Re: New Choir album

The Choir has another new album out entitled The Loudest Sound Ever Heard. Listening to it for the first time now. It was funded by a Kickstarter campaign (or maybe it was Pledge Music - can't remember), and one of the extras in the bundle I ordered is a CD of the band providing commentary on each song. That should be fun - I love hearing artists ruminating on their work.

Argh. I should've followed them on Facebook ages ago so I would've been aware of that deal. Not sure why I hadn't yet, beyond the fact that they have the honor of being the band that I really love yet always inexplicably forget about.

I usually forgot about them as well, since they really only activate when they put out a record, and until recently that was about every 5 years or so. I'm actually surprised that they've released a new record only 2 years after the last one. Plus, if they tour, I never see any dates. Maybe they play in churches.

So far this record is a lot less anthemic than the last one, but still good, especially if you like dreamy, Paisley Underground guitar sounds. (And who doesn't?)

I'll be damned, they are touring this record. Looks like a mix of churches, clubs and house concerts. No dates anywhere near me, alas.

Anyone attending the show in Sterling, VA gets some goodies along w/ the concert:

"This is a house concert. With the ticket price, we include an assortment of beverages and snacks, including our home-made pear-buttermilk scones."

Who can say no to homemade pear-buttermilk scones?



Post Edited (04-20-12 11:32)

zoo wrote:

> Who can say no to homemade pear-buttermilk scones?

A: The lactose intolerant.

Cool. They'll be in my neck of the woods next week. I saw them three or four times back in the 80s & 90s, always in clubs or bars, but that was back when they were still harboring hopes of crossing over into the mainstream. Looks like the venue this time is a 75 seat performance space in a music store.

Speaking of small venues in unconventional spaces, last Saturday night Graham Parker played at an itty bitty photo studio 6 miles from my house, with Derwood Andrews from Generation X. Unfortunately, I was in Chicago that night. Haven't heard if he had a good turnout - I hope that he did, but considering it was on the Illinois side of the river it's hard telling how many St. Louisans would have made the arduous 20 minute trek from the Lou to get to the howling wastelands of Bethalto, IL.

St. Louisans are very, very bizarre when it comes to crossing that damn river. They seem to regard it as being 300 miles wide or something. I live 20 miles from my job, but I live in Illinois so I'm constantly getting amazed reactions from my Missouri co-workers that I would drive so damn far to work, only to discover that they actually live further away. But they live in Missouri, man! 35 miles is much shorter than 20 as long as you're not crossing a river!

That got way off topic.

"Speaking of small venues in unconventional spaces, last Saturday night Graham Parker played at an itty bitty photo studio 6 miles from my house, with Derwood Andrews from Generation X."

Graham and the Figgs played here (Albany) last night. At a mighty small club.

Whoa. Full circle: I saw Graham open for the Band at Ulster Performing Arts Center in 1991. (It was the band sans Robbie, of course. And long after Richard's death.) It was a benefit for the Woodstock Youth Center. Graham lives there...in Woodstock, NY, that is. Tommy Stinson now lives in Hudson.

I guess there's just something about upstate NY. . .



Post Edited (04-20-12 12:15)

"Looks like a mix of churches, clubs and house concerts."

That made me laugh out loud there.

I'm afraid that if they come to TX and play in a church, both the church and I will explode in flames if I cross the threshold.

"I've encountered that attitude about crossing the Mississippi as well, Reno."

Until my move a couple weeks back, I crossed the Hudson every dang day. And not a peep from me. No, sir.

I used to cross the bridge over Tampa Bay from Tampa to St. Pete for my job. Going to work, it was the best part of the drive. Coming home was another story...



Post Edited (04-20-12 13:23)

And of course they played LAST Friday and Saturday in the metro Atlanta area. I liked Burning Like the Midnight Sun quite a bit...going to have to see about tracking down the new one.

I thought BLtMS was their best in a good 15 years. I love how some of these *cough* heritage acts are really getting a second wind and putting out compelling new stuff.

They're offering Burning Like the Midnight Sun for your downloading/listening pleasure free of charge on NoiseTrade this week:

[noisetrade.com]

More free-ness from The Choir this week:

[www.noisetrade.com]

Flap Your Wings is from The Choir's recent past and being offered free on Noisetrade in honor of the legendary Cornerstone Music Festival's final year. After 28 years, Cornerstone Festival is saying goodbye after this July. From the first festival, The Choir has enjoyed a rewarding and special relationship with the remarkable folks there. Along with the entire Flap Your Wings album, there is a free bonus track (The Forest) from The Choir's brand new release, The Loudest Sound Ever Heard. Thank you for listening and your support. The Choir will be performing Saturday night July 7th at Cornerstone. Visit www.cornerstonefestival.com for details

I've encountered that attitude about crossing the Mississippi as well, Reno. In Louisiana, we knew lots of people who lived in the communities across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, and commuted into the city for work. (My dad was one of them.) Depending on where they lived, they'd have to drive across either a 5-mile bridge (the I-10 twin-span, or the old Highway 11 two-lane drawbridge) or a 24-mile bridge (the Causeway). I don't remember ever hearing any amazement about that commute, either from the commuters themselves or the folks who were hearing about it.

But oh man, the complants I'd hear from people who lived to the south of the city, about their commutes across the river! You would've thought they had to push their cars the whole way.

(Staying off topic here, sorry ...)

Pear in a scone? I dunno. That to me is like pear in a salad. It's not right.