News from 2021

NEWS : FRI, MAR 19, 2021 at 7:00 AM

Chad VanGaalen shares a new video for “Starlight” and World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener is out today worldwide

World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener, the majestic new album from multimedia auteur Chad VanGaalen, is available today on CD/LP/DSPs worldwide through Sub Pop and in Canada from Flemish Eye. In celebration of this release, VanGaalen has created a video for the single “Starlight.” The song is a “celebration of our cosmic origins” shares VanGaalen, who fused old Super 8 footage of his family from the ’50s and ’60s, circular photos that were taken in his studio, and quick sketches to stylistically create a visual fusion unique to VanGaalen’s body of work. 


 

On Thursday, April 8th, VanGaalen has scheduled a live stream performance from his Yoko Eno studio that will be broadcast through NoonChorus. The show will be available for viewing in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia at 7 PM (local time). Viewers will see and hear things that VanGaalen has historically been unable to incorporate into his in-person live show experience – a heavily modified D-85 Electone organ, his prepared piano, various homemade instruments, and perhaps a shot or two of the skateboard ramp he built in his basement. Even more enticing? A psychedelic flute solo will be performed. Whatever the outcome, the show is guaranteed to be unforgettable. Ticket holders will be able to stream the performance for 5 days following and will also be able to buy merch. You can purchase tickets for this event here.
 
World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener LPs purchased through megamart.subpop.comFlemish Eye (Canada)select independent retailers in North Americain the U.K, and in Europe will receive the album on orange-gold vinyl with blue/red trails (while supplies last). There is also a new T-shirt design available.

What people are saying about World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener:
“An expansion of VanGaalen’s cult audience is sorely overdue.” [8/10] - Uncut
 
“No idea is too strange and nearly anything can be used as a musical instrument… Is it incoherent? Absolutely, but that’s all part of the fun.” [8/10] - Exclaim
 
“A tour de force of all the things that make the Canadian singer-songwriter great, from the kaleidoscopic psychedelia of ‘Starlight’ to the hazy, laid back pop of the single ‘Samuari Sword’.” [8/10] - Loud & Quiet
 
“The Alberta-based genre jumper has been marching to the (slightly off) beat of his own drum for the last decade, and it’s always a pleasure to hear what he’s been brewing up in his bunker.“ - Monster Children
 
“Chad VanGaalen‘s mind must be cavernous, where behind every nook and corner a whimsical idea is being generated.” - The Revue
 
“Tantalising glimpses into his adaptable, genre-fluid musical outlook.” - DIY
 
“A dreamy, psychedelic folk concoction.” - NARC
 
“A melody-flecked indie rock jewel” [“Samurai Sword”] - CLASH
 
“Pure genius.”  [“Samurai Sword”] - Folk Radio
 
“Never anything but beautifully, eccentrically candid.” [“Nightwaves”] - Backseat Mafia



Chad VanGaalen
World’s Most Stressed Out Gardener

 
Tracklisting:
1. Spider Milk
2. Flute Peace
3. Starlight
4. Where Is It All Going?
5. Earth From a Distance
6. Nightwaves
7. Plant Music
8. Nothing Is Strange
9. Inner Fire
10. Golden Pear
11. Nightmare Scenario
12. Samurai Sword
13. Water Brother


Posted by Abbie Gobeli

NEWS : TUE, MAR 16, 2021 at 7:00 AM

Watch Flock of Dimes’ official video for “Hard Way,” a new offering from Head of Roses

Today, Flock of Dimes (aka Jenn Wasner) is sharing the official video for “Hard Way,” directed by Lachlan Turczan. “Hard Way” is another standout from Wasner’s second solo LP, Head of Roses, an album that showcases her ability to embrace new levels of vulnerability, honesty and openness, combined with the self-assuredness that comes with a decade-plus career as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and prolific collaborator.
 
In the video – which was shot in Joshua Tree, CA, outside in the freezing dark on a windy winter’s night – Wasner’s face acts as a canvas for an array of pulsing patterns of light. It turns something as straightforward as a first-person delivery into something deeper and more disorienting than it first appears.
 
