So the NME has this news item that says that the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (who Ima Robot have opened for on one occasion in France this past summer) are planning a U.S. tour next year with "three of the most exciting bands in the world."

Ima Robot are not explicitly named in the article, and my money's still on a European tour next year, but what the hell, it's fun to speculate:

NME ARTICLE

Yeah, speculation is good...I'm feeling it, I don't have the album, but am really into their <BRMC> video/single with Harry Dean Stanton in it...They seem to exude a devil may care attitude that people just love to hate to love, plus they are sharing a "billboard" out front of Aaron's Records on Highland in Hollywood with IMA and it just seems...somewhat destined for collision.
I haven't gone to the website or done any other potential fan investment in them, but I have a feeling that that could be a HUGE US tour, although I feel that what IMA really needs fanwise is to deliver some serious punk rock tour to everyone in the US...I'm talking 60+shows and radio shows in 60 days and even hit (shameless hometown campaigning) places like Richmond, VA (Nanci Raygun),
Rapid City (SD), Missoula (Montana, Jay's Upstairs) , Gainesville (FL), Baton Rouge, Evansville (IN), Maine (anywhere in the state), Denton (TX), ...all the small places where if you rock their world, "Everyone" in town will soon own a copy of the album. Anyhoo...this is a much better bet than getting on a bill with ZZ Top as a benifit for schools aimed at Harley Riders. WOrd.

You know what, I never thought of it that way but you make a good point. If Ima Robot and the rest of these bands want to really convert some kids to their vision, they need to hit the podunk towns in some grand sweep across the country.

No matter how much word of mouth spreads from the LAs and NYCs of the world, there is nothing like having the band in your town, gigging and on the airwaves. A combo BRMC-Strokes-IMA Robot-The Rapture minipalooza would be the craziest thing to hit these places since the pro wrestling junket came to town.

good news. that could be good! i hope they bring it to the UK, as i missed them at reading festival. i havent checked out the new cd, but the debut was awsome.what other bands do you think will be on the line up?

oh, jet will be on that tour. that leaves one more space, kings of leon?

what a line up!

...Yeah, sounds like great fun in the summertime, the great outdoors...all your favoritie bands...but like you realize, this is about giving your time to the 'little guy'. Going to the towns that don't have 3 (pro) Led Zep coverbands and don't get all
(any) the shows...this kind of tour I mention is litterally about "individual" attention, and the kids that really get it feel special because it's not in a coliseum -- it's on their level. Hell one of their friends bands is gonna open the show, how cool is that? They come away thinking they're one of only a hundred or two hundred there and end up buying all their stuff and not be paying for 99 security guards in addition. 8 or 10$ tickets and if they love it, you've got people buying their records for at least the next 3 years if they tour even remotely closeby again.

All those other bands don't need to do the same because they're releatively commercially successful already, but you know those club tours are the best and most memorable shows. Imagine seeing DeVO, Smashing Pumpkins or Nirvana in a small club, touring on their first album...how fucking awesome was that if you saw that? Pretty special huh?

One of the best shows I've ever seen was Smashing Pumpkins touring Gish with Hole opening at the Whiskey in, like, 1992, with Kurt Cobain watching a few feet from me in the balcony.

That Smashing Pumpkins, Hole opener tour was the EXACT reference I was making...how weird is that drac...

Quote:

Originally posted by draconian One of the best shows I've ever seen was Smashing Pumpkins touring Gish with Hole opening at the Whiskey in, like, 1992, with Kurt Cobain watching a few feet from me in the balcony.

holy sh*t, i though that hondo maclean/million dead/funeral for a friend was good, and sparta/queens of the stone age (oh, and mars volta/chili peppers) but that is just amazing! especially getting to see kurt in person aswell. wow. what a gig