the euphoric effects of Wild Turkey capped off the night.

After an 11 hour drive we arrive in Washington DC.  Some how we made it on time.  We pride ourselves on being a very punctual band unless our van breaks down of course.
It was our first time playing the Black Cat in Washington.  What a great venue.  The staff were some of the best people we've ever met and extremely gracious.  After filling our bellies with some homemade veggie lasagna we took the stage and played one of the best shows of the tour.  Aereogramme followed suit and definitely satisfied the large number of super fans that came out that night to sing along.  $4 Laforaig was the drink of choice had by everyone but me after the show. I think it was pay back for my behavior from the night before. $4, what a bargain!!

The next morning we set out for Cambridge and what should have been a six-hour drive turned into eleven.  There's nothing like NYC traffic to really piss you off.  I drove for seven hours and only made it from Washington to Bridgeport Connecticut.  Road rage was an understatement.
Anyways, we made it to the Middle East by around 9pm just in time to see a band called the Tiny Amps who played some furious rock n' roll.  Their amps were not tiny at all.  This show was the best by far.  It was just the way a show should be….sold out!!
There wasn't much time for celebration after the show as everyone was still a little spun from the drive and just plain exhausted after being on tour for a month.  We went our separate ways but made plans to meet up with the Scottish lads the next day.

Our second last day was our first day off without a drive in the entire time we'd been away.  I borrowed a bike from our host Jon and rode around Cambridge and Boston for the whole day.  It was great to see that much of the city from a vantage point other than the van.  At 5pm we met up with a very soggy Aereogramme who were caught in torrential downpours that afternoon.  After a few pints we grabbed some dinner and discussed the greatest UK and Canadian films of all time.  Winners were, anything by David Kronenberg or select films by Don McKellar for the Canadian picks.  UK movies were the wickerman (the original, not the remake) and Withnail and i.
That night we all met up again and decided to go to a party that we were told we were invited to.  Once we got there we realized this was not the place for us.  I think it had something to do with our group of sixteen invading a total party of twelve.  Not to mention the fact that Campbell from Aereogramme, dressed all in black, is over six feet and looks like a descendent of Eric the Red.  Just kidding buddy, it's all in good fun.  Apparently I look like Richard Dreyfuss from his JAWS days.  Yeah so we left the party promptly to start our own, which in turn ended up being much more fun.  
Our last day, day 29, we turned up in Brooklyn.  The last show of a tour is always weird.  There are a million things going through your head.  The excitement of being home in less than 24 hours, playing a good show, not caring because it's the last one, plus feeling kind of sad because it's the end of a great trip.  
The turn out was okay, not as good as Cambridge for the last night but again the audience was appreciative.  After about 400 pictures taken by both bands and a number of other people we said our goodbyes.  
It's such an odd feeling knowing you may not see these great new friends of yours for years.  Being on tour with the same people day in and day out is like being in a family.  A very tired, drunk and disheveled family but a family nonetheless.  Aereogramme and The Twilight Sad were by far the best group of people we ever spent that amount of time with.  We really hope to do it all again.  Here's to you guys….

ANC  

Wayward Luminaries,
There is much to report.

First off, our Scottish mates Aereogramme have been stymied by the Visa gods and as such won't be joining us until Seattle, WA on our April US tour. That said, our other Scottish friends The Twilight Sad will be with us for the entire first half of the tour. Check the  page for up-to-date show info.

On the brightest side of bright, our new album The millions too many is on a shelf at a record shop near you. Initial reviews have been very encouraging. The Toronto Star seems to think this album "deserves to do for A Northern Chorus what You Forgot It In People did for Broken Social Scene." A bold claim indeed.  Of course, you won't get the full experience until you get your ass over to the record shop and pick it up. So go. Now.

 Live Shows

* Dates with Aereogramme & The Twilight Sad
+ Dates with The Twilight Sad
^ Dates with Aereogramme

4/02 NYC, NY – Knitting Factory+
4/04 Boston, MA – The Middle East+
4/05 Montreal, PQ – Main Hall+
4/06 Toronto, ON – El Mocambo+
4/07 Hamilton, ON – The Casbah+
4/08 Windsor, ON – Phog
4/09 Chicago, IL – Subterranean+
4/10 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry+
4/11 Winnipeg, MB – The Collective
4/12 Canmore, MB – The Canmore Hotel
4/13 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Café*
4/14 Portland, OR – Dante's*
4/15 San Francisco, CA – The Independent*
4/16 San Luis Obispo, CA – Downtown Brew*
4/17 San Diego, CA – Casbah*
4/18 Los Angeles, CA – Knitting Factory*
4/19 Phoenix, AZ – Modified*
4/21 Austin, TX – Emo's Lounge*
4/22 Denton, TX – Hailey's*
4/23 Houston, TX – The Mink*
4/24 New Orleans, LA – The Green Space
4/25 Atlanta, GA – The Earl^
4/26 Washington, DC – Black Cat^
4/29 Brooklyn, NY- Luna Lounge^

Hello all, some news from the ANC camp.
Our debut album, "before we all go to pieces", is in the repressing process as I write this.  It will be available through I-tunes, black mountain music, and sonic unyon records. 
In other news we've just completed the U.S. leg of our north american tour and we're starting our Canadian jaunt home tonight in Vancouver.  We can't tell you how happy we are to be in the land of Tim Hortons and Maple syrup.
Our travels have been pretty crazy over the last few weeks.  We've dipped our feet into both oceans, shed our winter coats, and seen all types of land.
Thanks to those who came out to support the shows we played and all the new faces we met along the way. 

We'll be back soon,

ANC