Chelsea Wolfe Birth of Violence

Chelsea Wolfe announces 'Birth of Violence' & acoustic tour, shares song

Chelsea Wolfe recently released a Roky Erickson cover and she’s been teasing a new acoustic/folk-oriented album for a few months, and now it’s officially announced. It’s called Birth of Violence and it’s due September 13 via Sargent House (pre-order). Chelsea made it with frequent collaborator Ben Chisholm, and there are also contributions from Jess Gowrie (drums) and Ezra Buchla (viola). Like her earlier albums, she made it in the solitude of her own home. “I’ve been in a state of constant motion for the past eight years or so; touring, moving, playing new stages, exploring new places and meeting new people-an incredible time of learning and growing as a musician and performer,” she says. “But after awhile, I was beginning to lose a part of myself. I needed to take some time away from the road to get my head straight, to learn to take better care of myself, and to write and record as much as I can while I have ‘Mercury in my hands,’ as a wise friend put it.”

The first single is “The Mother Road,” and it’s clear from this song that “acoustic” doesn’t mean she’s abandoned the grand atmospheres that she has spent years crafting. The song starts off bare-bones, but evolves into something much bigger-sounding. It’s great stuff, and you can hear it below.

A press release refers to the new song as “a harrowing ode to Route 66 that immediately addresses Wolfe’s metaphoric white line fever,” and also says the album “[addresses] modern tragedies such as school shootings and the poisoning of the planet. But the record is at its most poignant when Wolfe withdraws into her own world of enigmatic and elusive autobiography. The songs describe an internal awakening of feminine energy, a connection to the maternal spirit of the Earth, and a defiant stance against the destructive and controlling forces of a greedy and hostile patriarchy.”

Chelsea has also announced an acoustic tour supporting the album, and her Sargent House labelmate Ioanna Gika will open.

The tour includes a NYC show on November 1 at Brooklyn Steel. Tickets for that show go on sale Friday (6/21) at noon. All dates are listed below.

Tracklist
1 – The Mother Road
2 – American Darkness
3 – Birth of Violence
4 – Deranged for Rock & Roll
5 – Be All Things
6 – Erde
7 – When Anger Turns to Honey
8 – Dirt Universe
9 – Little Grave
10 – Preface to a Dream Play
11 – Highway

Chelsea Wolfe — 2019 Acoustic Tour with Ioanna Gika
08/31: Pasadena, CA – Pasadena Daydream Festival * (Non Acoustic Set)
10/18: San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park
10/19: Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
10/21: Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
10/22: Estes Park, CO – Stanley Hotel
10/24: Chicago, IL – Metro
10/25: Detroit, MI – Senate Theater
10/26: Toronto, ONT – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
10/27: Montreal, QC – Le National
10/29: Boston, MA – Royale
10/31: Philadelphia, PA – Union Transfer
11/01: New York, NY – Brooklyn Steel
11/03: Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
11/04: Charlotte, NC – McGlohon Theater
11/05: Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
11/06: Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
11/08: Dallas, TX – Texas Theatre
11/09: Austin, TX – Levitation
11/10: Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
11/12: Santa Fe, NM – Meow Wolf
11/13: Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
11/15: Los Angeles, CA – The Palace Theatre
11/16: San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom
11/18: Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
11/20: Seattle, WA – The Showbox
11/21: Vancouver, BC – Vogue Theatre

* All dates with special guest Ioanna Gika except 8/31