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ANNOUNCE SPRING AND SUMMER TOUR DATES

ATO Records is proud to announce the release of Nothing Is Wrong, the highly anticipated second album by critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based, Dawes, on June 7, 2011. Nothing Is Wrong is the follow-up to the band’s 2009 debut, North Hills (featuring their breakout anthem, “When My Time Comes”), an extraordinary record that was released quietly and soon became regarded among critics and fans across the country as a classic and must-own favorite. A collection of songs that expertly builds upon the template laid by North Hills, Nothing Is Wrong sees Dawes displaying strong growth and evolution while still manifesting their distinctive, unforgettable voice.

A self-described “American rock ‘n’ roll band,” Dawes represent everything pure and true about that fundamental delineation, four talented friends making music together, fueled by a shared belief in the power of their songs.  With Nothing Is Wrong, singer/guitarist Goldsmith, his brother Griffin on drums, keyboardist Tay Strathairn, and bassist Wylie Gelber – continue to master their blend of singer/songwriter reflection with folk, country, and AOR-inspired arrangements, all ringing guitars, soaring harmonies, and heartfelt melodies.

“We didn’t change up our approach too much and yet we were able to create something that I feel has a new identity from our first record,” Goldsmith says.  “It’s definitely taking a step in a direction and at the same time, it’s maintaining what it needs to maintain.”

In 2009, Dawes emerged from the ashes of California combo Simon Dawes with North Hills, which drew instant acclaim for its rootsy revitalization of classic El Lay rock.  And like any American rock ‘n’ roll band worth its salt, Dawes followed up by touring nearly non-stop.  As a result, Goldsmith was only able to write during rare free moments, in the course of brief visits home or while crashing at a friend’s for a few days.

Goldsmith took a brief break from the band to record with friends and tourmates John McCauley of Deer Tick and Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit as the collaborative supergroup Middle Brother, and in September 2010, Dawes reunited with producer Wilson at his new Echo Park studio.  As with North Hills, Dawes opted to record Nothing Is Wrong live to 2″ analog tape.  Far from just an exercise in nostalgic authenticity, the band sees the more traditional technique as a way of focusing their energies and affirming their dedication to the creative process.

“If you’re writing on a typewriter,” Goldsmith says, “you have to commit to whatever you’re writing.  Typewriters don’t make it easy for you to go back and rethink things.  Same thing with recording analog.  We don’t do it because that’s what the people we admire did.  We do it because it demands something out of us.  It doesn’t allow us to show up lazy or not on our game.  We cut every track knowing that this stuff isn’t easy to edit.”

Along with critical approbation and an ever-growing fan following, Dawes has earned admiration from many of their greatest heroes. Benmont Tench of The Heartbreakers joined the band on organ on both North Hills and Nothing Is Wrong, while the new album’s “Fire Away” sees guest vocals from Jackson Browne, who has since invited the band to both support and back him on a European tour.  In addition, after Goldsmith contributed vocals to Robbie Robertson’s star-studded new How To Become Clairvoyant, the legendary guitarist/songwriter asked Dawes to serve as his backing combo for a number of promotional performances, sensing in them the character of a true band, a tight knit unit who know how to work together and instinctively play off each other’s individual gifts.

Nothing Is Wrong captures both Dawes’ studio and stage approaches, matching the loose extemporaneity and crunchy dynamism of the band’s live sets with finely honed arrangements and deft musicianship.

The tracklisting for Nothing Is Wrong is below:

 1.     Time Spent in Los Angeles

2.     If I Wanted Someone

3.     My Way Back Home

4.     Coming Back to a Man

5.     So Well

6.     How Far We’ve Come

7.     Fire Away

8.     Moon in the Water

9.     Million Dollar Bill

10.  The You Laugh

11.  A Little Bit of Everything

Spring and summer tour dates are below:

Thu-May-05

Houston, TX

Fitzgeralds

Fri-May-06

Austin, TX

La Zona Rosa

Sat-May-07

Dallas, TX

Granada Theatre

Mon-May-09

Orlando, FL

Beacham Theater

Tue-May-10

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Culture Room

Wed-May-11

Tampa, FL

State Theatre

Thu-May-12

St. Augustine, FL

Café Eleven

Fri-May-13

Atlanta, GA

Variety Playhouse

Sat-May-14

Birmingham, AL

Secret Stages Festival, 2pm*note 2 shows on 5/14

Sat-May-14

Nashville, TN

Cannery Ballroom 

Sun-May-15

Asheville, NC

Orange Peel

Tue-May-17

Charlotte, NC

Visulite Theatre 

Wed-May-18

Carborro, NC

Cat’s Cradle 

Thu-May-19

Athens, GA

Melting Point 

Fri-May-20

Chattanooga, TN

Nightfall Series – free show

Mon-May-23

New Haven, CT

Toad’s

Tue-May-24

Portland, ME

State Theatre

Wed-May-25

Northampton, MA

The Iron Horse

Thu-May-26

Burlington, VT

Higher Ground

Fri-May-27

Montreal, QC

Le National

Sat-May-28

Toronto, ON

Opera House

Sun-May-29

Detroit, MI

St. Andrew’s Hall

Wed-Jun-01

Louisville, KY

Headliners

Thu-Jun-02

Indianapolis, IN

The Vogue

Fri-Jun-03

Chicago, IL

The Vic Theatre

Sun-Jun-05

Hunter Mountain, NY

Mountain Jam (1:30PM)

