Maybe -- perhaps -- Darin Gray has a new working trio with Chicago saxist Mars Williams and drummer Tyler Damon of Bloomington. The three have gone a few rounds and more are expected. This above shot is from an Aug. 23 show at St. Louis Art Museum.
Forty-one years after its release, Hoi' Polloi's lone LP is available again. After a call from the new upstart reissue label Folk Evaluation, we decided to get in on this fabled Indiana record and help inject it back into the world. This new edition, is a beaut -- from the exact replication of jacket, labels and insert to the audio that was remastered from the original tapes. It's already been described as "the rare moment when a Paul McCartney comparison is apt. Nilsson, too." Not to mention the avant studio techniques used to lay this unheard masterpiece to tape. No need to pay $100s for this anymore. Above, Hoi' Polloi songwriter Charlie Bleak basks in the afterglow of his past. Full details here.
The ultimate Loren Connors overview has been written and compiled by the fine gents at The Out Door column over at Pitchfork. It is epic, beautiful and covers Loren's four decades as an artist and musician. It's got it all, from a summary of his many albums -- including many on FV -- and interviews with Suzanne Langille, Darin Gray, Alan Licht, Jim O'Rourke, some guy named Jandek and few others. Please, spend some time with this one.
Chris Forsyth and his Solar Motel Band will perform every Thursday in June at Ortlieb's Lounge, 847 N. 3rd St., in Philadelphia. This is old school: three sets each night, starting at 9 p.m. Six bones gets you in. Please, buy Chris a beer for us.
Apache Dropout is back on the road, this time with Thee Tsunamis and Blank Realm. Check 'em:
May 24 Chicago @ the Burlington w/ Uh Bones
May 25 Cincinnati @ Chameleons
May 26 Columbus @ the Summit
May 27 Washington DC @ Black Cat w/ Foul Swoops
May 28 Brooklyn @ Death by Audio / Pop Zeus
May 29 Philly @ Ortliebs w/ Spacin'
May 30 ??
May 31 Cleveland @ Happy Dog w/ Wooly Bullies
June 1 Detroit @ Lo and Behold Books