@ Pappy & Harriet’s October 15th. Outdoor Show Set to Sell Out!
By Lisa Morgan
“I always tell people that the one genius thing I’ve done in my life was starting a band with Neko Case and Dan Bejar,” shared New Pornographers main songwriter, founder and instigator, Carl, “AC” Newman. The eight piece, multi-level, talent ensemble, is said to be “virtually peerless in the world of power-pop and indie-rock” according to NPR Music. Newman put the group together in 1998, and they produced their first album, “Mass Romantic”, in 2000. Since then, The New Pornographers have released four other studio albums, including their most recent, Brill Bruisers, which has been their highest ranking album to date, hitting the US charts at number 13 (and it’s only been out since August of this year). There is a 6th album, a live album that is only available at their shows and on their website (listed at the end of this article).
The New Pornographers are A.C. Newman, Blaine Thurier, Dan Bejar, John Collins, Kathryn Calder, Neko Case and Todd Fancey. Each of these talents has a successful career as individuals, but the music continues to bring them back together despite their crazy schedules. This being said, it is no small event that every single member of New Pornographers is scheduled for the October 15th show at Pappy and Harriet’s, one of only 30 in the States. “The fact that we don’t take our time together or our success for granted has a lot to do with the quality we produce in the studio and on stage. We all really enjoy and appreciate each other, and the good energy feeds the audience at our live shows.” (In September of this year, the band announced that original band member, Kurt Dahle, would be leaving the band).
I asked Newman if, in his early hopes and expectations for the band, he had any idea of the success it would become. “My big vision was just finishing the record, ‘Mass Romantic’, and getting it out there. I didn’t see past that. It’s all been strange. If you’d have told me that we’d have had an album debut at number 13 on the charts 15 years later, it would have blown my mind, and I’d have thought you were insane.”
In regard to the new album, Newman states, “This is a celebration record. After periods of difficulty, I am at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down and the music reflects that.” Produced by band-members John Collins (bass) with Newman, the 12-track album was recorded primarily at Little Blue in Woodstock, NY and at JC/DC Studios in Vancouver B.C. with additional recording in Austin, Brooklyn and Vermont. Newman adds, “We wanted Xanadu and we wanted Sigue Sigue Sputnik, which translated into sparklier and faster.”
Find out more about The New Pornographers at www.thenewpornographers.com
The indie-pop group out of New York, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, will open for the New Pornographers at 8 PM. Their first, self-titled album, reached number 9 on the Billboard, Heatseekers chart. The name of the band is based on the 1991 book written but unpublished by their friend, Charles Augustus Steen III. They’ll be promoting their new album Days of Abandon, produced in London and released this past May. You can listen to their music on Spotify and follow them at thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com/music.
All Ages are welcome to this outdoor show. Non-refundable, general admission tickets are available for $30 but are going fast. The day will also commemorate Pappy and Harriet’s 11 year anniversary. Doors will open at 7 PM for the show, but the restaurant, famous for its menu featuring items cooked on their outdoor fire pit and their bacon topped cheesy fries, will be open, first come, first serve. This is set to be a delightfully, rocking event that you won’t want to miss.
Tickets: www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/598217?utm_medium=bks
