Originally written by Sean Adams · 22 February 2012
The clock counting down to the release of the new Shins album is tick-ticking louder by the day, and to whet your appetite further, Mr Mercer and co. have finally unveiled the video for 'Simple Song'.
This desk-jiggle-friendly track is the the lead single from Port of Morrow which is released on the 19th of March two thousand and twelve. The video was directed by LA-based duo DANIELS.
...it might be just me but does 'Simple Song' remind anyone else of 'Time After Time'? Pasted it below so you can contrast and compare... it's probably just the arrangement or the chord progression or something....
The Shins play two shows at London’s Forum on 22nd and 23rd March. The gigs – both of which are now sold out – will see James Mercer leading a line-up of Yuuki Matthews (bass), Jessica Dobson (guitar), Richard Swift (keyboards) and Joe Plummer (drums). The Shins' current confirmed international live dates are as follows:
March 2012 Thu, 22nd – HMV Forum – London, UK (sold out) Fri, 23rd – HMV Forum – London, UK (sold out) Sun, 25th – Melkweg – Holland, Amsterdam (sold out) Mon, 26th – Bataclan – Paris, France Wed, 28th – Kesselhaus – Berlin, Germany (sold out) Fri, 30th – Berns Salonger – Stockholm, Sweden (sold out)
April 2012 Fri, 13th – Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, USA Sat, 14th – Coachella festival – Indio, USA Tue, 17th – Blasisdell Concert Hall – Honolulu, USA Wed, 18th – Castle Theatre, Maui Arts Center – Maui, USA Sat, 21st – Coachella festival - Indio, USA Sun, 22nd – Civic Auditorium – Snata Cruz, USA Mon, 23rd – Robert Mondavi Centre – Davis, USA Wed, 25th – Grand Sierra Resort & Casino – Reno, USA
May 2012 Fri, 25th – Les Schwab Amphitheatre – Bend, USA Sat, 26th – Sasquatch festival – George, USA Mon, 28th – Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, USA Tue, 29th – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, USA Thu, 31st – Harrah’s - Council Bluffs, USA
June 2012 Fri, 1st – The Brick – Minneapolis, USA Mon, 4th – The Pageant – St Louis, USA Tue, 5th – LC Indoor Pavillion – Columbus, USA Wed, 6th – The Fillmore – Detroit, USA Fri, 8th – Masonic Auditorium – Cleveland, USA Sat, 9th - Iroquois Amphitheatre – Louisville, USA Sun, 10th – Bonnaroo festival – Manchester, USA
Coming soon... DiS' interview with James Mercer (which includes good news for anyone awaiting a second Broken Bells album!) plus James' thoughts on that Cyndi Lauper comparison.