With all the related Pixies items of the coming months (see: one-offs and box sets), the last thing one would expect to see is news that the band’s fearless frontman, Frank Black, has started a new band. But that’s indeed the case. According to Rolling Stone, Black recently joined forces with wife Violet Clark for Grand Duchy, and come next month, will embark on a west coast tour in support of the band’s newly released debut LP, Petit Fours.

Tour dates below. Petit Fours is currently available for download via Amie Street.

Grand Duchy 2009 Tour Dates:
05/01 – Bellingham, WA @ Nightlight
05/02 – Tacoma, WA @ Jazzbones
05/03 – Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall
05/05 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place
05/06 – Oakland, CA @ Uptown Nightclub
05/08 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Cellar Door
05/09 – San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
05/10 – Santa Barbara, CA @ TBA
07/24 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean