Conventional wisdom dictates that after a band releases an album they normally do their bit of touring then scurry away from the stage spotlights to write and record a follow-up album. They then commence touring and promotion of said album until another is required (barring any upsets in the pattern: singer leaving for ill-conceived solo career, fatal drug overdoses, etc.). It is the cycle of band life, man, and any deviation from this routine is punishable by donkey kicks to the abdomen.
Vetiver knows that conventional wisdom sux baboons butts. Gnomonsong and FatCat, possibly in association with Doritos, Cheetos, Sun Chips, and Rold Gold (the ORIGINAL “Munchies” party crew, no matter what Bits & Bites and Chex Mix bitches will have you believe) will release the next Vetiver album, Thing of the Past, May 19. While the album comes chronologically after the band's feted To Find Me Gone, it is not exactly a follow-up to that dynamite disc. Joining the ranks of Cat Power and Tiny Tim, the Andy Cabic-led, Devendra Banhart-frequented gang of “freakish” “folkish” hippies have recorded a covers album! Hooray!
Thing of the Past features guest appearances by Vashti Bunyan and Michael Hurley and interpretations of lost classics by Derroll Adams, Bobby Charles, Norman Greenbaum, Hawkwind, Michael Hurley, Garland Jeffreys, Dia Joyce, Ian Matthews, Biff Rose, Townes Van Zandt, Loudon Wainwright III, and Elyse Weinberg. A new Vetiver remix 12-inch is out now, which couples two To Find Me Gone tracks, "You May Be Blue" and "Been So Long," remixed by Neighbors.
1. Houses (Elyse Weinberg)
2. Roll On Babe (Derroll Adams)
3. Sleep a Million Years (Dia Joyce)
4. Hook & Ladder (Norman Greenbaum)
5. To Baby (Biff Rose)
6. Road to Ronderlin (Ian Matthews)
7. Lon Chaney (Garland Jeffreys)
8. Hurry on Sundown (Hawkwind)
9. Swimming Pool (Loudon Wainwright III)
10. Blue Driver (Michael Hurley)
11. Standing (Townes Van Zandt)
12. I Must Be in a Good Place Now (Bobby Charles)
Vetiver will be playing some dates too, don'tcha know, as the opening act and backup band for former Jayhawks front-guy Gary Louris' U.S. tour beginning next week in Denver, as well as some dates with Kelley Stoltz in May.
To find me gone... to these gigs:
03.23.08 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater #
03.25.08 - Minneapolis, MN - State Theater #
03.27.08 - Madison, WI - Barrymore Theater (no Vetiver opening set) #
03.28.08 - Chicago, IL - The Vic #
03.29.08 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mr. Small's Theater #
03.30.08 - Toronto, Ontario - Mod Club Theatre #
04.01.08 - Somerville, MA - Somerville Theater #
04.02.08 - New York, NY - Town Hall #
04.03.08 - Washington, DC - State Theater #
04.04.08 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle #
04.05.08 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse #
05.01.08 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
05.02.08 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater Grill $
05.03.08 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Media Club $
05.04.08 - Seattle, WA - High Dive $
05.06.08 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall %
05.07.08 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour ^
05.08.08 - San Diego, CA - The Casbah +
05.09.08 - Santa Cruz, CA - Crepe Place +
05.10.08 - Visalia, CA - Howie & Sons Pizza and Beer Parlor +
# Gary Louris
$ Kelley Stoltz
% Kelley Stoltz and The Mumlers
^ Kelley Stoltz and Jonathan Wilson
+ Jonathan Wilson