This photo by Tim Lytvinenko.

“Ten Tour Highlights 2011” by Missy Thangs of The Love Language

1. Coachella VIP Coachella VIP Coachella VIP

2. Playing a show with Arcade Fire in Sante Fe, NM!! Meeting the band! Fan moment.  Still one of the best live bands out there.

3. Homecoming show with Telekinesis! at Local 506: Stu slams guitar on amp, ending the “red guitar” era… nasty words, selfless dancing, crowd surfing, barfing, three encores. There’s no place like home.

4. Disney World. Yes, a whole epic day in Disneyland eating turkey legs, riding kids’ rides, stuff like that… definitely dropped tears on the “It’s A Small World Ride.”  We skipped sound check that night to see the fireworks and listen to Jiminy Cricket tell us our dreams were coming true.  More tears.

5. Better than a house show party was Delilah’s on Cayuga in Ithaca, NY.  We played with rockers Tropical Punk and The Music Band.  This is where kids drink straight gin out of bottles and nurse you with ‘em while you’re playing.

6. Stage diving and crowd surfing to “Brittney’s Back” at the Soapbox Laundr-o-Lounge in Wilmington, NC. Om mani padme om.  We were such a sweaty mess after the show, everyone threw their clothes in the lounge dryers and hung out in our underwear.

7. Band fight, missed sound check over stopping at Grimaldi’s pizza in Brooklyn.  After all the tension, we still went.  Worth it.

8. Two days of straight up fried chicken for every meal. Think regular stops at random fried chicken joints as you’re crossing the heartland. The best hands down was Bolton’s spicy fried chicken in Memphis, TN.

9. Spotting Mme Plaster Caster at our show with Telekinesis! at Schuba’s in Chicago, IL! As far as I know, no plasters were made…

10. Still to this day wonder who farted during our show at the Noise Pop Festival Café Du Nord in San Francisco.  Yes, it was that distracting.

The opening reception is free to the public and will take place at Motorco on Friday, October 7, from 6–9pm. Following the reception will be a show with local bands Organos, Free Electric State, and Merge favorites Pipe. Admission is $6.

See the poster below for full details or visit the Minus Sound Research website.

Thursday, Sep. 8 @ 11 pm:
The Love Language – The Lincoln Theatre

Friday, Sep. 9 @ 12:30 am (Saturday morning):
Hospitality – The Union

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 6:45 pm:
Superchunk – City Plaza w/ The Flaming Lips and Dreamers of the Ghetto [tickets]

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 12:30 am (Sunday morning):
Times New Viking – The Union

Saturday, Sep. 10 @ 12:30 am (Sunday morning):
KORT (Kurt Wagner of Lambchop and Cortney Tidwell) – Kings Barcade

In addition, there will be a few FREE Merge-related daytime activities:

Friday, Sep. 9, 2-4 pm: Foundation will host a Wild Flag listening party. Come by for great music, drink specials, and door prizes.

Friday, Sep. 9, 3-5 pm: Stuart McLamb of The Love Language will participate in an artist-and-author discussion panel called “Simple Words: The Power of Narrative Songs” at the Raleigh City Museum. Seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Saturday, Sep. 10, 11 am-5:30 pm: Hopscotch presents The Rosebuds & Friends, a block party outside the Lincoln Theatre. The seven-band lineup concludes with a performance by The Rosebuds at 4 pm. Food will be provided by Ashley Christensen and AC Restaurants, the proceeds from which will benefit the Frankie Lemmon Foundation.

And finally, SHOPscotch, a temporary pop-up store, will be open in Raleigh’s historic City Market every day during Hopscotch and on Sunday the 11th. This is the place to get Merge releases as well as records, t-shirts, and other merchandise from some of the festival’s participating bands. Business hours and more details can be found here.

Watch a clip of The Love Language on the road, and see them this weekend in DC and New York!

Aug 19 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel
Aug 20 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop
Sep 08 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Music Festival

Jordan & Stu McLamb played a few songs on the street for Boston’s Sleepover Shows. Watch Heart to Tell above, and Sparxxx & Summer Dust on the Sleepover Shows website.

Libraries is in stores now.

The Love Language on tour:
Aug 19 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel
Aug 20 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop
Sep 08 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Music Festival

Stuart spoke with Mark from Under the Radar live from backstage at Coachella. Part 2 is here!

The Love Language are finishing up their week-long residency at Slim’s in Raleigh tonight and will continue their tour in support of Libraries throughout May!

The Love Language on tour:

May 6 Raleigh, NC Slim’s Downtown
May 10 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle
May 11 Atlanta, GA The Earl
May 13 Birmingham, AL Secret Stages Festival
May 14 Athens, GA Caledonia Lounge
May 17 Tampa, FL New World Brewery
May 18 Orlando, FL Will’s Pub
May 19 St. Augustine, FL Cafe Eleven
May 20 Charleston, SC Tin Roof
May 21 Columbia, SC Art Bar
May 27 Haw River, NC The Haw River Ballroom
May 29 Wilmington, NC Soapbox Laundrolounge

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

The Love Language on tour:

Apr 9 Augusta, GA  Sky City
Apr 10 New Orleans, LA  Hi Ho Lounge
Apr 11 Houston, TX  Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Apr 12 Austin, TX  Stubb’s Jr.
Apr 14 Tucson, AZ  Solar Culture Gallery
Apr 16 Indio, CA  Coachella
Apr 18 Sante Fe, NM  Sante Fe Convention Center with Arcade Fire
Apr 19 Norman, OK  The Opolis
Apr 20 Little Rock, AR  Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
Apr 21 Nashville, TN  The End
Apr 22 Knoxville, TN  The Pilot Light
Apr 23 Greensboro, NC  Blind Tiger
May 3 Raleigh, NC Slim’s
May 4 Raleigh, NC Slim’s
May 5 Raleigh, NC Slim’s
May 6 Raleigh, NC Slim’s
May 13 Birmingham, AL  Secret Stages Fest

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store. And watch this video of Telekinesis joining The Love Language on stage for “Brittany’s Back” at the last show of their co-headlining tour!

