Adulthood has its downsides (increases in taxes, strange new sags, and hours devoted to canning), so it’s not surprising that we long for those bittersweet feelings for all things nostalgic. It feels good to be reminded of your tastes when you were a kid. And especially when it comes to music, the artists we embraced during those complex years spent battling identity/role confusion and intimacy/isolation in young-to-middle adulthood tend to suit our present-day, tax-paying palates nicely.
But while some of us may be only just now crawling into our first “adult” phase of life, Drag City’s main melodist Bill Callahan is a timeless entertainer, appealing to life-long fans and good-eared young’uns alike as he continues to pen robust song-stories with his trademark silver tongue intact and in cheek. His peculiar brand of folk-gone-berserk is especially beguiling in a live setting; so when he announces tour dates anywhere, everyone, from young squirts to old farts, should take notice.
Callahan will play at the inaugural A Ship in the Woods Music and Arts Festival in Escondido, CA on June 17 (THIS Sunday), after which he’ll take some time to rest up to play to US allies enemies north of the 49th parallel in September, with shows in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montréal. The sole US date announced for the fall is in Long Beach on September 30. But if you know Bill, you can bet there will be plenty of chances to see him live in the future. Look for tickets here.
Life moves fast, so in case you have forgotten how utterly enchanting Callahan is, here’s his NPR Tiny Desk Concert.
Bill Callahan live:
06.17.18 - Escondido, CA - Felicita County Park, A Ship in the Woods Music and Arts Festival
09.25.18 - Vancouver, BC - The Vogue Theatre
09.26.18 - Calgary, AB - Bella Concert Hall
09.27.18 - Toronto, ON - Trinity St. Paul’s United Church
09.28.18 - Montréal, QC - Rialto Theater
09.30.18 - Long Beach, CA - Music Tastes Good
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