Wasner says of the song, “Although I didn’t fully understand when I wrote it, this song is an example of the power of the subconscious mind to hide truths from ourselves that we’re not yet ready to see. When I wrote this song I was still in the throes of new love, and I thought I was writing a straightforward, earnest love song. But when I tried to record it, something about the tone of it was eerie, strange, a bit darker than I would have expected. It wasn’t until long after I wrote it that I became aware of its odd foreshadowing of what was to come—that something I intended to be bright and hopeful in the moment was floating on top of a deep current of unease.”
 
Head of Roses, and singles “Two” and “Price of Blue,” have seen praise from outlets like The Guardian, who say, “Her solo album out in April is superb. This sweetly shuffling [“Two”] is so rich in charm.”  The New York Times had this to say, ‘Can I be one? Can we be two?’ Jenn Wasner asks on her stirring new single…‘Two’ is driven by an irregular beat, as if to mirror the hesitant questioning of its lyrics. Even when she’s being somber or ruminative, Wasner has a touch of gallows humor, as when she muses memorably, ‘We’re all just wearing bodies like a costume til we die.’” Stereogum offers this, “Between the restrained LIke So Much Desire EP last year and the bubbly, infectious ‘Two,’ the lead single from her forthcoming album Head of Roses, it’s become clear that Flock Of Dimes has room for whatever songs Wasner wants to write and whatever stories she wants to tell. So that brings us to “Price of Blue,” a breakup reckoning that finds Wasner tapping into the autumnal, reflective rock sound that’s always been such a mesmerizing side of her songwriting.” Meanwhile, PASTE calls “Price of Blue” a “six-minute masterpiece of psychedelic guitar riffs and haunting vocal…,” and Guitar World raves, “Jenn Wasner is a bewitching guitarist… Head of Roses will find Wasner elevating her already otherworldly playing to new heights.”


Flock of Dimes’ Head of Roses, which features “Two,” “Price of Blue,” “Hard Way,” and “One More Hour,” will be available on CD/CS/DSPs on April 2nd, 2021, and on LP April 30th, 2021. The album was produced by Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) and Wasner at Betty’s in Chapel Hill, NC, engineered by Bella Blasko with additional engineering by Sanborn, mixed by Ari Picker and Blasko, and mastered by Huntley Miller. The album features appearances from guitarist Meg Duffy, Bon Iver’s Matt McCaughan, Wye Oak’s Andy Stack, and Landlady’s Adam Schatz. Head of Roses follows the release of Like So Much Desire, her acclaimed digital EP released June 2020 on Sub Pop.

Head of Roses is available for preorder through Sub Pop. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com, and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on peach swirl vinyl (while supplies last). LP preorders in the U.K. and in Europe will receive the Loser edition on Magenta vinyl (while supplies last).


What people are saying about Flock of Dimes:
“Not only a sonic delight, but a lyrical treasure trove full of personal truths that strike a universal chord.” [“Two”] - Beats Per Minute
 
“A project that ups the ante in her musical complexity… The impact is hypnotic.”  [“Two”] -  CLASH
 
“Stirring, widescreen pop” [‘Two”]  - Brooklyn Vegan
 
“Wasner sounds stunning here as she sways between swaths of keys and bursts of tone.”  [‘Two”]  - Closed Captioned
 
“A bright, gauzy song awash in clarity and the desire for connection” [‘Two”] -  Indy Week
 
“…Her robust delivery is accompanied by lush meadows of harmonies.” [“Price of Blue”] - Consequence of Sound
 
“She digs deep and takes you on the journey through a sound as immense as it is engaging.” [“Price of Blue”] - Closed Captioned
 
“‘Price of Blue’ sees Wasner’s dreamy vocals on a pivot toward a more rock-oriented sound compared to “Two”. This six-minute composition sees Flock of Dimes at her most vulnerable, over a distorted guitar, including an impressive guitar solo.” [“Price of Blue”] - MXDWN
 
“‘…Be ready to keep this one on repeat as you absorb its intensity and brilliance.”  [“Price of Blue”] - The Revue


