Last week Black Lips took to the airwaves with their live performance of “Drugs”, the rough and rollicking single featured on their most recent album 200 Million Thousand (VICE Records). Filmed during their September 25th New York show supporting Yo La Tengo at the Roseland Ballroom, “Drugs” aired Thursday October 29th on NBC’s Last Call With Carson Daly. Capturing their near-legendary stage presence with a rager sure to please, whatever your substance of choice may be.

Following their wholesome All-American addictions for baseball and ice cream, their insatiable appetite for touring the world continues this January for a handful of shows throughout the West coast before embarking to Australia and Japan. See below for the full list of US and Australian tour dates.

“Drugs” live on Last Call with Carson Daly

Upcoming Tour Dates:
12/31/09 ATLANTA, GA THE EARL
1/20/10 COSTA MESA, CA THE DETROIT BAR
1/21/10 SAN FRANCISCO, CA GREAT AMERICAN MUSIC HALL
1/22/10 POMONA, CA THE GLASSHOUSE
1/23/10 LOS ANGELES, CA EL REY THEATRE
1/24/10 SAN DIEGO, CA THE CASBAH
1/29/10 BRISBANE LANEWAY FESTIVAL
1/30/10 MELBOURNE LANEWAY FESTIVAL
1/31/10 SYDNEY LANEWAY FESTIVAL
2/01/10 AUCKLAND LANEWAY FESTIVAL
2/02/10 WELLINGTON SFBH
2/04/10 MELBOURNE CORNER HOTEL
2/05/10 ADELAIDE LANEWAY FESTIVAL
2/06/10 PERTH LANEWAY FESTIVAL
2/08/10 SYDNEY MANNING BAR

Black Lips, perhaps the world’s most nefariously consistent live band and raucous pioneers for a new generation of psychedelia-steeped garage rock have released their fourth video from 200 Million Thousand (VICE Records). For the searing gem “Let It Grow”, director Matt Dilmore filmed exclusively with the late 90’s kids camera Vidster, creating a unique effect incomparable in resolution to today’s HD standards but rife with character.

Appropriately translating the strange odyssey Black Lips traverse in the endlessly catchy song, Dilmore’s pixelated creation complements the nostalgic portrayal of reckless youthful abandon that the band does so well. The surreal journey follows an extraterrestrial-obsessed tourist through his desert travels, culminating in an iconic cameo by the oversized, blindfolded-and-squirming cat Queso (with negligible psychological trauma incurred).

Following up summer festival appearances at NXNE, Athfest, Pitchfork, and the Capitol Hill Block Party, Black Lips unending devotion to touring will bring them to the Scion Garage Fest and New Orleans’ Voodoo Experience, with headlining dates throughout the South.

Watch the “Let It Grow” video on Pitchfork.tv (from 200 Million Thousand on VICE Records):

Tour Dates:
10/09/09 AUSTIN, TX MOHAWK
10/17/09 PORTLAND, OR SCION GARAGE FEST
10/28/09 ASHEVILLE, NC THE ORANGE PEEL
10/29/09 NASHVILLE, TN MERCY LOUNGE
10/30/09 MEMPHIS, TN YOUNG AVE DELI
10/31/09 NEW ORLEANS, LA VOODOO EXPERIENCE

Playing to sold out crowds almost every night throughout Europe, Gringo Star have made a whole new bunch of fans from being the main support to And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. They now hit the road in the UK with fellow Atlantans, the Black Lips. The hardest working band from the South will return to these shores next month, playing select shows and festivals thoroughout the country. Keep your eye out for them ! Tour dates below.

