Pitchfork

When it was announced that stoner-shoegaze fuzzmeisters Black Mountain would be the opening act on the first half of Coldplay's current American tour, a collective cry of "WTF?!" echoed across the land. Would the Canadian noisemakers strip naked and conduct elaborate fire rituals, sacrificing babies to appease the Gods of the Tweeter Centers? Would angry Paste magazine subscribers throw Grande latte cozies and $5 water bottles at the stage?

Alas, it was not to be. Various sources have reported that the Cold Black Play Mountain trek, which still has a week-and-a-half to go, is just another case of the indie/corporate mismatch that leaves audiences befuddled and slightly bored (see also: Sonic Youth opening for Neil Young, Sonic Youth opening for R.E.M., Sonic Youth opening for Pearl Jam). Pitchfork spoke to Black Mountain main man Stephen McBean about his time in the spotlight, as the Mountainmobile wound its way through the Wisconsin countryside. "It's really not our scene," he said. "It's kind of strange. We feel so separated from the audience, it's kind of alienating. We're playing in the daylight, outside. There hasn't been any hostility. There's been people yelling 'Freebird' and shit. But mostly nobody seems too excited."

However, the past two weeks haven't been completely devoid of drama for Black Mountain. According to the folks at Secretly Canadian/Jagjaguwar, the tour was almost derailed before it even started. McBean became bogged down in immigration red tape at the last minute, causing the band to miss a pre-tour gig with the Hold Steady in New York City on August 5 as well as the Coldplay kickoff in Hartford, Conn., on Aug 4. But the Hartford show did not go without some freaky Canadian indie lovin', as the crowd was treated to an impromptu set by the Black Mountain side project Blood Meridian. A label press release tells the tale of that fateful evening: "The Black Mountaineers, without Stephen McBean, rushed to the Hartford show. They got stuck in traffic getting into the Meadows Music Center, and band member Matt Camirand grabbed an acoustic guitar and ran through the traffic and to the gates of the arena, where he got a security guard to escort him right to the stage, where Coldplay's tour manager was awaiting him with some beers. Matt proceeded to play a 20-minute solo Blood Meridian set to a sold-out stadium." Wait, Coldplay drink beer?

Luckily for those of us who couldn't make the trek out to the arenas and sheds, Black Mountain recently announced that they will be found in their natural habitat-- grimy rawk clubs-- throughout the coming months. A tour across the U.S. and Canada will carry both the Mountain and the Meridian through September. Meanwhile, those sweet, fresh-faced kids in Rilo Kiley will take over the Coldplay opening slot. And all will be right with the universe.

Black Mountain tour dates:

08-17 Portland, OR - Amphitheater at Clark County *
08-19 San Francisco, CA - Shoreline Amphitheater *
08-20 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *
08-21 Irvine, CA - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater *
08-24 Albuquerque, NM - Journal Pavilion *
08-25 Phoenix, AZ - Cricket Pavilion *
08-26 San Diego, CA - Coors Amphitheater *
08-27 Los Angeles, CA - Sunset Junction Street Fair @
08-27 Los Angeles, CA - Hanging Jury
08-28 San Francisco, CA - The Independent $
09-13 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards &
09-20 Minneapolis, MN - Seventh Street Entry #
09-21 Chicago, IL - Schubas #
09-22 Bloomington, IN - Second Story #
09-23 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasants #
09-24 Youngstown, OH - Cedars Lounge #
09-25 Philadelphia, PA - Khyber #
09-26 Washington, DC - Warehouse Nextdoor #
09-27 Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's #
09-28 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge #
09-29 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Upstairs #
09-30 Montreal, Quebec - Théâtre National #
10-01 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace #
10-02 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick #
10-03 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon #
10-04 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Royal Albert Arms #
10-05 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Amigos Cantina #

* with Coldplay
@ with Rilo Kiley, John Cale, the Walkmen, more
$ with Parchment Farm
& with S.T.R.E.E.T.S., Christa Min
# with Blood Meridian, Ladyhawk

href=http://pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-05/31.shtml#black>Black Mountain to Join Coldplay on tour
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