Flock of Dimes
Head of Roses
Tracklisting:
1. 2 Heads
2. Price of Blue
3. Two
4. Hard Way
5. Walking
6. Lightning
7. One More Hour
8. No Question
9. Awake for the Sunrise
10. Head of Roses



Posted by Abbie Gobeli

NEWS : WED, JUL 14, 2021 at 7:00 AM

Shannon Lay shares the official video for “Awaken and Allow” and “Geist” from Geist, her forthcoming album, out October 8th worldwide on Sub Pop

On the heels of her previously released single, “Rare to Wake,” Shannon Lay shares the official double video for the gorgeous singles “Awaken and Allow “ and “Geist,” from her forthcoming record Geist, which will be available worldwide on October 8th from Sub Pop Records. 

Watch the new video for “Awaken and Allow “ and “Geist” now, which was directed by Kai MacKnight. Lay says of the singles “Awaken and Allow” is a prayer and a promise.  A quiet moment to reflect on transformation and what it means to me.  California represents my comfort zone and in this song, I am urging myself and everyone listening to move out of their comfort zone in order to push ourselves to grow and evolve.  We are all in a constant state of change and the way we can learn to move and flow with that change completely elevates our experience with it.  The most amazing thing we can do for ourselves is recognize where and how we are standing in our own way and move aside.  “Awaken and Allow” your greatness to emerge. 



“Geist” is a testament to the power we all have within.  We are so much more amazing than we know ourselves to be.  With this video, I really wanted to acknowledge some of the incredible people who make shows possible.  We filmed at Zebulon in Los Angeles; a venue that has brought so much to the community here and I am so happy they have survived this uncertain time.  There is so much going on behind the scenes to create the amazing memories we all have of live music and every part of that took a hit with the pandemic.  With all we have been through it has been awe-inspiring to see the strength of the human spirit.  Let us move forward with kindness and love toward ourselves and others.  Let us see the beauty and wonder in the lives we get to live and appreciate every moment of it.”


 
Lay has confirmed a handful of live performances this fall in support of Geist. These include appearances at this year’s Huichica Festival in Sonoma, California on October 16th and 17th, and NYC-area shows on October 19th at TV Eye in Brooklyn, and October 20th at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan. More shows to be announced soon. 

Fri. Oct 8 - Long Beach, CA - Living Room Show
Thurs. Oct 15 - Sonoma, CA - HUICHICA Festival 
Fri. Oct 16 - Sonoma, CA - HUICHICA Festival 
Tue. Oct. 19 - Brooklyn, NY - TV Eye
Wed. Oct. 20 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
 
Geist feels like a window - or a mirror - into possibilities of the self and beyond. Lay’s new album is tender intensity, placeless and ethereal.  It exists in the chasms of the present – a world populated by shadow selves, spiritual awakenings, déjà vu, and past lives.
 
“Something sleeps inside us,” Lay insists on the opening track, and that’s the guiding philosophy throughout. A winding, golden, delicate thread of intuition that explores the unknown, the possibility. Its title, Geist, the German word for spirit, is rife with an otherworldly presence, the suggestion of another. The promise that you are never alone.
 
Lay tracked vocals and guitar at Jarvis Tavinere of Woods’s studio, then sent the songs out to multi-instrumentalists Ben Boye (Bonnie Prince Billy, Ty Segall) in Los Angeles and Devin Hoff (Sharon Van Etten, Cibo Matto) in New York; trusting their musical instincts and intuition. She then sent those recordings to Sofia Arreguin (Wand) and Aaron Otheim (Heatwarmer, Mega Bog) for additional keys, while Ty Segall contributed a guitar solo on “Shores.”  
 
As a whole, Geist is both esoteric and accessible. There’s the concise, pared-back cover of Syd Barrett’s tilt-a-whirl-esque “Late Night,” while “Rare to Wake,” inspired by Dune, is existential and meditative, a circular guitar riff looping at the core of it.  “Awaken and Allow,” is ancient-feeling and mainly a cappella, its melody channels her deep Irish roots, a moment of reflection, before a drop happens – its intensity mirroring the anticipation and anxiety that come with taking the first step to accepting change for yourself. 

