Paradise of Bachelors is delighted to share a full grip of Steve Gunn news! We’re cruising into the sweet Spring season with plenty of entertainment to offer care of Steve and the gang.
Firstly, we’ve confirmed the release date for Time Off, Steve’s PoB debut and his most affecting and accessible work of pure songcraft to date. On June 18th, you can take some Time Off for yourself! Quittin Time is a fine time, so let us and your favorite record merchants help you enjoy a well-deserved summer relax. Gather some buddies, pour some draughts, and kick back for a proper nod-along session. This is Steve’s first album in the good company of his longtime friends and collaborators John Truscinski (drums) and Justin Tripp (bass), using the trio band format to launch his compositions and singing into new, luminous strata. Time Off deploys Gunn’s signature virtuosic guitar style, framed by the most commanding vocal performances he has yet committed to tape. These six songs showcase his oblique character sketches and story-songs about friends, acquaintances, and denizens of his Brooklyn neighborhood:
A1 “Water Wheel” 5:10
A2 “Lurker” 7:43
A3 “Street Keeper” 5:44
B1 “New Decline” 5:25
B2 “Old Strange” 7:01
B3 “Trailways Ramble” 8:54
Speaking of neighborhoods, we’re thrilled to announce the Kurt Vile connection. Kurt and Steve—as well as half of PoB—grew up as neighbors in the same hamlet of Lansdowne, PA. Already a longtime fan of Steve’s earlier releases, Kurt has asked him to join forces as both a bandmate and an opener. Come May, you can see Steve Gunn’s trio live and you can see Steve as an auxiliary Violator, appearing throughout the U.S. We’re all ecstatic over this convergence of heads. Here’s what Kurt has to say on the matter:
“It’s impossible to just talk about Steve. He’s too good! He’s so good; just listen to him. What can I even say about him that touches that? I just want to listen to him. I remember I was so excited when I discovered Jack Rose, someone living in my city who had caught the torch from Fahey. Hearing Steve, I immediately received that same deep appreciation and was completely blown away, beyond. Just growing up with “roots music” (so to speak) and immediately seeing something that was real and totally pure, no gimmicks. But he takes it further, and on his own terms, and all the while it sounds old, and new, and timeless. Dude’s a head, what can I say? It made me want to be a part of it myself.”
It’s hard to catch our breath here in Paradise! The current of Hiss Golden Messenger’s Haw, the allergies of Spring, and the brisk pace of the road are proving exhilarating… We do enjoy a brisk constitutional. Onward!
For more details on Time Off: https://paradiseofbachelors.com/pob-08
For a bio of Steve: https://paradiseofbachelors.com/steve-gunn
For U.S. tour dates: http://www.groundcontroltouring.com/tours/steve-gunn
Dates with Kurt Vile:
05/07/2013 Los Angeles, CA / The Echoplex with Kurt Vile and the Violators, The Fresh & Only’s
05/08/2013 San Francisco, CA / The Independent with Kurt Vile and the Violators
05/10/2013 Portland, OR / Doug Fir Lounge with Kurt Vile and the Violators, The Fresh & Only’s
05/11/2013 Vancouver, BC / The Biltmore with Kurt Vile and the Violators, The Fresh & Only’s
05/12/2013 Seattle, WA / Neumos with Kurt Vile and the Violators, The Fresh & Only’s
05/14/2013 Chicago, IL / Lincoln Hall with Kurt Vile and the Violators, Jessica Pratt
05/16/2013 New York, NY / Bowery Ballroom with Kurt Vile and the Violators, Angel Olsen
05/17/2013 Boston, MA / The Sinclair with Kurt Vile and the Violators, Angel Olsen
05/18/2013 Philadelphia, PA / Union Transfer with Kurt Vile and the Violators, Angel Olsen
Photo by Constance Mensh.