Pitchfork

Sloppy-punk garage rawk bands the Ponys and the Black Lips will bond over their similarities on a previously announced tour of the U.S. next month. The Ponys are hitting the road the road in support of their forthcoming Turn the Lights Out (March 20, Matador), and the Black Lips in support of the live record Los Valientes del Mundo Nuevo (out today on Vice).

The bands will spend some time apart as well. Tonight, the Ponys launch a short UK/Euro stint with a gig in London. They'll return to North America in March for a series of springtime shows, several of which are with Deerhunter, including a stop at the Pitchfork Music Festival/Windish Agency SXSW day party at Emo's/Emo's Jr. on March 16.

The Black Lips play their hometown of Atlanta tonight, and London a whopping six times in the coming weeks.

In other Ponys news, Turn the Lights Out marks the third entry into Matador's Buy Early Get Now pre-order promotion. Those committing to the album before it comes out will receive some special gifts: a stream of the new LP, an exclusive B-side (the intriguingly titled "Festival Ghost"), and an exclusive download of an EP's worht of tracks recorded at Chicago's Schubas Tavern on January 12 of this year. (Hey, that show sounds familiar...) An exclusive poster designed by Melissa Elias is also up for grabs while supplies last.

Ponys live EP tracklist:

01 1209 Seminary
02 Exile on My Street
03 Turn the Lights Out
04 Poser Psychotic
05 Pickpocket Song
06 Virus Human
07 I Wanna Fuck You

The Ponys/Black Lips dates:

03-18 Houston, TX - Mink
03-19 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jack's
03-21 Atlanta, GA - Earl
03-22 Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
03-23 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
03-24 Washington DC - Black Cat
03-25 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's
03-26 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
03-27 Cambridge, MA - T.T. the Bear's Place
03-28 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa
03-29 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
03-30 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick
03-31 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium

The Ponys dates:

02-20 London, Barfly
02-21 Paris, France - Maroquinerie *
02-22 London, England - Sonic Cathedral at Legion
02-23 London, England - Dirty Water Club at Boston Arms
03-03 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill (Noise Pop)
03-13 Memphis, TN - Young Avenue Deli
03-15 Austin, TX - Emo's Inside (SXSW)
03-16 Austin, TX - Emo's/Emo's Jr. (SXSW; Pitchfork/Windish Agency party) +#
03-17 Austin, TX - Mohawk (SXSW)
03-17 Austin, TX - Red 7
04-06 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar #
04-07 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge #
04-10 Seattle, WA - Neumos #
04-11 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards #
04-12 Portland, OR - Dante's #
04-13 San Francisco, CA - 12 Galaxies #
04-14 Los Angeles, CA - Echo #

* with Girls Against Boys
+ with Peter Bjorn & John, Girl Talk, Menomena, RJD2, the Pipettes, Do Make Say Think, Simian Mobile Disco, Fujiya & Miyagi, Beach House, Marnie Stern, Crystal Castles
# with Deerhunter

Black Lips dates:

02-20 Atlanta, GA - Criminal Records
02-22 Birmingham, AL - BottleTree Cafe
02-23 Roswell, GA - Whirlyball Atlanta
02-24 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
02-26 London, England - Luminaire
02-28 London, England - Bardens Boudoir
03-01 London, England - Montague Arms
03-02 Paris, France - Vice party
03-03 London, England - Scala
03-04 London, England - Coronet
03-07 London, England - Old Blue Last
03-15 Austin, TX - Flamingo Cantina (Vice SXSW showcase)
04-01 Milwaukee, WI - Mad Planet
04-03 Nashville, TN - End
04-20 Athens, GA - Blackout Fest