“Time’s Arrow,” with its refrain of heading downhill, was inspired by something a close friend said. Lay notes: “I wanted ‘Time’s Arrow’ to be this gentle reminder that we’re on our way, and we’re moving forward.  There is medicine in every moment so don’t rush.”
 
“Thread to Find,” which Lay wrote after walking into an old hotel in Switzerland and being struck by the feeling like she’d been there before, is a testament to the energy we leave behind and stumble across.
 
And the title track “Geist,” a song about the power living in all of us, is a love song to the possibility of healing, an ode to falling into the arms of what you’re becoming. It’s a glimpse into the parts of yourself you have yet to meet. But you can, if you want to.


Geist is now available for preorder on CD/LP/CS/DSPs from Sub Pop. LP preorders from megamart.subpop.comselect independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition clear with orange and green hi-melt vinyl (while supplies last). Meanwhile, LP preorders in the U.K, and in Europe will receive the limited Loser edition on sun yellow vinyl (while supplies last).


Shannon Lay
Geist

1. Rare to Wake
2. A Thread to Find
3. Sure
4. Shores
5. Awaken and Allow
6. Geist
7. Untitled
8. Late Night
9. Times Arrow
10. July


Posted by Abbie Gobeli

NEWS : WED, MAR 17, 2021 at 7:00 AM

Hannah Jadagu shares the official video for “What Is Going On?,” the title track from her forthcoming EP

On April 23rd, 2021, Sub Pop will digitally release What Is Going On? the five-song debut EP of bedroom pop from singer, songwriter, and producer Hannah Jadagu (pron. juh-dah-goo). Today, she is sharing the official video for the EP’s title track, directed by Cameron Livesey (who directed her video for the single “Think Too Much”).

Hannah says of the video, “For the ‘Think Too Much’ video I collaborated with my friends to create a juxtaposition between the message of the song, in which I sing about anxieties and societal pressures, and the music video, which depicts my friends and I just enjoying New York. When thinking of ideas for the ‘What Is Going On?’ video, I was certain that I wanted to take a different approach. Originally, I just had a loose vision of a rooftop band scene and worked hard to make that happen. However, during the editing process, Cameron and I felt we were missing something. That something was a storyline. So, I decided to bring in actors Sarah Tie and Joseph McCain. Through their work, we were able to really bring the lyrics to life.”



Last month, Hannah released her single “Think Too Much,” which was warmly received by outlets like Jezebel who raved,  “An immediate charmer—dreamy melodies emboldened by a neurotic interiority—and maybe the greatest song about fearing turning 23 since Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?” Meanwhile, Alternative Press noted it for “dreamy synths and beats” and Brooklyn Vegan called it “A catchy dose of indie/dream pop that makes good on the promise of Hannah’s Soundcloud singles.”
 
Hailing from Mesquite, Texas and now residing in New York, the incredibly resourceful 18 year-old records and produces her music all through her iPhone 7. Using Garageband iOS, an iRig, microphone, and guitar, Hannah has found a process that has served her well so far in her young recording career. The songs on What Is Going On? encapsulate the thoughts, hopes, and fears of growing up as a young Black woman in the U.S. with themes of empowerment and a wise-beyond-her-years worldview weaved throughout.
 
“My Bones,” the powerful opening statement from What Is Going On?, holds great meaning for Hannah. “With the influx of media coverage of Black women going missing, being murdered, and the lack of care there is for Black women in general, both within this country and the world, I wanted to dedicate a song to it,” she says. “I kept the lyric brief, writing ‘You could take my bones and place them home, they won’t find out’ because I felt those words spoke enough to the situation.”
 
“Sundown” was the first song that helped Hannah realize that music could be a way to express what she was otherwise unable to articulate.“‘Sundown’ takes place when I was a junior in high school and I decided to write a song about how I was feeling at the time,” she says. “I was exhausted from schoolwork, extracurricular activities, college-prep, and overall life of being a pre-college teen. ‘Sundown’ was a way for me to express thoughts I’d kept to myself.” She continues, “Sonically, this song is layered with many different background vocals, uses of reverb, chorus and pitch shift. It’s very telling of the music I was consuming at the moment.”
 
