Portishead usually make themselves pretty scarce. The legendary trip-hop outfit waited 11 years to record Third, the psych-rock follow-up to their self-titled 1997 album, and they haven’t toured North America in more than a decade.
That’s about to change. This week the band announced a month-long, coast-to-coast tour including consecutive dates at Hammerstein Ballroom, one of Manhattan’s most pristine-sounding midsize venues.
The tour begins in earnest on Oct. 1 in Asbury Park, N.J., where the band will curate and perform at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival I’ll Be Your Mirror (also featuring noted recluse Jeff Mangum). Portishead have also been making noises about a fourth album since late 2009; the only new material we’ve seen since then, though, was charity single “Chase the Tear.” Regardless, this band has a history of avoiding the spotlight; it may be a long time before you get another chance to see them in concert.
Portishead North America tour dates:
Oct. 1-2: I’ll Be Your Mirror Festival, Asbury Park, N.J.
Oct. 4-5: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY
Oct. 7: Jacques Cartier Peir, Montreal, Quebec
Oct. 9-10: Sound Academy, Toronto, Ontario
Oct. 12: Aragon Ballroom, Chicago
Oct. 15: Corona Festival, Mexico City, Mexico
Oct. 18: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles
Oct. 21: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Calif.
Oct. 23: Washington Mutual Theatre, Seattle
Oct. 24: PNE Forum, Vancouver, British Columbia
Oct. 27: 1st Bank Center, Denver,