The Love Language on tour:

Apr 9 Augusta, GA  Sky City
Apr 10 New Orleans, LA  Hi Ho Lounge
Apr 11 Houston, TX  Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
Apr 12 Austin, TX  Stubb’s Jr.
Apr 14 Tucson, AZ  Solar Culture Gallery
Apr 16 Indio, CA  Coachella
Apr 18 Sante Fe, NM  Sante Fe Convention Center with Arcade Fire
Apr 19 Norman, OK  The Opolis
Apr 20 Little Rock, AR  Stickyz Rock-n-Roll Chicken Shack
Apr 21 Nashville, TN  The End
Apr 22 Knoxville, TN  The Pilot Light
Apr 23 Greensboro, NC  Blind Tiger
May 13 Birmingham, AL  Secret Stages Fest

Click to view the Merge Madness poster in full!

To celebrate “Merge Madness,” local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Superchunk kicks off the madness on March 4 with their first show at the Cat’s Cradle since before the release of Majesty Shredding. Next, WILD FLAG will play Local 506 on March 11. WILD FLAG is the new “supergroup” featuring Carrie Brownstein, Mary Timony, Janet Weiss and Rebecca Cole. On March 12, Wye Oak will celebrate the release of their third album Civilian at Local 506. Telekinesis and The Love Language will wrap up Merge Madness on March 13 with an already sold out show at Local 506.

To celebrate, local record stores (listed below) will be giving away these collectible 12″ x 18″ screenprinted posters designed by our very own Maggie Fost, with the purchase of any full-length release from Merge.

Tickets are already gone for the Telekinesis / Love Language show and are going fast for the other three, so don’t waste any time getting your tickets to Superchunk, WILD FLAG & Wye Oak!

Visit the Merge store for new albums from Superchunk, Wye Oak, Telekinesis & The Love Language!

Merge Madness shows!
Mar 4 Superchunk @ Cat’s Cradle
Mar 11 WILD FLAG @ Local 506
Mar 12 Wye Oak @ Local 506
Mar 13 Telekinesis & The Love Language @ Local 506 *SOLD OUT*

Get your limited-edition Merge Madness poster at the following stores beginning Tuesday, Feb 22:
Schoolkids in Raleigh
Offbeat Records in Durham
Bull City Records in Durham
CD Alley in Chapel Hill
All Day Records in Carrboro

The Love Language are on tour starting tomorrow night in Wilmington! Their Merge debut, Libraries, is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/ Telekinesis
Jan 14 Wilmington, NC – The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge w/ Onward Soldiers
Jan 15 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Jan 22 Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger
Feb 09 Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
Feb 10 Ithaca, NY – Delilah’s on Cayuga
Feb 12 Madison, WI – Der Rathskeller
Feb 14 Des Moines, IA – Vaudeville Mews
Feb 16 Denver, CO – Hi Dive
Feb 19 Seattle, WA – High Dive
Feb 20 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge*
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA – Cafe Du Nord w/ Versus & Telekinesis (Noise Pop Festival)
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA – The Echo*
Feb 25 San Diego, CA – The Casbah*
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ – The Sail Inn*
Feb 28 Norman, OK – The Opolis*
Mar 01 Omaha, NE – Slowdown Jr*
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry*
Mar 03 Milwaukee, WI – Linnemans
Mar 04 Chicago, IL – Schubas*
Mar 05 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick*
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA – TT the Bear’s Place*
Mar 09 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge*
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY – The Rock Shop*
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s*
Mar 12 Washington, DC – The Red Palace*
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA – The Earl*

BJ & Stuart on halloween

Favorite Albums of 2010:

Birds of Avalon – “Birds of Avalon”
Not sure if this has been released yet, but this record slays in just about every angle.

War on Drugs – “Future Weather EP”
Probably played this guy a dozen times on the drive from Austin to LA this year. Can not wait for their next one.

Wye Oak – “My Neighbor/My Creator”
So glad to meet these guys this year and be introduced to their brilliance. A couple of shredders for sure. This record gives me chills at times.

Gayngs – “Relayted”
A super group of good friends who party harder than you do, and made one smooth ass record.

Tallest Man on Earth – “The Wild Hunt”
If you can get on board with Kristian’s beast of an incredible voice, he’ll take you to some pretty sweet places with his music.

Sharon Van Etten – “Epic”
Dark, beautiful and intimate. I’m a sucker for harmonium as well.

Here We Go Magic – “Pigeons”
Jen Turner is one hell of an engineer, and I love these songs.

