Seattle trioTHE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA--currently on a sold-out U.S. headlining tour--were joined by Wayne Kramer of the MC5 onstage at the Roxy in Los Angeles this past Friday night (3/21) for a blistering performance of the MC5's "Kick Out The Jams." Later that evening, the band welcomed Weird Al Yankovic (with whom they recently teamed to shoot the video for their new single "Mixed Up S.O.B") to the stage for a hilarious rendition of Boston's classic "More Than A Feeling" (photos of both performances are available upon request).

During PUSA's month-long U.S. tour, fans--which remarkably range in age from 14-30--can expect a healthy mix of new songs and old hits, including sing-along crowd pleasers "Kitty," "Lump," "Peaches," "Back Porch," and "Naked and Famous," among others. The trio performed new songs off their just-released album THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES PEOPLE (Fugitive Recordings/EMI), including album opener and first single "Mixed Up S.O.B.," "Deleter," Ladybug," Sharpen Up Those Fangs," Truckstop Butterfly" and "More Bad Times."


In radio news, early adds for "Mixed Up S.O.B." include: WFNX Boston, KTCL Denver, KNDD Seattle, KNRK Portland, KWOD Sacramento, WEDX Albany and Sirius' "Alt Nation." The song has also received plays on KEDJ Phoenix, KITS San Francisco, KXRK Salt Lake City, KROX Austin, WHTQ Asbury Park, KFMA Tucson, KRZQ Reno, KQXR Boise, KVGS Las Vegas and XM Radio's "Ethel." On May 10, PUSA will co-headline the WFNX-Boston Radio show with Death Cab For Cutie at the Bank of America Pavilion in Boston, MA.

In other touring news, PUSA will head to Europe on April 10 for shows in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, England and Ireland. They'll be back in the U.S. come May for a month-long trek culminating with a performance on May 25 at the Sasquatch Festival in George, WA at the Gorge with The Cure, Death Cab For Cutie and Ryan Adams among others before heading back to Europe for shows in France, Italy, Germany and Denmark.


Check out what critics have been saying about THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES PEOPLE:


"Led by Ballew, whose irrepressible spirit could make a corpse dance, the Presidents opened with 'Love Everybody,' the explosive title song of the group's 2004 album. The crowd sang along, and never stopped. The Presidents have shown remarkable staying power, remaining relevant 15 years after their debut in the waning days of Seattle's grunge scene."

...the sparse compact formula that led them to success in the mid-90's remains intact, with the main change, a subtle one, in the songwriting. ...punchy songs like album opener 'Mixed Up S.O.B.,' 'More Bad Times,' and the breezy 'Loose Balloon' come across as less novelty-like as a result of songcraft ...In an election year, its good to have these Presidents back."

"The current lineup, which includes two of the '90s members, sounds as lively as ever on These Are the Good Times People. The set opens with 'Mixed Up S.O.B.,' whose cheerfulness contrasts its cautionary account of a troubled ex who was found 'in her bed/all dead.' While the brisk tune is typical of their style, the Presidents have expanded their means since the days when singer-basitarist Chris Ballew and the band's guitbassist (currently Andrew McKeag) plucked a mere five strings between them. This album adds horns on three tracks and female backup vocals on one, while dabbling in country, blues and funk. Such variations keep things interesting, but the Presidents' calling remains swift and mildly skewed pop-rock."

--Mark Jenkins, WASHINGTON POST, March 21, 2008


"...as soon as I pressed play I was rocking out with my bad-self like I was nine years old again and hearing 'Peaches' for the first time. The first track, 'Mixed Up S.O.B.', is a throw-your-hands-in-the-air-and-shout song that reminded me of The Presidents' sounds that first hooked people. From that point on, the band only seems to expand on its level of expertise, from swingin' ska and rockabilly rhythms on 'Sharpen Up Those Fangs' and 'Flame is Love', to the folksy blue grass feel of 'Truckstop Butterfly', to the heartfelt lyrics and chorus of 'More Bad Times.' And as this musical journey draws to a conclusion, the band departs on a high note by bringing the funk on their soulful ender-song, 'Deleter' (it might just be my fave)."

