Born Ruffians

Okay, check it:

March 14th, Canadian Music Week, The Phoenix, Toronto, Ontario - ALL AGES. Tickets available HERE (We're a little behind on announcing this one, but we wanted to make sure everything was in order before we did). We're playing with our bestest buds, those sharp-looking fellers of Young Rival. Definitely come and shake it to these guys. We know we will.

Austin, Texas (I'm looking at you Santiago, Jake McKay) - we're playing South by Southwest this year! We'll be playing the Warp Party on March 17th, and the Schuba's Party on the 18th. Looking so very forward to going, as the last time we went, we had a blast (that was documented and captured forever on film).

And finally, you may have heard this from pitchfork already, but it is most certainly worth mentioning again. Caribou is releasing a new (AWESOME) album on April 20th, and Luke takes the lead for the closing track "Jamelia". You can download the song's first track "Odessa" (slammin) off the album for free, HERE.

Holy cow, that's a bunch of good news, eh? I agree!

ruffian mitch

Hey everybody!

Since we're still waiting to give you some new news about our new album (Say It), here's some old news you may have missed.

Not too long ago Luke posted four b-sides on our myspace. You may have heard these songs. Maybe not. Maybe you even read the blog to go along with them.

If not though, then it's new news to you! And I'll hopefully have some new news regarding shows as soon as tomorrow (hopefully), and our record is being mastered and should be done very, very soon.

So hang tight! And in the meantime checkout the new/old songs on our myspace, and Luke's song Big Run from the NOVELS EP (and the rest of the EP for that matter!).

And in the meanertime (not a phrase), check out our unofficial official fan tumblr site which I always seem to mention on here because it's neato and updates a billion times more often than this site does!

Lastly, why not keep things happening right here? Let's talk. I'm bored. Maybe you wanna talk about what you hope is on the new album. Or maybe you wanna talk about a band you just saw or are going to see that you think are awesome (besides us, pff).

Or maybe you just want to comment on this post and say hi. Whatever it is, you should say it.

ruffian mitch

Text OXFAM to 25383 to make a one-time $10 donation to Oxfam’s #Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. Pass the word.

mjunok on Twitter! You got yourself a copy of the NOVELS EP. Here's what she said:

"I remember drinking grape soda in some shady ass pizza joint after the Franz Ferdinand concert, whistling I Need A Life and wishing that I could have heard the opening band play a longer set. Then I went out and bought your album and have listened to it an embarrassing amount of times since."

Thanks to everyone who posted their favourite memories, it was so cool to read through them all. Since it was a random drawing, here are some of my favourites:

2. CAITLIN FORD
"Red, Yellow and Blue was the sound of my summer- It was the one album all of my new roommates could agree on and would frequently play while sitting on our stoop, catcalling and drinking crazy strong coffees from the "French" Viet bakery across the street! I miss the view. Fuck the truck my landlord left in front of our house that blocks our view of the beautiful people rolling by and the lights of the bakery! 
Damn the man- 
Born Ruffians, you help me dance my anger out!"

4. ERIC LIKES THE PARTY
"Hey Born Ruffians. 
SO! you guys are amazing and the music you make is the music that will always remind me of the cozy feeling i get after a long winters day lying on the floor at home with a blanket lying on top. 
but my fav memory. k well ill 'Say It" :O 
The Sold out Opera House show from November 08 was the best fucking time of my life. everyone was in perfect harmony with each other. and I'm not just talking about the band but everyone. Everyone in the venue was a family for about an hr or so. bonding over your music with the kool kidz of toronto is a memory i will never forget. thanks ruffians."

7. JULIA
"Oh Man, how can I just pick one? How can I say anything without seeming like a crazy fan? Seriously, if Ruffianism was a religion, I would be its leader. You guys upstaged The Strokes for the spot of favo(u)rite band! That being said, I guess I'll briefly list a couple of the Best of BR Moments: (1) That Summerstage Show in Central Park. I thought you were awful. But then I went home and bought the album and ended up going to Toronto for Roger's Picnic (I mean, to visit my grandparents) just to see you play again. (2) Meeting you guys in Brooklyn! It was the in-store at Soundfix. (3) Seeing you play 3 other times this year: once in TO and twice in New York, each with my mom in tow, since no one else would come with me...and then ending up talking to one of you almost every time. (4) Finally, starting the Fuck Yeah! Born Ruffians Tumblr Fansite for a couple of people and then having it grow into a huge thing. Connecting with other BR fans always makes my day. Seriously. You guys are really lucky to have such cool kids as your fans. 
So thanks for the aforementioned :) 
Hope you guys had a nice Holiday & see you next year!"

21. VON
"Favourite memory: Thinking the floor was going to cave in at Sneaky Dee's and continuing to dance anyway. 
Least favourite memory: The Delta Chelsea"

30. JESSKA
"My favourite memory would be the fact that I am the only person in my town who listens to you and I decided to change that so I only applied to colleges in Canda and have now based my life soley off of getting to Toronto. So to sum it up: My favourite memory is being a Canadian citizen because the Born Ruffians inspired to move out of America. Great job guys. Univerisity of Toronto, here I come."

50. AARYN
"i'd kill for the handmade copy of novels... just like when i did for the little garçon e.p. 
RIP grandma."

67. SPENCER
"Same one from before. Well... this is awkward. 
64. Jed 
# Left yesterday at 21:30 
# I was fortunate enough to be introduced to your music by an ex-girlfriend. I instantly loved your music and you've become one of my favorite bands. All of your songs capture key memories of her I never want to forget. 
I'm her." (This was crazy if it's true)

83. MIKE
"One of my Favorite memories of you boys is when you played the YMCA for the second time and before the show you were all like "Lets play this whole set with out stopping" and I was like "wow that's a crazy idea, no banter at all" and one of you were like "yea, we are just going to play one song into the next" and then you did it and blew everyone in the gym away. I also really like when brian killed the deer, but i don't think that counts cause Luke was sleeping in a different country at the time." (Hey buddy!)

I mean, they were all my favourites. Thanks again everybody!

What's everyone's New Year's plans?

ruffian mitch

Merry/happy/joyous Christmas/Chanukah/Noel/Kwanza to ALL!

And to celebrate the holidays, (as some of you may have seen me mention on twitter), we're doing a super rare giveaway.

I've got my hands on a copy (handmade) of the NOVELS EP, which features Luke (of our band), Graham Wright (of Tokyo Police Club), Will Currie (of him and The Country French), Dean Marino (of EX~PO) and Jason Sadlowski (a.k.a. Jay Sad).

You can already download the songs here, but if you want the personally handcrafted artwork and casing (remember that stuff?!), you can do one of the following:

Follow us on TWITTER and send us a message with your favourite Born Ruffians memory (or song, or anything, or just a hello, or an F-you, or whatever. Maybe not the F-you.)

OR

Say it right HERE on our website.

We'll pick someone at random, and they will be the lucky winner of the limited-release-actual-physical-copy of NOVELS.

See you guys in 2010 - happy new year/decade.

ruffian mitch

EDIT: Keep 'em coming! I'll compile them and pick one at random in a couple days!

EDIT #2: These are all great. So fun reading them (whoa ego stroking). But seriously, I didn't expect such a quick and massive and sweet response. You guys (and gals) rule. Keep checking back for when I announce the winner!