listen here: release shows are the best. if you don’t make a habit of going to see live music (and i get it, e.g., introversion, social anxiety), release shows feel more like community experiences than other live shows. they’re victory laps. they’re small celebrations. they’re a moment where complete strangers come together to say “hey, let’s cheer on this thing that took an artist several months/years to create because we love them.” and i have four release shows that i want to — nay! need to — tell you about, and each one of them honestly deserve their own separate post. so here are four shows that i think are certainly worth your time and attention.
mercy choir — i recently talked about why you should be excited for mercy choir’s upcoming album, upturned in everest. and if you don’t take my word for it, just listen to “do you know what i mean?” and “needles and vinegar”, the two singles. but let me cut to the chase: mercy choir’s release show is going to be a unique, one-of-a-kind, non-repeatable, event. on september 14th, mercy choir will be performing upturned in everest in full at best video in hamden. but here’s the kicker: mercy choir/paul belbusti will be backed by dr. caterwaul’s cadre of clairovyant claptraps. it is only happening one time, meaning that you should think about making arrangements to see this now and not later.
he was an artist, she was a carpenter — this seals the deal folks. i made the case earlier this year that he was an artist, she was a carpenter was really, truly a ct band even though they were stationed on the border of massachusetts. and i may just be a simple small-town lawyer, but i say, if i may your honor, would a massachusetts band have their release show on august 10 in new britain, connecticut? i rest my case. and if seeing he was an artist, she was a carpenter perform songs from their upcoming record i’ll never be as happy as i was last summer is not enough for you, then let me tell you about the support acts: perennial (amazing), matt falkowski (love ’em), goldflame (i haven’t gotten around to listening yet, shit, sorry about that), and evelyn gray (incredible). it also marks another big gig for break/even booking who have recently revamped their website!
evelyn gray — previously i talked about evelyn gray’s upcoming album (let the flower grow) and video for “take with food”. i feel in love with her music before i ever got a chance to see her live. and her live performance is raw and beautiful; it feels like there are no barriers between the pure emotion of her songwriting and the audience. no second-guessing, no uncertainty, no distance. performing without a backing band, she uses a loop pedal with effects to create wonderfully big, thick atmospheres. and hey, you get a chance to see it on july 27th at MAC 650! she will have gilliver, mooncha, and pleasuremad playing as support; it’s an eclectic, super-talented mix!
mal blum — ok, so this one only kind of counts. yes, i really like mal blum’s music, and i’m thrilled that they are coming to the state house in new haven to release their new album, pity boy! but their not exactly a connecticut band… however, both laundry day and spit-take will be there as support on july 23rd. and have you met anybody who doesn’t like laundry day or spit-take? there was that one guy, but they put him in the stockades in the middle of the town square and subsequently laughed him out of town. he won’t be at the state house, probably. but i will be.
and if you didn’t see the posts about queen moo’s release show or sarah golley’s release festival, be sure to check those out too.