Local Natives – “Gorilla Manor”
Justin and Jordan played Sun Hands waaayy too many times in the van this year. But I’m not complaining

Like last year, I made a mix tape of my favorite music from my home state, North Carolina. This year I focused exclusively on music coming out of NC’s triangle area (Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill). This hardly showcases the breadth of talent this particular scene has to offer but only so many songs could fit on a 45 minute mix. With every tour and venture out of town, I am consistently reminded of how great it is to call this place home. The songs are available for free download (with the artist/label’s consent of course). Enjoy!

Note: Beach Body is our bass player Justin Rodermond’s project and he had that song title long before another certain Merge band released theirs! :)

Click to download For Lokols.
01. The Dirty Little Heaters – City Square  (Churchkey)
02. Gross Ghost – Leslie  (Grip Tapes)
03. Last Year’s Men – I’ll Be Gone  (Churchkey)
04. Penname – U R U N I M E  (Self Released)
05. Veelee – Blood’s Sake  (Grip Tapes)
06. The Moaners – Ramblin’  (Holidays for Quince)
07. Old Bricks – Splinter  (Grip Tapes)
08. Naps – Beast in the Jungle  (Digg Up Tapes)
09. Cassis Orange – Listen Heartbeat  (Grip Tapes)
10. Beach Body – Month of May  (Song Donkey)
11. Spiderbags – Take It Easy Tonite  (Churchkey)
12. Towers - Big Sky  (Self Released)
13. Shit Horse - Get Out of My Face  (Odessa)
14. Jeremy Walton – Eden  (Self Released)
15. Wild Wild Geese – Stuck Inside  (Odessa)

Telekinesis are touring in support of their new album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines which is available for pre-order on CD and LP in the Merge store. The Love Language’s Merge debut, Libraries is available on CD, LP, and digital download in the Merge store, too!

Full tour dates for both bands are listed below, and follow The Love Language & Telekinesis on twitter.

Telekinesis on tour:
* = w/ The Love Language
Feb 18 Bellingham, WA  Jinx Arts Space
Feb 20 Portland, OR  Doug Fir Lounge *
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Versus & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA  The Echo *
Feb 25 San Diego, CA  The Casbah *
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ  The Sail Inn *
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *
Mar 01 Omaha, NE  Slowdown Jr *
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN  7th St. Entry *
Mar 04 Chicago, IL  Schubas *
Mar 05 Detroit, MI  Magic Stick *
Mar 06 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
Mar 07 Montreal, QC  Casa Del Popolo
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA  TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY  Mercury Lounge *
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA  Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 12 Washington, DC  The Red Palace *
Mar 13 Chapel Hill, NC  Local 506
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA  The Earl *
Mar 22 Denver, CO  Hi Dive
Mar 23 Salt Lake City, UT  Kilby Court
Mar 24 Boise, ID  Neurolux
Mar 26 Seattle, WA  The Crocodile
Mar 27 Vancouver, BC  Media Club

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/ Telekinesis
Jan 14 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge w/ Onward Soldiers
Jan 15 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle
Feb 20 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge *
Feb 23 San Francisco, CA Noise Pop Festival – Cafe Du Nord w/ Telekinesis & The Love Language
Feb 24 Los Angeles, CA The Echo *
Feb 25 San Diego, CA The Casbah *
Feb 26 Tempe, AZ The Sail Inn *
Feb 28 Norman, OK The Opolis *
Mar 01 Omaha, NE Slowdown Jr *
Mar 02 Minneapolis, MN 7th St. Entry *
Mar 04 Chicago, IL Schubas *
Mar 05 Detroit, MI Magic Stick *
Mar 08 Cambridge, MA TT the Bear’s Place *
Mar 09 New York, NY Mercury Lounge *
Mar 10 Brooklyn, NY The Rock Shop *
Mar 11 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s *
Mar 12 Washington, DC The Red Palace *
Mar 14 Atlanta, GA The Earl *

Spoon: Transference + “Written in Reverse” 7-inch

She & Him: Volume One + Volume Two (CD and LP)

Superchunk: Majesty Shredding + On the Mouth + No Pocky for Kitty (CD and LP)

Destroyer: reissues of City of Daughters + Thief + Streethawk: A Seduction (CD only)

Telekinesis: Parallel Seismic Conspiracies EP + Record Store Day 7-inch

The Love Language: Libraries + Record Store Day split 7-inch

Let’s Wrestle: In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s + Record Store Day split 7-inch

The Love Language/Let’s Wrestle + Telekinesis Record Store Day limited-edition 7-inches

Each full-length from Merge freshmen Telekinesis, Wye Oak, The Love Language, and Let’s Wrestle

All orders in the Merge store include free shipping and it’s not too late to use our Holiday Coupon and all orders over $150 get a free tote bag designed by The Clientele’s Alasdair Maclean!

That will change December 9 and 10, 2010 when Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC hosts Stroke It, Noel, a special performance of this important piece of music. The all-star band will include Jody Stephens (Big Star), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Chris Stamey (the dB’s), and Jeff Crawford and Charles Cleaver (the Tomahawks). North Carolina’s own acclaimed chamber pop group Lost in the Trees, as well as members of Birds and Arrows and the NC Symphony, will comprise the orchestra. Guest vocalists will include members of the Love Language, the Old Ceremony, Megafaun, The Rosebuds and other special guests. In addition to performing Sister Lovers in its entirety, the band will play a few additional Big Star and Chris Bell selections during the show.

