Explosions in the Sky - A Band You Need To Know

If like me your desire to see the Re-Smashing Pumpkins, that is 1/2 of the Smashing Pumpkins, playing live has dwindled since the release of Billy Corgan's latest solo album Zeitgeist, you should do yourself a favor starting in October and go anyway just to see the opening band, Explosions in the Sky. Seriously, the Pumpkins in their prime could blow away most bands on stage, but the quality of the songs have declined, and again, we're only talking about 1/2 of the original lineup. Do yourself a favor and go see Silversun Pickups (Kissing Families")if you want the classic Pumpkins sound.


Enough of that shit though, let's talk Explosions in the Sky (MySpace). What are they? Who are they. Simply, they are a Texas quartet whose setup includes a drum set and three guitars (sometimes two guitars and a bass). Together they are able to create a complex, layered sprawling ring of music that completely envelopes you. I've put together a mix below that I use at work to completely block everything out. And as a note attached to their demo by fellow Texans, the American Analog, said, "This totally f*cking destroys." I can't think of a better way to put it.

A Song For Our Fathers (How Strange, Innocence)

Catastrophe and the Cure (All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone)

First Breath After Coma (The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place)

Have You Passed Through This Night? (Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever)

It's Natural To Be Afraid (All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone)

The Birth and Death of the Day (All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone)

The Moon is Down (Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever)

The Only Moment We Were Alone (The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place)

Welcome, Ghosts (All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone)

Your Hand in Mine (The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place)

A Poor Man's Memory (Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell The Truth Shall Live Forever)
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Here are the remaining tour dates:
Aug 5 @ Virgin Festival, Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD
Sep 8 @ Oshega Festival, Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, QC
Sep 9 @ Virgin Festival, Toronto Island Park, Toronto, ON
Sep 22 @ Wall of Sound Festival, Fort Worth, TX
Oct 11 @ LC Pavillion, Columbus, OH w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 13 @ Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 15 @ Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 16 @ Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 19 @ Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 21 @ Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 22 @ Tower Theatre, Philadelphia, PA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 25 @ Mud Island Amphitheatre, Memphis, TN w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 30 @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Oct 31 @ Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
Nov 5 @ Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN w/ The Smashing Pumpkins