Mon-Jun-06

St. Louis, MO

The Pageant

Tue-Jun-07

Louisville, KY

Iroquois Ampitheatre

Wed-Jun-08

Columbus, OH

LC Ampitheatre

Thu-Jun-09

Pittsburgh, PA 

Stage AE

Fri-Jun-10

Philadelphia, PA

Mann Center

Sat-Jun-11

Vienna, VA

Wolf Trap

Mon-Jun-13

Vancouver, BC

Vogue Theatre

Tue-Jun-14

Seattle, WA

Moore Theatre

Wed-Jun-15

Portland, OR

Crystal Ballroom

Thu-Jun-16

Bend, OR

Athletic Club of Bend

Fri-Jun-17

Chico, CA

El Rey Theatre

Sat-Jun-18

Los Angeles, CA

Orpheum Theatre 

Mon-Jun-20

San Diego, CA

House of Blues 

Tue-Jun-21

Tour Dates

10/20 Boulder, CO – Fox Theater
10/22 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue Mainroom
10/23 Chicago, IL – Park West
10/24 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Funhouse
10/25 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
10/27 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
10/28 New York, NY – Webster Hall
10/29 Falls Church, VA – State Theatre
10/30 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
11/01 Covington, KY – The Madison

11/03 Charleston, WV – Mountain Stage syndicated radio show
11/05 Baltimore, MD – 8X10
11/06 Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero
11/07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
11/08 Athens, GA – 40 Watt
11/09 Nashville, TN -3rd & Lindsley
11/19 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
11/26 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey

Matthew Sweet audio streams:

“Daisychain”

Video Stream Link

MATTHEW SWEET TO RELEASE KALEIDOSCOPIC MASTERWORK SUNSHINE LIES ON SHOUT! FACTORY

In Stores August 26

* * * ½ Stars – SPIN

On August 26, Matthew Sweet will release his 10th studio album, Sunshine Lies, in a new alliance with Shout! Factory. Fans who have eagerly awaited the album’s arrival (and have been tracking its progress under the working title Rock Bottom) will not be disappointed. Call it what you wish–Sweet terms it “power-pop-folk-rock-psychedelic-melodic-singer-songwriter-type stuff”–listeners will marvel at the depth and clarity of vision here. The album will also be released as a 2 LP set including four previously unreleased bonus tracks not available on the CD. For customer convenience, a CD will be included with purchases of the LP. The album features beautiful original photography by Brian Valentine.

By turns achingly melodic and startlingly visceral, Sunshine Lies swirls with poetic emotion and stark attitude, bringing neatly into play the entire gamut of Sweet’s stylistic experience. Flowing with masterful ease, Sweet’s uniquely personal songwriting never fails to delight, and he has described the album as “very direct, but seen through the eyes of nature, or rather modeled on its beauty, chaos and freedom, something like a stab at sonic art nouveau.”

Sunshine Lies was recorded at Lolina Green Studios in Los Angeles, CA, and produced and mixed by Matthew Sweet. Susanna Hoffs appears on the album, providing backup vocals on the title track. While familiars Ric Menck (drums), Ivan Julian (guitar), Greg Leisz (guitar/pedal steel guitar) and Richard Lloyd (guitar) are all here as well, Sweet let chance lead the way during the recording. He managed to teleport his songs into a surprisingly more abstract and psychedelic space, finding a “sure and natural realm in words, melody and performance, like a carousel mindflower.” Indeed. The vibrant Sunshine Lies will certainly revolve in your mind long after each listening.

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Sweet was part of the developing music scene in Athens, Georgia in the 1980s. Sweet came to fame in 1991 with his Top Five Modern Rock hit “Girlfriend,” off his certified gold album of the same name, followed by the critically acclaimed albums Altered Beast and the platinum follow up 100% Fun. After releasing a number of other excellent solo albums, Sweet formed The Thorns with fellow singer-songwriters Shawn Mullins and Pete Droge, and they released one self-titled album to positive reviews. Sweet then returned to his solo efforts, releasing Living Things and Kimi Ga Suki. In 2006 Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs collaborated on the Shout! Factory release Under The Covers Vol. 1, featuring 15 of the duo’s favorite pop tunes from the 1960s.