Everyone from Blur to The Eagles to The New York Dolls to The Cranberries are doing it. Below are some bands that have “reformed” to do some live dates. (The only band that came to mind is The Slits, who reformed and released a new album and will be doing some tour date).

As far as I know, there are no plans currently to record new music – although that one new ATR track sounds promising.

ATARI TEENAGE RIOT
atari-teenage-riot.com ♥ alec-empire.com ♥ myspace.com

I love ATR, unfortunately, they broke up before I got a chance to see them live (although they may be too digital hardcore for my sissyass), but I’ll bet you that they’re fun and energetic.

It looks like ATR have reformed, but they’re not touring anywhere in the US at the moment… However everyone elsewhere seems really excited about the upcoming tour dates:

16.07.2010 Dour Festival Dour, Belgium

Frontsman Alec Empire added to the excitement when he recently released a brand new ATR song, called “Activate” (a free download via that link).

PS, I once met a guy with an ATR tattoo (you know the logo that looks like a Chinese symbol?), well he was quite impressed that I knew it stood for Atari Teenage Riot.

CHAPTERHOUSE
chapterhouse.info ♥ comeheaven.com

Chapterhouse just played their London gig last night. They’ve been enjoying fantastic fan responses, especially since “shoegaze” is back on the rise and that it’s been so long since the broke up 1994.

Their official website said that this reformation is not permanent, so see them now when you can. I get the impression that this is it, that this is the last time that they’ll be playing live.

Below are only a few handful of dates in Japan and the USA.

JAPAN

USA

Ulrich SchnaussThe band apologized for the limited tour dates and urged fan to travel to the nearest show.

If everything works out, we will be doing coverage for the San Francisco date, so expect a review and photos.

PAVEMENT
matadorrecords.com/pavement

Growing up in Sacramento, I’ve always considered Pavement as a “local” band from Stockton, California. The fact is, back in the early 90s, nobody knew who they were. Listening to their first debut album, Slanted and Enchanted, it’s obvious to me that they were not great musicians and Stephen Malkmus could not sing. If it wasn’t for that fluke of a song, “Cut Your Hair”, I will bet you that they’d still be in relatively obscurity to this day. But still, despite all that, their music feels true and charming – and that’s why they seem to have a giant cult following to this day.

So, I’ve seen the band before at the Cadillac Club in Fresno, which according to the all-knowing internet was on September 16^th, 1994. If I recall correctly, I believe it was Scott Kannberg that stood outside of the venue, shaking our hands for coming to the show. I’ll always remember that, because, quite frankly, no other bands have ever done this for me (well except that one time that Liam and Bonehead was sitting outside Sacramento’s venue and no one recognized them and I had a bit of a chat with them before the show).

It would be many years later until I met Stephen Malkmus at a record signing and eventually saw his band, the Jicks, at 80/35 Music Festival in July. When I met him, along with hundreds of fans, I noticed that everyone there was nostalgic for Pavement and had brought Pavement albums for him to sign. Maybe he got the hint that we all wanted Pavement back together.

Anyway, they reformed only for tour and promoting their latest Quarantine the Past: The Best of Pavement release from Matador Records. They just wrapped up their successful Australia tour dates (hear Sally & Kristen’s report), and is continuing onto Japan and the UK next up:

04-07 Tokyo, Japan – Studio Coast
04-08 Tokyo, Japan – Studio Coast
04-10 Osaka, Japan – Zepp Osaka
04-12 Nagoya, Japan – Zepp Nagoya
04-18 Indio, CA – Coachella Festival
05-04 Dublin, Ireland – Tripod
05-05 Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland
05-07 Paris, France – Le Zénith
05-08 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
05-10 London, England – Brixton Academy
05-11 London, England – Brixton Academy
05-12 London, England – Brixton Academy
05-13 London, England – Brixton Academy
05-15 Minehead, England – All Tomorrow’s Parties
05-18 Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
05-19 Berlin, Germany – Astra
05-20 Prague, Czech Republic – Palac Akropolis
05-21 Vienna, Austria – Arena
05-22 Munich, Germany – Muffathalle
05-24 Rome, Italy – Atlantico Live
05-25 Bologna, Italy – Estragon

05-27 Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Festival
05-30 Quincy, Washington – Sasquatch! Festival
06-19 Toronto, Ontario – Olympic Island
06-25 Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre
07-02 Gdynia, Poland – Open’er Festival
07-04 Roskilde, Denmark – Roskilde Festival
07-08 Liege, Belgium – Les Ardentes Festival
07-18 Chicago, IL – Pitchfork Music Festival
08-12 Oslo, Norway – Oya Festival
08-14 Gothenburg, Sweden – Way Out West
09-09 Broomfield, CO – First Bank Center
09-11 Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
09-12 St. Paul, MN – Roy Wilkins Auditorium
09-17 Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
09-18 Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
09-21 New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage
09-22 New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage
09-23 New York, NY – Central Park
09-24 New York, NY – Central Park
09-26 Atlanta, GA – The Tabernacle

TEARS FOR FEARS
curtsmithofficial.com

I just don’t get it. Tears for Fears is massive, yet when they reformed to do some tour dates (with Spandau Ballet in Australia!) there is no official website or outlet for touring information. The closest you get to an official band page is Curt Smith’s website… and searching for tour information on his page is a pain in the butt.

Here are the dates that I’ve gathered for you from a variety of source, thanks to Pollstar and fan website.

NOTE: the later dates are not confirmed.

03/21/10

03/23/10

04/17/10

04/19/10

04/21/10

04/23/10

04/27/10

05/04/10

05/06/10

05/08/10

07/10/10

07/11/10

07/14/10

07/15/10

07/17/10

07/18/10

07/20/10

* Appearing with Spandau Ballet

I am pretty sure that Sally & Kristen are attending Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet in Sydney, so maybe we’ll get a report from them. In the meantime, hear me rediscover Spandau Ballet here.