Album Review: Titus Andronicus - The Most Lamentable Tragedy

Titus Andronicus’s The Most Lamentable Tragedy is an ambitious record. It’s a 29-song, 93-minute behemoth held together through impeccable pacing, creative composition and a seriousness for its vision and subject matter. “Punk Rock Opera” is a silly sounding phrase, but frontman Patrick Stickles has made a record that lends it a new respect.

Despite its intimidating overall length, The Most Lamentable Tragedy is approachable. Twenty five of the tracks clock in under 5 minutes. The second track is part four of the familiar “No Future” song cycle and gives fans a cathartic line — “I hate to be awake” — to shout over and over like they have with so many other Titus Andronicus songs.

Titus Andronicus announces 'TMLT Around the World' tour

Photo by Matthew Greeley

As we first told you last month, Titus Andronicus has joined the Merge Records family and will release their epic new album The Most Lamentable Tragedy via the label on July 28. Now the band has announced the TMLT Around the World tour in support of the album that includes the Triangle as the fourth stop on the jaunt.

The band will play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Monday, September 14. Spider Bags and Baked will open. Tickets will go on sale at noon on Friday, June 5, via Ticketfly for $10.

In addition to announcing the tour, Titus Andronicus just released the music video for the second single from the album, "Fatal Flaw." Check it out below.

Titus Andronicus signs to Merge Records, releasing new album this summer

Jersey indie punk rockers Titus Andronicus are returning this year with their first new album in three years this summer and it will be their first for Durham's own Merge Records.

The new album is a five-act rock opera titled The Most Lamentable Tragedy that will be out on July 28 on two CDs, three LPs, or as a digital download. Check out the lyric video for the song "Dimed Out" from the new album below.

A proper tour in support of the album has not been announced yet but the band will play five nights a Shea Stadium in Brooklyn on July 24-28.

Titus Andronicus announces spring tour, coming Chapel Hill

New Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus have reportedly been working on a 33-song rock opera-esque album about manic depression that is expected out in the fall but in the meantime the band will hit the road for a few shows in the spring that will include a stop in the Triangle.

The band will play Local 506 in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, May 20. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketfly for $12.

Check out Titus Andronicus performing the song "Still Life with Hot Deuce and Silver Plater" from their album Local Business on KUTX in Austin last year below.

Titus Andronicus announces spring tour with The So So Glos

New Jersey rockers Titus Andronicus are gearing up for a big tour this spring in support of their latest album Local Business and they'll be taking Brooklyn band The So So Glos along for the ride on the Bright Back the Dudes Tour.

The bands will play Motorco Music Hall in Durham on Friday, May 17. Tickets are on sale now HERE for $10.

Check out the music video for "In a Big City" from the album Local Business below. Also check out the music video for "Son of an American" from The So So Glos forthcoming album Blowout due out on April 23 down there too.

Titus Andronicus, Mac McCaughan & Spider Bags to play early voting event in Durham

Early voting has begun in North Carolina and a trio of performers will gather in Durham this Friday to spread the word.

Titus Andronicus, Mac McCaughan (of Superchunk and Portastatic) and Spider Bags will play Durham Central Park on Friday, October 26. The event is scheduled to start at 11 a.m., with music starting at noon, and run until about 1:30 p.m. Check out the performance schedule below.

There will also be food served by The Lantern of Chapel Hill and Toast of Durham so you can grab lunch while you check out some great music.

2011 Hopscotch Festival adds 14 bands, 1 venue & rolls out schedule

Titus Andronicus

The Hopscotch Music Festival has added 14 new bands to the 2011 lineup, bringing the total performers up to 150.

The new additions are Titus Andronicus, Times New Viking, Vivian Girls, Coliseum, White Ring, Pepper Rabbit, Bass Drum of Death, Diamond Rings, Xray Eyeballs, D-Town Brass, The Hairs, Brain Flannel, North Elementary and Temperance League.

Tvek was originally scheduled to perform, but has had to cancel their tour including the Hopscotch performance due to a family wedding.

Titus Andronicus tour relentlessly, coming to Chapel Hill & Carrboro

New Jersey indie punk band Titus Andronicus are still riding high on their 2010 album The Monitor and will be touring relentlessly in the spring, not only headlining shows, but opening shows for Bright Eyes and Okkervil River.

We already told you about Titus opening for Okkervil River at the Cat's Cradle on Wednesday, June 1 along with Future Islands, but the band will stop for a headline gig just up the street in April.

The band will play Gerrard Hall the Historic Playmakers Theater on UNC's campus on Monday, April 25. Ticket info is not available yet, but the show is being organized by the school's College Union Activities Board (CUAB), which means tickets for students will likely be super cheap. We'll keep you posted about tickets once the info is available. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 for the public and $1 for UNC students with a OneCard. Skinny Women will open the show.

Okkervil River announces 2011 tour, coming to Carrboro

Photo by Alexandra Valenti

Will Sheff and his gang of musicians known as Okkervil River are gearing up for the release of their new album I Am Very Far on May 10. A tour will follow in June and will bring the group to the Triangle.

They'll play the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro on Wednesday, June 1. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 4 via etix for $16.

[UPDATE: Titus Andronicus and Future Islands will open the show. That's a hell of a lineup.]

Titus Andronicus & Free Energy team up for big tour, coming to Durham

Two of the most talked about up and coming bands around, Titus Andronicus and Free Energy, are teaming up for a month of dates in August and September. Both bands have been in the Triangle recently, Titus Andronicus in April (see the review here) and Free Energy in early June (see the review and photos here).

The bands will play the Duke Coffeehouse in Durham on Tuesday, Sept. 21. Details of the show have not been announced yet, as the coffeehouse is closed for the summer, but we'll keep you updated once new info emerges.

Check out the full tour schedule for the pair below.

Titus Andronicus, Spider Bags, The Dry Heathens leave ears ringing at Local 506

As evidenced by the throngs of fans packing Local 506 to the gills, concerns about Monday morning responsibilities are few when the mighty Titus Andronicus is in town. The New Jersey rockers were supported by Durham’s Dry Heathens and Carrboro-based Spider Bags for one of the best — and loudest – lineups of the year.

The Dry Heathens burned through 10 songs in just under 30 minutes. Guitarist Steve Oliva’s energy was over-the-top and his red-laced Converse seemed to never stop moving. Just as it felt like they were settling in, Dry Heathens closed with the righteous “Splendid Little War,” leaving the crowd ready for more.