A new favorite still from our music video, made by Patrick Nugent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3ceCdm5bac
Patrick shared this reflection about the work:
Image by Doring and Cranach (the elder), based on Durer's woodcuts
Had the best time performing at Brewery ARS!
Thanks to everyone who came out to our release show at Ortlieb’s! It was great seeing you, great collaborating with Bobby Pharaoh. We'll be at Brewery ARS a week from today (9/17), performing just outside their open garage door. (Music from 8 to about 8:45.)
Our Philly release show is Friday at Ortlieb's! We'd love to see you there.
Proof of vaccination is required (a picture of your card is fine). I took a Covid test as a precaution (came back negative). Feeling good the only Corona variant there will be Corona Light.
Poster by O Horvath
New Music Video
Enjoy this incredible video for “I pulled the sheet back…”, made by our friend Patrick Nugent. It stars an alcoholic kaiju (blobby monster) who’s trying to put their life together. They are empathic and sweet and only slightly more of a mess than most of us. You will love them. Feel like it’s necessary to say: this kaiju (like the song’s character) is religious. We’re not mocking their visions! I’m religious (and a leftist—you probably know both of these things by now.)
Below are some of my favorite stills from the video.
"Contrasts between the Elizabethan and Restoration theatres are numerous and striking. The Elizabethan theatre had been a theatre of the people.... [The] Restoration audience was perhaps the most thoroughly aristocratic audience the theatre has ever known."
-Whiting
Very happy to sing and play synth at Stu’s ordination last week
Magazine and Philly Release Show
Earth & Altar shared our “A way through hell”! The piece exists as a song and a poem; both are included in the online magazine. (If you read the poem on your phone, turn your device (landscape) for proper formatting.)
https://earthandaltarmag.com/posts/khk6ad0cxj97tubtrc6qb4c49lx1sa
Philly-area people: our release show will happen 9/3 at Ortlieb’s; our good friends Joshua Howard and Spelling Reform will join us.
Tickets:
Facebook Event:
Our album is out today
I wrote earlier that this record is about recognizing or attempting goodness. One thing I haven’t shared: most of the songs are memories of loved ones who experienced profound disappointment and suffering and—in spite of those evils—were exceedingly generous.
You can find lyrics (properly formatted) and credits here. If you like free verse poetry, I’m especially proud of pages six to nine (i.e., “An arm around your waist” through “Dove’s tail in pink light”).
New Single - Album out July 23
A card game with my wife prompted this song. As I was fishing out cards that fell between the sofa cushions, I remembered very vividly doing the same thing as a kid. I remembered sitting with my mom in our living room. The drawn curtains gave the space a kind of glow during the day. I remembered that, as a child, I thought my mother was especially graceful.
Regarding the song’s title, “Dovetail” is the shuffle that quickly interleaves the cards. Only those blessed with exceptionally fine fine motor skills are able to execute it.
Porchfest (Two weeks earlier)
What a weekend. One show canceled, just as we were about to perform; another concert put together in an hour thanks to our friends in thequietcampaign. Many thanks to everyone who's come out to see us or listened to our two recent singles. You're the best.
For those looking for a relaxed, family friendly, outdoor Pride event: this Sunday (6/27), Eric will perform on Beacon’s front lawn (2364 E Cumberland St., Phila.). Eric goes on at 3. There may be baby pools. You need to bring your own baby, though.
We're taking part in West Reading’s Art on the Avenue this Saturday. Come see us on the 6th Avenue stage from 3:25-4.
New single
I was thinking about Jack Rose and Willa Cather when I wrote this. Each felt, at a critical point in their life, that their best work was behind them. Each, unwittingly, proved themselves wrong.
The concert scene that opens the song (meant to illustrate Jack’s grueling performance schedule) is based on our 2018 tour. We played Savoy Taproom and made the fans mentioned.
You can find the song on your platform of choice here: https://thechairmandances.com/thewayyouthought
EDIT: Our set will be 3:10-3:50 p.m.
We’re performing (outdoors) in West Philly this Saturday, June 5!
No ticket or show fee is due, just stroll on up to 4421 Baltimore Ave.
New Single out today, New Album (July 23)
This song is the third track from The strength of your arm, an album I wrote while doing an artist residency in the Cascade mountains back in 2019. While I don’t believe its songs share characters, I do imagine all of the individual narrators assuming a similar posture or tone of voice to tell their stories. That shared stance or way of speaking is, for me, the crux of the record. It directs what is said or observed; it attends every action, every forbearance.
Today’s single is one of my favorite recordings of ours (the album contains a number). If you are inclined to share news of it, and/or add it to a play list, we are inclined to thank you.
I hope this note finds you well.
Eric
We are officially a band again thanks to this photo. And since bands play [outdoor] shows, we'll take part in W. Philly's Porchfest on June 5. We're preparing a stripped down set (unsure re: the amount of available power outlets). The hosting porch is 4421 Baltimore Ave. Music starts at 2. We play second.
Today, I’m sharing a hymn I wrote and recorded four years ago. The words “What would you have me do?” are Dorothy Day’s. The others are mine.
Leek eyes