Paul Collins Kicks Off Midwest Tour 2/18 in Milwaukee

Paul Collins (one of the originators of the high-energy sound known as Power Pop and co-founder of THE NERVES, THE BREAKAWAYS and THE BEAT) will be kicking off a Midwest tour on February 18th in Milwaukee with the Lafayette, IN-based garage-pop rockers THE HALF RATS, just prior to Paul Collins BEAT tour of Japan and Australia in March and April.

KING OF POWER POP! (on Alive Records) is Paul's latest studio album and it's a complete return to his roots - to power pop, the sound he helped create and popularize, a sound that has seen a resurgence in recent years, a sound that is here to stay!

Paul Collins BEAT / THE HALF RATS 2011 MIDWEST TOUR DATES

02.18 MILWAUKEE, WI - CLUB GARIBALDI (W/ THE MID WEST BEAT)
02.19 CHICAGO, IL - SUBTERRANEAN (W/ THE SLEEPOVERS)
02.20 LAFAYETTE, IN - THE BLACK SPARROW (W/ ERIC & THE HAPPY THOUGHTS)
02.21 BLOOMINGTON, IN - THE BISHOP (W/ CHARLIE & THE SKUNKS)
02.22 INDIANAPOLIS, IN - THE VOLLRATH
02.23 COLUMBUS, OH - THE SUMMIT (W/ EXWHITES / PAUL DULL & HIS MEDIA WHORES)
02.24 CLEVELAND, OH - NOW THAT'S CLASS (W/ THE WOLLY BULLIES)
02.25 DETROIT, MI - LAGER HOUSE (W/ THE SIGHTS)
02.26 KALAMAZOO, MI - LOUIE'S (W/ AMOEBAS)

Paul Collins is Power Pop's greatest champion and spokesperson. Through extensive worldwide touring, and connecting to like-minded bands, artists and fans through social networking sites, Paul has created THE BEAT ARMY, a DIY network of people connected by their love of Power Pop, punk, new wave and rock-n-roll to help ensure its success at the club level - where rock-n-roll lives and breathes. While THE BEAT ARMY only began last March, Collins has already amassed over 2,700 members. In addition, he's been touring heavily in support of both THE BEAT ARMY and his new album KING OF POWER POP! As Collins enthusiastically explains, "This will be tour number five for us since forming THE BEAT ARMY. So far we've done 50-plus shows throughout the South, Canada, East Coast, Midwest (actually this will be our second Midwest tour) and the West Coast involving over 60 bands from around the country. The shows all have low ticket prices (averaging from $8 to $10) and we book them ourselves. 'By the people, for the people'... that's our motto."

HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT Paul Collins' KING OF POWER POP!

"... Collins bangs-and-crashes his way through thirteen high-octane slabs of outright power pop majesty, a baker's dozen, if you will, of sugar-coated sonic delights. Leave it to The Commoners of the blogosphere to endlessly debate Paul Collins' status in the power pop firmament; as for this humble rockcrit, given the uniquely high quality of tuneage on King of Power Pop!, with nary a duff track among the thirteen, I say give him the crown. He's earned it with better than three decades of uncompromising loyalty to the power pop aesthetic." - BLURT MAGAZINE"

No one has more right to lay claim to the title of King of Power Pop than Paul Collins: over a 30-year career with The Nerves, The Breakaways, and Paul Collins' Beat, Collins has consistently delivered the Rickenbacker jangle and harmonies, as well as songs about girls, "the kids", and music itself, that power pop aficionados have demanded since the first issue of Bomp!, if not the Who's The Kids Are Alright. As it is, he more than backs up his album's boastful title on this most welcome-and deserving-victory lap." - POPMATTERS

"King of Power Pop ranks with Collins' best work." - ILLINOIS ENTERTAINER

"Collins doesn't fornicate around here - he just whips out nugget after nugget of catchy, melodic, chiming guitar pop with two guitars, bass and drums. The assertion in the album title may seem over the top, but after spinning King of Power Pop a few times, you'll find it difficult to disagree." - THE BIG TAKEOVER

