Old 97's

On Tuesday, September 2, the Community Center for the Performing Arts and KLCC proudly welcome Old 97's back to the WOW Hall. Old 97's, one of the most acclaimed and beloved bands to spring from the 90s indie rock scene, are touring in support of their new album, Blame It On Gravity, released on New West Records. The band's seventh studio recording and first new album in four years debuted at #85 on the Billboard Top 200, the highest billboard chart debut yet for the band. They also landed at #9 on the Billboard Indie chart and received 3 1/2 stars in Rolling Stone. Blame It On Gravity finds Old 97's turning up the amps and returning to the satisfying crunch of their early records. The New York Daily News says, "Blame It on Gravity continues the tradition of quality,? while The New Yorker interjects, ?Blame It On Gravity represents a full re-supply of its most attractive quality - its energy.? As on previous releases, Blame It On Gravity superbly combines various elements of rock, punk, classic country and pop music, but the collection is easily the band's most well rounded stack of songs recorded for a single offering to date. Produced by up and coming producer, Salim Nourallah, the album represents the quality of song-craft fans have come to expect from the 97's and is also reminiscent of the intensity, drive and bona fide joy found on Too Far To Care, their major label debut and a cult favorite. Old 97's are comprised of vocalist/guitarist/principal-songwriter Rhett Miller, bassist/vocalist Murry Hammond, lead guitarist Ken Bethea and drummer Philip Peeples. They credit the new album's enthusiasm and spark to their return to Dallas to record for the first time since their debut independent release. ?We went into Salim's studio hellbent on making something great,? says Miller. ?I could feel the energy crackling every day we were in there. It's like we had something to prove. Not just to ourselves, but to the world. Music should be real and meaningful. And while there is a weird, dangerous element to the stories in some of these songs, at its core Blame It On Gravity is a celebration of the brotherhood that is our band and a testament to our belief in the transcendent power of rock and roll.? Blame It On Gravity's first single, ?Dance With Me,? is a romantic, infectious track that showcases Miller's classic storytelling prowess (the track is now streaming at the band's My Space page www.myspace.com/theold97s). Other highlights include the stellar and immediate ?My Two Feet,? and the catchy ?Ride,? which takes listeners on a coast to coast journey to escape an unrequited love. The album also showcases two fantastic Hammond contributions, ?This Beautiful Thing,? and ?Color Of A Lonely Heart Is Blue.? Since the 97's last studio release, 2004's Drag It Up, the band has released a double live album, Alive and Wired, a live DVD, and appeared prominently in the romantic comedy The Breakup after being written into the script by longtime fan and supporter Vince Vaughn. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Doors open at 7:30 pm and showtime is 8:00.