They won’t have to wear a silly sombrero or hear a half-hearted team of waitstaff clapping and singing something that isn’t “Happy Birthday” over a melting scoop of ice cream with a candle, but today is the second day of the XX Merge birthday festival. Happy 20th Birthday, Merge! You’ll be able to drink legally next year! Considerate as they are, they have given us the gift of a Lou Barlow MP3 to celebrate. It beats the hell out of a High School Musical stationary set. Oh that Zack Effron, he’s so dreamy… The track is called “Gravitate” and is off his new album Goodnight Unknown. Make sure to write a thank you card. That’s proper ettiquite, at least that’s what Grandma always told me…

 

Check out Lou and his crew, the Missingmen on tour this fall. Alas, no Seattle date.

 

09.30.2009 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre

10.02.2009 Cambridge, MA Middle East

10.04.2009 Clifton Park , NY Northern Lights

10.07.2009 New Haven, CT Toad’s Place

10.08.2009 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

10.09.2009 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts

10.10.2009 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall

10.11.2009 Pontiac, MI The Crofoot

10.13.2009 Madison, WI The Majestic Theatre

10.14.2009 St. Louis, MO The Pageant

10.15.2009 Chicago , IL Vic Theatre

10.16.2009 Louisville , KY Headliner’s Music Hall

10.17.2009 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse

10.26.2009 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont Club

10.27.2009 Omaha, NE Slowdown

10.29.2009 Boulder, CO Boulder Theater

10.30.2009 Fort Collins, CO Aggie Theatre

11.03.2009 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre

11.04.2009 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

11.05.2009 West Hollywood, CA House of Blues

11.07.2009 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

 

(Photo Credit: Eric Fermin Perez)