2018 tour dates include headline shows (March 5th-4th), SXSW (March 12th-16th), and direct support for Dr. Dog (April 6th-20th)
“Unabashed odes to courtship, confusion and the timeless power of storytelling in song.” - NPR Music
Kyle Craft’s excellent new album Full Circle Nightmare is now streaming, in its entirety, worldwide through NPR Music’s “First Listen.” [Listen here.] That’s one full week before release next Friday, February 2nd!
“Craft may be a wordsmith at heart, but he doesn’t shirk on making Full Circle punchy and infectious on a strictly musical level. The folky sway and hushed tone of “Slick & Delta Queen” demand undivided attention, thanks to Craft’s cracked voice, gentle strumming, and euphoric choruses. “Fake Magic Angel” revs up a twangy hootenanny of Dylan-worthy Americana, only delivered with the slashing force of Bowie-era glam. And the piano-laden “Gold Calf Moan” is a ballad of lost — but hopefully one day recaptured — love that dissolves and reshapes itself around Craft’s entrancing troubadour spell…[His] moonstruck sentiments may seem downright old-fashioned. Then again, so are his compositions: unabashed odes to courtship, confusion and the timeless power of storytelling in song,” writes Jason Heller for NPR Music (see “First Listen” January 25th).
Kyle Craft previously announced 2018 tour schedule in support of Full Circle Nightmare spans March 5th in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord through April 20th in Charlottesville at Jefferson Theatre. Highlights include a full headlining tour (March 5th-April 4th), appearances at SXSW (March 12th-16th) and a direct support slot opening for Dr. Dog (April 6th-20th).
Preceding the Spring tour schedule, Craft has scheduled two Pacific Northwest week of release shows including Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on February 1st and Portland’s Doug Fir on February 2nd.
Feb. 01 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern Feb. 02 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Mar. 05 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord Mar. 07 - Los Angeles, CA - The Morroccan Lounge Mar. 08 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah Mar. 12 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 13 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 14 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 17 - Shreveport, LA - Red River District Mar. 21 - Nashville, TN - The Basement Mar. 22 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl Mar. 23 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Mar. 24 - Washington, DC - Pearl Street Warehouse Mar. 26 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle Mar. 27 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right Mar. 28 - Allston, MA - Great Scott Mar. 30 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge Apr. 02 - Toronto, ON - Smiling Buddha Apr. 03 - Columbus, OH - The Basement Apr. 04 - Chicago, IL - Schubas Apr 06 - Louisville, KY - Mercury Ballroom* Apr 08 - Columbia, MO - Blue Note* Apr 09 - Fayetteville, AR - George’s Majestic Lounge* Apr 10 - Oxford, MS - Lyric Theater* Apr 12 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen* Apr 13 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Theater* Apr 14 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room* Apr 15 - Ponte Vedra, FL - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall* Apr 17 - Charleston, SC - Music Farm* Apr 19 - Richmond, VA - The National* Apr 20 - Charlottesville, VA - Jefferson Theater* *w/ Dr. Dog
Full Circle Nightmare was produced by Chris Funk (of the Decemberists), with mixing by Trevor Spencer (Father John Misty) and Benjamin Weikel and Brandon Summers (of The Helio Sequence). The album is the follow up to Dolls of Highland, his acclaimed debut.
Full Circle Nightmare is available for preorder now from Sub Pop and select independent retailers right over here.
Honky-tonk rocker “Exile Rag” is the new single from Kyle Craft’s Full Circle Nightmare, his forthcoming second album which will be available in stores February 2nd, 2018.
While working on a weed farm in Northern California, Craft coined the term “Exile Rag” for the tunes he’d pick out on the guitar while everyone slept. Back in Portland, he developed feelings for a woman, that in the end weren’t reciprocated. He’d sit alone in the farm’s workroom, dreaming of his life back in the city and asking himself, “What if?”
When he belts out the line “By the time that her door’s closing, and you feel like you’re imposing on that brand new boyfriend she has, she’ll be rolling in new love and you’ll be singing on the Exile Rag,” the song’s feeling of unrequited love is captured perfectly.
The Line of Best Fit had this to say: “A charming bluegrass number full to the brim with twangs, slides and that famous Southern charm. It is much like it’s creator; cheery, self-assured, a bit bizarre, slightly comedic, and utterly genius (see premiere January 9th).”
