David Bazan on tour now, releasing Live at Electrical Audio

DOWNLOAD: David Bazan - Bless This Mess (MP3)

David Bazan @ Pianos in September (more by Kurt Christensen)

[David] Bazan and band strayed from Curse Your Branches territory a few times. Covering Bob Dylan's "The Man In Me," Bazan channeled the power of The Dude, with easy going goodwill practically blasting out of the amplifiers. Old Pedro the Lion standards like "Bad Diary Days" and "When They Really Get to Know You They' Will Run" caused some confused looks on the faces of more recent fans, but "Magazine" and "Penetration," both from 2002's Control caused massive reaction- the swaggering drums and Fugazi-style over-driven guitars contrasted nicely with the quieter moments of the set.

Bazan, known for question and answer sessions at his show, didn't field too many questions last night. When asked how to make a "Brown Bitch," a drink he featured on his website years ago, he sheepishly offered up the recipe: Smirnoff Ice and Whiskey, but warned that it "didn't taste too good, and worked way too fast." [Phoenix New Times]

His newest record, Curse Your Branches, came out last September. He's putting out a collection called Live At Electrical Audio on April 30th.

Recorded live in the studio at Electrical Audio in Chicago, IL on October 28, 2009.

During their first tour together, Bazan and his band spent a day in Studio A at Electrical Audio in Chicago. The band set-up and played live with no overdubs over the next 12 hours. The tracks were sent to Bazan's long time collaborator and former Pedro The Lion bandmate, TW Walsh for mixing and mastering.

"Bazan: Live at Electrical Audio" features 10 new versions of songs that have previously appeared on Pedro The Lion, Headphones and Bazan solo albums.