Pitchfork

Seventy-one-year-old reggae, dub, and general production pioneer Lee "Scratch" Perry will begin a casual stroll along the East Coast (in shoes like these, we hope) tonight in Cambridge, Massachusetts. NYC combo Dub Is a Weapon, who've worked with Perry before, will serve as his backing band.

Perry's East Coast dates end just a week after they begin, but he currently has four August dates scheduled in California, with more West Coast dates forthcoming.

Like Sir Paul McCartney, Perry is planning to work with Starbucks on an upcoming 2007 release, though details behind that deal have not yet emerged.

UPDATE: THE STARBUCKS PROJECT HAS BEEN CANCELED.

One Perry project that does have a few (albeit still semi-vague) details attached to it is his appearance on a forthcoming TV show called "Smokeshow". The creator and host of the program is none other than talkative party animal Andrew W.K., who will interview Perry for his appearance on the show at an early stop on the aforementioned tour.

Between interviews and special guests, "Smokeshow" will also document Andrew W.K.'s wide assortment of activities and performances (rocking, public speaking, applying grease to his hair, etc.). The show is tentatively scheduled for a fall or winter premiere.

Dates:

06-08 Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Downstairs
06-09 Burlington, VT - Discover Jazz Festival
06-10 Philadelphia, PA - World Café Live
06-12 Northhampton, MA - Pearl Street
06-13 Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
06-14 New York, NY - B.B. King Blues Club
06-15 Falls Church, VA - State Theatre
06-16 Bridgeport, CT - Mertens Theatre (University of Bridgeport) *
08-02 Saratoga, CA - Lilian Fontaine Garden Theatre (Montalvo Arts Center) #
08-03 Piercy, CA - Reggae on the River
08-04 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
08-05 San Francisco, CA - The Independent

* with Toots and the Maytals
# with Charlie Hunter Trio