Photo by Constance Mensh.

Steve Gunn

The mid-June release of the new Steve Gunn album Time Off still feels far away–if only weather-wise–but PoB HQ is already buzzing about this record, which we think is his most affecting, accessible and articulate work of pure songcraft to date, his definitive statement as a songwriter. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the unveiling of the album’s cover art and a track premiere.

We recently saw the trio perform at Johnny Brenda’s in Philadelphia, with cohorts Spacin’ and Light Heat, and they sounded great. Here’s a video of album track “Lurker” as played that night:

We are happy to announce that Steve is now represented by Ground Control Touring, who have offices in his hometown of Brooklyn, as well as in Carrboro, NC, home to PoB HQ. For booking details, click here.

The Red Rippers

With all the recent news about the terrible neglect facing our returning veterans, our Red Rippers reissue feels more timely, moving, and sadly relevant than ever. Songwriter Ed Bankston–pictured above at 17, just home from boot camp–took some time to talk to Jason Woodbury of a hometown Phoenix paper about the album and its genesis as well as our reissue. More to come soon from the Phoenix New Times…

Chance

Our minds are deeply entangled with Chance Martin’s masterful 1981 countrydelic album In Search these days, especially in light of Johnny Cash’s recent birthday. (Chance worked as Cash’s stage manager, lighting director, and cue card man for years before recording his opus.) We just finished the album design and liner notes, which include a 13,000 word oral history (!) with the man himself, recounted in the inimitable voice of a true American storyteller of the highest order–think Charles Portis, the Coen Bros., or Mark Twain. We can’t wait to share it with you this summer. For now, submitted for your consideration, please feast your eyes upon this photographic evidence of the man in his prime: