Whenever someone tells me they have good news and bad, I almost always opt for the bad to be delivered first. So in the interests of leaving this post on a high note, we’ll go for the bad news first (even though it’s a few days past fresh).

TW Walsh, of the band Pedro the Lion, has decided to leave the band to spend more time with his family and for financial reasons. Pedro the Lion has released 5 cds thus far and David Bazan, the other half of the band, will continue to make music under his own name. The last Pedro cd, Achilles Heel, was released in 2004 and was as much Bazan’s as it was Walsh’s. TW co-wrote a few songs and wrote one of the songs, “Start Without Me”. TW will still continue to be a part of his own band, The Soft Drugs, and on his website he gave in his own words the reasons for the breakup:

“Running a small, creative business like this can be very stressful, especially when friendships are on the line. It was no longer working, and strains within the band had already hurt people close to me. So, I decided to take my life in a different direction. I would actually prefer if Dave continued on using the name Pedro the Lion for his musical projects, but he has decided not to. Please don’t hold it against me. I left the band so that Dave and I could continue being friends. I hope you understand.”

Ok then, time for the good news.

Even though Pedro the Lion has only just recently broken up, Bazan has already scheduled solo shows.

01/25 - Wed - Columbia SC - University of South Carolina
01/26 - Thu - Seattle, Wa - Neumo's (with Ester Drang)

But wait! There’s more!

David Bazan and his Undertow label-mates, Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), and Will Johnson (Centro-Matic, South San Gabriel) will join forces in February to make up the Undertow Orchestra. This collaborative entity will be sharing songs, playing others’ songs, and having a jolly time doing it. It’s going to be a good show. The dates have been set and advanced tickets are on sale now. Hooray!

02/08 - Wed - Athens GA - 40 Watt Club
02/09 - Thu - Carrboro NC - Carrboro Arts Center
02/10 - Fri - Arlington VA - Iota Club & Cafe
02/11 - Sat - Arlington VA - Iota Club & Cafe
02/12 - Sun - Philadelphia PA - World Cafe Live
02/13 - Mon - New York NY - Bowery Ballroom
02/14 - Tue - Boston MA - Museum of Fine Arts, Remis Auditorium
02/16 - Thu - Grand Rapids MI - Calvin College, Fine Arts Center
02/17 - Fri - Chicago IL - Park West
02/18 - Sat - Madison WI - Orpheum Stage Door
02/19 - Sun - Minneapolis MN - First Avenue
02/20 - Mon - Ames IA - Maintenance Shop
02/21 - Tue - Lawrence KS - Granada Theatre
02/23 - Thu - Austin TX - The Parish
02/24 - Fri - Denton TX - Hailey's
02/25 - Sat - Houston TX - Walter's on Washington
02/27 - Mon - Memphis TN - Hi-Tone
02/28 - Tue - Nashville TN - Belcourt Theatre
03/01 - Wed - Atlanta GA - Variety Playhouse

All the information about the tour can be found at www.undertowmusic.com/tour