**Update: Decemberists tickets go on sale to the general public this Saturday at noon through Ticketmaster for $32.50.
Minneapolis falls two weeks into the Decemberists' winter tour itinerary behind their heavily anticipated new album, "The King Is Dead," details of which were announced today. The Oregonian folk-rockers will perform at the State Theatre on Feb. 6. General ticket info has not yet been released, but you can sign up for pre-sale access here. The new album won't be out until Jan. 18, but the band has already issued the new single "Down by the Water" -- which, when I heard it, sounded to me like a great lost R.E.M. track. Sure enough, Peter Buck was one of the guests on the album, as was the stellar Gillian Welch, who will perform with the band Thursday night on "Conan." The band has issued a nice little making-of promo video posted below.
Other new concert announcements to look forward to in the new year: Legendary British post-punk band Gang of Four is schedule to play First Ave on Feb. 12 behind its first album in 16 years, "Content" (out Jan. 25); mash-up wiz Girl Talk will return to First Ave on March 8; My Chemical Romance should easily sell out First Ave on April 16; Grace Potter & the Nocturnals hit the Varisty Theater on Jan. 16, and the first big arena rock show of 2011, for better or worse, will be Linkin Park at Xcel Energy Center on Jan. 28. The Linkin Park show goes on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. for $42.50-$72.50. Potter's show goes on sale Friday at 10 a.m. for $18.50. Stay tuned for the other ticket announcements.
