Fred Cole is like some sort of musical version of High Lander or a vampire.  Since 1964, at a mere 16 years of age, Cole has been an enduring force in the music industry.  By organically adjusting, adapting, and adding to his signature sound, he has been able to move inconspicuously amongst mortals throughout the many passing decades.  Few others can lay claim to having performed shows with the likes of the Doors and Janis Joplin in the Sixties, as well as with Punk legends like Ramones in the Seventies, and bands like Black Lips of today.  Fred Cole has been there and transitioned admirably through all of it.

Fred met and married his wife Toody before he was out of his teens and they have been together ever since.  Through the births of their children, playing in various bands together, running a music/general store, and even living in the unforgiving elements of the Yukon, the Coles are like the Zan and Jana of sonic onslaughts.  From the garage rock/psychedelia of The Lollipop Shoppe, to the punk of The Rats, to the country-influenced The Range Rats, and the mashed up rough punk of Dead Moon, Fred has remained a vital voice in the music industry and Toody‘s has increasingly grown stronger and stronger.  After almost 20 years and being the subject of a documentary, Dead Moon disbanded in 2006, when the couple parted ways with drummer, Andrew Loomis.  Now, with the addition of drummer, Kelly Halliburton (Severed Head of State, Defiance), the Cole‘s are about to head out on tour with their most recent musical project, Pierced Arrows.

I caught Pierced Arrows during their last appearance in Seattle and they were an impressive live act; incorporating new tracks with classics from projects of the past.  Their sophomore album, Descending Shadows will be released by VICE Records on February 2nd.  The following video of the trio performing their new song, “Let It Rain” in the yard of their Oregon home.

…. and here’s the video for their song “Paranoia”, also on Descending Shadows.

Make Sure to catch them when they come through your town.

Tour Dates:

^ = w/Lullabye Arkestra

2/07/10            PORTLAND, OR                       SLABTOWN
2/23/10            FARGO, ND                             THE AQUARIUM
2/24/10            MINNEAPOLIS, MN                   7TH STREET ENTRY
2/25/10            CHICAGO, IL                           SUBTERRANEAN
2/26/10            DETROIT, MI                           THE CAFÉ
2/27/10            CLEVELAND, OH                       BEACHLAND TAVERN
2/28/10            PITTSBURGH, PA                      31st STREET PUB
3/02/10            ALBANY, NY                            VALENTINE’S
3/03/10            TORONTO, ON                         EL MOCAMBO
3/04/10            MONTREAL, QC                        GREEN ROOM
3/05/10            NEW YORK, NY                        MERCURY LOUNGE^
3/06/10            HOBOKEN, NJ                          MAXWELL’S^
3/07/10            NEW HAVEN, CT                       CAFÉ NINE^
3/09/10            PHILADELPHIA, PA                     KUNG FU NECKTIE^
3/10/10            WASHINGTON, DC                     DC9^
3/11/10            BALTIMORE, MD                        GOLDEN WEST CAFÉ^
3/12/10            CHAPEL HILL, NC                       THE CAVE
3/13/10            ATLANTA, GA                             LENNY’S BAR
3/15/10            HOUSTON, TX                            RUDYARD’S
3/16/10            DENTON, TX                              RUBBER GLOVES^
3/23/10            TEMPE, AZ                                 SAIL INN^
3/24/10            SAN DIEGO, CA                          BAR PINK^
3/25/10            COSTA MESA, CA                        THE DETROIT BAR^
3/27/10            LOS ANGELES, CA                       REDWOOD BAR^
3/28/10            LOS ANGELES, CA                       ECHOPLEX^
3/30/10            SAN FRANCISCO, CA                    BOTTOM OF THE HILL^
3/31/10            PORTLAND, OR                           DANTE’S^
4/01/10            SEATTLE, WA                             THE FUNHOUSE^