Debut album, ‘All Y’all’ , OUT NOW (My Anxious Mouth)

Watch the video for ‘Come On Now’ here:

UK DATES:

May 15 Stealth ** Nottingham
May 16 Roller-palooza** Sheffield
May 17 The Globe ** Cardiff
May 18 Firebug Leicester
May 20 TJ’s ** Leeds
May 21 Sound in the City Festival ** Liverpool
May 22 Crawdaddy ** Dublin
May 23 Classic Grand ** Glasgow
May 24 Academy 3** Manchester
May 25 Freebutt Brighton
May 26 Electric Ballroom ** London
May 28 Water Rats London
May 29 The Windmill London
May 30 Bacup Leisure Hall Bacup
May 31 The Joiners Southampton
Jun 1 The Bassment Chelmsford
Jun 2 Manuscript Ostend
Jun 3 Paridiso Amsterdam,
Jun 4 Ekko Utrecht

** with the Black Lips

US DATES:

Jul 1 The Basement Columbus, OH
Jul 2 Schuba’s Chicago, IL
Jul 3 Summerfest Milwaukee, WS
Jul 10 Sticky Fingerz Little Rock, AR
Jul 11 Downtown Street Festival Huntsville, AL
Jul 12 Forecastle Festival Louisville, KY
Jul 25 D-Fest Tulsa, OK
Jul 31 Backbooth Orlando, FL

“This Atlanta, Georgia foursome add layers of rural lilt to their Brit-ish pop, garagey grit to others, while sneaking out slight-psych guitar blasts and gang yalps when least expected. Their self-titled full-length on My Anxious Mouth is stunningly seasoned for a debut.”
CMJ.com

“They’ve got a killer name and killer tunes. Gringo Star are definitely a band on the rise.”
The Big Takeover

“With their excellent debut album, All Y’all, this Atlanta garage-rock band validate the buzz.”
Spin.com

“Reviewers have had nothing but glowing accolades for this upbeat, energetic and just plain fun collection of tunes, and I would mark All Y’all as one of the most exciting albums of the year, and, probably best debut release.” Blurt

“It’s worth picking up just for the title track, an infectious anthem of cynicism, filled with handclaps, multi-part harmonies and guitar hooks you can sink your teeth into.” Arkansas Times

“All Y’all proves the band’s no fluke. Fourteen tracks filled with swagger and spit. Few bands are able to bolt out of the starting gate with this much fire under their bellies.” Ink Kansas City

Playing to sold out crowds almost every night throughout Europe, Gringo Star have made a whole new bunch of fans from being the main support to And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead. They now hit the road in the UK with fellow Atlantans, the Black Lips. The hardest working band from the South will return to these shores next month, playing select shows and festivals throughout the country. Keep your eye out for them ! Tour dates below.

Debut album, ‘All Y’all’ , OUT NOW (My Anxious Mouth)

Watch the video for ‘Come On Now’ here:

UK DATES:

May 15 Roller-palooza** Sheffield
May 18 Firebug Leicester
May 20 TJ’s ** Leeds
May 21 Sound in the City Festival ** Liverpool
May 22 Crawdaddy ** Dublin
May 23 Classic Grand ** Glasgow
May 24 Academy 3** Manchester
May 25 Freebutt Brighton
May 26 Electric Ballroom ** London
May 28 Water Rats London
May 29 The Windmill London
May 30 Bacup Leisure Hall Bacup
May 31 The Joiners Southampton
Jun 1 The Bassment Chelmsford
Jun 2 Manuscript Ostend
Jun 3 Paridiso Amsterdam,
Jun 4 Ekko Utrecht

** with the Black Lips

US DATES:

Jul 1 The Basement Columbus, OH
Jul 2 Schuba’s Chicago, IL
Jul 3 Summerfest Milwaukee, WS
Jul 10 Sticky Fingerz Little Rock, AR
Jul 11 Downtown Street Festival Huntsville, AL
Jul 12 Forecastle Festival Louisville, KY
Jul 25 D-Fest Tulsa, OK
Jul 31 Backbooth Orlando, FL

“This Atlanta, Georgia foursome add layers of rural lilt to their Brit-ish pop, garagey grit to others, while sneaking out slight-psych guitar blasts and gang yalps when least expected. Their self-titled full-length on My Anxious Mouth is stunningly seasoned for a debut.”
CMJ.com

“They’ve got a killer name and killer tunes. Gringo Star are definitely a band on the rise.”
The Big Takeover

“With their excellent debut album, All Y’all, this Atlanta garage-rock band validate the buzz.”
Spin.com

“Reviewers have had nothing but glowing accolades for this upbeat, energetic and just plain fun collection of tunes, and I would mark All Y’all as one of the most exciting albums of the year, and, probably best debut release.” Blurt

