Incoming: Mastodon to Lawrence

Leave it to Mastodon to keep things up-close and personal. According to a press release, for this tour, the righteous and lauded metal band will be “playing to smaller theaters and clubs to insure a maximum and up close intimate environment in which to be exposed to brand new songs and old favorites… .”

Those new songs will be from Mastodon’s upcoming fourth album, Crack the Sky. No, wait, make that Crack the SKYE. Say it like sky-yeauh! ‘Cause that’s more metal.

The Atlanta-eah Georgia-eah band is coming to The Granada-eah (OK, I’ll stop now) on April 13. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 7, but a pre-sale begins on Wednesday, March 3. The password is “CracktheSkye,” but when you enter it, you have to scream SKYEAH! and smash a bottle over your computer monitor to insure a proper transaction. Publicity advises to wear safety glasses and keep watch at these Web sites for pre-sale details. You can also pre-order Crack the Skye (out March 24) for extra cizzash and get a whole bunch of limited-edition stuff, including a signed lithograph, at one of the above-mentioned Web sites.