As 2010 draws to a close, the last few tour announcements for 2011 are still coming in. This week’s stand-out tour news is almost certainly that of all-girl LA rock troupe Warpaint. It’s been only a few weeks since the release of their widely-acclaimed debut album and already the four-piece are beginning to stir-up a great deal of interest in their biggest UK tour to date. Following the recent announcement of their NME Awards Show at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in February, the experimental rock group have confirmed details of ten new dates in May, including one in Dublin. Looking back at the initial excitement that Warpaint have managed to create over the past few months, it is likely that this will be one of the most sought-after tours of the spring.
For a comparatively new band, Warpaint have been fortunate enough to make a few noteworthy links into the LA rock fraternity since first forming in 2004. Not only is ‘A Knight’s Tale’ actress Shannyn Sossamon the sister of bass player Jenny Lee Lindberg, but she was also the group’s original drummer and recently directed their single ‘Undertow’ (watch below). Even more amazingly, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante used to go out with Warpaint vocalist Emily Kokal and he even helped out with the mixing on their debut EP ‘Exquisite Corpse’. His replacement in the Chili Peppers, Josh Klinghoffer, was also a member of Warpaint for a short time.
So as you can see, Warpaint have always had a certain amount of the LA lifestyle running through their veins. Thankfully though, this doesn’t seem to have been the main driving factor behind the recent mass of attention that the band have received. It is much more down to the absorbing psychedelic sound that they have been creating and rousing crowds with during this year’s festival season.
Shortly after releasing ‘Exquisite Corpse’ in 2008, Warpaint signed to Rough Trade Records – a move that could be described as somewhat of a Golden Ticket in today’s music scene, following in the footsteps of the likes of The Strokes and The Libertines. Finally, in October this year, the band released their long-awaited eponymous debut LP, which has since received an unsurprisingly vast amount of praise in the music press. Shortly after the album, Warpaint played a few low-key gigs over here, but have now announced a proper UK tour for 2011 to the delight of their new followers. Still a few months away, the new shows should give the listening public a decent chance to get to know the album better and offer their full appreciation.
2010 may have already proved to be a great introductory year for Warpaint, what with the hugely successful festival appearances and the initial response to the album. However, 2011 is likely to be the big year for Warpaint as they introduce themselves to the world and bring forth their music to the masses.
Warpaint will play the following UK and Ireland shows:
May 2011
11 – Cambridge, Junction
13 – Oxford, O2 Academy
14 – Manchester, Gorilla
15 – Dublin, Tripod
17 – Bristol, O2 Academy
18 – Birmingham, HMV Institute
19 - Leeds Met, Students' Union
20 – Lancaster, Library
23 – Newcastle, O2 Academy
24 – Sheffield, Leadmill
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So as you can see, Warpaint have always had a certain amount of the LA lifestyle running through their veins. Thankfully though, this doesn’t seem to have been the main driving factor behind the recent mass of attention that the band have received. It is much more down to the absorbing psychedelic sound that they have been creating and rousing crowds with during this year’s festival season. 