“It’s worth picking up just for the title track, an infectious anthem of cynicism, filled with handclaps, multi-part harmonies and guitar hooks you can sink your teeth into.” Arkansas Times

“All Y’all proves the band’s no fluke. Fourteen tracks filled with swagger and spit. Few bands are able to bolt out of the starting gate with this much fire under their bellies.” Ink Kansas City

THE DROP I HOLD EP AVAILABLE MAY 5th EXCLUSIVELY ON iTUNES, FEATURING GZA OF WU-TANG CLAN

VBS PREMIERING NEW VIDEO FOR “THE DROP I HOLD”

SUMMER FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES ANNOUNCED AT NXNE, ATHFEST, PITCHFORK, AND CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY

Black Lips, Atlanta GA’s infamously hard-working band are releasing The Drop I Hold EP, an iTunes exclusive release for their psychedelic ode from 200 Million Thousand. The EP features the original album track, instumental and video, along with a new version featuring a verse from the legendary Wu-Tang member GZA, who recently collaborated with the band during several live performances at SXSW. For the first week it’s on iTunes, the EP is only $1.99 and the brand new video for “The Drop I Hold” can be viewed on VBS today at the link below.

Black Lips’ live show has long since been the stuff of legend, and they’re going big this summer at a handful of festivals throughout North America.

Tour Dates:
6/18/09 TORONTO, ON NXNE
6/19/09 BALTIMORE, MD SONAR
6/26/09 ATHENS, GA ATHFEST
7/2/09 ATLANTA, GA THE EARL
7/18/09 CHICAGO, IL PITCHFORK FESTIVAL
7/23/09 VANCOUVER, BC COMMODORE BALLROOM
7/24/09 SEATTLE, WA CAPITOL HILL BLOCK PARTY

One of the defining moments of this year’s SXSW was the pair of surprise collaborations between Atlanta garage rock rabble-rousers The Black Lips and Wu Tang impresario GZA. This first took place off the beaten path at The Compound for Dickies Battle of the Bands, inspiring the unlikely pair to enter into a whole new chamber together. Soon thereafter, rumblings shot down 6th Street that the unlikely collabo might occur again at The Vice Records Showcase later that night at Emo’s. Sure enough, immediately after the band took the stage, GZA emerged to a roomful of cheers and slack jaws. The following week, the web was atwitter with reports from both events and a grainy MTV video documented a piece of the experience.

But now anyone who missed the display of hip-hop and gutter-rock allegiance has a chance to get in on the action. Indeed, the Lips are releasing an iTunes EP including 200 Million Thousand fave “Drop I Hold,” along with a never-before-heard version of the song featuring verses from the Genius himself, GZA. In addition, the release will feature an instrumental version of the track and the video for the album-version of “Drop.” All this, for a whopping $1.99 during its first week of availability, beginning next Tuesday, May 5th. Earlier today, AOL Spinner and AOL Boombox jointly premiered the genre-defying collaboration, recorded at Werewolf Heart Studios under the watchful eye of Engineer Filip Nikolic. Hear for yourself below.

AOL Spinner & AOL Boombox Joint Premiere:

Download and Share The Black Lips Ft. GZA “Drop I Hold” From The Drop I Hold EP [May 5th; Vice Records]

Black Lips – I’ll Be With You video

Amidst the frenzy drummed up from their on-stage collabos with Wu Tang impresario GZA at SXSW earlier this month, The Black Lips have premiered a brand new video for “I’ll Be With You,” another standout from their latest Vice Records offering, 200 Million Thousand. Premiered last week on MTV2’s Subterranean, you can currently catch footage from the show and some extras over at their blog. Need more? There’s the Bandstand Busking performance of the song from the Lips’ stop in London earlier this year.

Black Lips – I’ll Be With You video from the album 200 Million Thousand

It’s a big week for Atlanta’s resident garage rock madmen, The Black Lips, what with today’s release of 200 Million Thousand and the premiere of a brand new video for the lead single, “Short Fuse.”

