The Virgins 'self-titled' album

Atlantic Recording group The Virgins have announced details of a full-scale touring schedule, set to keep the downtown NYC-based band traveling across North America through March 2009.

The dates kick off with a sold-out hometown show at New York City's Bowery Ballroom this Friday, December 12th (see itinerary below). From there, the band -- just named one of NME's "New Bands for 2009," as well as a "Band to Watch 2009" by MTV UK -- will head west for a series of December shows. The itinerary resumes at Philadelphia's Johnny Brenda's on January 21st, with dates then continuing through a Valentine's Day extravaganza at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg on February 14th. On March 6th, The Virgins will hit Miami to join a stellar line-up -- including Atlantic's own Death Cab for Cutie -- at the annual Langerado Music Festival in Bicentennial Park.

Produced by S*A*M* and Sluggo, The Virgins' self-titled debut has proven one of the most acclaimed albums of 2008. The band's next single, "One Week Of Danger," is already receiving high praise from NME, which claims the song is "a primal pulse of snotty 'My Sharona' guitars, impeccably arch vocals, deliciously silly woo-hoos and enough kool-aid coursing through the veins to kill a horse." In addition, The Guardian enthusiastically describes their sound as "grubby New York indie with some of that city's disco gloss, like a giant love-in between CBGBs and Studio 54."

Further accolades and ecstatic features can be found in a wide range of additional publications, both stateside and abroad, including Blender, Vanity Fair, BlackBook, Jalouse Magazine, Alternative Press, Interview, Music Week, Blag Magazine, Metro Magazine, The Village Voice, The New York Times Magazine, Nylon, Vice, and Anthem.

The Virgins tour dates
DECEMBER
12 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
15 San Diego, CA The Casbah
17 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour
18 San Francisco, CA Popscene
19 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
20 Seattle, WA Chop Suey

JANUARY
21 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
22 Washington, DC Rock and Roll Hotel
23 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
24 Athens, GA Tasty World
25 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
26 Nashville, TN 3rd & Lindsley
28 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
29 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
30 St. Louis, MO The Gargoyle Club
31 Ames, IA Maintenance Shop

FEBRUARY
2 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
3 Madison, WI The Annex
4 Ann Arbor, MI Blind Pig
5 Tornto, ONT El Mocambo
6 Montreal, QUE Les Saints
7 Boston, MA Great Scott
14 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Wiliamsburg

MARCH
6 Miami, FL Langerado Music Festival

album info
Atlantic Records has announced the upcoming release of the debut album from The Virgins. Produced by S*A*M* and Sluggo, the self-titled album from the downtown NYC band arrives in stores and online June 3rd. Recently named one of Alternative Press's "100 Bands You Need to Know," the band will herald "THE VIRGINS" with a series of North American live dates as part of the first ever "NYLON Magazine Music Tour."

Presented by Live Nation in association with the fashion and culture magazine, the tour sees The Virgins highlighting a multi-artist bill. The 36-date itinerary kicks off on May 8th at the House of Blues in Anaheim, then traverses the continent before returning to California for a June 21st tour finale at Los Angeles' legendary Wiltern Theatre. In addition, The Virgins will perform at a number of upcoming festivals, including the debut All Points West, slated for August 10th at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.

The Virgins have already received a flurry of ecstatic press accolades, with features in a wide range of publications, including Spin, Interview, The Village Voice, The New York Times Magazine, Nylon, Vice, and Anthem. The first single from the album, "Rich Girls," debuted as MySpace's "Single of the Week" May 5th at www.myspace.com/thevirginsnyc, with a companion video to premiere shortly.

The Virgins exemplify the sound and style of downtown New York City in 2008. The band came together in 2006, the brainchild of songwriter/performer Donald Cumming. Having lived on NYC's streets since the age of 16, Cumming's teen years were chronicled by artist/photographer Ryan McGinley in his now-legendary debut solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

With Cumming joined by bassist Nick Zarin-Ackerman, guitarist Wade Oates, and drummer Erik Ratensperger, The Virgins began playing at downtown parties at such spots as St. Marks Church and 205. For their third show ever, The Virgins took Paris by storm, performing at designer agnès b's fashion week party alongside Patti Smith and Sonic Youth. The band's connection to New York's art scene is no more apparent than in their own album art, which features design and photography from Dan Colen and Terry Richardson.

The Virgins have spent much of the last two years on the road, headlining and sharing stages with such bands as Cold War Kids, Tokyo Police Club, Jet, Tapes N' Tapes, the Long Blondes, White Rabbits, and Ra Ra Riot. The band recently caused commotion in Europe, where they were featured on the cover of France's Jalouse Magazine. The Virgins also hit London for a number of packed-out shows -- including an acclaimed set opening for their good friend Mark Ronson at the Hammersmith Apollo, which saw NME honoring them as the "Best Band We've Seen This Week."

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The Virgins - self-titled