A few weeks back, Tom Hamilton’s American Babies announced an extensive Fall tour, with a few select dates receiving a “Masquerade Ball of Light & Dark”, in which attendees are encouraged to dress up in black and/or white, as well as wear a masquerade mask (which will also be available at the merch table at each show). While the band will play originals, there is also a different musical costume theme for each of the shows.
On Saturday, October 29th at Chicago’s The Tonic Room, Tom Hamilton and crew will play the music of The Beatles, which will see the band play music from the various periods of the Liverpool quartet (get tickets here). The following Saturday, November 5th, the Babies will play NYC’s American Beauty and tackle David Bowie‘s final album Blackstar, as well as some other choice cuts (get tickets here). Expect some special guests for the Bowie performance.
With regards to the masquerade theme, Hamilton explained, “A group of our fans in Rhode Island organized a group of people to wear masks similar to the characters from the cover of our Epic Battle Between Light & Dark album cover to a show, and we just loved it….It was super cool to play to an audience that was dressed up like that, and we wanted to expand on the concept.”
On each theme, Hamilton says, “They just felt right to pair with these cities and venues… Working on and rehearsing these songs has already been incredible, we can’t wait for the shows.”
Up and coming, Boston-based folkadelic act Hayley Jane & The Primates will act as support for the NYC play. Winners of a New England Music Award, Americana/Roots Act of the Year in 2014, the group has taken off over the last year, with solid musicians led by the dominant stage presence of Hayley Jane.
The American Babies will also be putting on their musical masquerades in two other cities as well. On October 22nd at Boulder, CO’s The Fox Theatre, the group will perform the music of Radiohead, while their Mill Valley, CA show at Sweetwater Music Hall on Nov. 19th will feature a Dead set (with some special guests).
Purchase tickets for the Tonic Room performance on 10/29 here.
Purchase tickets for the American Beauty performance on 11/5 here.