Kyle Craft has also scheduled headlining tour dates for the spring of 2018 in support of Full Circle Nightmare. The tour dates span March 5th in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord through April 4th in Chicago at Schubas. The tour will have stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, Austin (SXSW), Shreveport, Nashville, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Allston, Burlington, Toronto, and Columbus.
Preceding the tour, Craft has scheduled two Pacific Northwest week of release shows including Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on February 1st and Portland’s Doug Fir on February 2nd. Feb. 01 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern Feb. 02 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Mar. 05 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord Mar. 07 - Los Angeles, CA - The Morroccan Lounge Mar. 08 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah Mar. 12 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 13 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 14 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 15 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 16 - Austin, TX - SXSW Mar. 17 - Shreveport, LA - Red River District Mar. 21 - Nashville, TN - The Basement Mar. 22 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
Mar. 23 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle Mar. 24 - Washington, DC - Pearl Street Warehouse Mar. 26 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle Mar. 27 - Brooklyn, NY - Baby’s All Right Mar. 28 - Allston, MA - Great Scott Mar. 30 - South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Showcase Lounge Apr. 02 - Toronto, ON - Smiling Buddha Apr. 03 - Columbus, OH - The Basement Apr. 04 - Chicago, Il - Schubas
Full Circle Nightmare was produced by Chris Funk (of the Decemberists), with mixing by Trevor Spencer (Father John Misty) and Benjamin Weikel and Brandon Summers (of The Helio Sequence). The album is the follow up to Dolls of Highland, his acclaimed debut.
Full Circle Nightmare is available for preorder now from Sub Pop (and select independent retailers) right over here. Customers who pre-order the LP version of Full Circle Nightmare from megamart.subpop.comwill receive the album on Loser Edition Maroon w/Black Swirl colored vinyl, while supplies last.
“When Kyle Craft’s heart breaks, it shoots glitter and confetti—by the time he hits the chorus, the song has erupted into a tempest of sassy brass, swirling organs, and hip-swiveling boogie.” [“Heartbreak Junky”] - Pitchfork
Hear solo performances of “The Rager,” “Heartbreak Junky,” and a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No. 2” from Dinner Party Download’s final episode
You can now watch Kyle Craft’s official video for “The Rager” from Full Circle Nightmare, his forthcoming second album [Pre-order is on now here + in stores February 2nd].
Craft says of “The Rager” video, “My friend Alyssa portrays a tragic heroine who is delivering what will be her last performance. As she takes the stage, the audience is totally indifferent to her presence. In the song, she’s human; however, in the video, she represents something more. A beautiful idea, rock ‘n’ roll, our country, something dying… whatever it is you want that idea to be, that’s the character she plays here.”
Kyle Craft also recently delivered incredible solo performances of Full Circle Nightmare tracks “The Rager” and “Heartbreak Junky,” along with a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No. 2,” for the Dinner Party Download’s “The Last Supper” (+final) episode. The show was recorded live in Seattle at the Moore Theatre [hear here].
Last month, Kyle Craft shared “Heartbreak Junky,” the cinematic lyric video from Full Circle Nightmare [see here]. Pitchfork said of the track, “When Kyle Craft’s heart breaks, it shoots glitter and confetti—by the time he hits the chorus, the song has erupted into a tempest of sassy brass, swirling organs, and hip-swiveling boogie.” The “Heartbreak Junky” visual brings the already vivid album cover to life. Full Circle Nightmare features front and inside gatefold images, shot by Peter Karavias.
Full Circle Nightmare is now available for preorder from Sub Pop and select independent retailers [see here], and will be available in the following formats:
LP gatefold jacket with custom dust sleeve
CD digipack with poster insert
Cassette
Digital
North American preorders of the limited Loser edition will be available on maroon vinyl with a black swirl (while supplies last), and we also have a new T-shirt design with this release.
Full Circle Nightmare was produced by Chris Funk (of the Decemberists), with mixing by Trevor Spencer and the Helio Sequence’s Benjamin Weikel and Brandon Summers. Full Circle Nightmare is the follow up to Dolls of Highland, his acclaimed debut.
Kyle Craft has scheduled two Pacific Northwest week of release shows for 2018: Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on February 1st and Portland’s Doug Fir on February 2nd. Additional live dates will also be announced soon.
Dinner Party Download performance at The Moore Theatre in Seattle on Thursday, November 16th
Kyle Craft’s Full Circle Nightmare [preorder here], his highly anticipated second album, will be released worldwide on February 2nd, 2018 from Sub Pop. The 10-track album was produced by Chris Funk (of the Decemberists), with mixing by Trevor Spencer and the Helio Sequence’s Benjamin Weikel and Brandon Summers. Full Circle Nightmare is the follow up to Dolls of Highland, his acclaimed debut.
Album highlight “Heartbreak Junky” is the first offering (and cinematic lyric video) from Full Circle Nightmare. Directed by the One Hundred/Swanson Studio team, the visual brings an already vivid album cover to life.
The Full Circle Nightmare front and inside gatefold images were shot by brothers Peter and Laki Karavias. The cover art concept was born from an idea Craft had that incorporated imagery from the lyricism found throughout the album. “Once everyone all piled into the room, it took a different turn,’ Craft says. “Some of the lyrical elements stuck around on the cover and on the inside fold, but for the most part it just turned into a small party and my pals Peter and Laki caught some perfect moments.”
The Louisiana-bred, Portland, Oregon-based Craft has earned notices for his observational storytelling talents, his incredible stage performances, and his uniquely compelling voice. Since the release of Dolls of Highland, he and his band have toured the US multiple times, both as headliners and supporting the likes of Fruit Bats and Drive-By Truckers, and Kyle has made repeat guest appearances at Newport Folk Fest.
Between the extensive touring and working on Full Circle Nightmare, he’s delivered both new material (the politically-charged “Before the Wall”) and beautifully earnest covers (the recently-released Girl Crazy covers series; Leonard Cohen’s “Chelsea Hotel No. 2”).
Full Circle Nightmare is a straight-up, rollicking rock’n’roll album; it traverses all the different nuances of the genre; it’s a timeless piece that could exist in any of the past five decades. All the songs were written over a year, and eventually, Craft took them into a studio run by Chris Funk. It was the first time he worked with a proper set-up. He was used to making all his music in his room with the aid of a laptop. “I always wanted to go to a legitimate studio and do what my all my old heroes did,” Craft says. “We did it live with the band.” The joy of the experience is palpable. It evokes a never-ending night out in a sweaty saloon bar: bottomless rounds, endless packs of cigarettes and hours dancing to the jukebox (read full bio at Sub Pop).
Full Circle Nightmare is now available for preorder from Sub Pop and select independent retailers [see here], and will be available in the following formats:
LP gatefold jacket with custom dust sleeve
CD digipack with poster insert
Cassette
Digital
North American preorders of the limited Loser edition will be available on maroon vinyl with a black swirl (while supplies last), and we also have a new T-shirt design with this release.
Kyle Craft has scheduled his first appearance in support of Full Circle Nightmare at the Dinner Party Download’s live event at Seattle’s Moore Theatre on Thursday, November 16th, 2017. For more information on tickets, please visit STG Presents website [link here]. Craft has also scheduled two Pacific Northwest week of release shows for 2018: Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on February 1st and Portland’s Doug Fir on February 2nd.
Nov. 16 - Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre Feb. 01 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern Feb. 02 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir
What “The People” have said about Kyle Craft: “Sounds like: A swamp bar jukebox loaded with British glitter and Seventies Southern rock; a crawfish boil aboard ELO’s spacecraft…it’s Craft’s vocal intensity that outlasts all else” - Rolling Stone
“His voice carries southern cadences, and his songs revolve around distinct characters and situations that could only be from that town by the Mississippi. But you also hear the influences of David Bowie, under whose spell Craft fell at a young age, and of Craft’s adopted hometown of Portland, Oregon.” - World Cafe
“…Craft’s music is so full of its own weird singularity that he’s onto something far beyond idol worship. “- Billboard
“His songs illustrate how the intense religiosity and voodoo-infused mythology of the South make it fertile turf for the sort of colorful characterization and freak-scenery on which glam rock was founded.” - Pitchfork
Craft displays the full prowess of his vocal range, hitting high notes that hark back to glam rock vocals of the ’70s” - American Songwriter
“…a head-turning mix, a sort of pop-art take on Southern gothic, and highly infectious.” - Uncut
“One of the most distinctive new voices in rock.” - SPIN
After Kyle Craft wrapped up the recording of his upcoming (all originals) 2018 album, he decided to record a cover of a Jenny Lewis song for fun. This quickly spiraled into a full fledged project with Kyle recording a slew of songs by his favorite female singers. Working with his bandmate, Kevin Clark in their home studio after hours, Craft multi-tracked all the parts himself, and what started as an idle aside became a labor of love.
Now Sub Pop and Craft have picked ten favorites from the sessions to release as Girl Crazy, a series of 2-track singles rolling out weekly starting today, September 7th. Focusing on Craft’s acclaimed interpretive talents – his version of Bowie’s “Heroes” stole the show at Newport 2017 – Girl Crazy introduces audiences, who may know Craft from his Sub Pop debut Dolls of Highland, to another side of the artist. New tracks from the Girl Crazy series will be released every Thursday through October 5th, and will also feature covers of songs by artists like Sharon Van Etten, Jenny Lewis, Cher and Patsy Cline.
The first installment in the covers series are Kyle’s interpretations of Karen Dalton’s ‘Something On Your Mind” [listen here] and Patti Smith’s “Distant Fingers” [listen here].
Kyle Craft and his band will hit the road for a short Northwestern U.S. trek, beginning September 16th in San Francisco at Cafe Du Nord and ending September 21st in Seattle at the Crocodile Cafe.
Sep. 16 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe du Nord Sep. 17 - Williams, OR - Rascal’s Bar & Grill Sep. 18 - Eugene, OR - Fathoms Bar Sep. 19 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios Sep. 21 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile
What “The People” have said about Kyle Craft: “…Undeniably unique: Kyle Craft is a strong contender for outsider of the year. An unlikely hero of the year. An unlikely hero of rock music, he’s nonetheless created a noteworthy, potentially groundbreaking debut album in Dolls of Highland.” - PASTE
“If Dolls of Highland has a basis in autobiography—the title references the Shreveport neighborhood where it was made—Craft spends the album imagining himself as Ziggy Sawdust, a flamboyant fop working the barrelhouse piano in the front room of the seediest bayou bordello. His songs illustrate how the intense religiosity and voodoo-infused mythology of the South make it fertile turf for the sort of colorful characterization and freak-scenery on which glam rock was founded.” - Pitchfork
“Just enough of Ziggy’s stardust gives “Pentecost” its musical sheen, but it’s Craft’s vocal intensity that outlasts all else.” [“10 Artists You Need to Know”] - Rolling Stone
“…hurls together Craft’s Dylan-meets-Brett Anderson holler with rollicking ragtime stomp, reminiscent of vintage Cockney Rebel or early Suede. The instantly singable likes of “Berlin” and “Lady of the Ark” are peopled by “girls and ghosts” from Craft’s hometown of Shreveport each depicted with a mix of empathy, humour and occasional savagery. And behind these tragicomic nightlife tales is a top-notch songwriter who has been fired by the sting of romantic betrayal.” [Dolls of Highland] - The Guardian
“Paired with his knack for great melodies, it demonstrates Craft’s emotional power as a songwriter.” [“Pentecost”] - NPR
“Craft, who grew up in Louisiana but now lives in Portland, brings an authentic southern blues sensibility to glam and folk rock but what makes Dolls one of the best albums of the year is his ability to transform his influences into a sound that’s all his own.” [Dolls of Highland] - Huffington Post
“…The 27-year-old’s debut album, Dolls of Highland, earned almost exclusively positive reviews, following a simple formula: Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde crossed with David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. Despite the transparent approach, he produced not a familiar sound but rather a cryptic sort of glam Americana that defies expectation…” - Village Voice
“…Craft’s music is so full of its own weird singularity that he’s on to something far beyond idol worship. ” - Billboard
Craft displays the full prowess of his vocal range, hitting high notes that hark back to glam rock vocals of the ’70s” - American Songwriter
Both bands have been playing their music on the road this year; Mass Gothic in support of their self-titled debut, and Kyle Craft in support of his Sub Pop debut, ”Dolls of Highland.”
Speaking of raucous good times… The time is now for you not to miss seeing Kyle Craft and his band play live; they’re currently on tour with Drive By Truckers through the end of November.
