Our brand new record, Putting the Days to Bed, has officially been
released!  All throughout the land churchbells are pealing and caped
riders are galloping to spread the joyous news, and lo, I am emailing
you, in case you were in the shower when the churchbells were pealing
and caped riders were galloping.

This is an exciting time for us, as you can imagine, and I'm pleased
to report that many radio stations are adding the record, many of the
internet "bloggers" are blogging furiously, tee-shirts are being
manufactured by enslaved gnomes in the sweatshop we built in a
hollowed-out tree, and an army of green-visored money-men are counting
the dumptruck loads of cash.  People are laughing out loud!  They are
rolling on the floor laughing!

I'm pleased to report that our record is available in every single
reasonably-sized place with a decent record store, and that every radio
station in the entire country is playing our record, with the exception
of those radio stations that play a different format or that play sucky
music.  Here in Seattle, for instance, our recent in-store appearances
at the Ballard Sonic Boom and West Seattle Easy Street Records were an
unqualified success.  So too are we "in rotation" on KEXP and KNDD
in our home town.  Although these record stores and radio stations are
ostensible competitors, they are supporting the Long Winters in the
spirit of friendship and cooperation.  Ah, is not Seattle the greatest
and friendliest of all cities?  (Please do not reply to this email).

So without further ado, let me tell you of our upcoming promotional
appearances and tour dates, that you may come and "rock out" with
us when we roll through your town.  Please read this email carefully as
it contains very detailed instructions for a secret surprise
appearance.

ALASKA
First off, I'm going to Alaska.  In fact, I'm making an appearance
in Anchorage on Friday, July 28th, at 6PM at  Metro Music on Benson
Blvd.  It might seem an unlikely place to promote the new Long Winters
record on the week of its release, but I was visiting Anchorage on
unrelated business and the entertainment moguls at Barsuk Records saw
it as an opportunity to finally crack the close-knit Alaskan music
market.  I'll also be appearing on the radio there, playing on both
KRUA 88.1 (11:00 AM) and KNBA 90.3 (5:30 PM) that same day.  Check your
local listings.

GEORGIA
The following week  will find me in Atlanta, GA., appearing in-studio
to play a few songs on WRAS at 10:00 AM, Friday August 4th.  I'll be
in Athens the next day, playing a set at the Go Bar around 3:30 for
Team Clermont's summer party.  If you are a Georgia resident, and you
are interested in attending the Athens performace at the Go Bar on the
afternoon of August 5th, well it would be delightful to see you.  The
show will not be advertised, as it's a party, but our mailing list
subscribers are special people and you're welcome to attend.

NEW YORK CITY!
Leaving the great state of Georgia, I journey to New York City, where I
reunite with my fellow Long Winters for a surprise and otherwise
unannounced promotional appearance in Manhattan on Tuesday, August 8th.
 This is primarily a show for music journalists and music industry
swells, but I would like to invite our mailing list subscribers to come
to the show as well.  There will be limited space for civilians at this
show, so it's first-come, first-served.  We'll be playing songs
from our new record and shmoozing, and we may even indulge in some
exaggerated, ironic "schmoozing" in order to feel better about
ourselves.  If you're 21 and older and live in the greater New
York/New Jersey area, and would like to come to a secret show at around
8 PM on August 8th, please email us at secrets...@barsuk.com and the
bureaucrats at Barsuk records will fill you in on the secret details of
how to attend.

The next day, still in New York, I'm playing, by myself, at Other
Music, a super-hip music store downtown.  Show up early to see if my
hayseed, West-coast sarcasm is any match for the diamond-tipped disdain
practiced by real New York Indie Music Store staff and customers.
There is every possibility of a surprise guest-appearance by one or
more New York-based indie-rockers!  This is a free show and open to the
public, but I would dress appropriately, like, maybe in some raw denim
or something.

AND THEN LATER...
Now, there are more secret shows to announce coming up soon, perhaps in
Seattle, perhaps LA, but we don't want to let the cat out of the bag
too soon.  There's a reason we put that cat in the bag.  But we're
pleased to announce some confirmed tour dates for the fall (more still
to come), and here they are, forthwith:

John Solo:
8/23/06
826 NYC Benefit Show
Beacon Theater
Revenge of the Bookeaters
w/ Jon Stewart, Dave Eggers, Sarah Vowell, Sufjan Stevens, and more

8/24/06
826 CHICAGO Benefit Show
Revenge of the Bookeaters
w/ Dave Eggers, Ben Gibbard, and Ira Glass

Current tour dates for The Long Winters (more to come soon)
09/15/06
DENTON, TX
Rubber Gloves

09/16/06
AUSTIN, TX
Austin City Limits Festival

09/19/06
HOUSTON, TX
Walter's On Washington

09/20/06
NEW  ORLEANS, LA
One Eyed Jacks

09/21/06
BIRMINGHAM, AL
Bottle Tree

09/22/06
ATLANTA, GA
Smith's Old Bar

09/23/06
CARRBORO, NC
Local 506

09/24/06
ASHEVILLE, NC
Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall

09/26/06
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
Satellite Ballroom-UVA

09/27/06
BALTIMORE, MD
Sonar

09/28/06
PHILADELPHIA, PA
World Cafe Live

09/29/06
NEW  YORK, NY
Bowery Ballroom

09/30/06
BOSTON, MA
Harper's Ferry

10/05/06
DETROIT, MI
Magic Stick

10/06/06
CHICAGO, IL
Subterranean

10/07/06
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
Triple Rock

10/09/06
DENVER, CO
Larimer Lounge

Whew.