Ash – True Love 1980

I have to admit, I was worried about Ash for a while there. They supposedly asked Charlotte to leave (whaaa???), they released the lackluster Twilight of the Innocents, and then said they weren’t going to release albums any longer, just singles. I thought to myself ‘Are these guys done? Is this just a bandwagon jump?’.

These guys obviously knew better than me (figures, I’m far too cautious). So far, I’m very impressed with the singles I’ve heard from the A-Z Series – the band’s ambitious plan to release 26 singles one at a time every 2 weeks on digital and 7-inch format. ‘White Rabbit’ was a 1977-era rock stomp, but new single ‘True Love 1980′, with its pop aspirations, would probably have sat comfortably on Free All Angels. So while I might miss Charlotte (and am sad to hear the band are avoiding material she contributed to in their live shows), it seems the boys have found a niche that works.

The band is also doing an A-Z tour of the UK, which seems like a very cool idea but geographically challenging.

TOUR DATES:
Oct 19 – Aldershot @ West End Centre
Oct 20 – Bradford @ The Gasworks
Oct 21 – Carlisle @ The Brickyard
Oct 23 – Dundee @ Fat Sam’s
Oct 24 – East Grange @ The Loft
Oct 25 – Falkirk @ Behind The Wall
Oct 27 – Gloucester @ Guildhall
Oct 28 – Hastings @ Crypt
Oct 30 – Ipswich @ Corn Exchange
Oct 31- Jersey @ St. Helier Havana Club
Nov 2 – Kingston @ The Peel
Nov 3 – Loughborough @ University
Nov 4 – Milton Keynes @ Pitz Club
Nov 6 – Newport @ TJ’s
Nov 7- Oldham @ Castle
Nov 8 – Plymouth @ Hippo
Nov 10 – Queens Park @ Corrib Rest
Nov 11 – Rotherham @ The Vault
Nov 12 – Swansea @ Sin City
Nov 14 – Tunbridge Wells @ Forum
Nov 16- Upper Norwood @ Gipsy Hill Tavern
Nov 17 – Ventnor @ Winter Gardens
Nov 19 – Worcester @ Dive Bar
Nov 21 – Exmouth @ Pavilion
Nov 22 – Yeovil @ Orange Box
Nov 23 – Zennor @ Village Hall

Tags: ash