HANDGRENADES EXPLOSION

Got an e-mail yesterday afternoon from HiFi Handgrenades honcho John Speck, informing us of all kinds of cool stuff the band's up to following their opening slot tour with the Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl himself chose them for the gig) earlier this year. The band is leaving at the end of July for a three-month tour, which includes a few Western Canada and Pacific Northwest Warped Tour dates, as well as a few European festivals (including Belgium's Pukkelpop, Frequency in Vienna, and the well-regarded Leeds and Reading Fests in jolly ol' blighty). The European swing will also include a few club dates, including support dates with with Alkaline Trio and Millencolin, before heading back to the U.S. for a tour with Streetlight Manifesto, and then ending with the band's debut performance at Fest 7 in Gainesville, Florida.

The band's debut LP, Carry On, is now also available via New Romance for Kids Records in Canada, Rough Trade/FAEC in Japan (the latter label is also distributing an exclusive five-song EP) and, as of August 26th, on Deck Cheese Records on the U.K.

Speck also says the Grenades have 10 new songs demoed for their next album. They're aiming for a springtime '09 release date ... and still looking for "a good fit on a U.S. label" (interested parties can contact the band via their MySpace page or e-mail here and we'll forward your e-mail to Mr. Speck).

Looking good, dudes.

Here's the band's full upcoming itenerary:

Aug 5 2008 Warped Tour Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Aug 6 2008 Warped Tour Calgary, Alberta

Aug 8 2008 Warped Tour Boise, Idaho

Aug 9 2008 Warped Tour Seattle, Washington

Aug 10 2008 Warped Tour Portland, Oregon

Aug 14 2008 Pukkelpop Festival Belgium

Aug 15 2008 Frequency Festival Vienna

Aug 16 2008 Magnet Club Berlin

Aug 17 2008 Molotov Hamburg

Aug 19 2008 Live Music Hall w/ Alkaline Trio Koln

Aug 20 2008 Koko w/ Alkaline Trio London

Aug 23 2008 Reading Festival Reading

Aug 24 2008 Leeds Festival Leeds

Aug 25 2008 Garage w/ Alkaline Trio Glasgow, Scotland

Aug 26 2008 Ambassador w/ Alkaline Trio Dublin, Northern Ireland

Aug 28 2008 Cafe Drummond Aberdeen, Scotland

Aug 29 2008 Westport Bar Dundee, Scotland

Aug 30 2008 Academy 2 Newcastle

Sep 1 2008 Leadmill (small hall) Sheffield

Sep 2 2008 Fibbers York

Sep 3 2008 Night & Day Manchester

Sep 4 2008 Sugarmill Stoke

Sep 5 2008 West End Centre Aldershot

Sep 7 2008 Met Lounge Peterborough

Sep 8 2008 Barfly Liverpool

Sep 10 2008 Soultree Cambridge

Sep 11 2008 Esquires Bedford

Sep 12 2008 Forum Tunbridge Wells

Sep 13 2008 Bullingdon Arms Oxford

Sep 15 2008 Joiners Southampton

Sep 16 2008 Engine Room Brighton

Sep 17 2008 Metro London

Sep 18 2008 Cavern Exeter

Sep 20 2008 Club 85 Hitchin

Sep 21 2008 Roadmenders Northampton

Sep 23 2008 Academy w/ Millencolin Birmingham

Sep 24 2008 Academy w/ Millencolin Bristol

Sep 25 2008 Astoria 2 w/ Millencolin London

Sep 26 2008 Wedgewood Rooms w/ Millencolin Portsmouth

Sep 27 2008 Rock City w/ Millencolin Nottingham

Sep 28 2008 Academy 3 w/ Millencolin Manchester

Sep 29 2008 Garage w/ Millencolin Glasgow, Scotland

Oct 8 2008 Crazy Donkey w/ Streetlight Manifesto Farmington, New York

Oct 9 2008 Starland Ballroom w/ Streetlight Manifesto Sayreville, New Jersey

Oct 10 2008 Northern Lights w/ Streetlight Manifesto Albany, New York

Oct 11 2008 Infinity w/ Streetlight Manifesto Buffalo, New York

Oct 12 2008 Agora w/ Streetlight Manifesto Cleveland, Ohio

Oct 13 2008 Intersection w/ Streetlight Manifesto Grand Rapids, Michigan

Oct 14 2008 TBA w/ Streetlight Manifesto TBA

Oct 15 2008 Bluebird w/ Streetlight Manifesto Denver, Colorado

Oct 16 2008 Avalon w/ Streetlight Manifesto Salt Lake City, Utah

Oct 17 2008 Brickhouse w/ Streetlight Manifesto Phoenix, Arizona

Oct 18 2008 Key Club w/ Streetlight Manifesto Los Angeles/Hollywood, California

Oct 19 2008 House of Blues w/ Streetlight Manifesto San Diego, California

Oct 30 2008 FEST 7 Gainesville, Florida

The Handgrenades and some dude who plays with guys named Bruce and Conan.