NEWS: Tortoise Slowly Makes Its Way Across North America

MUSIC: Tortoise Slowly Makes Its Way Across North America

To me, Chicago art-rock ensemble Tortoise has always been more of a live experience than something I've enjoyed on a record. The improvisation and heavily jazz-influenced musicianship really makes Tortoise the band it is and those elements always gave me a better understanding of its music and how the individual members work together. Although the records are ultimately better than similar post-rock experiments, there's only so much a band like Tortoise can accomplish when faced with the trappings of a studio.



Now, if you're unfamiliar with Tortoise, their current tour may be a good starting point. They are not supporting a new record and there don't seem to be any plans to record a follow-up to 2004's It's All Around You, at least yet. Take it all in and enjoy a live history of the band, in person, as it should be experienced. The excursion kicked off last night in Columbus, Ohio and continues through the first week of July.

Yeah, shitty Los Angeles I hope isn't sold out.
I was planning on going to that.

Aww man...and here I was clicking on the title, thinking I'd read about a little tortoise that had literally "made it's way across north America" !!!

*sigh*

Color me disappointed. I was hoping for a Forrest Gump-like journey as well.

Instead, it is just another frikken band.