Amid nuptial glow, Post Honeymoon launches album and US tour; former Bang! Bang! and New Black married duo is the dark sound of love

"Nick and Rachel have stripped down rock music to its core elements, and began building a new foundation, a new sound. Just as in marriage their sound builds slowly, but contained within are moment of both joy and rage. Aggressive and impressively forceful." -- The Deli Chicago

What happens when the honeymoon ends? In the case of Chicago duo Post Honeymoon, a couple starts making beautiful music together.

The newlywed band of vocalist/keyboardist Rachel Shindelman and drummer/bassist/vocalist Nick Kraska had originally played together in popular synth-punk outfits Bang! Bang! (Morphius Records) and New Black (Thick/Southern). Following the demise of their former bands and their ensuing marriage, Nick and Rachel formed Post Honeymoon and began winning over Windy City audiences with their stripped-down and dark, churning rock. Check out the track "Night Guard" HERE and "First World Problems" HERE.

Post Honeymoon soon hit the studio to record its self-titled debut (watch a short in-studio clip here) which has been said to echo the sultry and urgent sounds of Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Motels, Suicide and Love & Rockets (minus the guitars).

Post Honeymoon's roots go back to a summer night in 2001, when Nick met Rachel and brought her to a show at Chicago's Empty Bottle. It took them three years to start playing together and another three to get married, go on their first vacation and start their own outfit.

The band's debut self-titled disc is scheduled for release June 9th via the Chicago collective record label, Two Thumbs Down (The Hood Internet, Sleep Out). Upon the album's release, Post Honeymoon will embark on a nationwide U.S. tour (please see full dates below) -- we were unable to confirm at this writing if the duo's van will be dragging empty cans strung to the bumper and "post honeymoon" written on the windows in soap.

Post Honeymoon Live:

05/14 Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle

06/02 Bloomington, IN @ The Bluebird

06/03 Cincinnati, OH @ Northside Tavern

06/04 Nashville, TN @ Sky House

06/05 Memphis, TN @ The Buccaneer

06/06 Birmingham, AL @ Greencup Books

06/08 Athens, GA @ Tasty World

06/09 Savannah, GA @ The Wormhole

06/10 Chapel Hill, NC @ The Nightlight

06/12 New York, NY @ Pianos

06/13 Brooklyn, NY @ The Shank

06/14 Boston, MA @ O’Brien’s Pub

06/16 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

06/17 Detroit, MI @ Lager House

06/19 Chicago, IL @ Hideout (Album release show)

06/22 St. Louis, MO @ Way Out Club

06/23 Hot Springs, AR @ Maxine's

06/24 Ft. Worth, TX @ Metrognome Collective

06/25 Austin, TX @ Moose Lodge 1735

06/26 El Paso, TX @ The Rock Room

06/27 Albuquerque, NM @ Atomic Cantina

06/28 Phoenix, AZ @ Ruby Room

06/30 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar

07/01 Los Angeles, CA @ Bandit Gallery

07/02 Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar

07/03 San Francisco, CA @ Annie's Social Club

07/07 Seattle, WA @ The Comet Tavern

07/10 Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge

07/11 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive