Epitaph Tour 2007 plans announced!
2007 Epitaph Tour Plans Cemented: The Matches, Escape The Fate, I Am Ghost and The Higher Road-Ready
Tickets for the 2007 Epitaph Tour – featuring The Matches, Escape The Fate, I Am Ghost and The Higher – will go on sale December 2nd. Featuring rising stars of the world famous record label’s roster, the extensive seven week North American trek will get underway in San Diego on February 1 and wrap in Las Vegas on March 18.
The Matches have been touted as “some of the most creative and boundary-pushing musicians I have ever worked with,” by +44’s Mark Hoppus, who shared production duties with the likes of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Goldfinger’s John Feldman, 311’s Nick Hexum and Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz on the group’s acclaimed new disc Decomposer. Named “an album capable of sneaking under the skin of enough skeptics to make the band rock stars” by Alternative Press, while All Music Guide called the Oakland foursome’s multiple-producer philosophy “a particularly distinctive and creative album to be proud of.”
As for Escape The Fate, the Las Vegas-based hard rock/screamo outfit, the group’s strongly received Epitaph debut has been praised by critics on both sides of the globe. Of Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, Australia’s The Globe wrote, “It’s schizophrenic, sinister and unsettling – and totally thrilling.” At home, Punknews.org announced “[it] has success written all over it.” Speaking of the group’s ambitions live, singer Ronnie insisted, “I have a vision – I want people to have fun and put their fists in the air.”
Also in tow, revered Long Beach, California-based dark rock sextet I Am Ghost – who were named among Alternative Press’ “100 bands you need to know” – support their debut full length Lovers’ Requiem. Bringing forth a breathtaking amalgam of vibrant strings, demonic guitar lines, choral flourishes and grinding punk rock, IAG are a breed apart. Described as “AFI singking their fangs into Straylight Run and letting the new goth-screamo blood run free,” by Revolver, the band was also praised by Outburn for its “dynamic montage of all the modern heavy and agro styles, touching on punk, hardcore, emo, thrash and goth – all with a pop sensibility that won’t quit.”
Also from Las Vegas, quintet The Higher fuses elements of pop, emo and R&B, and have been described as Saves The Day meets Justin Timberlake. Signed on the strength of 2005’s indie release Histrionics after a performance at the Roxy in L.A. earlier this year, Gurewitz personally presented the group an offer. Citing “Seth [Trotter’s] exceptional voice” and their “R&B pop influence” as two key components, Gurewitz says, “I believe the sky’s the limit for The Higher.”
Confirmed dates for the 2007 Epitaph Tour:
02/02/2007 Glasshouse Pomona CA
02/03/2007 Soma San Diego CA
02/04/2007 The Clubhouse Phoenix AZ
02/06/2007 The Door Dallas TX
02/07/2007 Emo’s Austin TX
02/08/2007 Warehouse Live Houston TX
02/10/2007 The Social Orlando FL
02/11/2007 Orpheum St. Petersburg FL
02/12/2007 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville FL
02/13/2007 Masquerade Atlanta GA
02/14/2007 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro NC
02/17/2007 The Recher Theatre Towson MD
02/18/2007 North Star Bar Philadelphia PA
02/19/2007 School of Rock South Hackensack NJ
02/20/2007 Bowery Ballroom New York NY
02/22/2007 Webster Theatre Hartford CT
02/23/2007 The Living Room Providence RI
02/25/2007 El Mocombo Toronto ON
02/26/2007 Call The Office London ON
02/27/2007 The Icon Buffalo NY
02/28/2007 Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh PA
03/01/2007 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights OH
03/02/2007 Shelter Detroit MI
03/03/2007 Metro Chicago IL
03/05/2007 The Loft @ The Barfly Minneapolis MN
03/07/2007 The Bottleneck Lawrence KS
03/08/2007 Marquis Theatre Denver CO
03/09/2007 Avalon Theatre Salt Lake City UT
03/10/2007 The Venue Boise ID
03/12/2007 El Corazon Seattle WA
03/13/2007 Hawthorne Theatre Portland OR
03/16/2007 Slims San Francisco CA
03/17/2007 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles CA