"Paul Collins was one of the pioneers of the power-pop genre, playing with bands such as Nerves, the Breakaways and the Beat. Now, he returns to his roots with the release of the aptly titled King Of Power Pop! on August 24 via Alive Records. "Do You Wanna Love Me?" basically defines power pop, with revved-up beats and garage-rock vocals complete with a harmonica." - MAGNET MAGAZINE

"His new album is called The King of Power Pop and it takes guts to go with that title, but Collins has the chops to back it up." - WASHINGTON POST

"Collins has cut a handful of fine records since the breakup of the Beat, but King of Power Pop! is the first one in ages that captures the tough, upbeat sound of his most memorable work, and it proves the man hasn't lost his touch for writing tight, hooky tunes with killer hooks and energetic guitar figures. Collins' voice is a little rougher than it was in his salad days, but he makes that work to his favor, giving the songs a touch of defiant swagger even when he's sounding sweet and heartbroken, and when he and his lead guitarist Eric Blakely lock in, this sounds like the perfect follow-up to the Beat's classic albums for Columbia, bursting with tuneful vigor and rock & roll passion (and arriving a mere quarter-century after the fact). Paul Collins might not be the King of Power Pop, but if there was an elected President of Power Pop, an album this good would certainly sweep him into office; it's fun, raucous, thoroughly enjoyable rock & roll from one of pop's greatest unsung heroes." - ALL MUSIC GUIDE

"...a tough, rocking genre gem." - KANSAS CITY FREE PRESS

"With just the right level of sweetness to rasp quota, Paul Collin's voice has never sounded better... in addition to being a modern day troubadour with a power pop heart, Collins is also a tasteful ol' f**ker." - BUCKETFULL OF BRAINS MAGAZINE / UK

"...slightly twitchy and supremely tuneful." - SPINNER

"Anyone who loves The Nerves EP and The Beat's albums (particularly the debut) should grab a copy of this one ASAP." - HYPERBOLIUM

"King of Power Pop! sure-footedly hearkens back to the classic Beat/Nerves formula: big, British Invasion hooks ramping down the grimy, '70s Sunset Strip." - FLAVORPILL/CHICAGO

".... awesome, solid stuff!" - RADIO K / MINNEAPOLIS

"This album is like The Beach Boys and The Beatles partying with The Replacements and the Ramones. It's a feel good bunch of songs that are much welcomed in a time when there's so much negativity in the world today. So is Mr. Collins the King Of Power Pop? Maybe. Maybe not. But either way, this album is definitely up there with the best of them." - LONG GONE LOSER MAGAZINE / AUSTRALIA

"... a vintage collection of new power-pop straight out of 1979. Packed full of infectiously punchy pop tunes, Collins new album is proof that if you're patient and wait long enough, eventually the public taste will come back to you. - OTTAWA SUN

"As one of the founders of the legendary Nerves, Paul Collins now performs with Paul Collins' Beat (formerly just The Beat) and has continued to rock the pop scene harder than anyone out there." - THIRD COAST DIGEST

Produced and engineered in Detroit by Jim Diamond (Dirtbombs, The Go, White Stripes, to name just a few), KING OF POWER POP! also features Eric Blakely on guitar and backing vocals, Diamond on bass, and Dave Shettler on drums (SSM, The Sights). Motor City guests include Wally Palmar of the legendary power pop hit-makers THE ROMANTICS, as well as pop icon Nikki Corvette of NIKKI & The CORVETTES. The catchy cover art is the work of legendary artist BILL STOUT.

FEEL FREE TO POST THIS MP3 OF Paul Collins' SONG "DO YOU WANNA LOVE ME?" FROM KING OF POWER POP!:
http://www.pavementpr.com/1.mp3s/PAULCOLLINSDoYouWannaLoveMe_.mp3

FOR MORE INFO ON Paul Collins:
http://www.alive-totalenergy.com/x/?page_id=1592
http://www.thepaulcollinsbeat.com