Helmet announce Tour Dates

After wrapping a two-month critically acclaimed North American trek with a roof-raising show at the Key Club in Los Angeles (see more praise below), the seminal rock group HELMET will head overseas November 17 for a month-long European tour encompassing 11 countries and 26 dates. They’ll be armed with a set list including their classics and material from the new full-length album SEEING EYE DOG (indie label Work SongTopSpin).

The European dates kick off in the Netherlands and will take HELMET-- vocalist/guitarist/songwriter PAGE HAMILTON, drummer KYLE STEVENSON, guitarist DAN BEEMAN and bassist DAVE CASE--to some of the largest cites including Copenhagen, Munich, Paris and London before concluding December 17 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Looking ahead, PAGE HAMILTON describes HELMET’s plans for 2011, “March 3rd to the 24th we’re planning another U.S. run, and then April and May we will be Japan and Australia. Hopefully then back to Europe. Europe is four weeks this November and December, and I’m hoping we’ll do either the early chunk or the late chunk of the festivals next summer.” (LAMusicBlog.com, 11/9/10)

SEEING EYE DOG was released September 7 and produced HAMILTON--with additional production by Toshi Kasai (Melvins) and vocal production by Mark Renk. On songs that consistently cut deep, Hamilton’s guitar is on fire as always and his vocals are as wicked as ever. The album’s 10 tracks include the title cut, “Welcome To Algiers,” White City,” the mostly instrumental “Morphing” and a cover of the Beatles’ “And Your Bird Can Sing.”

Check out the critical reaction for HELMET’s powerful live performances:
"Led by founder-singer-guitarist Page Hamilton, the quartet tackled a dozen and a half songs with its trademark combination of precision and intensity...a combination of massive, elemental chords and rhythms that are mathematical, with cleanly defined starts and stops. And yet it never felt stupid or plundering. Hamilton came off like a brainiac, with a quiet, polite manner that's the opposite of his imposing music. The contrast between those two things makes the music even more exciting to hear...Despite its sonic complexity, Helmet has one other thing that most noisy bands lack: an underlying groove that nearly verges on funk. It's enough to make you want to dance -- but in a low-key manner, of course."
--Teresa Gubbins, PEGASUS NEWS (Texas), 11/1/10

"Helmet's live performance is as precise as the riffs frontman Page Hamilton beats out of his guitar."

--Andy Gray, TRIBUNE CHRONICLE (Ohio), 10/15/10

“Taking the stage in front of a dimly lit and small but crowded Galaxy Theatre; Helmet put on a fantastic set that helped prove why they are such an influential band in rock history. Hamilton’s two decades of experience of performing as Helmet’s frontman was more than evident while he carried his new band members through the set. Even though the rest of the band sounded great and hardly missed a beat, the real show was Hamilton’s amazing guitar playing and his powerful vocals filling the theatre…Helmet’s performance had a mixture of raw energy, passion and a take-no-prisoners attitude that helped them pave the way for the metal/hardcore genre. Like most great guitarists, Hamilton’s playing and showmanship has only been getting better with time…Helmet was always known for their amazing live performances and this night was not any different.”

--Kory Connoly, SOUNDSGOODCA.COM, September 2010

"...Exceeding expectations, Helmet’s setlist was a seismic mixture of old and new material....who else can tastefully pull off a shimmering magenta guitar than the frontman of a band whose artistry is renowned as the trailblazing interface between indie-rock and metal?...Kyle Stevenson hammered away at the drums, pumping lifeblood into Helmet’s signature sound like the tenacious heartbeat of a world-class athlete. Guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case embodied the best of auxiliaries, showcasing the band’s penchant for harmonious precision."

--Sara Ferrer, THELIVEOC.COM, 9/26/10

"...delivered a blistering performance spanning over 20 years of material."

--SFBAYAREACONCERTS.COM, 9/11/10

Helmet European Tour Dates
Wed 11/17 Arnhem, Netherlands Luxor
Thu 11/18 Den Bosch, Netherlands W2
Fri 11/19 Bielefeld, Germany Forum
Sat 11/20 Hamburg, Germany Knust
Mon 11/22 Aarhus, Denmark Voxhall
Tue 11/23 Copenhagen, Denmark Vega Jr.
Wed 11/24 Berlin, Germany So36
Fri 11/26 Munich, Germany Feierwerk
Sat 11/27 Vienna, Austria Szene
Sun 11/28 Budapest, Hungary Dürer Kert
Mon 11/29 Basel, Switzerland Sommercasino
Tue 11/30 Zurich, Switzerland Abart
Wed 12/1 Amalgame, Switzerland Yverdon
Fri 12/3 Ravenna, Italy Bronson
Sat 12/4 Turin, Italy Spazio
Sun 12/5 Annecy Le Brise, France Glace
Mon 12/6 Strasbourg, France La Laiterie
Wed 12/8 Stuttgart, Germany Roehre
Thu 12/9 Cologne, Germany Werkstatt
Fri 12/10 Paris, France Elysee Montmarte
Sat 12/11 Orleans, France Astro Lab
Sun 12/12 Tourcoing, France Le Grand Mix
Tue 12/14 Ghent, Belgium Vooruit
Wed 12/15 London, England La Scala
Thu 12/16 Manchester, England Club Academy
Fri 12/17 Glasgow, Scotland Cathouse



"Seeing Eye Dog" by Helmet - release date: 09/7/10..