The third album from Norfolk, Virginia quintet Mae, 'Singularity', will be released on Capitol Records on August 14, 2007. This will be the band's first disc for a major label following two records for indie Tooth & Nail, which have sold close to 250,000 copies combined.
More than any other modern band, Mae are children of pop culture driven by a love for great music from all eras. Their songs are passionate and exultant, brimming with scratchy guitars, hooky keyboards and soaring vocals. Hipness is never sacrificed for melody and the band draw from a variety of styles - pop, classic rock, hard rock, alternative, new wave - whatever gives them chills and best serves their carefully composed songs.
The opening track on '
Singularity', "
Brink of Disaster" kicks off with a snare crack that leads into a number that's both poignant and accessible, see-sawing between an echoing, melancholy verse and an explosive chorus that melds churning guitars, warbling keys and vocals made for rock radio. "
Just Let Go" is more wistful and reflective, but still glistens with hope. And the album's first single "
Sometimes I Can't Make it Alone" rides a tumbling backbeat and a ragged riff into a euphoric number about the strength that comes from relying on others.
The name Mae is an acronym for Multisensory Aesthetic Experience, an experience which began in 2000 when vocalist and guitarist Dave Elkins started jamming in college with drummer Jacob Marshall. After recording a batch of songs at their friend, Mark Padgett's home studio, they got serious. Early the next year, Padgett joined on bass and Mae recruited keyboardist Rob Sweitzer. In 2002, Mae started playing out in and around Virginia, opening shows for Something Corporate, The Starting Line and The Movielife. Between gigs, the band wrote and recorded songs for its debut 'Destination: Beautiful', which was released in 2003. Mae were off and running.
Later that year, guitarist Zach Gehring joined the lineup and it 2004 Mae wrote and recorded their sophomore effort, 'The Everglow', which was well received by the rock and punk communities and helped land Mae slots with The Foo Fighters, Weezer and Yellowcard.
Before the releasing of 'Singularity' Mae will tour with The Fray and OK Go, starting June 11 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and running through July 1 in Maryland Heights, Missouri (see dates below). Then Mae will play a headline tour from August 7 to September 7 (dates to be announced). They will also take the stage at the Bumbershoot Festival in Seattle on September 1.
If you've been in search of a band without any pretenses, fabrications or ulterior motives, look no further. Mae are coming your way and the future is in their hands.
Tour dates are below:
06/11 Minneapolis MN Target Center
06/12 Chicago IL Charter One Pavilion
06/13 Chicago IL Charter One Pavilion
06/14 Chicago IL Charter One Pavilion
06/16 Clarkston MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
06/17 Buffalo NY Darien Lake P.A.C
06/18 Cleveland OH Tower City Amphitheatre
06/19 Indianapolis IN The Lawn at White River State Park
06/20 Grand Rapids MI Van Andel Arena
06/22 Toronto ON Molson Amphitheatre
06/23 Mansfield MA Tweeter Center
06/24 Camden NJ Tweeter Center
06/25 Holmdel NJ PNC Banks Arts Center
06/27 Wantagh NY Jones Beach Amphitheatre
06/28 Columbia MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
06/29 Columbus OH Germain Amphitheatre
06/30 Milwaukee WI Marcus Amphitheatre
07/1 Maryland Heights MO UMB Bank Pavilion
08/07 The Social Orlando, FL
08/08 The Orpheum Tampa, FL
08/10 The Casbah Charlotte, NC
08/12 North Star Philadelphia, PA
08/14 Blender Theatre at Gramercy New York, NY
08/15 Middle East - Downstairs Cambridge, MA
08/16 Norva Theatre Norfolk, VA
08/17 Mr. Small's Theatre Pittsburgh, PA
08/18 Shelter Detroit, MI map
08/19 Schubas Tavern Chicago, IL
08/21 The Bottleneck Lawrence, KS
08/23 The Door Dallas, TX map
08/24 The White Rabbit San Antonio, TX
08/27 Soma Sidestage San Diego, CA
08/28 Chain Reaction Anaheim, CA
08/29 The Roxy Los Angeles, CA
08/30 Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, CA
09/01 Seattle Center Bumbershoot Festival Seattle, WA
09/03 The Venue Boise, ID
09/06 Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD
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