"The Presidents fully re-formed in 2004, and now they're back on the campaign trail with their strongest, most diverse album in years, These Are the Good Times People. It features a bushel of 'joy pop' tunes that defy gravity, among them 'Ladybug,' 'Sharpen Up Those Fangs,' 'More Bad Times' and 'Truckstop Butterfly.'

"For people who have been on a strenuous, long-term diet of super serious love songs and political rants, this record is an appreciated, fattening dessert."

"The band that introduced absurdity, clever word play and bright infectious pop hooks."

--Mark Baumgarten, SEATTLE SOUND, March 2008


"These Are the Good Times People is a lightweight rock confection that'll appeal to your footloose and fancy, free bone. The album is full of frivolous lyrics sung in Chris Ballew's nasal vocals and good time bar anthems like 'Mixed Up S.O.B.,' 'Sharpen Up Those Fangs,' and 'French Girl.' If you want something silly to lighten up your somber mood then this record'll be your own person anti-depressant."

--Amy Sciarretto, ARTISTDIRECT.COM, February 26,2008


" [These are the Good Times People] is filled with the barbed rock hooks and idiosyncratic lyrical musings..."

[These are the Good Times People] It's a classic PUSA record, equipped with all their pleasantries and ironic guitar riffs on tunes like 'French Girl,' 'Truckstop Butterfly,' and 'Lady Bug.' Leave your troubles at the door, embrace your inner geek, and give it 100 percent during 'Naked and Famous.' 'Cause the only suckers at this hipster-free show crossing their arms and exchanging shifty glances will be security."

--Chris Kornelis, SEATTLE WEEKLY, March 14,2008



Catch PUSA on the road in the following cities this spring:

DATE CITY VENUE

Tue 3/25 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

Wed 3/26 Philadelphia, PA The Trocadero

Thu 3/27 Boston, MA Paradise


International dates

Thu 4/10 Eindhoven, NED Effenaar

Fri 4/11 Groningen, NED Oosterpoort KZ

Sat 4/12 Utrecht, NED Tivoli

Mon 4/14 Brussels, Belgium Botanique

Tue 4/15 London, UK Astoria

Wed 4/16 Brighton, UK Concorde 2

Fri 4/18 Bristol, UK Carling Academy

Sat 4/19 Birmingham, UK Carling Academy

Sun 4/20 Manchester, UK Academy

Tue 4/22 Newcastle, UK Carling Academy

Wed 4/23 Glasgow, UK Carling Academy

Fri 4/25 Belfast, UK Spring & Airbrake

Sat 4/26 Dublin, Ireland Tripod

U.S. Tour Dates

Mon 5/5 Milwaukee, WI Eagle's Ballroom

Tue 5/6 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line Music Café

Wed 5/7 Lawrence, KS Liberty Hall

Fri 5/9 Chicago, IL Abbey Pub


WFNX "Best Music Poll 2008" w/ Death Cab For Cutie and Bob Mould

Sat 5/10 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion


U.S. Tour Dates

Sun 5/11 Detroit, MI Magic Stick

Fri 5/16 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall

Sat 5/17 Nashville, TN Nashville Riverfront Park

Sun 5/18 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel

Tue 5/20 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle

Wed 5/21 Charleston, SC The Music Farm

Thu 5/22 Knoxville, TN Sundown in the City

Fri 5/23 Atlanta, GA The Loft


Sasquatch Festival w/ The Cure, Death Cab For Cutie, Ryan Adams

Sun 5/25 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre

International dates

Thu 5/29 Paris, France Trabendo

Fri 5/30 Winterhur, Switzerland Gaswerk

Sat 5/31 Turin, Italy Spazio

Tue 6/3 Krefeld, Germany Kulturfabrik

Thu 6/5 Hamburg, Germany Logo

Fri 6/6 Skiven, Denmark Skive Beach Party

Sat 6/7 Berlin, Germany Kato