MARIA TAYLOR W/MORE TOUR DATES

By Fred Mills

BLURT heroine Maria Taylor has resumed roadwork behind her critically acclaimed 2007 album Lynn Teeter Flower. The current tour boasts sponsorship by Daytrotter and it kicked off last weekend; it wraps July 12 in California.

Of that album, a certain now-defunct magazine that you may remember fondly (take a wild guess) had these words of praise:

“Maria Taylor has already shown that she’s capable of crafting both precious dreampop, as one half of Azure Ray, and Postal Service-inspired electronica, on her 2005 solo debut 11:11. But who knew she could actually rock? The ten tracks on Lynn Teeter Flower show a new, remarkably varied, side of Taylor, juxtaposing her gorgeous falsetto with driving guitars, electronic flourishes and deftly woven arrangements. Opener ‘A Good Start’ is a downbeat pop track with hooks so deep they’ll slit your skin; ‘Replay’ features swinging synths and vocals reminiscent of erstwhile Saddle Creek labelmate Jenny Lewis; and ‘My Own Fault’ is a hypnotizing drum machine-driven march to heaven. However, the breakout track on Lynn Teeter Flower is ironically also the most stripped-down: ‘Clean Getaway,’ a heartbreaking paean to moving on that’s so bittersweet it’ll make you wince.”

Hey, who are we to argue? Here’s the complete list of tour dates:

Maria Taylor Tour Dates:

Mon-Jun-09, Dallas, TX, Granada

Tue-Jun-10, Austin, TX, Emo's

Wed-Jun-11, Baton Rouge, LA, Spanish Moon

Thu-Jun-12, Birmingham, AL, Workplay

Fri-Jun-13, Atlanta, GA, Smith's Olde Bar

Sat-Jun-14, Athens, GA, Caledonia Lounge

Sun-Jun-15, Charleston, SC,  Village Tavern

Mon-Jun-16, Carrboro, NC, Cat's Cradle

Wed-Jun-18, New York, NY, Knitting Factory

Thu-Jun-19, Washington, DC, Rock and Roll Hotel

Fri-Jun-20, Philadelphia, PA, The Barbary

Sat-Jun-21, Kingston, NY, Free Wall Street Party

Mon-Jun-23, Boston, MA, The Paradise

Tue-Jun-24, Hamden, CT, The Space

Thu-Jun-26, Toronto, ONT, El Mocambo

Fri-Jun-27, Detroit, MI, Magic Stick

Sat-Jun-28, Chicago, IL, Beat Kitchen

Sun-Jun-29, Chicago, IL, Belmont Arts & Music Festival

Mon-Jun-30, Minneapolis, MN, 7th Street Entry

Tue-Jul-01, Omaha, NE, Waiting Room

Wed-Jul-02, Denver, CO, The Hi-Dive

Thu-Jul-03, Salt Lake City, UT, Kilby Court

Fri-Jul-04, Boise, ID, Neurolux

Sat-Jul-05, Portland, OR, Doug Fir

Sun-Jul-06, Seattle, WA, Tractor Tavern

Wed-Jul-09, San Francisco, CA, Bottom of the Hill

Thu-Jul-10, Visalia, CA, Cellar Door

Fri-Jul-11, Los Angeles, CA, Echoplex

Sat-Jul-12, Sonoma, CA, Gundlach Bundschu Winery

 ***

6/5-7/12 with Johnathan Rice

6/5-7 with Taylor Hollingsworth

6/9-7/12 with Nik Freitas