During SXSW 2007, Synthesis co-sponsored a Drive-Thru Records party at Emo’s. While an endless throng of rock bands set up, played and subsequently broke down, most of us Syn folks enjoyed the free beers and free Mexican food, chatting with publicists, band members and rock music aficionados.  Honestly, no Drive-Thru bands were bad by any means, but the only one that really impressed me was Steel train. Especially moving was their cover of Pink Floyd’s “Have A Cigar,” a song about being fed up with music industry bullshit. This choice, to cover the song during a notorious music industry schmooze fest, brought much warmth to my heart (or perhaps it was the aforementioned mexican food…).

The band has announced more tour dates, and for those who enjoy late-night network television, they’ll be appearing on Late Night With Conan O’Brien tonight. Let lose the rock.

From their press release:

Steel Train’s sophomore album, Trampoline, recently released on Drive-Thru Records, delivers the sounds and spirit of some of the band’s favorite music styles, including British and American classic rock, folk-rock, psychedelia, pop and alternative. Produced by Mark Trombino (Rilo Kiley, Jimmy Eat World), Trampoline is a wonderfully layered and versatile album that reveals the uplifting, self-medicating message of an emerging songwriter.

While the songs sound consistently joyous, the lyrics are hyper-realistic addressing the events that can shatter our world and break our hearts as well as focusing on the forces that lift us up and offer a second chance. Throughout the album, urgent guitars, euphoric melody laden keyboards, and yearning vocals cut through on tracks like “Alone on the Sea,” “Kill Monsters in the Rain,” and “Black Eye.” However, the band agrees that the track which embodies the album is “I Feel Weird,” an energized pop number full of piano, and xylophones. Trampoline is a bold departure from the band’s past excursions, and showcases a new Steel Train, musically and philosophically.

Upcoming US Tour Dates:

w/ The Hush Sound
07/16 - The Basement - Columbus, OH
07/17 - Headliners - Toledo, OH
07/19 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
07/25 - The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
07/31 - Knitting Factory - Spokane, WA
08/06 - Soma - San Diego, CA
08/10 - Antone’s - Austin, TX
08/11 - The Door - Dallas, TX
08/14 - The State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL
08/15 - Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
08/16 - The Social - Orlando, FL
08/18 - The Loft - Atlanta, GA
08/19 - Greene Street Club - Greensboro, NC
08/21 - Ottobar - Baltimore, MD
08/23 - Webster Theater - Hartford, CT
08/24 - Xtreme Wheelz - Buffalo, NY

w/ O.A.R.
07/18 - St Louis Waterfront - St Louis, MO
07/20 - Sandstone Amphitheater - Bonner Springs, KS

Music Festivals
08/02 - LOLLAPALOOZA - Grant Park - Chicago, IL

www.myspace.com/steeltrain
www.steeltain.net
Steel Train

Rilo Kiley just announced their tour dates - go see ‘em in a city / town near you:

04.17.08 - San Francisco, CA Concourse (SF Design Center)
04.19.08 - Portland, OR (Roseland )
04.20.08 - Seattle, WA (Showbox SoDo)
04.23.08 - Santa Cruz, CA (Rio Theatre)
04.24.08 - Pomona, CA (The Glasshouse)
04.26.08 - Indio, CA (Coachella Arts & Music Festival)
05.15.08 - San Diego, CA (Concerts in the Park)
05.19.08 - Denver, CO (Ogden Theatre)
05.20.08 - Omaha, NE (Slowdown)
05.21.08 - Omaha, NE (Slowdown)
05.22.08 - Minneapolis, MN (First Avenue)
05.23.08 - Milwaukee, WI (Pabst Theatre)
05.24.28 - Chicago, IL (The Riviera)
05.25.08 - Royal Oak, MI (Royal Oak Music Theatre)
05.26.08 - Cleveland, OH (House of Blues)
05.28.08 - Toronto, ON (Phoenix Theatre)
05.30.08 - Worcester, MA (Palladium)
05.31.08 - Providence, RI (Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel)
06.01.08 - Northampton, MA (Calvin Theater)
06.02.08 - New York, NY (Terminal 5)
06.05.08 - Philadelphia, PA (Electric Factory)
06.06.08 - Washington, DC (9:30 Club)
06.07.08 - Baltimore, MD (Rams Head Live)
06.08.08 - Richmond, CA (Toads Place)
06.10.08 - Norfolk, VA (The Norva)
06.11.08 - Asheville, NC (Orange Peel)
06.12.08 - Charleston, SC (Charleston Music Farm)
06.13.08 - Manchester, TN (Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival)
06.15.08 - Dallas, TX (Palladium)
06.16.08 - Austin, TX (Stubbs BBQ)

So reports say that Winona Ryder, actress, one-time sticky fingers and groupie extraordinarie may or may not be getting married to Rilo Kiley/ The Elected guitarist Blake Sennett.

this guy.

Her reps are saying this ins’t true, but Ryder allegedly announced her engagement during the 2008 Valentino fashion show in Paris. Maybe she just got super excited/drunk on the most romantic city in the world. The pair originally met up during the filming of feature film Water Pill.

If nothing else, this episode adds to the litany of famous/semi-famous actors and musicians who have reportedly gotten down with the big brown beaver. This all star cast includes Johnny Depp (engaged for three years beginning in July 1990), Dave Pirner from Soul Asylum, Dave Grohl, Matt Damon, Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz, Helmet’s Page Hamilton, Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst. There’s probably several more. Yeah, whatever, you’d hit it too.

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