Photo by John Hanson
Ah, summer, where have you gone? We hardly knew ye.
Well, no matter. As we let another month slowly slip into another, we can also welcome a shift in mood and weather—and a new record by one of our favorites, Michigan’s Breathe Owl Breathe. The threesome have given us an early listen to their latest: a doubly pleasant glimpse of what to expect in our very-soon fall futures, and an encompassing ode to the end of yet another season.
“Swimming” is an appropriately nostalgic post-summer track, a perfect look back at the lazy trips down the river, enjoying the remnants of a sweltering afternoon—”Bring the frisbee, baby / Bring something to drink / Bring your purple bathing suit / Depends on where we’re going to / If we’re going to the swimming hole / We won’t need nothing at all”
“Own Stunts” is one for the nighttime, inviting a bit of a cooler, earthy darkness in which lead singer Micah Middaugh admits, “No one can tell that I’m trembling—cross my heart and hope to live—my blood is boiling . . . Thinkin’ about settling down, thinking about settling in. What gives?”
Magic Central is out via Hometapes on September 28th.
MP3: Breathe Owl Breathe – “Swimming”
MP3: Breathe Owl Breathe – “Own Stunts“
I love it when musicians sing about the great state of Tennessee, especially when said musician is Benji Hughes. On this brand new track, offered for free download below, Hughes croons “I don’t wanna die, but if I gotta go, I’d like to know that’s where I’ll be, Tennessee.” I couldn’t agree with you more, Benji. The tune is part of a Vosotros Records project called Sargent Singles, in which Los Angeles-based musician Gus Seyffert produces two free tracks for download each month. Head over to the Sargent Singles page to check out the other free tracks currently up for grabs including “Midnight Morning” from Seyffert’s band, Willoughby and “Q” by The Bird and the Bee’s Inara George.
MP3: Benji Hughes- Country Love
Justin Townes Earle and Joe Pug covered Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City” on Tuesday, March 9th at a show in Carrboro, North Carolina. Head over to the excellent blog Swear I’m Not Paul to check out a recording of the show which includes Earle tunes like “Mamas Eyes” and “Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving” as well as covers of Buck Owens’ “Close Up The Honky Tonks” and The Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait.”
MP3: Justin Townes Earle and Joe Pug- Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen cover)
My Morning Jacket covering Gram Parsons and Flying Burrito Brothers tunes live at various shows between July 2004 and June 2006.
MP3: My Morning Jacket- Hot Burrito #1
MP3: My Morning Jacket- Still Feeling Blue
MP3: My Morning Jacket- Older Guys
San Francisco-based musician Emily Jane White is set to release her sophomore record Victorian America on April 27th via Milan Records. She just returned from touring in Europe and is currently in the midst of a New York residency with two dates remaining: March 5th at the Living Room and March 6th at Rockwood Music Hall.
MP3: Emily Jane White- Liza
Los Angeles, by way of Georgia, musician Amanda Jo Williams is set to her release her first full length record, Yes I Will Mr Man, this spring via White Noise. Amanda is truly one of a kind with her distinctive take on cosmic cowboy music. You can catch her live on March 11th at the Echo Curio in Echo Park alongside Ora Cogan and Fort King.
MP3: Amanda Jo Williams- Ohio
Oakland-based band The Blank Tapes are releasing their latest record Here’s To Taking It Easy on April 27th via White Noise. They are performing a handful of shows up in the Bay Area before heading to Austin, Texas later this month for SXSW. Both The Blank Tapes and Amanda Jo Williams will be offering their records for free download in the weeks leading up to their releases. We will let you know when those official download links are up!
MP3: The Blank Tapes- Place In My Heart
Phosphorescent
New York folkies Phosphorescent are set to release their latest record, Here’s To Taking It Easy, on May 11th via Dead Oceans.
MP3: Phosphorescent- It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)
Seabear
Icelandic 7-piece Seabear have announced the release of their sophomore record, We Built a Fire, on March 5th via Morr Music. They are set to tour the States for the first time ever this March with dates in New York, Chicago, SXSW and more. Click here to check out complete tour dates and here to stream the album in its entirety.
MP3: Seabear- Lion Face Boy
Morning Pages
Brooklyn country rockers The Morning Pages are physically releasing their debut record, Rising Rain (on beautiful vinyl!), this May. It’s available now digitally through itunes.
MP3: The Morning Pages- My Name Is Lion
Robert Francis
Los Angeles troubadour Robert Francis just announced a string of dates that will take him to Europe this April with the John Butler Trio. He’s touring in support of his record, Before Nightfall, which was released last fall via Atlantic Records. Click here for the complete tour dates.
MP3: Robert Francis- Mescaline
