Appear in the new Titus Andronicus Music Video!

Hello friends. By now, you have all seen the lyric video for "In A Big City," and it probably so delighted you that you'll now be shocked to learn that it is not the official music video. That music video will be shot next week, and we want you to be a part of it! Take it away, Mr. Casting Director -

"We're shooting a video for "In A Big City" next Wednesday and Thursday (10/11-12) in New Jersey, and we need yr help!

We need people! We'll be shooting for 24 hours straight. But we don't need you all that time - more like for a two or three hour chunk. Interested? Shoot us an email at: 

bigcitycasting@gmail.com

Include your name, date of birth, where you live (NY and NJ residents only), and when you are free on the 11th and/or the 12th! You will need to get yourself to and from location. And ideally, a picture, so we know what you look like (all types are welcome). And we'll get back to you ASAP.

There you have it, folks - yr big chance at music video stardom. We do hope you have the interest and the availability. See you then!

Yr friend,

Patrick

"NATIONAL BUSINESS" FALL 2012 TOUR REVEALED!

Hello friends. It is our pleasure this day to reveal to you the dates of our Fall 2012 "NATIONAL BUSINESS" Tour, in support of the new album, "Local Business." Behold!

10-23 - Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
10-24 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
10-25 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter
10-28 - Gainesville, FL - THE FEST 11
10-29 - Tampa, FL - Crowbar
10-31 - Atlanta, GA - 529
11-01 - Nashville, TN - Stone Fox
11-02 - Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
11-04 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Fest
11-06 - Tempe, AZ - Sail Inn
11-08 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theater
11-09 - San Diego, CA - Irenic
11-10 - Santa Ana, CA - Constellation Room
11-11 - Santa Cruz, CA - Catalyst Atrium
11-12 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
11-14 - Seattle, WA - Neumo's
11-15 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
11-17 - Boise, ID - Neurolux
11-19 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
11-20 - Lawrence, KS - Jackpot
11-21 - Omaha, NE - Sokol Underground
11-22 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
11-23 - Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall
11-24 - Madison, WI - The Frequency
11-25 - Chicago, IL - The Metro
11-26 - Detroit, MI - The Majestic
11-27 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
11-28 - Montreal, QC - Il Motore
11-29 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Lounge
11-30 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
12-01 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
12-02 - New York City, NY - Webster Hall

All of these shows, with the exception of Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, will enjoy the support of the great contemporary punk band and Matador Records recording artist CEREMONY. If you haven't already, start getting to know them via the below video, for their song "World Blue" from the 2012 release "Zoo."



To celebrate our newfound friendship, the merchandise table for this tour will feature an exclusive seven inch single split between our two bands, with "In A Big City" on the Titus side, and a previously unreleased song called "Everything Burns" on the Ceremony side. I can only assume this is a reference to "The Dark Knight," which has me as excited as you might guess.

As always, if you wish to have Titus Andronicus as yr house guests in exchange for free entry for you and yr friends to our show in yr city, e-mail TitusAndronicusTheBand@Gmail.com and let us know!

We will have a few more dates to reveal in the coming weeks to fill in the gaps in the schedule, which you know we can not abide. We'll also have a very special announcement in about two weeks, so keep yr eyes on this space!

Yr friend,
Patrick

P.S. Don't forget that you can pre-order "Local Business" via the XL Recordings website here, including limited edition red vinyl for you wax aficionados.

"Local Business" First Single and Cover REVEALED

Hello friends. By now, you've all heard about the forthcoming third Titus Andronicus LP, "Local Business," coming October 22nd from our friends at XL Recordings. You may be wondering though, as is sensible to wonder when it comes to recorded music, what does it sound like? Well, wonder no longer, as it is our pleasure to now share with you the first single, "In A Big City," with the lyrics embedded for you to follow along with.



For those of you who would prefer to judge a record by its cover, well, we are prepared to accommodate you too. Here it is in all of its glory, courtesy of our good friend Nolen Strals, formerly of Double Dagger and lately of the new band Pure Junk.



By now, you have surely been whipped into such a state of feverish anticipation that you just can't wait to get yr hands on the thing. That is now easier than ever, as the good people at XL Recordings are now taking pre-orders here.

Okay, that is a lot to process, but continue to watch this space, as we will have more pertinent information to reveal to you in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Yr friend,
Patrick

LOCAL BUSINESS: the new Titus Andronicus LP

Dear friends, this is just to say that October 23rd will see the release of the third Titus Andronicus album titled Local Business. A nationwide US tour will follow the albums release, dates TBA.

