The Mary Onettes Announce US Tour dates this April

The New York Times, Brooklyn Vegan and AOL Spinner have given The Mary Onettes rave reviews on their live performance, while NPR and others agree, their album ‘Islands’ (Labrador Records) is a classic.

HOLY MARY!
The Mary Onettes announce US Tour Dates This April!
By Popular demand, Labrador Records Most Coveted Band The Mary Onettes are set to arrive in the US!

Labrador records are busy this spring with their two most coveted bands. Radio Dept.’s widely anticipated April release “Clinging to a Scheme” currently holds the #1 spot on Elbo.ws for their forthcoming single ‘Heaven’s on Fire,’ an achievement all to familiar by the The Mary Onettes, who made that accomplishment with both singles ‘Dare’ and ‘Puzzles’ from their November release “Islands”. However, these bands dont just churn out gorgeous majestic Swedish indie pop, they take their music seriously live on the road as well.

Download ‘Dare‘ here
Download “Puzzles“here

“their impressive second album, “Islands” (Labrador) is preoccupied with the idea of fading beauty. In person this can be an even more literal proposition: Mr. Ekstrom has the voice of a teen heartthrob, delicate and cloying and beautiful, trapped in the body of an alt-country session player. But his lyrics are achingly wistful, as if he’s staring into a mirror and lamenting his own decay… Majestic synths and strings, quick bursts of bombast that eventually opened up into a lovely, pristine new wave melody… the group is obsessed with precision. Its songs find a sweet spot between Joy Division and New Order.” -New York Times

watch a stunning live acoustic performance of “Once I Was Pretty”

Download ‘Once I Was Pretty‘ here

THE MARY ONETTES US TOUR DATES:

Mon April 19 Mar Bar Philadelphia, PA
Tue April 20 DC 9 Washington DC
Wed April 21 Mercury New York City,NY
Thur April 22 Great Scott Alison, MA
Fri April 23 The Summit Columbus, OH
Sat April 24 Schubas Chicago, IL
Sun April 25 Sunset Tavern Seattle, WA
Mon April 26 Holocene Portland,OR
Tue April 27 Rickshaw Stop San Francisco, CA
Wed April 28 Soda Bar San Diego, CA
Thur April 29 Viper Room Los Angeles, CA

“Where their first album went for more of a straight early-’80s, guitar-driven Cure/Bunnymen/JAMC gloomy pop vibe, Islands is much more lush, with layers of strings and keyboards added to mix. Though not synthy/dancey, Island’s big choruses and plaintive vocals kind of remind me of Xymox’s poppy 1989 album Twist of Shadows, which is not a bad thing at all. I saw both of The Mary Onettes’ shows when they played here in May 2008 and was impressed by their ability to incorporate what are almost strictly ’80s influences but not make it feel like someone else’s nostalgia.” -Brooklyn Vegan

It’s a sin how good they are.

The Mary Onettes are:
Phillip Ekstrom Lead Vocals, Guitar
Petter Aguren Vocals, guitar
Henrick Ekstrom Bass
Simon Fransson Drums
Petra Hallberg Laptop, Synths (Live only)

“The alternative pop of yesteryear is coming back in a big way, and the Mary Onettes are a part of that wave. The Smiths, The Cure, and Echo & The Bunnymen all ring true in their finger-snapping Swedish pop.” -NPR

“Swedish New Order acolytes…. The Mary Onettes, diligently channel the sounds of the 1980s without a lick of the irony that often imbues such revivalism. At their best, the band positively nail the bruised romanticism and exquisite melancholy that marked a certain strain of that decade’s best pop…A killer singles band -Pitchfork

“Sonic Brilliance” – Under The Radar

“The Mary Onettes are 80s radio playlists raiders of the highest order. the band finds a wistful sweet spot between synthetic swell (everyone from new Order to A-ha) and new romantic swoon (The Cure, Echo & The Bunnymen)”. Stereogum

“There’s a magical mystery that’s impossible to ignore. Grandiose yet never overbearing, The Mary Onettes have achieved a sonic mastery that grows with every spin of Islands.” PopMatters

The Mary Onettes’ critically acclaimed debut was described as “the perfect mix between a-ha and The Jesus and Mary Chain”. In November 2009 they released a grandiose new album entitled ‘Islands’ and played a handful of live dates in the fall. By Popular demand, they’re back with a full on US tour! Imagine a Swedish equivalent of The National on a diet of speed, Planet Earth DVDs, and 80’s guitar pop singles and you’ll have a vague idea of how great their album “Puzzles” is.’Pleasure Songs’, from their self-titled debut album, was Single of the Week on iTunes with half a million downloads, and the first single from ‘Islands’, ‘Dare’, was No. 1 on Elbo.ws.They have had two songs featured on Grey’s Anatomy and their first single on Labrador was tagged Best New Music on Pitchfork. A second single, ‘Puzzles’ was released to critical acclaim: “this Echo and the Bunnymen-esque cut is an uplifting paen to staying up all night in spite of your problems.” -Under The Radar