Hey creeps,

Psyched to announce my long-threatened solo tour up north - supporting my new albums Hard Knox, or "Are You Sur Hank Jr Done It This Way?" (Ecstatic Pace!) and Born Bad (People In A Position To Know / Mad Monk) - is finally happening. We're pretty close to confirming all the dates, but for now, we have three set in stone:

6/12 - hometown gig at Wall Street, Murfreesboro, TN (with full band)
7/23 - River City Grill, Fairmont, West Virginia
7/26 - Mercury Lounge, NYC

This'll be a 3 week jaunt up to Windsor and back, beginning on 7/22. Midwest and Left Cost to follow in the fall, with any luck. Stay tuned for more dates, including details about some very exciting support slots and headliners, as well as some other potentially crazy news involving future tours, The Jescos, and folks more famous than I.

Even more exciting: I've been cleared to announce that I've signed with Young God Records for the next WAND release, which we'll likely start recording early next year. This will certainly be a 'career' highlight for me, as M Gira has been an inspiration to me for more than half my life, and is one of my favorite living songwriters. I think it'll be a great fit. If I have my way, Gira will also be heavily involved in the recording process. More news as it develops, but for now, you can read some very kind words by Michael here: http://younggodrecords.com/News/Detail/?C=2218 

Just got the second pressings of the Born Bad LP - again, these are identical to the first pressing except the covers on these have been professionally printed, not hand-screened. The first batch flew, these will too. Limited to only 500 copies. If you want one, paypal $15ppd (in the US - intl, write first) to madmonkvinyl@hotmail.com, or head over to www.peopleinapositiontoknow.com and get one from the source.

Also, speaking of our good buddies at People In A Position To Know, the label is about to release a few limited Wand items:

First, a long-in-the-works split 7" with Tuscon, AZ's Golden Boots (www.myspace.com/goldenboots), a band I really, really dig. They list their influences as Tom T Hall, Cromagnon, Charlie Feathers and The Dead C, and brother, they actually sound like it. No foolin.' Just got the test press for this one, it's a killer! Limited! Get it!

Also on PIAPTK, a lathe cut Wand single, called Haunting The Stagecoach, should be available any day now. The packaging on this is unlike any you've ever seen - Mike really went all out with this one! There are only 100 of these - that's right, 100 - so better reserve one quick. www.peopleinapositiontoknow.com

Lastly, anyone near Asheville, NC this weekend should come to the third (??) annual Asheville Sound Swap hosted by Harvest Records and Tomentosa, this Sunday, June 6th, at the Grey Eagle (185 Clingman Ave). Last year was amazing, one of the best record shows I've ever been to (and I've been to a few), this year should be even better. I'll be there selling shit and eating pheasant, come by and say hello!

That's all for now. Hope to see some of you soon.

Destination Venus,

xToth