Baltimore two-piece Wye Oak (Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) will release their fourth full-length studio album April 29th on Merge Records. The album will be available for pre-order beginning today at iTunes with an instant download of the first single “The Tower”. Also, an exclusively designed t-shirt will be bundled with the album for those that pre-order the record directly from Merge Records.
Shriek will be released on CD, digital and 150 gram vinyl with the first 1000 copies pressed on orange vinyl. Yesterday, NPR’s All Songs Considered Podcast unveiled the first track “The Tower”.
Following extensive touring in support of their critically acclaimed 2011 release Civilian, Wye Oak members Jenn and Andy found themselves apart for the first time. Andy had recently moved to the west coast, leaving their hometown of Baltimore. Simultaneously but separately, the two began exploring new ways of writing. Jenn, having picked up the bass did not begin with her typical guitar and likewise Andy began to explore different ways of layering keyboards. The freedom of these new methods allowed for a new found emotional immediacy and in spite of, or perhaps because of the distance, Wye Oak have recorded their most personal album yet.
Shriek was a co-production between Wye Oak and Nicolas Vernhes of the Rare Book Room in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Vernhes also engineered and mixed the album. His inventive production work complimented the band’s new direction, helping them to create their immensely layered and emotive new sound. Wye Oak will be on tour throughout the spring beginning March 3rd and including stops at both Coachella and SXSW. Other highlights include a sold out show at The Lexington in London, the M4M Music Festival in Zurich and Webster Hall in New York City on May 7th. ”
Over the past several years of performing and touring, we have had the opportunity to spend time in so many of America’s great cities,” says Wasner. Thanks to the fans’ continued support, the band are now in a position where they can share some of their good fortune with those working on behalf of the communities they visit. “We’re very excited to be working with Air Traffic Control in order to make this possible” Wasner said. With ATC’s assistance, $2 of every ticket sold on this tour will go to a local charity of the band’s choice. Full tour dates below.
Tour Dates
March 3 The Southern Charlottesville, VA
March 4 The Orange Peel Asheville, NC
March 5 Haw River Ballroom Saxapahaw, NC
March 6 Savannah Stopover Savannah, GA
March 7 JJ’s Bohemia Chattanooga, TN
March 8 Proud Larry’s Oxford, MS
March 9 Spanish Moon Baton Rouge, LA
March 20 Lexington London, United Kingdom- SOLD OUT
March 21 Botanique Brussels, Belgium
March 23 MC Theater Amsterdam, Netheralnds
March 25 Privatclub Berlin, Germany
March 28 M4M Music Festival Zurich, Switzerland
March 29 IKSV Istanbul, Turkey
April 11 Coachella Indio, CA- SOLD OUT
April 18 Coachella Indio, CA- SOLD OUT
May 2 Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
May 3 Chameleon Club Lancaster, PA
May 5 Union Transfer Philadelphia, PA
May 6 9:30 Club Washington DC
May 7 Webster Hall New York, NY
May 9 Paradise Boston, MA
May 10 Il Motore Montreal, QC
May 11 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, ON
May 13 Metro Chicago, IL
May 14 Turner Hall Milwaukee, WI
May 15 Fine Line Music Café Minneapolis, MN
May 16 The Waiting Room Omaha, NE
May 17 The Granada Lawrence, KS
May 18 Old Rock House St. Louis, KS
May 20 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
May 21 Terminal West Atlanta, GA
