Tuesday, July 17, 2007

The Photo Atlas named a "best underground band"

Underscoring its bedrock support for Denver-based dance-punk phenoms The Photo Atlas, and their debut album NO, NOT ME, NEVER on Stolen Transmission Records, comes another high profile nudge from A­P (Alternative Press) magazine, in the brand new July issue. AP, who named the Photo Atlas “One Of 100 Bands To Watch In 2007” earlier this year, narrows it down this month to “One Of The 22 Best Underground Bands That Likely Won’t Stay Underground For Long!” The buzz was amped with the nomination of the “Handshake Heart Attack” video as one of “The Freshman 5” on mtvU was in the spring.

The Photo Atlas – Alan Andrews (vocal/guitar), Bill Threlkeld III (guitar), Mark Hawkins (bass), and Devon Shirley (drums/sampling) – draw on the staccato energy and powerful dynamics of Fugazi, the off-kilter, proggy changes and pained, plaintive vocals of At The Drive In, and the straightforward drive of Bloc Party to create a frenzied, blistering, often paranoid noise. But one that you can dance to.

Nestled in Denver, away from the prying eyes of New York’s shoe-gazing hipsters and L.A.’s burgeoning scene, the Photo Atlas’ explosive blend of machine-gun guitar percussives, Brit-rock danceability and punk rock urgency came ripping out of seemingly nowhere on their debut album. NO, NOT ME, NEVER (a joint release with Morning After Records) was one of the first releases on Stolen Transmission, an imprint of Island Def Jam Records launched in 2006 by Rob Stevenson, Island Records Executive Vice President, A&R, and Sarah Lewitinn.

Early praise was been heaped on NO, NOT ME, NEVER from the moment it arrived in stores on March 6th. AP’s 4-star album review was followed up with an invitation for to The Photo Atlas to play the magazine’s prestigious showcase at Emo’s less than two weeks later, during the South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin, Texas.

Hometown support has also been unequivocal. Ricardo Baca of The Denver Post wrote, “The razor precision of Photo Atlas’ slamming swordsmanship puts the craftsmanship of the Ginsu Corporation to shame.” “NO, NOT ME, NEVER is by far one of the year’s finest discs,” raved Dave Herrera of Westword, adding, “The effect is seismic on the dance floor.” Not to be outdone, John Moore of The Post proclaimed, “Ask anyone Denver's most likely breakout band for 2006 and most likely you'll be told the irresistible young waif punks Atlas.”

The Photo Atlas On Tour


With Portugal, The Man

Monday, July 23, 2007 Portland, OR Satyricon
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 San Fransisco, CA Bottom of The Hill
Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction
Thursday, July 26, 2007 West Hollywood, CA Troubadour
Friday, July 27, 2007 San Diego, CA Soma Sidestage
Saturday, July 28, 2007 Pheonix, AZ The One Place
Sunday, July 29, 2007 El Paso, TX Chic's Bar and Billiards
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 San Antonio, TX The White Rabbit
Wednesday, August 01, 2007 Austin, TX Emo's
Thursday, August 02, 2007 Metairie, LA The High Ground
Friday, August 03, 2007 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbit's
Saturday, August 04, 2007 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
Sunday, August 05, 2007 Orlando, FL The Social
Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Atlanta, GA The Drunken Unicorn
Wednesday, August 08, 2007 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
Thursday, August 09, 2007 Richmond, VA Alley Katz
Sunday, August 12, 2007 Cambridge, MA Middle East-Upstairs
Monday, August 13, 2007 New York, NY Knitting Factory-Tap Room
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 Buffalo, NY Mohawk Place
Thursday, August 16, 2007 Toronto, Canada The Reverb
Friday, August 17, 2007 Mt.Clemens, MI Hayloft Liquor stand
Saturday, August 18, 2007 Chicago, IL Beat Kitchen
Sunday, August 19, 2007 Madison, WI The Loft
Monday, August 20, 2007 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 Denver, CO The Marquis theater
Thursday, August 23, 2007 South Ogden, UT Country Club Theater
Friday, August 24, 2007 Boise, ID The Venue
Saturday, August 25, 2007 Seattle, WA El Corazon

www.myspace.com/danceatlasdance

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