The concerts will be filmed as a major component of “Nothing Can Hurt Me: The Big Star Story,” a documentary film by Danielle McCarthy and Drew DeNicola slated for 2011 release.

Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 day of show and are available at www.catscradle.com or by calling the Cat’s Cradle box office at (919)967-9053.

Proceeds from the concerts will be donated to two charities focused on improving the lives of musicians–KidZNotes of Durham, NC and the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. KidZNotes is focused on classical and orchestral music training in pre-school years as a means to combat poverty and foster positive decision-making in inner cities. The New Orleans Musicians Clinic provides affordable, comprehensive health care to musicians.

KEXP has posted video of The Love Language playing live in their studio. Visit the KEXP Radio page on YouTube to see them all. The Love Language are working on 2011 tour dates, and you can see them at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC on January 15.

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store. Also, we now have Love Language t-shirts!

The Love Language will play The Silver Factory Gala after-party at Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill. A benefit for The Ackland Art Museum exhibit and education programs, The Silver Factory Gala is an avant-garde evening of fine food and drink, performances, live music, and dancing at the Top of the Hill and the Ackland Art Museum, all in the spirit of Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory.

Picture the scene: Art is being made on the floor and the walls around you, you’re rubbing shoulders with poets and musicians, the room is abuzz with an air of celebrit…A photographer snaps pictures of the crowd…Silver balloons float by…

7:00 PM — The GALA begins at the Top of the Hill — enjoy delicious food, signature drinks, instant photos, live music by the Shakedown, on-site portrait making by artist Louis St. Lewis, and silk screening by Ron Liberti.

8:00 PM — The Ackland Art Museum opens its doors to all GALA ticket holders and guests may move between the two venues (mind the paparazzi on the red carpet!). The evening continues with Warhol-inspired screen tests, period music, gallery tours, and poetry performances by The Sacrificial Poets.

10:30 PM — THE AFTER PARTY begins. Enjoy great food and free beer at Top of the Hill. Local indie-rock legends The Love Language perform at 11 PM. A midnight dance party includes Deejay Pez spinning a specially-curated mix of the best dance tunes. Stay until 2:00 AM and party knowing that daylight savings gets you an extra hour of sleep!

Tickets to the SILVER FACTORY GALA and AFTER PARTY are in limited supply!

SILVER FACTORY GALA Tickets: $200 ($125 deductible)
Includes admission to the Gala and After Party, as well as valet parking.

THE AFTER PARTY Tickets: $50 ($37.50 deductible)
Includes admission to the After Party, 10:30 PM – 2:00 AM.

1/2 price AFTER PARTY tickets ($25) available to Student Friends of the Ackland (SFA). Any local college student with valid ID may sign up for a FREE SFA Membership at the Ackland Art Museum.

All Gala proceeds benefit the Ackland’s exhibition and education programs.

Purchase your tickets by credit card by calling Allison Portnow at 919-843-3687. To pay by check, go to ackland.org and print an order form to mail.

Director: Tim Kiernan Director of Photography: Jason Arthurs

The Love Language are playing shows with Guided by Voices this weekend. Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

The Love Language with Guided by Voices:
Oct 29 Bloomington, IN Bluebird
Oct 30 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
Oct 31 Oberlin, OH Oberlin College Hales Gym

The Love Language with a little help from their friends in Lost in the Trees covered The Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight” last night at King’s Barcade in Raleigh.

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

See the Love Language on tour!
Oct 23 Durham, NC Motorco Music Hall
Oct 25 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live
Oct 26 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater
Oct 29 Bloomington, IN Bluebird
Oct 30 Detroit, MI Majestic Theatre
Oct 31 Oberlin, OH Oberlin College – Hayes Gym

photo by Cheater Slicks

Stuart, Missy, BJ, Justin & Jordan have been on tour almost non-stop since the release of their Merge debut, Libraries in July! They are in Lincoln, NE tonight at the 12th Street Pub and will continue on through the end of October with newly added dates opening for Jenny and Johnny.

While in Seattle recently, The Love Language visited the KEXP studios to play a few songs. Listen to the whole session and a chat with afternoon host Kevin Cole archived now at KEXP.org.

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download now in the Merge store and if you haven’t seen it yet, check out The Love Language as “Superchunk 2.0″ in the video for Superchunk’s “Digging for Something.”

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/ Local Natives
Sept 29 Lincoln, NE 12th Street Pub
Sept 30 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room *
Oct 1 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue *
Oct 2 Chicago, IL Metro *
Oct 3 Columbia, MO Blue Note *
Oct 5 Oklahoma City, OK Academy of Contemporary Music *
Oct 6 Dallas, TX House of Blues *
Oct 7 Houston, TX House of Blues *
Oct 8 New Orleans, LA Circle Bar
Oct 9 Memphis, TN Hi-Tone
Oct 12 Washington, DC Black Cat w/ Pomegranates & Lost in the Trees
Oct 13 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ Here We Go Magic
Oct 14 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s w/ Roadside Graves
Oct 15 New Haven, CT Lilly’s Pad w/ Pomegranates
Oct 16 Philadelphia, PA Bloktoberfest
Oct 21 Raleigh, NC Kings Royal Barcade
Oct 23 Durham, NC Motorco Music Hall
Oct 25 Baltimore, MD Ram’s Head Live w/ Jenny and Johnny
Oct 26 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theater w/ Jenny and Johnny

The Love Language played an in-store for their # 1 biggest fans at Gravity Records in Wilmington last weekend. Also, they just announced an in-store in Winston Salem at Earshot Records on September 9. Check the tour section of our website for updates as they are still adding dates to their fall tour!

