Animals as Leaders Plot 10th Anniversary Tour

The trek with the Contortionist will hit Toronto this spring

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Feb 26, 2019

This April will mark 10 years since guitarist Tosin Abasi made his debut as Animals as Leaders with a self-titled debut album. Now a full-fledged trio, the metal outfit will celebrate a decade of music-making with a commemorative tour.

The celebratory trek will kick off May 1 in San Antonio, with the band playing 18 dates total across North America. Support on the run will come from fellow prog metal outfit the Contortionist, with a tour poster promising the appearance of additional "special guests."

A lone Canadian stop will bring the bands to Toronto's Opera House on May 18. Tickets for the run go on sale March 1 at 10 a.m. local time. You can find a complete tour itinerary below.

Abasi released the instrumental Animals as Leaders through Prosthetic Records in 2009. Produced by Periphery's Misha Mansoor, the album shone a spotlight on Abasi's virtuosic guitar talent and technique in a metal style that drew influence from jazz and electronic.

Animals as Leaders — which now features Abasi, guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Matt Garstka — last released The Madness of Many in 2016. The Contortionist delivered their Clairvoyant LP in 2017.

Tour dates:

05/01 San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theater
05/02 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey
05/06 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee
05/07 Los Angeles, CA - The Mayan
05/08 San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
05/10 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
05/11 Seattle, WA - El Corazon
05/14 Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
05/15 Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
05/16 Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
05/17 Mckees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theater
05/18 Toronto, ON - The Opera House
05/19 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
05/20 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
05/21 New York, NY - Irving Plaza
05/23 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
05/24 Nashville, TN - Cannery Ballroom
05/25 Columbus, OH - Newport Hall

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