“‘Think Too Much’ is the only song that I’d written with the intent of putting it on an EP,” Hannah says. “I was challenging myself to make a song that was high energy, fun, and a ‘bop.’ At the time, I remember listening to a lot of Dayglow, Jean Dawson, and Winnetka Bowling League, and thinking to myself, ‘These people are making such catchy and fun songs without even trying.’ Then I thought to myself, ‘You’re overthinking this.’ I asked all my friends what they thought about ‘too much,’ compiled their responses, chose some fun chords and rhythms inspired by Snail Mail and Phoenix, and went to work.”
 
The title track “What Is Going On?” was a rewrite of a past demo she had originally posted to Soundcloud. The song talks about the sort of confusion that comes with the infatuation you can have for someone. “It’s very much my only attempt at an anthem for teenage love,’’ laughs Hannah. “When I had originally posted the demo, people really loved it. However, there wasn’t much of a story to tell. So eventually I took it down until I had an experience that inspired me. I FaceTimed my sister about it, and she encouraged me to practically rewrite the whole song. In terms of the production side, I wanted to tap into the rockstar in me, heavily influenced by Clairo/Rostam, Deb Never, and Beabadoobee. This song was definitely my favorite to produce.”

“Bleep Bloop” was written during Hannah’s first semester of senior year. “I couldn’t seem to sleep one night, so I just grabbed my guitar and started singing/playing what came to mind. Most of the lyrics blossomed out of a singular freestyle without much premeditation,” she says. “The song both acknowledges and battles with the idea that we as young people are often expected to just ‘deal with it,’ and the lack of awareness for our mental health. While I feel that I am very privileged, I still think it’s okay to not feel good, and be able to talk about it. The production on this track is sort of an homage to Dijon’s ‘Nico’s Red Truck,’ a song I was super obsessed with at the time. I was also listening to a lot of SZA’s ‘20 Something’ and Frank Ocean.”
 
Hannah concludes, “What Is Going On? will always be special to me. It represents my first project, and it’s full of my thoughts and emotions during my own personal experiences, and also what was happening in the world. It truly is like seeing through my exterior, and getting to know me over the past few years, in just a matter of 30 minutes.”
 
What Is Going On? strikes us as pretty special, too. Same with Hannah. And all that is plainly obvious in just a matter of 30 minutes.

What people are saying about Hannah Jadagu:
“She does a great job of expressing a sense of being trapped in a loop of negative thoughts (“why does it feel like I’m digging a hole?”) while keeping the music light and breezy.” [“Think Too Much” / “20 Best Rock Songs Right Now”] - The FADER
 
“Jadagu’s songs have an inherently chill quality that feel almost effortless.” - Dallas Observer
 
“A colorful dose of sweet, soaring psych and folk seems to coalesce into its own new genre… “Think Too Much” is intimate, but feels like it was always meant to be shared not with a diary, but a full audience: Jadagu’s dazzling performance is underscored by haunting lyrics that delve into one’s inner demons, uncertainties, and self-doubts – and an ethereal, catchy chorus all about overcoming these obstacles.” - Atwood Magazine
 
“Will delight your ears and …will warm your heart.” [“Think Too Much”] - Closed Captioned
 
“The track spans just under 3 minutes long and it captures a rosy, youthful wonder. Jadagu’s dreamy vocals paired with the lo-fi instrumentation gives “Think Too Much” a light bedroom pop haze. There’s a feelgood nature to the track, especially with its jangly guitars and upbeat bounce.” [“Think Too Much”] - Abduction Radiation
 
“Invitingly-vernal and open-hearted…” [“Think Too Much”] - The Autumn Roses
 
“The near 3-minute track begins with melodic guitar strumming before light drums kick in and give the song the feeling of a great summer pop tune. As Jadagu’s soft, gorgeous voice swears “It’s all in your head,” backing vocals from a group falsetto choir bring the song’s energy to life even more. The video for “Think Too Much” was directed Cameron Livesey and features Jadagu and a group of friends wander through a city-scape of bridges, trains and streets, singing along to the positive tune.”  [“Think Too Much”] - MXDWN
 
“[A] brilliant letter of introduction…” [“Think Too Much”] -  Binaural


Hannah Jadagu
What Is Going On?

