Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Thomas Dolby To Launch North American "Time Capsule" Tour


Leave it to Thomas Dolby to make a big splash upon returning to the road. 

Dolby, who hasn't toured North America with a band in umpteen years, will do so beginning in March, including a stop at SXSW.

And he'll have a little surprise in tow... literally.  Dolby, one of the original steampunks, will be parking a mobile time capsule in front of each venue.

Really.

From yesterday's press release:

"The Time Capsule is a chrome- and brass-plated road trailer that seats three. With handcrafted leather and wood fittings, and complex electrical wiring that could have been designed by Nikola Tesla, it resembles a Jules Verne/HG Wells-inspired time-travel machine. Inside is a high-tech video recording suite that allows a music fan or guest artist to upload a personal video message to the Future. The Time Capsule will be parked in the street outside each venue on Dolby’s month-long North American tour, and in front of select local radio and TV stations. It will capture hundreds of 30-second clips over the course of the tour, assembling them into an online video montage.


Fans will be able to walk up and step into the Time Capsule to make their own fully produced and effected digital 30-second video clip. The clips will then be automatically uploaded and viewable on a brand-new YouTube channel along with the individual user’s own Facebook and Twitter pages. The most viewed clips will win prizes. Dolby’s label Lost Toy People Records is in discussion with several potential sponsors for the project.


'If you had 30 seconds to explain to an alien visitor what went wrong with our civilization, what would you say?” said Thomas Dolby. “Our species may not be around on this planet much longer, so you might as well leave a welcome message for the next guys!'"



Dates and more information can be found on the tour website http://www.thomasdolby.com/tour

For those who would like an introduction to Dolby's first studio album in two decades, the brilliant A Map Of The Floating City, and a refresher on what else this innovator has been tinkering with in recent years  - I interviewed him twice in 2011:
http://www.stevestav.com/2011/05/windpower-and-floating-cities-interview.html
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/149541-a-synth-pioneer-returns-an-interview-with-thomas-dolby

plus, I reviewed his brief, but astounding lecture/concert tour last fall:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/150695-thomas-dolby-2011/

Old fans who are aware of the link between Dolby and today's synth-pop, those who never tested the waters beyond "She Blinded Me With Science," as well as intrigued youth will all be blown away by this tour. I guarantee it.


- Steve Stav