From the inbox:

Tickets for the 2007 Epitaph Tour – featuring THE MATCHES, ESCAPE THE FATE, I AM THE GHOST and THE HIGHER – will go on sale December 2nd. Featuring rising stars of the world famous record label’s roster, the extensive seven week North American trek will get underway in San Diego on February 1 and wrap in Las Vegas on March 18.

The Matches have been touted as “some of the most creative and boundary-pushing musicians I have ever worked with,” by +44’s Mark Hoppus, who shared production duties with the likes of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong, Goldfinger’s John Feldman, 311’s Nick Hexum and Epitaph founder Brett Gurewitz on the group’s acclaimed new disc Decomposer. Named “an album capable of sneaking under the skin of enough skeptics to make the band rock stars” by Alternative Press, while All Music Guide called the Oakland foursome’s multiple-producer philosophy “a particularly distinctive and creative album to be proud of.”

As for Escape The Fate, the Las Vegas-based hard rock/screamo outfit, the group’s strongly received Epitaph debut has been praised by critics on both sides of the globe. Of Dying Is Your Latest Fashion, Australia’s The Globe wrote, “It’s schizophrenic, sinister and unsettling – and totally thrilling.” At home, Punknews.org announced “[it] has success written all over it.” Speaking of the group’s ambitions live, singer Ronnie insisted, “I have a vision – I want people to have fun and put their fists in the air.”

Also in tow, revered Long Beach, California-based dark rock sextet I Am Ghost – who were named among Alternative Press’ “100 bands you need to know” – support their debut full length Lovers’ Requiem. Bringing forth a breathtaking amalgam of vibrant strings, demonic guitar lines, choral flourishes and grinding punk rock, IAG are a breed apart. Described as “AFI sinking their fangs into Straylight Run and letting the new goth-screamo blood run free,” by Revolver, the band was also praised by Outburn for its “dynamic montage of all the modern heavy and agro styles, touching on punk, hardcore, emo, thrash and goth – all with a pop sensibility that won’t quit.”

Also from Las Vegas, quintet The Higher fuses elements of pop, emo and R&B, and have been described as Saves The Day meets Justin Timberlake. Signed on the strength of 2005’s indie release Histrionics after a performance at the Roxy in L.A. earlier this year, Gurewitz personally presented the group an offer. Citing “Seth [Trotter’s] exceptional voice” and their “R&B pop influence” as two key components, Gurewitz says, “I believe the sky’s the limit for The Higher.”

Confirmed dates for the 2007 Epitaph Tour:

02/02/2007 Glasshouse Pomona CA

02/03/2007 Soma San Diego CA

02/04/2007 The Clubhouse Phoenix AZ

02/06/2007 The Door Dallas TX

02/07/2007 Emo’s Austin TX

02/08/2007 Warehouse Live Houston TX

02/10/2007 The Social Orlando FL

02/11/2007 Orpheum St. Petersburg FL

02/12/2007 Jack Rabbits Jacksonville FL

02/13/2007 Masquerade Atlanta GA

02/14/2007 Cat’s Cradle Carrboro NC

02/17/2007 The Recher Theatre Towson MD

02/18/2007 North Star Bar Philadelphia PA

02/19/2007 School of Rock South Hackensack NJ

02/20/2007 Bowery Ballroom New York NY

02/22/2007 Webster Theatre Hartford CT

02/23/2007 The Living Room Providence RI

02/25/2007 El Mocombo Toronto ON

02/26/2007 Call The Office London ON

02/27/2007 The Icon Buffalo NY

02/28/2007 Mr. Smalls Theatre Pittsburgh PA

03/01/2007 Grog Shop Cleveland Heights OH

03/02/2007 Shelter Detroit MI

03/03/2007 Metro Chicago IL

03/05/2007 The Loft @ The Barfly Minneapolis MN

03/07/2007 The Bottleneck Lawrence KS

03/08/2007 Marquis Theatre Denver CO

03/09/2007 Avalon Theatre Salt Lake City UT

03/10/2007 The Venue Boise ID

03/12/2007 El Corazon Seattle WA

03/13/2007 Hawthorne Theatre Portland OR

03/16/2007 Slims San Francisco CA

03/17/2007 El Rey Theatre Los Angeles CA

- If you listen closely, you can hear the heads of “Epitaph traditionalists” exploding. Message board fists of fury are a coming! Maybe in 2008 they can have a parallel tour for us ‘big kids’ featuring THE DRAFT, RANCID, CONVERGE, and THE BOUNCING SOULS. And maybe I’ll get a pony in the mail too one day…