# Tear the Signs Down album tour

The Tear the Signs Down album tour was a tour by the Welsh rock band the Automatic, in support of their third album Tear the Signs Down. The band made their live comeback at Cardiff Barfly on 19 September 2009 and soon after announced a string of dates in November where they would preview new material from their then upcoming album. The band undertook a full UK tour, with plans to tour in Europe and America.

## Background

During 2009 the band only played a handful of dates, Jarocin Festival in Poland and Tamworth Midlands Music Festival in July and August, and then their 'comeback performance' on 19 September 2009 in their native Cardiff at Barfly, where they performed new material for the first time. Soon after they announced a small 10 date tour across parts of the United Kingdom, in November 2009. Prior to the November tour the full album tour was also announced, across the England, Scotland and Wales in March 2010. Three sold out London dates were at the start of the tour, at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, The Borderline and Camden Barfly.
During the March 2010 tour dates the band were supported by Straight Lines and White Belt Yellow Tag. Throughout the tour the Automatic ran a competition via Twitter, giving fans the chance to win a free guest list place every night of the tour.
After the March 2010 tour the band played sporadic gigs and festivals across the summer. They were also favoured to support Ash in April or May on tour, this never became. In late June The Blackout supported the Automatic at a charity performance at Pontypridd Muni Arts Centre, whilst later in July the Automatic supported Funeral for a Friend on their Casually Dressed & Deep in Conversation tour dates.

## Reception

Despite NME's poor reaction to the album Tear the Signs Down the magazine praised the performance at Liverpool on 14 March 2010 - also contradicting their album review calling Tear the Signs Down "an impressive third record", Mike Haydock wrote "They look happy, and it's infectious, translating into a hugely impressive, enjoyable show that puts smiles on people's faces. And surely that's the whole point, right?", noting also that hit singles "Steve McQueen", "Monster", "Raoul" and "Recover" all gained the most response.

## Set list

Many of the tracks from Tear the Signs Down have been alternated throughout the tour, with "Run and Hide", "Interstate", "Something Else" and "Cannot Be Saved" remaining present at all dates. "Steve McQueen", "Magazines", "This Is A Fix" and "Light Entertainment" along with an alternation of Sleepwalking and other tracks from This Is A Fix. "Monster", "Campaign Trail", "Raoul" and "Recover" have all been present from Not Accepted Anywhere whilst "That's What She Said" and "By My Side" have been included on occasion. You Shout, Keep Your Eyes Peeled, Seriously I Hate You Guys, Team Drama and Rats have yet to be performed with Paul Mullen as a member of the Automatic.
* Interstate
* Recover
* Magazines
* Run and Hide
* Raoul
* Race to the Heart of the Sun
* Monster
* Something Else
* This Is A Fix
* Can I Take You Home
* On The Campaign Trail
* Sleepwalking
* Cannot Be Saved
* Light Entertainment
* Steve McQueen

## Tour dates

| Date | Location | Country | Venue | Opening Act(s) |
| First leg |||||
| 19 September 2009 | Cardiff | Wales | Barfly | |
| 3 November 2009 | Dubai | United Arab Emirates | Sound City | |
| 10 November 2009 | Royal Tunbridge Wells | England | The Forum | |
| 11 November 2009 | Southend | England | Chinnerys | |
| 12 November 2009 | Kingston upon Thames | England | McCluskys | |
| 13 November 2009 | Rhondda | Wales | Cwmparc Hall | |
| 14 November 2009 | Wrexham | Wales | Central Station | |
| 20 November 2009 | Preston | England | Lava Ignite | |
| 21 November 2009 | Ipswich | England | Liquid | |
| 25 November 2009 | Sunderland | England | Independent | |
| 26 November 2009 | Carlisle | England | Brickyard | |
| 27 November 2009 | Stockton-on-Tees | England | Ku Bar | |
| 28 November 2009 | Coventry | England | Kasbah | |
| Second leg |||||
| 21 January 2010 | London | England | Hoxton Bar and Kitchen | |
| 4 February 2010 | London | England | The Borderline | |
| 18 February 2010 | London | England | Camden Barfly | Autopilots |
| 22 February 2010 | Swansea | Wales | Brangwyn | |
| Third leg |||||
| 2 March 2010 | Swindon | England | 12 Bar | Straight Lines |
| 4 March 2010 | Exeter | England | Cavern | Straight Lines |
| 5 March 2010 | Falmouth | England | Princess Pavilion | Straight Lines |
| 6 March 2010 | Yeovil | England | Orange Box | Straight Lines |
| 7 March 2010 | Gloucester | England | Guildhall | Straight Lines |
| 8 March 2010 | Oxford | England | O2 Academy | Straight Lines |
| 9 March 2010 | Colchester | England | Arts Centre | Straight Lines |
| 11 March 2010 | Northampton | England | Roadmender 2 | Straight Lines |
| 12 March 2010 | Stoke | England | Sugarmill | Straight Lines |
| 13 March 2010 | Hull | England | Adelphi | Straight Lines |
| 14 March 2010 | Liverpool | England | O2 Academy | Straight Lines |
| 16 March 2010 | Glasgow | Scotland | King Tuts | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 17 March 2010 | Newcastle | England | O2 Academy Newcastle | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 18 March 2010 | Sheffield | England | O2 Academy | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 19 March 2010 | Manchester | England | Academy | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 20 March 2010 | Leeds | England | Brudenell Social Club | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 22 March 2010 | Norwich | England | Arts Centre | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 23 March 2010 | Nottingham | England | Rescue Rooms | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 24 March 2010 | York | England | Fibbers | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 25 March 2010 | Birmingham | England | O2 Academy | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 27 March 2010 | Brighton | England | Audio | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 28 March 2010 | Bristol | England | Thekla | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 29 March 2010 | Portsmouth | England | Wedgewood Rooms | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 30 March 2010 | London | England | Relentless Garage | White Belt Yellow Tag |
| 31 March 2010 | Cardiff | Wales | Barfly | Straight Lines White Belt Yellow Tag |
| Fourth leg |||||
| 25 June 2010 | Pontypridd | Wales | Muni Arts Centre | The Blackout Ladies Love a Superhero High Demand |
| 18 July 2010 | Monmouth | Wales | Monmouth Festival 2010 | Festival |
| 23 July 2010 | London | England | Wimbledon Calling Festival | Festival |
| 1 August 2010 | Southport | England | Jedi Music Festival | Festival |
| Fifth leg |||||
| 22 July 2010 | Cardiff | Wales | Cardiff University | Funeral for a Friend headline The Automatic Young Guns |
| 23 July 2010 | London | England | Shepherd's Bush Empire | Funeral for a Friend headline The Automatic Young Guns |