Rock act Say Anything returned to live duty for the first time in several months last night (March 1) with a show at New York’s CBGB. Frontman Max Bemis spent extended time out of commission last fall struggling with bipolar disorder, but now the group is gearing up for a busy spring on the heels of J Records’ Feb. 28 expanded reissue of the 2004 Doghouse album, “… Is a Real Boy.”
Before a rabid, teenager-dominated crowd last night, Say Anything unveiled a new lineup featuring twin brother guitarists Jake and Jeff Turner (the group also features former Jamison Parker keyboardist/guitarist Parker Case). The show went heavy on material from “… Is a Real Boy,” including the tone-setting, confessional opener “Wow I Can Get Sexual Too,” “Woe” and “Yellow Cat/Red Cat.”
An extensive spring tour kicks off March 9 in Philadelphia and will run through May 11 in Buffalo, N.Y.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Swedish dance/electronic lothario Gunther will crash into the U.S. market this spring when Rhino issues his 2005 debut album, “Pleasureman.” Due April 11, the set is led by the infectious worldwide hit “Ding Dong Song,” which reached No. 1 on Sweden’s singles chart and No. 37 on the Eurochart Singles tally.
Beyond “Ding Dong Song” (a video for which is bundled with the album), “Pleasureman” features the Samantha Fox duet “Touch Me,” “Teeny Weeny String Bikini” and “Enormous Emotion (I Love You).” “Pleasureman” can also be purchased from Apple’s iTunes Music Store.
Gunther is planning a handful of performances at U.S. colleges this spring, but details have yet to be announced.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Erasure will spend a month on the road this spring playing acoustic shows in support of the album “Union Street,” due April 3 internationally via Mute and April 18 in North America. As previously reported, the project features 11 of the veteran dance act’s older songs recast in a country or acoustic setting.
The European portion of tour begins April 14 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and will run through April 27 in Berlin. North American dates kick off May 6 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and conclude May 19 at New York’s Society for Ethical Culture.
“Union Street” is the follow-up to 2005’s “Nightbird,” which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Electronic Albums chart.
— Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.