That was indeed what we groaned after Korn’s butcher job, but as you’ll note with the post title’s punctuation, this isn’t a question so much as a report. A happy report, actually, as it has to do with WHY? the band, a Stereofave we last checked in with via their heavily rotated The Hollows 12″ and Dntel remix. Now gearing up for the release of Alopecia and set to embark on a lengthy tour, the Oakland genre benders turn in a non-album cover of the Cure classic “Close To Me,” adding heavy sustain and multi-tracked Coyne-y vocals to the slinky original, basically creating a more emo, less funky, saliva-dripping version of Robert & Co. Yes, dudes, you out moped the Cure! It’s an enjoyable listen, though, and at least the title’s more direct than was “By Torpedo Or Crohns.” Take a listen and stock up on tour dates after the “Please, don’t jump.”

• WHY? – “Close To Me”Download

Dig the clattering, deep-dish drum track. Also, a must-have:

• WHY? – “The Hollows”Download

WHY?’s joined by a star-studded cast on various dates including the equally caps-locked YACHT, ‘Gum Droppers Panther, labelmates Son Lux, longtime favorites Mount Erie, Cryptacize, Br. Danielson, and Samara Lubelski, etc. See who’s up when they come by your town.

03/06 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
03/07 – Los Angeles, CA @ Natural History Museum ***
03/08 – Tucson, AZ @ Solar Culture ^^^
03/09 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts ^^^
03/11 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves ^^^
03/12 – 3-15 – Austin TX @ SXSW
03/16 – Houston, TX @ Rudyard’s Pub ^^^&&&
03/17 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon ^^^ %%%
03/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn ^^^
03/19 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle ^^^
03/20 – Charlottesville, VA @ Outback Lodge ^^^ @@@
03/21 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church ^^^ $$$
03/22 – New York, NY @ The Knitting Factory ^^^ %%% +++
03/23 – New Haven, CT @ Sundazed At BAR ^^^
03/24 – Northampton, MA @ The Iron Horse ^^^
03/25 – Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East ^^^
03/26 – Montreal QC @ La Sala Rossa ^^^
03/27 – Toronto, ON @ Silver Dollar ^^^
03/28 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Pierpoint at University Of Michigan ^^^ ###
03/29 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
03/30 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland
04/01 – Columbus, OH @ Cafe Bourbon Street
04/02 – Bloomington, IN @ Space 101
04/03 – Chicago, IL @ The Abbey Pub
04/04 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
04/05 – Madison, WI @ Cafe Montmartre
04/06 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
04/07 – Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
04/08 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
04/09 – Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
04/10 – Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
04/11 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
04/12 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
04/14 – Missoula, MT @ Badlander
04/15 – Spokane, WA @ Big Easy
04/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club
04/17 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project ===
04/18 – Portland, OR @ Holocene
04/19 – Eugene, OR @ Indigo District

*** w/YACHT
^^^ w/Cryptacize
&&& w/Samara Lubelski
%%% w/ Panther
@@@ w/Doofgoblin
$$$ w/ Br. Danielson
+++ w/Son Lux
### w/ Hopalong
=== w/ Mount Eerie

Alopecia is out 3/11 on Anticon. Can’t wait.