Idlewild to Perform on 'Late Night With David Letterman' on April 11 in Support of Capitol/Odeon Album '100 Broken Windows'.

Entertainment Editors & Music/Television Writers

HOLLYWOOD--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--April 2, 2001

Next Leg of North American Tour Dates Begin April 30 in

Detroit, Opening for Placebo

Capitol recording group Idlewild has struck a resonant chord with American audiences who've kept their brand-new second album, "100 Broken Windows," inside the top 5 on the CMJ Top 200 chart for a second consecutive week.

The Edinburgh (Scotland) based band, whose 3 1/2 star Rolling Stone review hailed their ability to "mine American punk guitars for texture and aggression while pursuing the great British tradition of cheerfully art-damaged lyrical pretension," brought their explosive live show to La Zona Rosa in Austin two weeks ago during their premier North American tour, where they won over the crowd attending the SXSW (South By Southwest) music conference.

Now, following a one-month spring break back home, Idlewild will return to North America on April 30 for another round of tour dates, opening for fellow EMI group Placebo.

While in the U.K., Idlewild will co-headline -- with Catatonia, Toploader, Dumdums, and Wheatus -- a special benefit concert at the Evening News Arena in Manchester on April 28, in support of the Unison Living Wage campaign.

The North American itinerary then begins on April 30 at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit, wrapping up in New York at Irving Plaza on May 29. (See full schedule below.)

Composed of Roddy Woomble (vocals), Rod Jones (guitar), Bob Fairfoull (bass), and Colin Newton (drums), Idlewild's affinity for American rock is an integral part of their identity -- the influences of Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, the Stooges, Sonic Youth, R.E.M., and Nirvana are frequently singled out in Idlewild's music (not to mention the Clash, U2 and the Cure, to give their countrymen due credit).

"100 Broken Windows" earned its wings as the No. 1 entry on Spin magazine's list of "The Ten Best Records You Didn't Hear" for the year 2000. The publication was awed by "guitars that flash like the hearts of a billion rock n roll idealists exploding at once."

-- Rolling Stone: 3 1/2 stars -- "Idlewild radiate the musical vigor and raw
emotion you used to get from American groups just a few years ago";

-- Entertainment Weekly: Rating 'A' -- "Woomble's vocals are backed by rousing
punk guitars and a ceaseless energy. The results are flashes of beauty and
menace..."

-- Los Angeles Daily News: 3 stars -- "Strong, melody-driven rock with great
harmonies and lyrics ... the influence of R.E.M., Nirvana and Sonic Youth is
plainly hard to shake";

-- US: 3 stars -- "The band deftly combines a dynamic guitar attack with
R.E.M.-like melodies ... the perfect soundtrack to play while bouncing off your
bedroom walls";

-- FHM: 4 stars -- "Inspired indie rock ... Their sound, a bit like early Soul
Asylum, has made them favorites across Europe";

-- CMJ: "Idlewild weaves folky guitars, jaunty keyboard lines and assured,
exquisitely structured rhythms into a blanket of romantic, unforgettable
songs";

Roddy Woomble is the first one to acknowledge Idlewild's unexpected effect on listeners. "The roots of the music were always American indie rock, from Sonic Youth to Fugazi," he told Billboard correspondent Eric Aiese. "That's why we've constantly been compared to American bands. (Idlewild) has an American sound to it."

At the same time, their typically Scottish modesty prevents the members of Idlewild from falling prey to the pop-star syndrome. "None of us are exactly what you'd expect," Woomble confessed to Michael Martin of Gear magazine. "I think unassuming is a good word. ... I mean, none of us think we're special just because we're in a band or anything."

IDLEWILD NORTH AMERICAN TOUR (opening for Placebo)

4/30/01           Detroit, MI               St. Andrews Hall
5/01/01           Chicago, IL               Double Door
5/02/01           Minneapolis, MN           First Avenue
5/03/01           Winnipeg, MB              Pyramid Cabaret
5/06/01           Edmonton, AB              Red's
5/07/01           Calgary, AB               The Palace
5/09/01           Vancouver, BC             Commodore Ballroom
5/10/01           Seattle, WA               Crocodile Cafe
5/11/01           Portland, OR              Roseland Theater
5/13/01           San Francisco, CA         Slim's
5/15/01           Hollywood, CA             The Palace
5/19/01           Dallas, TX                Trees
5/20/01           New Orleans, LA           House Of Blues
5/22/01           Atlanta, GA               Roxy Theatre
5/24/01           Washington, DC            9:30 Club
5/25/01           Philadelphia, PA          Theatre Of Living Arts
5/26/01           Boston, MA                Paradise Rock Club
5/29/01           New York, NY              Irving Plaza