200 Million Thousand, the band’s third Vice full-length (fifth overall) adds a new slew of raucous rock n roll nuggets to the Lips catalogue, each bolstered by some of the band’s strongest songwriting to date. The album is currently streaming in its entirety on AOL Spinner.

Meanwhile, as the band’s Vimeo.com video contest for “Starting Over” comes to a close, the Lips have premiered the video for “Short Fuse.” Directed by their own Joe Bradley, and animated by Chris Taylor, the clip is a schizophrenic fit filled with explosives, mustachioed baddies, and a cameo from a cracked-up Humpty Dumpty.

If this wasn’t enough to get you excited, the band’s US tour kicks off on Thursday in Birmingham. Check here for all Black Lips tour dates.

200 Million Thousand Tracklist, Audio, Buy Links

01. Take My Heart
02. Drugs
03. Starting Over
04. Let It Grow
05. Trapped in a Basement
06. Short Fuse
07. I’ll Be With You
08. BBBJOT
09. Again & Again
10. Old Man
11. The Drop I Hold
12. Body Combat
13. Elijah
14. I Saw God

Tour Dates:

OUR DATES

BLACK LIPS
February
26 Birmingham, AL @ BottleTree
27 Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
March – Myspace Music Presents Tour
04 Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
05 Washington, DC @ Black Cat
06 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Restaurant & Nightclub
09 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
12 Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
13 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
14 Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
15 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
16 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
17 Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
18 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
23 New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
25 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
26 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
27 Miami, FL @ Churchill’s Pub
28 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds
29 Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits
30 Orlando, FL @ The Social

April
15 Costa Mesa, CA – Detroit Bar
16 San Diego, CA – Casbah
17 Tempe, AZ – Clubhouse
18 Tucson, AZ – Plush
20 Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep
21 Denver, CO – Bluebird
22 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
23 Boise, ID – Neurolox
24 Portland, OR – Berbati’s Pan
25 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s
27 Eugene, OR – Wow Hall
28 Sacramento, CA – Blue Lamp
29 Santa Cruz, CA – The Blue Lagoon
30 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall

May
01 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey
02 Pomona, CA – Glasshouse

Like the Sex Pistols’ January ‘78 tour of the Deep South, The Black Lips recent expedition to India was marked by a series of fairly seismic culture shocks. Everything from bottle-throwing fans at a gig in Pune, to livid show promoters in Chennai, all in response to a bunch of full-frontal punk rock provocateurs from Atlanta. For those that still haven’t heard the story, the band was booked to play on India’s equivalent of American Idol, The “Campus Rock Idol” Tour, a big-ticket televised series with large corporate sponsors. Last Saturday, in Chennai, the band entertained the crowd with what stateside fans would consider a typically raucous Black Lips show, replete with intra-band lip locking, and Cole de-pantsing, mooning the crowd, and attempting to play his six-string with, well, his privates. Barely okay in America, definitely NOT okay in India, the band was subsequently chased out of the country and the sponsors pulled the plug, effectively canceling the rest of the tour and the television season. The events have caused an international wave of news coverage, rounded out by everything from defensive “It’s only rock n roll” stories to meatier pieces that tease out the more nuanced concepts at play here, namely artistic freedom versus cultural respect.
Considering the wealth of information – some accurate, some not so much – that washed up on American shores after the event, it’s fortunate that VBS.tv cameras were there to document what transpired. Over the coming weeks, VBS will be running a series entitled “The Black Lips in India,” which faithfully documents the band’s turbulent experience before and after the Chennai gig, their escape to King Khan’s pad in Berlin, and beyond. The (100% NSFW!) trailer for the series — which captures every bit of Cole — is now available on VBS.tv.

Watch The Trailer For Black Lips In India:

Read The Letter Cole Alexander Sent After The Escape

Read The Vice Interview With Drummer Joe Bradley

The Lips are currently gearing up for a multi-month North American tour in support of their forthcoming third Vice release, 200 Million Thousand. Last week, amidst all the hubbub, the band offered up the single “Short Fuse” for free to fans. The album is due February 24th, and is now available for pre-order through Amazon at the link below.

Download And Share “Short Fuse” From The Black Lips’ 200 Million Thousand [Vice Records; February 24th, 2009]