Los Campesinos! Lose Campesino! 2009-06-06 by Dave de Sylvia EMERITUS | 6 Comments | Having just returned from a five month spell in North and South America, during which they recorded their third studio album, Los Campesinos! have announced details of their biggest tour of the US to date, but they'll be doing so without keyboardist Aleks, who has departed the band to resume her studies.
Wrote the band in a blog: "This is a difficult announcement to have to write, and one we'd have hoped we'd never need to, but it is with a heavy heart we in Los Campesinos! need to announce the forthcoming departure of Aleks Campesinos! from our number.
After three years of LC!, in an incredible journey that has gone from inaudible student union side room gigs to playing infront of thousands in Caracas city centre; Aleks is now, as she always intended, departing the band in order to return to her studies.
In many ways, it would be great if there had been some falling out in the band and that Aleks couldn't bear to tour with us anymore, but that couldn't be further from the truth. We're all better, closeR friends now than we've ever been, and this makes the decision tougher on both Aleks, and the other six of us. We've always been very pragmatic when thinking about the future for Los Campesinos!, and it is at this point that Aleks has decided her future does not reside in flogging this LC! nonsense any longer. Though she will remain a Campesinos! for eternity. There's no escaping that.
It shouldn't need saying, and perhaps it almost seems insensitive, but it's inevitable news of this nature will cause tongues to wag, so it's best to confirm that Los Campesinos! will continue as a band, stronger and more united than ever. Though this news is being announced only now, it's something we as a band have been aware of, and preparing for, for the past year. The individual joining the band to take on Aleks' duties, and more, has been a friend of the band for a long time and though we are understandably maudlin, nay, heartbroken, this is coupled with a great excitement for what we intend to go on and achieve in the near and distant future.
In the meantime, we are finishing up Aleks' final record with the band, and can announce her final LC! shows - a US Tour, taking place in August. Taking in our biggest indoor shows to date, as well as a happy return to the site of our first US show (Lollapalooza), we navigate parts of America previously unchartered by us, before Aleks' very last shows come with a weekend in the California sun. The girl will go out in fuckin style; we will make completely sure of that."
Aleks added: "I'm not sure I can really find the right words to express how I feel about leaving the band. The past 3 years have given me some of the best times of my life full of incredible experiences and wonderful people. I am really grateful to have been a part of the Los Campesinos! story. I'm going to miss so much about the whole thing."
Tour Itinerary:
8/4/09 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall
8/5/09 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
8/6/09 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
8/7/09 – Indianapolis, IN @ Spin Nightclub
8/8/09 – Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
8/11/09 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
8/12/09 – Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
8/14/09 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
8/15/09 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre
8/16/09 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse
8/19/09 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
8/20/09 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
8/21/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
8/22/09 – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
8/23/09 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar
8/25/09 – Las Vegas, NV @ Beauty Bar
8/28/09 – San Francisco, CA @ Outside Lands Festival
8/29/09 – San Diego, CA @ Street Scene
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Tagged: Los Campesinos!
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Good for her.
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Just maybe they'll break up now.
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Hopefully going to the Dallas date. So excited!
With regards to the news, I've always imagined leaving a band to pursue business/education as being extremely heartbreaking. 
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Just maybe they'll break up now.
it's best to confirm that Los Campesinos! will continue as a band, stronger and more united than ever
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good work on the title there
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their last album is awesome. good for her though
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