With Coachella quickly approaching, Balmorhea’s ‘Top Ten Songs for the Desert’ couldn’t have come at a better time. As I make my way out to that scorching (hot air with an ever hotter breeze) desert musical oasis on Friday, Townes Van Zandt, Willie Nelson, Gillian Welch and a host of others will be coming right along with me. Balmorhea, an Austin, TX based band that I stumbled upon at SXSW and very quickly fell in love with, are departing on a massive tour tomorrow that will take them all across Europe and the US. No stops in California are planned at this time…though maybe we can lure them here with the promise of 22 hours of desert driving. The mixtape and complete tour dates are after the jump.

Balmorhea’s Top Ten Songs for the Desert:

1. Pullman - “To Hold Down A Shadow”
Pullman has a sincere embrace about them. Makes me think of riding in the back of a truck in the country, warm wind in face.

2. Sera Cahoone - “Baker Lake”
We listened to this record once driving at sunset between Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona. It was cool after a rainfall and we all sat in silence with the wind coming though the van.

3. Willie Nelson - “Can I Sleep In Your Arms?”
Quintessential.

4. Bexar Bexar - “Patterned Like Lovers”
Bexar Bexar toured with us last summer and listening to his songs is reminiscent of the couple hellish days we spent trekking through the landscape of Arizona and Eastern California in our van with no a/c.

5. Bonnie “Prince” Billy - “New Partner”
A fantastic travelling song, especially in the “Greatest Palace Music” arrangement.

6. Townes Van Zandt - “If I Needed You”
Supposedly this song was written in his dreams. Precise accompaniment in the vast open spaces.

7. Smog - “Rock Bottom Riser”
We all are in love with Bill Callahan. His raspy drawl is perfect for the lonesome dusks.

8. Dirty Three - “Ends of the Earth”
One of the most desolate and beautiful bands in the history of music. This song sums that up quite aptly.

9. Richard Buckner - “Ariel Ramirez”
I listened to this album “Since” multiple times through when driving in Southwest Texas beneath absolutely perfect billowy bright-white clouds contrasting against the clear blue. Complete with a stop at Garvin’s Country store on Hwy 83 for a brisket sandwich and Dr. Pepper. An acute encompassing of that blissful day.

10. Gillian Welch - “I Dream A Highway”
Most of Welch’s songs remind one of a forlorn heart on the open road, especially this one - all 17 verses worth.

EUROPEAN TOUR APRIL - MAY 2009

APRIL 15
PARIS SYNDROM
LEIPZIG, GERMANY

APRIL 16
SCHOKOLADEN
BERLIN, GERMANY

APRIL 17
STEINBRUCH
DUISBURG, GERMANY

APRIL 18
THEATRE DE L’ALBATROS
REIMS, FRANCE

APRIL 19
TREIBHAUS
LUZERN, SWITZERLAND

APRIL 23
SALA SIDECAR
DON BENITO, SPAIN

APRIL 24
ABRIL NO TAN CRUEL FESTIVAL
MADRID, SPAIN

APRIL 25
CINEMASCORE FESTIVAL
TEATRE MUNICIPAL DE BENICASSIM
CASTELLON, SPAIN

APRIL 28
LE SONIC
LYON, FRANCE

APRIL 29
BUZZ CLUB
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND

APRIL 30
MATTATOIO CULTURE CLUB
CARPI, ITALY

MAY 1
TEATRO DIMORA
RIMINI, ITALY

MAY 3
LES INSTANTS CHEVIRES
PARIS, FRANCE

MAY 5
THE ADELPHI
HULL, ENGLAND

MAY 7
THE TUNNELS
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

MAY 10
FLUISTER
DORDRECHT, NETHERLANDS

MAY 11
VPRO SESSION
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS

MAY 12
JAZ
ROSTOCK, GERMANY

MAY 13
HAUS III & 70
HAMBURG, GERMANY

MAY 15
FEINKOST LAMPE
HANNOVER, GERMANY

MAY 22
STUBBS BBQ
AUSTIN, TEXAS

US TOUR WITH TINY VIPERS

JUNE 17
HAILEY’S
DENTON, TEXAS

JUNE 19
HUCKLEBERRY’S
ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS

JUNE 20
EMPTY BOTTLE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

JUNE 21
BEARS
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

JUNE 23
FIRST UNITARIAN CHAPEL
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
(EARLY AND LATE SHOW)

JUNE 24
AS220
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

JUNE 25
TT THE BEARS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS

JUNE 26
LE POISSON ROUGE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK

JUNE 28
RED AND BLACK
WASHINGTON DC

JUNE 30
NIGHTLIGHT
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA

JULY 1
529
ATLANTA, GEORGIA