More Dark, Scary Brits: Esben & the Witch MpFree, Tix On Sale

By Elizabeth Bougerol

| Thursday, Jan 20, 2011 | Updated 2:15 PM EDT

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More Dark, Scary Brits: Esben & the Witch MpFree, Tix On Sale

Matador Records

Esben & the Witch, the spooky, howly Brighton, England folk-rock trio, played their very first U.S. shows last fall (at Glasslands in September, then Bowery Ballroom and the Knitting Factory in October). Now they’re back with two spring dates in NYC to kick off a mini-North American run in support of their debut album on Matador Records, Violet Cries, slated for release on February 8.

The band that’s been described as purveyors of “nightmare pop” will be at Brooklyn’s Bell House on March 4 and Mercury Lounge on March 5. General on-sale date for both shows is January 21 at 12PM, with an AMEX pre-sale for the Mercury Lounge show going on now.

So dark, they make Florence Welch and her Machine seem like workout music, but also sweeping and ethereal, the band was scooped up by Matador Records (Sonic Youth, Cat Power) in 2010 as the first UK outfit signed by the label in six years. Not too shabby.

Grab a free download of their remixed Marching Song at BrooklynVegan and if you haven't seen it, treat yourself to the (warning: kinda grisly) official video for the original song, below. (See? Chipper!)