Explosions in the Sky!

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The latest instalment in a semi-regular Wellingtonista series on the thriving local touring circuit for international bands sees the instrumental rock goodness of Explosions in the Sky hitting Wellington for the first time tomorrow night, bringing their firecracker of a live set to the San Fran Bathhouse.

Praised for the cinematic grandeur of their albums and the intensity of their live shows, the Texans have come a long way since their inception as a post-rock four-piece in 1999. The band has also been appointed as the curators for the 2008 All Tomorrow’s Parties festival line-up.

Fusing bittersweet guitar melodies with crashing bouts of noise, Explosions in the Sky have garnered a strong following among fans and critics alike, with Tiny Mix Tapes labelling them “the only instrumental post-rock band that matters”. Rolling Stone compared their most recent album, All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone, to the music of the Kronos Quartet, but with “big amps and John Bonham in the back”, and internet giant Pitchfork Media touted 2003’s The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place as “the perfect testament to art-rock mastery.”

With support from Portland ambient act Eluvium, and locals Thought Creature, EITS are set to blow Wellington’s collective mind – if you have a leaning towards instrumental rock and a penchant for violent noise don’t miss out!

The low-down: Tuesday 12th February, at the San Francisco Bathhouse, Cuba St
Tickets from Slow Boat Records or at the door on the night

The future: Local promoters Galesburg who are responsible for this show (and for the revival of supurb band poster design of late) are bringing the indie love to town in a big way in the next couple of months. Check out their MySpace page to get the inside skinny on upcoming shows like Broken Social Scene (21st Feb) and Okkervil River (5th March).