Patrick Stickles, lead singer of the New Jersey’s own Titus Andronicus, has a very followable twitter account. He’s wicked forthcoming about opinions musical, political, and otherwise, insider band info (e.g. there’s a new Titus Andronicus album due out next year sometime), and best of all, he drops some tracks on you here and there. The latest is a cover of the Bruce Springsteen staple “Glory Days” with his band and Brooklyn cohorts The So So Glos.

This recording features new Titus Andronicus member Liam Betson on vocals doing a capable Boss impression, and the whole thing captures the spirit of the original, with just enough moxy and fidelity to make it sound like it wasn’t recorded at karaoke night. Check out the plucky demo at Titus Andronicus’ Soundcloud page.

There’s also covers of Coldplay’s “In My Place” and The Killers’ “All These Things That I Have Done” on his page. RIYL: jokes.

“Live Like T.V.”  adequately sums up their sound: New York garage rock circa The Strokes, built up to a New Romantic status thanks to a slightly more anthemic quality of the instrumentation, and with fairly British indie rock sensibilities. In this song, a relationship with a woman is compared to living life as the idiot box (“Every night, the re-run goes/you go out and I stay home/ how’s your chaperon/I wish you’d come and turn me on”.) Despite the complex description, the band is adept at mixing those vibes and genres to create a flawless sound with a punk ethos. As ear-catching as the track may be, the song (the album’s longest at 3:33) is a drop in the frantic pond of blazing rock sounds.

While this effort is short even for an EP, the abruptness of it all isn’t a deterrence; rather, it’s sort of intoxicating to be pummeled by an onslaught of rapid-fire music with such emotional content and raw power. What’s truly interesting is that while they have all but mastered the modern punk rock sound, they also have time to tell a seemingly complete sonic story. Album opener “Fred Astaire” is two minutes of good time dance-rock music that sets the tempo for most of the album. By the time you get to “Lindy Hop” just a few minutes later, you hear the strain in lead singer Alex Levine’s voice, as if this whole effort was truly done in one straight shot. Sure, it probably wasn’t, but that kind of feeling only enhances the release and its relentless, in-your-face attitude.

While the vast majority of the album is all about dropkicking you in the face with rocking tunes, there’s also space dedicated for some very intriguing musical tweaks, predominantly of the New Wave variety. While not distinctly New Wave, the acoustic ditty “New Stance” comes in the middle of the EP and serves as tiny refuse from the oceans of heavy guitar sounds and layered production, all thanks to some light accordion playing. The group channels even more ‘70s-era Elvis Costello with “Here Comes The Neighborhood”, a vibrant song that’s in the vain of the oh-so-popular minimalistic beach tunes without tripping into stoner-dom. Together, both tracks paint a picture of a band simultaneously in synch with their contemporaries and off exploring slightly less concrete genre trappings.

In just five songs, and in less time than it takes to watch the average sitcom, The So So Glos have made an EP that’s more energetic, playful, and engaging than many full-length albums. Put that on Wikipedia.

And with the new release comes a batch of North American tour dates. The So So Glos are currently out on the road and will play a number of dates with The Futureheads as well as a date with The Coathangers, Woven Bones, and Carnivores. No rest for the truly punk, it seems.

The four piece comprises blood brothers (Alex and Ryan Levine), a step-brother (Zach Staggers), and a spiritual brother (Matt Elkin). These guys have previously built their own all-ages venue, Market Hotel, after becoming frustrated with New York’s over-21 gig culture. Parties were hosted, the band slept there, and there was a massive brawl. Since its closure, a new venue and HQ has been built, Shea Stadium.

After their self-released 2007 eponymous debut, The So So Glos purchased their own tour bus to take them on a U.S. tour. As well as buying their own transport and opening up gigs to the under 21′s of New York City, the band have played in fans’ kitchens, at scene fundraisers, and traditional venues alike. The brothers Levine also occasionally beat the hell out of each other. One fight left singer Alex’s jaw wired shut.

Whether by self-financed bus or not, The So So Glos are on the road as we speak. Scheduled to play San Diego, CA on October 4th, the tour will then move onto Los Angeles before heading for dates in Salt Lake City, Denver, and Austin amongst others. The tour will conclude with an appearance at the Force Field PR CMJ Showcase in New York, NY on October 20th.

All necessary information can be found below.

Low Back Chain Shift Tracklist:
01. Fred Astaire
02. Live Like TV
03. New Stance
04. Here Comes the Neighborhood
05. Lindy Hop

The So S0 Glos 2010 Tour Dates:
10/04 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah #
10/06 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour #
10/08 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court #
10/09 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre #
10/11 – Dallas, TX @ Loft #
10/12 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s #
10/16 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl %
10/22 – New York, NY @ Pianos (Force Field PR CMJ Showcase)

# = w/ Futureheads
% = w/ The Coathangers, Woven Bones, Carnivores

For a preview of what to expect, please read here and here.

Titus Andronicus 2009 Tour Dates:
09/02 – Brooklyn, NY @ Monster Island Basement *
09/03 – Boston, MA @ Harper’s Ferry *
09/04 – Montreal, QC @ II Motore *
09/05 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
09/06 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
09/07 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
09/08 – St. Louis, MO @ The Firebird *
09/09 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill *
09/10 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre *
09/11 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
09/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club *
09/17 – Olympia, WA @ The Northern *
09/18 – Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse *
09/19 – Portland, OR @ Musicfest NW
09/22 – San Luis Obispo, CA @ SLO Art Center *
09/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echo *
09/26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts *
09/29 – El Paso, TX @ Black Market *
09/30 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
10/01 – Houston,TX @ Mangos *
10/03 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree *
10/04 – Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone *
10/05 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light *
10/06 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 *
10/07 – Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge *
10/08 – Charlotte, NC @ Milestone *
10/09 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 *
10/10 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern *
10/11 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel *
10/12 – Baltimore, MD @ The Talking Head *
10/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Barbary *
10/14 – Hoboken, NK @ Maxwell’s *
10/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory *

* = w/ The So So Glos