While the first two albums were elaborate concoctions, Local Business is of the earth. Titus Andronicus the studious recording project and Titus Andronicus the raucous touring machine are no longer two distinct beings; there is only Titus Andronicus, rock and roll band. This is to say, it was recorded primarily live with precious few overdubs, with an elite squad of musicians.

The lineup is: Patrick Stickles (singer/songwriter/guitarist), Eric Harm (drums), Julian Veronesi (bass), Liam Betson (guitar) and Adam Reich (guitar). The album was recorded in New Paltz, New York’s Marcata Recording with producer/engineer/mastermind Kevin McMahon. They recorded it in April and May of 2012 along with some special guests including longtime Titus session keyboardist Elio DeLuca, universally acclaimed violinist Owen Pallett, and Eric Harm’s father Steven on
harmonica. This tight-knit group is just one of the meanings behind the phrase “Local
Business”.

While abandoning the linear narrative of their last album The Monitor, the songs on Local Business aim to make explicit the implications of the first two LPs, that the inherent meaninglessness of life in an absurd universe gives the individual power to create their own values and their own morality. Along the way, we witness a devastating automobile wreck, a food fight (that is to say, a battle with an eating disorder), an electrocution, a descent into insanity, and ultimately, a forgiveness of the self for its many faults. Titus Andronicus even finds time to broaden its emotional palette to include
moments of pure positivity, brief respites from the usual doom and gloom.

In case you are interested, here is the track listing.

1. Ecce Homo
2. Still Life With Hot Deuce And Silver Platter
3. Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape With The Flood Of Detritus
4. Food Fight!
5. My Eating Disorder
6. Titus Andronicus VS. The Absurd Universe (3rd Round KO)
7. In A Big City
8. In A Small Body
9. (I Am The) Electric Man
10. Tried To Quit Smoking

More information will be forthcoming, such as the cover art, subsequent tour dates, and all that other good stuff. We thank you for yr continued interest.

Very sincerely yrs,
T. Andronicus

P.S. Previews of several of these jams may be found in live format at titusandronicusllc.tumblr.com. Further questions may be administered via twitter @titus_ndronicus.

WATCH THIS SPACE

All will be revealed, and soon.

SCREAMING ON PLANET TITUS SPRING 2012 US TOUR

SCREAMING ON
PLANET TITUS

TITUS ANDRONICUS

SCREAMING FEMALES

DIARRHEA PLANET

3 / 4 - ASBURY PARK, NJ - THE STONE PONY
TICKETS
FACEBOOK
3 / 5 - BALTIMORE, MD - OTTOBAR
TICKETS
3 / 6 - RICHMOND, VA - STRANGE MATTER
TICKETS
3 / 7 - NASHVILLE, TN - THE FREAKIN' WEEKEND @ THE END
TICKETS
3 / 9 - ATHENS, GA - CALEDONIA LOUNGE (18+)
TICKETS
3 /10 - ATLANTA, GA - THE BASEMENT (18+)
TICKETS
3/11 - NEW ORLEANS, LA - HOUSE OF BLUES (18+)
TICKETS
3/12 - HOUSTON, TX - WAREHOUSE LIVE STUDIO
TICKETS

PUNK IS BACK
2012

MONDAY NIGHT!! OWS BENEFIT @ SHEA STADIUM!! TED LEO/RX! TITUS! SO SO GLOS!

BECAUSE we are now at war
BECAUSE our dear Mother Earth herself screams out for justice
BECAUSE our beautiful Declaration of Independence and our sacred Constitution have been dragged through the dirt by those sworn to protect them
BECAUSE we can no longer depend upon the authorities to defend our basic human rights
BECAUSE they worship a god of greed who feeds the rich while poor people starve
BECAUSE the most devastating blow to the cause of freedom and liberty in New York City since September 11 has been dealt from within
BECAUSE the Earth is a common treasury for all
BECAUSE in the America promised to us by our founding fathers, everyone gets a fair shake
BECAUSE in the America we were promised, there is no limit to how high you can rise with hard work, discipline, and ingenuity
BECAUSE with that freedom comes great responsibility
BECAUSE the freedoms that we wish for ourselves must be shared by all if they are to be enjoyed by any
BECAUSE until the table is large enough to seat us all, we shall all starve
BECAUSE that promised America can, and must, be made real, by whatever means necessary
BECAUSE no one person can do it all, but because every person must be called upon to do all that which they can, with the strength, resources, and tools they have, however great or small

MONDAY NIGHT
NOVEMBER 21st
SHEA STADIUM
20 MEADOW STREET, BROOKLYN NY
8:00 PM

TED LEO AND THE PHARMACISTS (NJ)
TITUS ANDRONICUS (NJ)
THE SO SO GLOS (BK)

FIFTEEN DOLLARS
BUY TICKETS AT MAIN DRAG BUSHWICK SUPPLY ANNEX
268 MESEROLE ST, BROOKLYN
BEGINNING AT NOON, MONDAY

TICKET SALES WILL BE CAPPED AT 200
THERE WILL BE NO TICKETS AT THE DOOR
I REPEAT, ABSOLUTELY NO TICKETS AT THE DOOR

ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT
THE NATIONAL LAWYER'S GUILD
http://www.nlg.org/occupy/

ALL AGES
ALL RACES
ALL CREEDS
ALL CLASSES
ALL SEXUALITIES

FAQ:

"How are you going to act like you are all righteous? All yr doing is what yr managers and booking agents tell you to do!"

Actually, no. I just got out my cell piece, buzzed my man Ted Leo, told him that war had broken out, heard him say that he saw it also, pooled the strength and enthusiasm of Titus with that of him and his Pharmacists, quickly came upon an agreed course of action, and that was it. No managers, no booking agents, no handlers, no advisers, no publicists, no nothing. Just some Jersey boys seeing that the world is fucked up and pledging to devote whatever meager strength and energy we may have to its correction, as is the charge of every person who has enjoyed the birth right which is our beautiful Earth.

"How can you have this show at Shea Stadium? This bill could fill a bigger place. Why are you denying people who would want to see you play, or, for that matter, turning away more money?"

Because real, sustainable change will only ever begin at home, amongst communities of people who know each other, who trust each other, and who love each other. I like the people who keep, say, the Music Hall of Williamsburg open for business - I like them very much - but I do not love them. They are friends, for sure, but real change must be made with family.

Furthermore, a solitary evening at Shea Stadium demands administrative costs of zero dollars. If there was any other place in town that could maybe make a promise like that, that would be one thing, but I somehow guess that, because they are legitimate businesses (and I respect capitalism in the context of local business), there would have to be some kind of overhead. Because the times are so dire and the urgency of the situation so serious, to allow even one dollar to get mislaid is poison to our hearts.

Besides that, Shea Stadium is, bar none, the best venue in New York. It has all the charms and righteous virtues of the DIY scene and the technology to compete with any place in town sonically. Done.

"Why are you giving yr money to the National Lawyer's Guild? Aren't they all working pro bono anyway?"

Well, yeah, but the fact of the matter is that human rights need to be defended by someone, and it has become excruciatingly clear that the NYPD lacks both the ability and the wherewithal to even attempt to do so. If the police will not defend our rights, we will find someone else who will. These lawyers have been massively generous, and we will look forward to putting three thousand dollars into their pockets, so that they may eat, be sheltered, be clothed, and so forth, while they are putting aside their own capitalist dreams for a cause bigger than themselves. We should all be so brave and so generous as these lawyers.

Also, my father was a lawyer for many years, a corporate lawyer, and it was this work that paid for the many privileges I enjoyed as a youth (most relevantly, the privilege to devote much of my mental faculties to my own development as a musician, rather than say, the toilet scrubbing I may have had to do to keep myself alive had I been born to different circumstances). Basically, no lawyers, no Titus. Admittedly, much of my father's work involved moving money around from one massive corporation to another, but he is a truly righteous man, and has since left the law to work as Principal of the economically depressed catholic high school from whence he graduated way back in 1966. I might not think all that much of money changing for my personal tastes, and it is near certain that I will never pursue a career in any field of law, but I kiss my father's feet for the way he busted his ass to make a better life for me. He grew up poor, but he grew up in an America where a man like him, born into poverty, but hard-working, smart, determined, could rise up as high as he wanted, and build a better life for his children. He fought and clawed his way out of Roselle Park, NJ, to the ivy-covered walls of Princeton, to Columbia,
through decades of unending exertion, grunted and sweated through the ranks of school administrators, through another degree (this time law, at Rutgers), up through the ranks of two law firms, all the way to two senior partnerships, and all the way to a life where his son could be given every advantage his own father never could have given him. This was the America my father made himself in. This was the promise that brought my Irish ancestors to America, and this is a promise that I WILL make to my own children, because I REFUSE to let it die, or should I say, to stand idly by and watch it as it is murdered.

"Are you pumped to be playing with Ted Leo/Pharmacists? What about So So Glos?"

FUCK yeah. They're the two most righteous punk bands I know! Besides Bomb the Music Industry, of course. Shouts out to those guys.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THAT'S IT
SEE YOU TOMORROW
DESTROY POWER
NOT PEOPLE

Yr brother,
Patrick