Thanks to Mute Math's manager and their label, Teleprompt, the New Orleans-based rock band is bringing its forthcoming album, 'Armistice,' to die-hard fans before it hits the streets on August 18. Via a bus wrapped in 'Armistice' artwork, Mute Math associates will deliver the music to the streets of each of the band's fall tour cities for the inaugural Mute Math Mobile Listening Party.

Fans can purchase tickets to the listening party by buying a VIP ticket pre-sale bundle, which includes the following goodies: a ticket for a Mute Math show of their choice, a digital copy of 'Armistice,' an exclusive 'Armistice' t-shirt, an exclusive lithograph of the album artwork signed by members of the band, an immediate download of the single 'The Nerve' and two exclusive B-sides, a limited edition "first-in-line pass" and an invite to the listening parties, which began July 6.

"It seems to be going well," lead singer Paul Meany tells Spinner. "It's the brainchild of our great manager [Kevin Kookogey]. We don't have radio or music television that is waiting for our records or waiting for the songs off our record. We're just not on that radar. Since we've started, it's come down to the Internet and playing shows. For the first time, there is now some sort of audience waiting for it."

Kookogey says he told Mute Math members about the idea in fall 2007, when the band was coming off its tour in support of its self-titled debut. At the time, it was believed they would finish 'Armistice' in the summer 2008.
"When Kevin told us about this idea of just taking a bus around the country for six weeks to play it for fans, to get us on their radar before the release, I was definitely intrigued," Meany says. "It seemed like the right thing to do for a band like us.

"The original listening party was assuming we were going to be done with the record in spring of last year, so it would have been out in the summer of last year," he adds. "Fate would have it otherwise, so it kept getting pushed back. Finally we were able to put together the idea. Our management was sitting on this idea waiting for us to get done with the record."

Meany and Kookogey call this an ambitious undertaking, but a useful one. "We support all local promoters really well in all the markets," Kookogey says. "But there's something to be said about that personal connection. I felt there's a market opportunity for us.

"The part that is most excited to me is when you're doing face-to-face meeting and greeting people, there's an element of that research that can't be captured on the Internet. It can't be captured on paper," Kookogey continues. "That is when you look at a person's eye, when you hear the tone of voice, when you shake the hand, there's a transaction -- a human transaction that's happens there that's real for both parties. It's intangible. It's not something that is traditionally done. You can't do that with radio."

The bus is making stops around the country from now until the record release party at the New Orleans House of Blues on August 18, so catch it while you can.