Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Oh man, long absence! At this rate this is turning into a 6-monthly digest - and after a flurry of activity from Gruff as well.

Anyway, this is all old news BUT you get all the information in one handy bite-sized out-of-date post.

Hotel Shampoo
The album has now been officially released, so make sure you spend your hard-earned cash on some shampoo-related goodies here. If you're the kind who likes to try before they buy (kinda takes the fun out of it but hey) you can stream the album for free from Gruff's website.

The album was launched by Gruff taking over a Blackpool hotel on February 13th. Obviously. I've linked to that just to show you what you missed. You banana.

Next single from the album is 'Sensations in the Dark' which has a, er, slightly more... freeform video than 'Shark Ridden Waters'. BUT it does have multiple Gruff Rhys'. One in a pork pie hat, playing a trumpet. Always a bonus.

WATCH!



Then watch Gruff explain how he wrote 'Sensations in the Dark' on The Guardian website which also has a rather fabulous interview with him. Someone in the comments remarked that Gruff is 'like Columbo with a keyboard and a guitar'. Made me laugh...

And, lo-and-behold, a tour!
17 Feb, St Phillips, Manchester
18 Feb, The Kazimier, Liverpool
19 Feb, St Paul's Church, Cambridge
20 Feb, Arts Centre, Norwich
21 Feb, Glee Club, Nottingham
22 Feb, Cadogan Hall, London
25 Feb, Palace Theatre, Bridport
26 Feb, St Georges Church, Brighton
27 Feb, Glee Club, Birmingham
28 Feb, St Georges Hall, Bristol
04 Mar, Paris Le Cafe de La Danse
05 Mar, Vevey Rocking Chair
06 Mar, Vienna Flex
08 Mar, Frankfurt Brotfabrik
09 Mar, Schorndorf Manufaktur
10 Mar, Brussels Rotonde Botanique
11 Mar, Amsterdam Paradiso
12 Mar, Rotterdam De Unie
14 Mar, Cologne Gebaude 9
15 Mar, 20359 Hamburg Imperial Theater Hamburg
17 Mar, Copenhagen Loppen
18 Mar, Stockholm Strand Club
19 Mar, Malmo Debaser Malmo
26 Apr, Tokyo, Japan, Club Quattro
27 Apr, Osaka, Japan, Club Quattro

Pity he hasn't made it back over to the USA after having to cancel his LA show. I know a few people who would adore it if Gruff did a proper tour over there.

All that typing! I'm gonna go have a lie down.