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Doug Hream Blunt, whose LP was reissued by Luaka Bop (listen), playing $3 BV-Presents Shabazz Palaces show

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NYC label Luaka Bop likes to shine the spotlight on lesser-known musicians from around the world they feel deserve attention. Sometimes these strike a chord (like William Onyeabor), sometimes not as much (Tim Maia), but they’re always worth checking out. Last year they reissued the sole album by Bay Area cult/outsider musician Doug Hream Blunt:

Doug Hream Blunt learnt to play music at the age of 35, by taking an adult class in the late 1980s. The class was organized by a high school music teacher and his wife, and held in their small garage in the Golden Gate Park neighborhood of San Francisco. The other students of the class became Doug’s band members, while his teacher joined on vibes, and his wife on bass. To promote his music, Doug would play acoustic, solo shows for patients and elderly people at a hospital where he worked as a nurse’s aid. On a few occasions, he also brought the other students together to play on the City Visions Public Access television show.

You can watch one of those public access TV performances below and instantly get a sense of why Blunt is revered by the likes of Ariel Pink, Devendra Banhart, Dam-Funk, Dean Blunt (who co-opted his name from Doug) and others. My Name Is Doug Hream Blunt: Featuring the hit “Gentle Persuasion” (yes, that’s the full title of the reissue) is groovy and fun and eccentric and you can stream it below.

Doug Hream Blunt will be in NYC this week to play three NYC shows, one of which is the BrooklynVegan-curated Red Bull Sound Select show at Baby’s All Right on Wednesday, September 28 with Shabazz Palaces and Mineapolis rapper Finding Novyon. Blunt will be backed by teenage band Clover & The Clockworks from the Brooklyn Music Factory, along with special musical guests Luke Jenner (The Rapture), French producer and artist Joakim, and amateur musicians that have responded to Craigslist ads. RSVP now for $3 admission (or pay $10 at the door, first come, first served, 21+).

The other Doug Hream Blunt shows, with the same band, happen on Monday, September 26 at Commend (172 Forsyth Street, 6:30 PM, free) and Tuesday, September 27 at Ace Hotel (6:30 PM, free show).

Doug is also playing Ace Hotels in New Orleans and LA in November. All dates are listed below.

Doug Hream Blunt – 2016 Tour Dates
09/26/16 New York, New York Commend Time
09/27/16 New York Ace Hotel (Lobby)
09/28/16 New York, New York Baby’s All Right
11/05/16 New Orleans, LA Ace Hotel Three Keys
12/04/16 Los Angeles, CA Ace Hotel Rooftop