Tracklisting:
1. My Bones
2. Sundown
3. Think Too Much
4. What Is Going On?
5. Bleep Bloop


Posted by Abbie Gobeli

NEWS : TUE, MAR 30, 2021 at 9:00 AM

Watch Flock of Dimes’ official video for “One More Hour,” from Head of Roses, out this Friday worldwide from Sub Pop

Today, Flock of Dimes (aka Jenn Wasner) is sharing the official video for “One More Hour,” co-directed by Urzulka and Jenni Kaye.
 
“One More Hour” is the final prerelease offering and highlight from Wasner’s second solo LP, Head of Roses, out this Friday, April 2nd worldwide on Sub Pop. It’s an album that showcases her ability to embrace new levels of vulnerability, honesty and openness, combined with the self-assuredness that comes with a decade-plus career as a songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and prolific collaborator.
 
Shot in Austin, TX, the “One More Hour” video is an ode to internal conflict when reevaluating a relationship. Says Wasner, “This song is about getting lost in a fantasy– of another life, of someone else, or of a different version of yourself. And it’s about the ways in which a combination of nostalgia and longing can make imagining the past or dreaming about the future so much more appealing than whatever present reality we happen to be inhabiting.   
 
“It’s in our nature to make myths and tell stories about the events of our lives, and in doing so create a deeper meaning out of the most seemingly mundane events. But so often this interior projection can act as a distraction from presence—standing in the way of our ability to be awake to the fullness of our experience as it unfolds, making it difficult to see and appreciate the entire world of experience and sensation that’s right in front of our eyes. I’m paying attention now.





Head of Roses, and singles “Two” and “Price of Blue,” have seen praise from outlets like The Guardian, who say, “Her solo album out in April is superb. This sweetly shuffling [“Two”] is so rich in charm.” Uncut offers this, “An album that is as deeply introspective as it is creatively bold and ambitious (8/10).” The New York Times had this to say, ‘Can I be one? Can we be two?’ Jenn Wasner asks on her stirring new single…‘Two’ is driven by an irregular beat, as if to mirror the hesitant questioning of its lyrics. Even when she’s being somber or ruminative, Wasner has a touch of gallows humor, as when she muses memorably, ‘We’re all just wearing bodies like a costume til we die.’” Stereogum says, “Between the restrained LIke So Much Desire EP last year and the bubbly, infectious ‘Two,’ the lead single from her forthcoming album Head of Roses, it’s become clear that Flock Of Dimes has room for whatever songs Wasner wants to write and whatever stories she wants to tell. So that brings us to “Price of Blue,” a breakup reckoning that finds Wasner tapping into the autumnal, reflective rock sound that’s always been such a mesmerizing side of her songwriting.” Meanwhile, PASTE calls “Price of Blue” a “six-minute masterpiece of psychedelic guitar riffs and haunting vocal…,” and Guitar World raves, “Jenn Wasner is a bewitching guitarist… Head of Roses will find Wasner elevating her already otherworldly playing to new heights.”
 
Flock of Dimes’ Head of Roses, which features “Two,” “Price of Blue,” “Hard Way,” and “One More Hour,” will be available on CD/CS/DSPs on April 2nd, 2021, and on LP April 30th, 2021. The album was produced by Nick Sanborn (Sylvan Esso) and Wasner at Betty’s in Chapel Hill, NC, engineered by Bella Blasko with additional engineering by Sanborn, mixed by Ari Picker and Blasko, and mastered by Huntley Miller. The album features appearances from guitarist Meg Duffy, Bon Iver’s Matt McCaughan, Wye Oak’s Andy Stack, and Landlady’s Adam Schatz. Head of Roses follows the release of Like So Much Desire, her acclaimed digital EP released June 2020 on Sub Pop.


