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Sufjan Stevens played Bowery Ballroom (pics, setlist), Brooklyn BQE show added & other Asthmatic Kitty news

photos by Tammy Lo, words by Andrew Frisicano

Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens played the first show of his four-night NYC run last night (10/4) at Bowery Ballroom. The set mostly covered material from Seven Swans (visited extensively at ATP NY in Sept.), Michigan, Illinois and new tracks. Full setlist and more pictures from that show, below.

His current tour dates (including all four NYC shows) are with Sufjan’s Asthmatic Kitty labelmates Cryptacize (who are touring with Fiery Furnaces this November). That’s just one of many goings-on Sufjan has with the Asthmatic Kitty label he co-founded. He’s collaborating with his step-father (also the label’s other co-founder) Lowell Brams on Music for Insomnia, Brams’ debut and part of the label’s Library Catalog series. The album, due December 8th, also includes contributions by Bryce Dessner (of the National and the Long Count) and cover art by Asthmatic Kitty’s DM Stith.

Stith will be opening at Sufjan’s Osso Quartet/BQE shows at 92YTribeca on October 24th and 25th. Two two screening on the 24th are sold out, but there’s still tickets for the show on the 25th.

The Osso Quartet is taking that show on the road at the end of October into early November. The last show of the tour was to be at TBA venue in Philly. Instead it appears that they’re closing out the tour at the Bell House on Sunday, November 7th. Tickets are on sale now. If is unclear if Sufjan will actually be at the new date. He will be at 92Y, but not on the rest of that tour.

In 2000, Asthmatic Kitty artist Shannon Stephens was interviewed by Sufjan to discuss her just-released debut album. He interviewed her again a few weeks ago to catch up and discuss The Breadwinner, Shannon’s first album in 10 years, which came out September 8th. In the new interview (more of a discussion), Sufjan revealed some interesting things about himself…

Sufjan: I’m at a point where I no longer have a deep desire to share my music with anyone, having spent many years imparting my songs to the public. Although I have great respect for the social dynamic of music–that it should be shared with others, that it brings people together–I now feel something personal is irrevocably lost in this process. Now, while I refuse to act wholly on this impulse (I refuse to take my audience for granted in spite of my mood), I’m still trying to find the value of the song in private. Having spent ten years in private (not sharing your music), can you offer some wisdom on this matter? Does a song have any meaning even it’s not shared?

A new video from Shannon is posted below.

More pics, video and the setlist from Sufjan’s 10/4 Bowery show, with the above mentioned Asthmatic Kitty goodies, below…

Bowery Ballroom…

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Sufjan Stevens – To Be Alone With You @ Bowery Ballroom 10/04

Shannon Stephens- In Summer in the Heat

Sufjan Stevens 10/4 Bowery Ballroom setlist (via)
The Mistress Witch from McClure (or The Mind That Knows Itself)
Impossible Soul (new song)
Transfiguration
Casimir Pulaski Day
All Delighted People (new song)
All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands
New song (no name given… but I call it “Victoria”)
To Be Alone With You
The Dress Looks Nice on You
Majesty, Snowbird
Jacksonville
Detroit, Lift Your Weary Head! (Rebuild!)
Chicago (acoustic)

Encore 1:
John Wayne Gacy Jr.

Encore 2: (solo banjo)
Lakes of Canada (Innocence Mission cover)

Lowell Brams
Lowell Brams – Music for Insomnia tracklist
1. Chattering Garden Trolls
2. Alpha to Theta
3. Short Circadian Partita
4. Hypnagogic Hallucination
5. Melatonin Lullaby
6. Horse Spindles
7. Dream About Vince Guaraldi
8. A Cross Section of Clown Mountain