Electric Six to tour in support of upcoming album

There are many things ELECTRIC SIX is known for: awesome singles ("Danger (High Voltage)", "Gay Bar", "Down At McDonnelzz", "Formula 409"), awesome videos ("Body Shot", "Synthesizer"), and a new album every September. And this year, Electric Six will not disappoint. Their seventh studio album "Zodiac" is due out on September 28, 2010 on Metropolis Records and marks a huge evolutionary step for the band.

"I think Zodiac is the byproduct of putting out one record per year," says vocalist Dick Valentine. "I think we keep ourselves so busy that we don't spend a lot of time overanalyzing what we do. So when we happen to make a record that hits on all cylinders like this one, it's immediately noticeable that we've taken a step forward."

Without losing any of its trademark sardonic sense of humor and funk/dance rock core, Electric Six have crafted an album whose cohesion is evident from the first listen and one of which the band is especially proud.

"Creating this album was a little different in that we consciously tried to go for the 'Neil Diamond' approach on a couple of the songs," Dick explains, in reference to their songwriting, especially "Table and Chairs" and "I Am a Song". "I think the rest of the album didn't really veer from the methodology we have been using lately to make albums. It should be said that [lead guitarist] Johnny Na$hinal and Smogasbord wrote some of the best tracks on this record."

Tracks like the funk-heavy "American Cheese", the herky jerky dance rock of "Jam It In the Hole", and the loungy acoustic pop of "Table and Chairs", Zodiac, like its astrological namesake, appropriately contains twelve songs, each with personality traits all its own.

"We don't believe in that horsesh*t," he says of the title. "The actual reason is that one of the songs we discarded from the record is called 'Typical Sagittarius.' It was a good song, but in the end, too corny... even for us. I like that the song was the impetus for us to name the record Zodiac and then we didn't even put it on the record."

Also included on the album is "Rubberband Man," their first cover since 2005's remake of Queen's "Radio Gaga". Originally recorded by legendary R&B band (and fellow Detroit natives) The Spinners, the song recalls a special memory for Valentine.

"I've always loved the song and I've felt for a long time that our band could pull it off," he muses. "The first time I remember being cognizant of it was the mud wrestling scene from [the Bill Murray film] Stripes. I don't think anyone in our band is a rabid fan of Motown, per se, but I've always felt The Spinners kind of stood out in that they had much poppier songs than a lot of other acts in that genre."

Electric Six's cover is a faithful remake that, unironically, speaks quite appropriately about Zodiac. "Hey, y'all, prepare yourself for the rubberband man / You've never heard a sound like the rubberband man / You're bound to lose control when the rubberband starts to jam."


Electric Six is Dick Valentine (vocals), The Colonel (guitar), Johnny Na$hinal (guitar), Smorgasbord (bass), Tait Nucleus? (synths) and Percussion World (drums). Their seventh album, Zodiac, was produced by Zach Shipps and will be released on Metropolis Records on September 28, 2010.

THE RENT IS TOO DAMN HIGH TOURDATES
Sep 15 The Intersection Grand Rapids, MI
Sep 16 The Basemant Columbus, OH
Sep 17 Double Door Chicago, IL
Sep 18 DIY Street Fair Ferndale, MI
Sep 19 Frankie’s Toledo, OH
Sep 21 The Brillobox Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 22 Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia, PA
Sep 25 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
Sep 27 Sonar Baltimore, MD
Sep 28 Black Cat Washington, DC
Sep 30 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro, NC
Oct 01 New Brookland Tavern Columbia, SC
Oct 04 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, FL
Oct 06 State Theatre St. Petersburg, FL
Oct 07 The Social Orlando, FL
Oct 09 Exit/In Nashville, TN
Oct 10 Hi-Tone Café Memphis, TN
Oct 14 White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
Oct 15 Emo’s Outdoors Austin, TX
Oct 16 The Boiler Room Denton, TX
Oct 18 Plush Tucson, AZ
Oct 19 Rhythm Room Phoenix, AZ
Oct 20 The Casbah San Diego, CA
Oct 21 Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, CA
Oct 22 Key Club Los Angeles, CA
Oct 25 Neumos Seattle, WA
Oct 26 Dante’s Portland, OR
Oct 27 Neurolux Boise, ID
Oct 28 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT
Oct 29 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
Oct 30 The Riot Room Kansas City, MO
Oct 31 The Firebird St. Louis, MO
Nov 02 Vaudeville Mews Des Moines, IA
Nov 03 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
Nov 04 Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
Nov 05 The Mad Hatter Covington, KY
Nov 06 Grog Shop Cleveland, OH

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