Some folks in the music scene can get nostalgic from time to time and reminisce of the, “good old days” when rock was political and it, “meant something.” Cipher is one of those bands that brings back nostalgia far more vivid than the memories of the apple pies grandma used to make. For some it’s nostalgia for a place inside themselves where their hearts burned for what seemed for a minute to be tangible revolutionary social change in our lifetimes. It’s more than Cipher’s aggression, it’s more than their political content, and it’s more than the the way they braid musical genres at times creating their own. Cipher is music in action. Cipher would travel halfway across the country to play a show to one kid with in hopes that when she left the show that night she would take control over her destiny, pledging to fight for a better tomorrow. This is what sets Cipher apart, that, and the fact that they are always willing to try something new.
In the vein of trying something new Cipher’s frontman, Maurice (Moe) Mitchell decided to hit the road on a different kind of tour, a lecture & listening tour. At each stop Moe will be playing exclusive tracks off Cipher’s newest release, The Joyous Collapse, due to come out in May, 2010. He also will be speaking about the politics behind the songs, the “call for a new direction” in our music scene, and working to facilitate dialog aimed at community building at each stop. Check out Moe’s video above & contact listeningtour2009@gmail.com if you would like to bring Moe or the Cipher to your city.
Friday, October 30th, 2009 – Toronto
Sunday, November 1, 2009 – Houston, TX more info at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=157803829754&ref=mf
Friday, November 6th, 2009 – Internationalist Books, Carborro, NC more info at http://www.internationalistbooks.org/
Monday, November 9th, 2009 – Albany, NY – SUNY Albany for more info contact Tim Larose at larosetim@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 – Reclaiming the Right to Rock Conference, University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN for more info contact Dr. Mausby at maultsby@indiana.edu
For questions about the tour email: listeningtour2009@gmail.com