Thurston Moore and his merry band of agitators offer this opening salvo for a springtime revolution, 2013:

Directed by Eva at Ecstatic Peace Library

Chelsea Light Moving make their first tip over to Europe for an extensive tour this summer, taking in all corners of northern and western Europe throughout June and July.  Along with these dates Thurston Moore plays a couple of select improv dates (no CLM) where he’s joined on stage by guest musicians, including a set at the Yoko Ono curated Meltdown Festival in London.

June

7^th – Bergen, Norway – Hulen – Tickets

8^th – Oslo, Norway – Blaa – Tickets

9^th – Oslo, Norway – Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (NO CLM, Thurston improv with Mats Gustafsson) – Tickets

10^th – Stockholm, Sweden – Debaser – Tickets

11^th – Gotenburg, Sweden – Nefertiti – Tickets

13^th – Antwerp, Belgium – Trix Club – Tickets

14^th – London, Village Underground – Tickets

16^th – Dublin, Whelans – Tickets

17^th – Bristol, The Fleece – Tickets

18^th – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club – Tickets

19^th – London, Meltdown Festival (Purcell Room – NO CLM, Thurston improv) – Tickets

21^st – Dudigen, Switzerland – Bad Bonn – Tickets

22^nd – Paris, France – Trabendo – Tickets

23^rd – Duisberg, Germany – Traumzeit Festival – Tickets

25^th – Groningen, Netherlands – Vera – Tickets

26^th – Nijmegen, Netherlands – Doornroosje – Tickets

27^th – Utrecht, Netherlands – De Helling – Tickets

July

1^st – München, Germany – Ampere – Tickets

2^nd – Schorndorf, Germany – Manufaktur – Tickets

3^rd – Frankfurt, Germany – Zoom – Tickets

4^th – Berlin, Germany – Festaal – Tickets

5^th – Hamburg, Germany – Westwerk – Tickets

6^th – Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival – Tickets

7^th – Helsinki, Finland – Kuudes Aisti Festival – Tickets

12^th – Bruges, Belgium – Cactus Festival – Tickets

It’s only been a month since Chelsea Light Moving released their debut album, but, as savvy NPR aficionados are aware, Thurston and the gang are already coming up with new material. Today at 5:00PM EDT/2:00PM PDT, Seattle’s KEXP will air a set that Chelsea Light Moving recorded there a few weeks ago, wherein they wrote two new songs on the spot. The above video is of “The Ecstasy,” featuring lyrics by the poet John Donne. Tune in to hear the whole session at kexp.org and at 90.3FM.

A fortnight ago, Chelsea Light Moving played a ridiculous number of Austin shows before and during SXSW in all manner of settings, none of ‘em more hospitable than the warehouse district’s Mellow Johnny’s bicycle emporium. Proprietor Lance Armstrong failed to make an appearance, but we’re told he was contacted mid-set for consultation on the shop’s “you break it, you bought it policy” (on the advice of our lawyers, we’re not showing the footage of Thurston breaking what was apparently a very expensive bike, but we’ll stress it was AN ACCIDENT). Thanks to KEXP for the footage.

“Burroughs”

“Alighted”

“Sleeping Where I Fall”

Chelsea Light Moving’s debut LP/CD/digital full length is out now and available from The Matador Store

If there’s one thing we know you, the Matablog faithful, hate more than anything else, it’s hyperbole. And yet here we are in the middle of SXSW, where hyperbole is the norm that inevitably leads to mediocre band after mediocre band being lauded as “killing it,” “slaying,” or “destroying it,” usually with hashtags involved. Clearly, mere hyperbole is no longer enough to separate the proverbial men from the boys, and in that spirit: Chelsea Light Moving will be literally murdering the audience this afternoon as part of their 1:30PM CDT performance at Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop (400 Nueces St.), a performance which is free and open to the public and will also be broadcast live on KEXP (90.3FM in Seattle, and streaming on kexp.org).

Those of you at SXSW who are wondering why one would go to a show where the band is going to literally murder the audience should note that Chelsea Light Moving’s long-term plan is to literally turn Austin into a smoldering, bloody crater by the time they leave, so you’re pretty much screwed no matter what.

Chelsea Light Moving’s new self-titled album is, of course, available for purchase in many fine formats at our webstore. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I see a margarita with my name on it.

I hope you’ll excuse my weary tone — it’s not that I don’t look forward to South By Southwest or the plethora of free, unaffiliated events (especially those that take place in glorified jello-shot emporiums masquerading as music venues for one week out of the year). It’s just that I’m really pissed off someone told all of the bands below they’re staying at my place.

CHELSEA LIGHT MOVING

Tue      3/12    Austin TX                   Queue Day Party         3 pm Mohawk  (w/ Delorean)
Wed    3/13    Austin TX                    Waterloo Records        12 pm (parking lot performance)
Wed    3/13    Austin TX                    Consequence of Sound  5 pm The Parish
Thu      3/14    Austin TX                    KEXP Session               12:30 pm Mellow Johnny’s
Thu      3/14    Austin TX                    Thrasher/Converse  party     4 pm Scoot Inn
Fri        3/15    Austin TX                    Rolling Stone Party     2 pm La Zona Rosa
Fri        3/15    Austin TX                    Ground Control Touring,  12:15 am Mohawk*  (w/ Trash Talk, Merchandise and more)

DELOREAN

Tue      3/12    Austin TX                    Queue Day Party         4 pm Mohawk
Tue      3/12    Austin TX                    Fader Fort                    8 pm Fader Fort
Thu      3/14    Austin TX                    Pitchfork Day Party    1:40 pm 1100 Warehouse
Thu      3/14    Austin TX                    Filter Party                  11 pm Clive Bar*
Sat       3/16    Austin TX                    True Panther     1 am Mohawk* (with Majical Cloudz, Empress Of, XXYYXX , Silent Diane and more)

MAJICAL CLOUDZ

Thu      3/14    Austin TX                   Spin Party                    4 pm Easy Tiger
Fri        3/15    Austin TX                   Urban Outfitters         2 pm Urban Outfitters Lot
Fri        3/15    Austin TX                   M For Montreal            9 pm Swan Dive
Sat      3/16    Austin TX                    True Panther Presents     9:30 pm Mohawk* (with Delorean, Empress Of, XXYYXX, Silent Diane  and more)

THE YOUNG

Fri       3/15   Austin TX        “Our Heart Aches For Syria” / Red Cross benefit  8 pm Long Center (w/ The Black Lips, White Lung and more)
Sat      3/16    Austin TX        Ground Control Touring  2 pm Beerland  (w/ Merchandise, Spider Bags and more)

(* – denotes an official SXSW event ; wristband or badge required for admission.  There’s public admission if venues aren’t at capacity SOMETIMES, but we can’t guarantee it)

Thurston Moore responded to the comments section of Brooklyn Vegan to confirm that his NEW ROCK BAND would indeed (as promised in their bio) “detonate any birthday party, wedding or hullabaloo in any country, planet or stratosphere that doesn’t support right wing extremist NRA sucking bozo-ology.”

Last weekend in Haydenville, MA, the Chelseas did just that, playing a a handsome left-winger named Trevor’s birthday party. This is the evidence:

“Empires Of Time”:

“Alighted”:

“Lip”:

Chelsea Light Moving’s debut album is out this Tuesday. Stream it over at NPR, and buy it HERE.

Sonically, of course. Much in the same fashion they’ve been known to destroy a hullabaloo here and there. Because they’ve scheduled a handful of free, all ages instores along their upcoming tour. And that fucking rules.

Dig it. And be sure to dig their record NOW. And then buy it as soon as you can. And let it destroy you.

Sat-Mar-02 Hoboken, NJ Maxwells
Mon-Mar-04 Charlottesville, VA The Southern
Tue-Mar-05 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle
Wed-Mar-06 Raleigh, NC Kings Barcade
Thu-Mar-07 Savannah, GA Savannah Stopover
Fri-Mar-08 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Sun-Mar-10 Denton, TX 35 Denton
Tue-Mar-19 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
Wed-Mar-20 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Fri-Mar-22 Portland, OR Doug Fir
Sat-Mar-23 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
Wed-Mar-27 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
Fri-Mar-29 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
Sat-Mar-30 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
Sun-Mar-31 Toronto, ONT Lee’s Palace
Tue-Apr-02 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Smalls
Wed-Apr-03 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer
Thu-Apr-04 Washington, DC Black Cat
Fri-Apr-05 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
Sun-Apr-07 Boston, MA The Sinclair

Talk Normal Supports 3/2-3/8
Merchandise also supports 3/8
Grass Widow supports 3/19-3/23
CAVE supports 3/27-3/30

(photo by Carlos van Hijfte)

…two whole weeks before release date (March 5).  Plenty of time to be sold on the self-titled album’s brilliance (or alternately, an opportunity several days in to turn off the computer and get some fresh air — you could probably use a meal, too).

Pre-order Chelsea Light Moving -s/t on LP or CD from The Matador Store