Head of Roses is available for preorder through Sub Pop. LP preorders through megamart.subpop.com, and select independent retailers in North America will receive the limited Loser edition on peach swirl vinyl (while supplies last). LP preorders in the U.K. and in Europe will receive the Loser edition on Magenta vinyl (while supplies last).


Flock of Dimes
Head of Roses

Tracklisting:
1. 2 Heads
2. Price of Blue
3. Two
4. Hard Way
5. Walking
6. Lightning
7. One More Hour
8. No Question
9. Awake for the Sunrise
10. Head of Roses


Posted by Abbie Gobeli

NEWS : TUE, JUL 13, 2021 at 9:00 AM

Iron & Wine Return To The Road This November and Gets Back To The Basics!

Iron & Wine is excited to announce his return to the stage with a back-to-basics tour of intimate venues that brings him across the Midwest and the Northeast starting this November. Ready to engage with fans once again, these solo acoustic shows follow-up Sam Beam’s recent release of Tallahassee, his critically acclaimed, lost-in-time collection of recordings.
 
As the touring world began to switch its lights on, Beam was thinking of ways to head back out on the road. He factored in as well the expectation of what fans might want to see and hear after so much turmoil and it became clear that a simple return to roots was the answer. This fall, Beam will load up a van with a handful of acoustic guitars, dust off his trusty songbook and offer up some well needed comfort food in the way of the Iron & Wine catalog each night. These shows will take place in some of the smallest and most intimate venues Beam has played in over fifteen years. And while loads of bands are serving the big markets, Iron & Wine will be taking to the back roads of the Midwest and Northeast to bring its gospel to the heartland. 
 
Predating his debut album, The Creek Drank the Cradle, his latest release, Tallahassee, garnered excellent review from critics. Pitchfork raved “… throughout Tallahassee, Beam demonstrates a knack for devastating succinctness […] understanding how to settle into a song and simply let it breathe on its own,” while Uncut noted, “The songs, while still lo-fi, ring out clearer and more confidently than the bedroom recordings of Beam’s debut proper: six-minute opener ‘Why Hate Winter’ stands among his most gorgeous and evocative work.”
 
Beam has recognized over the years how much these early recordings, many of which were bootlegged, have meant to long-time fans and Tallahassee is yet another way of thanking them for still being on this crazy journey. 
 
A fan presale for the “Back to Basics” Tour begins Wednesday, July 14th at 10 am EST with passcode backtobasics. Tickets are on sale to the general public Friday, July 16th at 10am EST. Support for all dates by Squirrel Flower.


Fri. Nov. 05 – Appleton, WI – The Refuge
Sat. Nov. 06 – Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel
Sun. Nov. 07 – Milwaukee, WI – Back Room @Colectivo
Wed. Nov. 10 – State College, PA – The State Theater
Thu. Nov. 11 – Homer, NY – Center for the Arts
Fri. Nov. 12 – Woodstock, NY – Levon Helm’s Studio
Sat. Nov. 13 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Events Gallery
Mon. Nov. 15 – Buffalo, NY – Asbury Hall
Tue. Nov. 16 – Cleveland, OH – Cleveland Museum of Art
Wed. Nov. 17 – Detroit, MI – The Chapel at Masonic
Thu. Nov. 19 – Bloomington, IN – Buskirk-Chumley Theater

Tallahassee is the fifth entry in the ongoing Iron & Wine Archive Series and is available on LP/CD/CS/DSPs from Sub Pop, select independent retailers in North Americathe U.K. , and the EU.


Iron & Wine
Archive Series Volume No.5: Tallahassee

 
Tracklisting:
1. Why Hate the Winter
2. This Solemn Day
3. Loaning Me Secrets
4. John’s Glass Eye
5. Calm on the Valley
6. Ex-Lover Lucy Jones
7. Elizabeth
8. Show Him the Ground
9. Straight and Tall
10. Cold Town
11. Valentine


Posted by Abbie Gobeli