The Love Language played an in-store performance last weekend at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill. See them in Wilmington, NC at Gravity Records (125-1 Kerr Ave.) on Sunday, Aug 28 at 3 pm and at Earshot Records (3254 Silas Creek Pkwy) in Winston Salem, NC on Sep 9 at 4:30 pm.

The Love Language will also begin their fall tour on Aug 28 at the Soapbox in Wilmington, NC and will play the inaugural Raleigh Hopscotch Festival on Sep 11 at City Plaza Stage with Public Enemy & No Age.

Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store.

The Love Language on tour:
Aug 28 Wilmington, NC Gravity Records Free in-store performance 3PM
Aug 28 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox
Sep 3 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Sep 4 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre    w/ Soft Company
Sep 9 Winston Salem, NC Earshot Records Free in-store performance 4:30 PM
Sep 11 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival w/ No Age & Public Enemy
Sep 12 Nashville, TN Exit / In
Sep 13 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
Sep 14 Austin, TX Emo’s Inside
Sep 17 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box at Fonda    w/ Local Natives
Sep 18 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box at Fonda    w/ Local Natives
Sep 19 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern    w/ Local Natives
Sep 20 Santa Barbara, CA SOHO Music Club    w/ Local Natives
Sep 22 San Francisco, CA Fillmore    w/ Local Natives
Sep 24 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Local Natives
Sep 25 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom    w/ Local Natives
Sep 28 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre    w/ Local Natives
Sep 30 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room    w/ Local Natives
Oct 1 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue    w/ Local Natives
Oct 3 Columbia, MO The Blue Note    w/ Local Natives
Oct 5 Oklahoma City, OK Academy of Contemporary Music    w/ Local Natives
Oct 6 Dallas, TX House of Blues    w/ Local Natives
Oct 7 Houston, TX House of Blues    w/ Local Natives
Oct 8 New Orleans, LA Circle Bar

This weekend, The Love Language celebrates the release of Libraries at a few Triangle area stores. This is your last chance to see the band locally before their US tour with Local Natives in September! Stuart talked to Aquarium Drunkard this week about the album, the influences, and their recent gigs.

Saturday 8/21 – 4PM @ Schoolkids in Raleigh, NC
Sunday 8/22 – 2PM @ Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC

The Love Language on tour:
08-21 Raleigh, NC Schoolkids Records
08-22 Chapel Hill, NC Flyleaf Books
08-28 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox
09-03 Atlanta, GA The Earl
09-04 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
09-11 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival
09-12 Nashville, TN Exit / In
09-13 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
09-14 Austin, TX Emo’s Inside
09-17 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box at Fonda
09-18 Los Angeles, CA The Music Box at Fonda
09-19 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
09-20 Santa Barbara, CA SOHO Music Club
09-22 San Francisco, CA Fillmore
09-24 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market
09-25 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
09-28 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
09-30 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
10-01 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10-03 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
10-05 Oklahoma City, OK Academy of Contemporary Music
10-06 Dallas, TX House of Blues
10-07 Houston, TX House of Blues

Stuart talks about break-ups & writing songs with ABC News’ Dan Harris.

The Love Language’s Merge debut, Libraries is available now on CD, LP and digital download. Order Libraries now in the Merge store.

And see The Love Language on tour:
* = w/Local Natives
9/11 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival w/Public Enemy
9/17 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre *
9/19 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern*
9/20 Santa Barbara, CA – SOHO Music Club*
9/22 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore*
9/24 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market*
9/25 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom*
9/28 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre*
9/30 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room*
10/01 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
10/03 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
10/05 Oklahoma City, OK – Academy of Contemporary Music*
10/06 Dallas, TX – House of Blues*
10/07 Houston, TX – House of Blues*

from VisibleVoice.net

The Love Language live in Boston playing two songs from their new album Libraries, which is available now on CD and LP in the Merge store!

photo by PJ Sykes

Fresh from a week with sold out shows in DC, New York, and their hometown CD release show at the Cat’s Cradle, The Love Language will perform live today on North Carolina Public Radio show, The State of Things.

Listen to a live stream of the show from The State of Things website beginning at noon EST. Check back to download the podcast, as well.

By all accounts, The Love Language brought the party to The Mercury Lounge in NYC last night! Watch the video above of “Lalita” with Spott from Merge on trumpet!

The Love Language’s Merge debut, Libraries is available on CD, LP and digital download in stores, at from your favorite digital music provider, and in the Merge store! Oh, and of course, directly from the band on tour.

Beginning tonight in Washington, DC at the Black Cat Backstage, the Love Language will bring their “perfect summer soundtrack” to Boston, New York and Charlottesville before returning to the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro on Saturday night for their hometown party!

