The Holidays are here! While AmericanMars.com counts down the days to the release of Western Sides on January 15, we’re pleased to announce two special shows coming up in the Detroit area.

The first is this Saturday, December 1 as American Mars will play two sets at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) as part of Detroit’s annual Noel Night celebration. If you live in the Detroit area and you’ve never been to Noel Night, you owe it to yourself to come to Midtown Saturday night. Many, if not all, of the area’s galleries, museums, and shops will be open all evening for visitors to stroll about in the wintry Detroit air. There’s roasted chestnuts, hot cocoa, caroling, horse-drawn carriage rides, tons of art and hand-made crafts, and great live performances. AM will play two sets at MOCAD, one at 6pm and another at 8. Click here for more info.

The next show, and the last of 2007 for American Mars, is the 6th annual Detroit Sounds and Spirits Holiday Spectacular curated by our own David Feeny. This year’s show is on Friday, December 21 at the Magic Stick in Detroit. The Spectacular has come a long way from the first sold out show at Detroit’s C-Pop Gallery, made famous by Jack White’s legendary appearance and (ahem) AM’s duet with Sunshine Doray on The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” In addition to AM, this year’s show promises to be another razor ride in the snow featuring performances by The Hard Lessons, The Go, Great Lakes Myth Society, plus tons more of Detroit’s finest rock bands. Music starts promptly at 10pm and all proceeds go to benefit the Detroit Coalition on Temporary Shelter (COTS) which is a great organization that works to provide food, shelter and hope to the homeless and working poor of Detroit. Click here for ticket info and directions.

We’d love to see some friendly faces so come on out and say hi. If we miss you, please accept our best wishes this season. May it bring you peace.

xoxo, 
Thomas 

Welcome to the newly designed AmericanMars.com! Even though Western Sides will not be officially released until Januay 15, visitors can now listen to the new record in its entirety.

On the video page, check out the brand new clip for the song Better Angels, directed by Rodney McLaughlin at Nervous Films. While you’re there, check out clips for Long Walk Home and a promotional trailer for Western Sides, both directed by Joel Boyea.

Over the next several weeks, we’ll be posting updates on the record’s release, along with new music, press clips, and tour information. In the meantime, feel free to send us some email to let us know what you think about the new site and the record. To get updates as they happen, please join our mailing list or sign-up for an RSS feed.

Thanks for sticking with us. Hope to see you all soon.

Peace,
Thomas