Guided By Voices August By Cake (April 7, GBV Inc Records) is the 100th studio album that Robert Pollard has released since 1986's Forever Since Breakfast. To put that in perspective, Bob Dylan has released roughly 39 studio albums since 1959. And that includes the Traveling Wilburys.
A highly anticipated record with the new line-up (returning GBV veterans Doug Gillard and Kevin March, virgins Bobby Bare Jr and Mark Shue) that has been wowing audience in clubs and festivals throughout 2016. It's the most musically adept and versatile line-up Pollard has ever assembled.
With 32 songs, August By Cake is also GBV's first ever double-album, and song contributions from all five bandmembers is additional icing on this particular cake, setting album #100 apart from the previous 99.
The double album is an important format in Pollard's own musical iconography, and he doesn't take the form lightly -- one reason he's planned and abandoned several would-be GBV double albums in the past is his high regard for foundational works like Quadrophenia, the White Album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Daydream Nation, Zen Arcade, Double Nickels On the Dime -- "defining records for these bands," says Pollard. It's important to him that August By Cake not just be a double album but that it be a great double album.
Spring tour dates, including Coachella Festival are below, and there are several surprises in store for 2017.
TOUR DATES
4/7 - St. Louis, MO - Ready Room
4/8 - Oklahoma City, OK - ACM@UCO's Metro Music Fest, The Criterion
4/14 - Indio, CA - Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
4/15 - San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
4/17 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
4/18 - Seattle, WA - Nuemos
4/21 - Indio, CA - Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
4/22 - West Hollywood, CA - The Roxy Theatre
4/28 - Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
4/29 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme
5/5 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
5/6 - Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