Also, The Love Language have created a delicious summer cocktail exclusively for Bowbarr (705 W. Rosemary St. Carrboro, NC) to celebrate Libraries during the month of July. According to the band, “The Love Language” is a delectable southern treat to beat the heat with “(fl)aurals of love” featuring gin, green tea, lemon juice and more. Everyone who orders “The Love Language” will be entered to win a limited-edition autographed 7-inch and tickets to the CD release show for Libraries at the Cat’s Cradle on Saturday, July 17. And come to Bowbarr on Friday, July 23 for a special DJ set by The Love Language!

Pre-order Libraries on CD and LP in the Merge store now or go buy the record directly from the band this week!

“Libraries evokes a landscape that’s a cross between Swingin’ London and the ambient galaxy where doo-wop went to die, with McLamb’s epic wail as your guide to the cosmos of romantic trauma.” ~Spin Magazine

“Rather than mute its pop hooks, the lo-fi quality of McLamb’s self-recorded debut only bolsters his enthusiasm, giving his songs not only the urgency of the best pop music, but a rascally Southern charm that distinguishes him from all the other bedroom auteurs and indie-pop bands out there.” ~Washington Post Express

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/Local Natives
7/12 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
7/14 Boston, MA – TT the Bear’s
7/15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
7/16 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café & Music Hall
7/17 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (CD release show!)
9/11 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival w/Public Enemy
9/17 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre *
9/19 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern*
9/20 Santa Barbara, CA – SOHO Music Club*
9/22 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore*
9/24 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market*
9/25 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom*
9/28 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre*
9/30 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room*
10/01 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
10/03 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
10/05 Oklahoma City, OK – Academy of Contemporary Music*
10/06 Dallas, TX – House of Blues*
10/07 Houston, TX – House of Blues*

photo by Frank McMains

The Love Language’s Stuart McLamb made Magnet Magazine a mix tape! Read & listen to his choices at MagnetMagazine.com.

Libraries, the Merge debut from The Love Language, will be released on July 13. You can pre-order Libraries on CD and LP in the Merge store, and on iTunes now with a bonus EP of demos.

See The Love Language on tour!
* = w/ Local Natives
Jul 12 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
Jul 14 Boston, MA – TT the Bear’s
Jul 15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Jul 16 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café & Music Hall
Jul 17 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (CD release show!)
Sep 11 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival w/Public Enemy
Sep 17 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre *
Sep 19 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern*
Sep 20 Santa Barbara, CA – SOHO Music Club*
Sep 22 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore*
Sep 24 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market*
Sep 25 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom*
Sep 28 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre*
Sep 30 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room*
Oct 01 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
Oct 03 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
Oct 05 Oklahoma City, OK – Academy of Contemporary Music*
Oct 06 Dallas, TX – House of Blues*
Oct 07 Houston, TX – House of Blues*

Stuart, Missy, Jordan, Justin & BJ are heading out this weekend to Chicago for the Taste of Randolph Festival with Superchunk and will stop in Indianapolis for an in-store at Luna Music. Their CD release shows have been announced, too!

Libraries will be released on July 13, and is now streaming in its entirety and available for pre-order on CD and LP in the Merge store.

The Love Language on tour:
* = w/ Local Natives
June 19 Indianapolis, IN – Luna Music free in-store performance @ 4PM
June 19 Indianapolis, IN – Vollrath Tavern
Jun 20 Chicago, IL – Taste of Randolph Street Festival w/Superchunk
Jul 12 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
Jul 14 Boston, MA – TT the Bear’s
Jul 15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Jul 16 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café & Music Hall
Jul 17 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (CD release show!)
Sep 11 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival w/Public Enemy
Sep 17 Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre *
Sep 19 Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern*
Sep 20 Santa Barbara, CA – SOHO Music Club*
Sep 22 San Francisco, CA – Fillmore*
Sep 24 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market*
Sep 25 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom*
Sep 28 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre*
Sep 30 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room*
Oct 01 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue*
Oct 03 Columbia, MO – The Blue Note*
Oct 05 Oklahoma City, OK – Academy of Contemporary Music*
Oct 06 Dallas, TX – House of Blues*
Oct 07 Houston, TX – House of Blues*

The Love Language’s Merge debut, Libraries, will be released on July 13 on CD, LP, and digital download. Pre-order your CD or LP in the Merge store and listen to a stream of the full album.

The Love Language on tour:
June 11 Cary, NC – Koka Booth Amphitheatre w/ Phoenix
June 12 Charlotte, NC – Road Runner Mobile Amphitheatre w/ Phoenix
Jun 20 Chicago, IL – Taste of Randolph Street Festival w/Superchunk
Jul 12 Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
Jul 14 Boston, MA – TT the Bear’s
Jul 15 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
Jul 16 Charlottesville, VA – The Southern Café & Music Hall
Jul 17 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (CD release show!)
Sep 11 Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival w/Public Enemy

They will also performa at the Taste of Randolph festival with Headlights, Superchunk and Califone in Chicago and the inaugural Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh, NC with Public Enemy.

Download a free MP3 of “Heart to Tell” from Libraries now and watch this video of Stuart and producer BJ Burton in the studio! Also, visit the Merge store for a limited edition split 7-inch of “Brittany’s Back (demo version)” by The Love Language and “I’m So Lazy” by Let’s Wrestle!

