If you haven’t thanked the internet lately, I think it is about time to show the “information superhighway” the gratitude it deserves. In the last 15 years, it has gone from something you had to convince your parents was useful in order to do some AOL chatting to, basically, the backbone of civilization. And while you may need a little reminder of all the conveniences the internet has provided, a less noticed example can be seen in the fact that this news story on a The Twilight Sad/Mono tour. Not to say that they wouldn’t get attention in a world without internet, but there in no denying that today our accessing of international music is not much different than how we discover local bands. It’s all word of mouth, just the mouth’s are now in the billions. The results have been more music choices and an increase in the shear number of quality albums readily available.

So, it is fitting that Scotland’s The Twilight Sad and Japan’s Mono are joining forces for an extensive American tour beginning April 30th in Austin, Texas. The former’s brand of noisy melodies and latter’s shoegazing instruments lack the obvious ingredients for vast commercial success; however, it is possible for bands who have chops, originality, and drive to find their audience and maybe even make a living. Kind of destroys the rock star paradigm, but we’d all rather just have better music, right?

This tour will mark the beginning of playing without bass player Craig Orzel for The Twilight Sad (via The Music Slut). Orzel announced his parting with his band of seven years for typically vague reasons, but insists it was amicable. The Twilight Sad has not announced a replacement, so if it is your dream to be in a Scottish rock band, start networking now.

Tickets will be available soon through Ticketmaster.

Mono/The Twilight Sad 2010 Tour Dates:
04/30 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
05/01 – Dallas, TX @ The Loft
05/03 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
05/04 – Tucson, AZ @ Plush
05/05 – Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
05/06 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
05/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
05/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
05/10 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan
05/11 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s
05/12 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret,
05/14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
05/15 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
05/17 – Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
05/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
05/20 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
05/21 – Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom
05/22 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
05/23 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
05/24 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
05/25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox
05/26 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
05/27 – Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rossa
05/28 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
05/29 – Millford, CT @ Daniel Street
05/30 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
06/01 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
06/02 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
06/04 – Durham, NC @ North State Sound
06/05 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
06/07 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In
06/08 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone Cafe
06/09 – Baton Rouge @ Spanish Moon