The Love Language on tour:
^ = w/ Camera Obscura
6.03     Asheville, NC    The Orange Peel^
6.04     Cincinnati, OH    Fountain Square – Outdoors – FREE ^
6.05     Richmond, VA    The National ^
6.07     New York, NY    The Grand at Manhattan Center ^
6.20     Chicago, IL    Taste Of Randolph Street Festival w/ Superchunk, Califone & Headlights
9.11     Raleigh, NC    Hopscotch Music Festival w/ Public Enemy

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.”

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”

With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language!

Thank you for helping to make Record Store Day a rousing success!

Superchunk – “Misfits and Mistakes” b/w “Misfits and Mistakes” (Meatwad Version)
Originally released in 2007 in extremely limited quantity, “Misfits and Mistakes” is the first and only picture disc we have ever produced. Recorded for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters, “Misfits and Mistakes” is performed by Superchunk and covered on side B by Meatwad himself!  Each 7-inch picture disc arrives in stores autographed by all four members of Superchunk and is available at a special price exclusively for Record Store Day!

Telekinesis – “Dirty Thing” b/w “Non-Toxic” & “The Drawback”
This is the first new music from Telekinesis since their 2009 Merge debut, Telekinesis!, which was described by NPR Monitor Mix’s Carrie Brownstein as “perfectly crafted and utterly gleeful.” These three tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Let’s Wrestle / The Love Language – “I’m So Lazy” b/w “Brittany’s Back (demo version)”
With this split 7-inch created exclusively for Record Store Day, we introduce two exciting new Merge bands: Let’s Wrestle and The Love Language! Featuring brand new songs from both bands, these tracks will be available on 7-inch vinyl only!

Record Store Day is a yearly celebration in which independently owned record stores come together with artists to celebrate the art of music. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day and hundreds of artists in the United States and in various countries across the globe make special appearances and performances.

For more information on Record Store Day and where you can find a store near you, visit recordstoreday.com.

The Love Language, initiated by Stuart McLamb, is a fortunate by-product of the North Carolina native’s rudderless mid-20s, where a tempest of breakup, inebriation, and incarceration found the abandoned songwriter embarking on a storage-space recording project to slow his seeming disintegration. The growing body of emotional fight songs, committed to MP3 with a high-school era multitrack recorder, became postcards from exile, a way to let his friends and former flames know he was getting along, battered but not beaten. The self-immolating beauty of the budget correspondences was exhausting and triumphant; McLamb’s dalliances with rejection and redemption would be minted in a self-titled debut on Portland independent label Bladen County in March of 2009.

Soon afterwards, the mighty ensemble band version of The Love Language—a dysfunctional symphony of musical vagrants—disbanded to pursue personal projects. McLamb, who had roamed the state since recording The Love Language, moved back to Raleigh where Libraries producer/engineer BJ Burton adopted the one-man band and helped harness the extraordinary might generated during these sessions. Among the moments captured on Libraries are Spector-esque walls of reckless sound, cavernous drums, middle-school percussion, and moody swells of stringed instruments, all decorated hastily with stray leads, which bleed beautifully all over everything.

The effective average of McLamb’s madness and Burton’s discipline rendered an album in the classic sense, in which no song is expendable and no passage is without purpose. With Libraries, McLamb transitioned from a guy who could write a good album to an individual who can maintain a good band. The sooner we listen, the sooner we may figure this whole love thing out.

Watch this video of producer/engineer BJ Burton and Stuart recording the record during our little NC blizzard last winter. Download “Heart to Tell” from Libraries now, and see the band currently on tour with more dates being added all the time!

The Love Language will also release a demo version of “Brittany’s Back” as part of a split 7″ with Let’s Wrestle available exclusively this Saturday on Record Store Day. Visit RecordStoreDay.com for stores near you!

Tour Dates:
04-15 Raleigh, NC The Pour House
04-22 Greensboro, NC Earth Day Celebration at Center City Park
04-24 Washington, DC Sweetlife Festival
04-28 Chapel Hill, NC Memorial Hall w/ St. Vincent
09-11 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival w/ Public Enemy

Track Listing:
1. Pedals
2. Brittany’s Back
3. This Blood Is Our Own
4. Summer Dust
5. Blue Angel
6. Heart to Tell
7. Anthophobia
8. Horophones
9. Wilmont
10. This Room

Snowed in while making a very summery record, filmmaker Jason Arthurs captured some of the fun and hard work behind the recording sessions that became Libraries.

Presented by The Independent Weekly, the Hopscotch Music Festival is the Triangle’s biggest music festival yet and a strong addition to the country’s festival circuit. Scheduled for Sept. 9-11, 2010, in downtown Raleigh, with 120 bands in 10 venues over three days, Hopscotch offers fans high-quality local, national and international options in just about every genre imaginable — rock, hip-hop, alt-country, heavy metal, dance, punk, classical, noise, drone, folk and more.

More than 110 bands will be spread between ten venues located entirely in downtown Raleigh throughout the festival’s three days. For more information and to buy your festival pass, visit hopscotchmusicfest.com.

Our helpful flyer is below – click to make it larger & to print it to take with you! Share the link on your twitter & Facebook, too!

Spoon are headlining the NPR show at Stubbs BBQ on Wednesday, March 17 (12:15 am) and She & Him are playing a free, open to the public show at Auditorium Shores on Saturday March 20 (8 pm).  Superchunk are playing a free Village Voice day party at La Zona Rosa on March 19 (3 pm).

Merge Showcase @ Cedar Street Courtyard
208 West 4th St b/t Colorado & Lavaca
Thursday, March 18th
7 PM
(from first to last)
Special Guest
Let’s Wrestle
Radar Brothers
She & Him
Wye Oak
Lou Barlow + the missingmen
The Love Language

Merge @ Homeslice Pizza’s “Music by the Slice” Party
1415 Congress Ave.
Free & Open to the public

Thursday, March 18:
1:30 pm The Love Language
2:15 pm Radar Brothers

Friday, March 19:
Noon Let’s Wrestle
3:45  Wye Oak
6:45  Lou Barlow

Also, book events!

Our Noise event @ Book People (603 N. Lamar Blvd)
Wednesday, March 17 at 6PM
Free & Open to the Public
Mac & Laura will read selections from their book, Our Noise, and will perform covers of songs from selected bands mentioned in the book. They’ll be available to sign books afterwards, too.

Our Noise panel @ SXSW Convention Center
Thursday, March 18 at 2PM
Open to convention registrants only
Michael Azerrad will moderate a Q&A-style event with Mac & Laura about Our Noise and 20 years of Merge Records.

Merge bands @ Music by the Slice!
Homeslice Pizza – 1415 S. Congress St. Austin, TX
Thursday:
1:30 The Love Language
2:15 Radar Brothers
Friday:
Noon Let’s Wrestle
3:45 Wye Oak
6:45 Lou Barlow

Full party line-up can be found here!

The Love Language visited The Guest Apartment while they were in New York last fall! Check out the video & interview at BaebleMusic.com.

As a special holiday bonus, click to download Stu’s Street Hitz mixtape!

Track listing:
1. Floating Action- Don’t Stop (Loving Me Now)
2. Iyez- You Don’t Get It
3. Mrs.- Wet Am
4. Ryan Gustafson- Soul Train
5. Gross Ghost- Lurker
6. Soft Company- One Story Diamond
7. Spiderbags- Teenage Eyes
8. Veelee- Not Getting Nowhere
9. Tim Poovey- Spectacles
10. James Wallace- Night

1 king khan – king khan
2 wade oates – the virgins
3 fuck buttons – together. they tied:  andrew hung + benjamin power
4 brian king – japandroids
5 mike lightning – let’s wrestle
6 devonte hynes – lightspeed champion
7 eugene hutz – gogol bordello
8 brent knopf – menomena
9 ed sharpe – ed sharpe and the magnetic zeros
10 patrick stickles– titus andronicus
+ stu is a contender, but i think it’s unfair to include him

The Love Language will play the Local 506 New Year’s Eve party in Chapel Hill! Their Merge debut will be released in 2010.

The Love Language – “Chesapeake” from Mann’s World on Vimeo.

Freshly minted Merge band, The Love Language played to a beyond capacity crowd at the Troika Music Festival last weekend at the Broad Street Cafe. Watch the video above, and visit Aquarium Drunkard to hear another great song from The Love Language’s self-titled debut released earlier this year.

And, if you missed the Troika show, never fear! The Love Language will play a free show in Raleigh tomorrow night (11/12) as part of the Red Bull Soundclash.

It’s Durham versus Raleigh, R&B versus indie-pop, as The Foreign Exchange and The Love Language prepare to give the Triangle a battle of the bands like you’ve never seen.

Red Bull Soundclash is a unique clash of sounds, style, and creativity, where two bands with totally different music backgrounds collaborate to create an innovative live music performance. Both groups will bring their own respective styles, a clash of The Foreign Exchange’s R&B melodies and The Love Language’s lo-fi indie-rock, as they perform a variety of different songs, some rehearsed and some improvised, to showcase their musical versatility. DJ Lord of Public Enemy will be spinning on the one’s and two’s while Kyle Santillian will serve as the event’s host. YOU, the audience, also participates in the back-and-forth interaction between the bands by judging each round with your applause!

Red Bull Soundclash is a FREE 18+ event taking place on November 12 on the streets of Raleigh at the intersection of North Street and Glenwood Avenue (next to The Hibernian Pub). Gates open at 7:00 p.m. and the show starts at 8:00 p.m.

For more information, visit redbullsoundclashusa.com

For a full schedule, tickets and venue information, visit the Troika website.

Photo by Michael Triplett

The LAist interviewed Stuart McLamb earlier this month. Give it a read and get to know Merge’s newest band, The Love Language!

Meet Stuart McLamb: The Brains Behind The Love Language

The Love Language’s self-titled debut was released in March of 2009 by Portland’s Bladen County Records to rave reviews. Several heralded performances at SXSW and the Monolith Festival and tours opening for Cursive, Rural Alberta Advantage, and Headlights have established Stuart as a songwriter to watch and The Love Language as a not-to-be-missed live band.

The Love Language are currently at work on their sophomore record which will be released on Merge Records in 2010. Stuart says, “As of yesterday I’ve overdrawn my bank account by $200, my girlfriend dumped me and my car won’t start. I think this Merge deal could be a real turning point.”

The Love Language will be at CMJ and have more tour dates planned through the end of 2009.

The Love Language is Stuart McLamb (electric guitar, vocals), Jordan McLamb (acoustic guitar, percussion, vocals), Junis Beefmonth (electric guitar, vocals), Missy Thangs  (keyboard, vocals), Joshua Pope (bass guitar), Kate Thompson (organ) and Thomas Simpson (drum kit).