DOWNLOAD: Shearwater - Castaways (MP3)

Jonathan Meiburg @ All Points West 2009 (more by Chris La Putt)

Wye Oak's Andy Stack @ Pianos - BV CMJ 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Shearwater, who released their The Golden Archipelago LP on February 23rd (MP3 above), toured with Wye Oak earlier this year. That trip included a stop at Bowery Ballroom where...

"...Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater joined Jenn and Andy [of Wye Oak] on stage for their final song, a cover song, and then he came back about 20 minutes later with his own band. Jordan Geiger from Hospital Ships was on the stage for the set, and Andy Stack joined them for a couple songs, so there were upwards of 6 performers on stage, bringing Shearwater's beautifully dramatic songs to life. They played a long set, probably 70 to 80 minutes I'd guess, and played almost every song I'd ever heard of in their catalog... [Vague Space]

The tour was one of a few examples of recent collaborations between Shearwater and Wye Oak. Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg recently joined Wye Oak to cover the Kinks' song "Strangers" at as part of A.V. Club's Undercover series (25 bands covering 25 different songs). Video of the performance is posted below.

Next up, Wye Oak's Andy Stack will join Meiburg for a performance at the Whitney Museum on Friday, June 25th at 7pm...

Charles Burchfield reveled in the sounds, sights, and sensations of nature. He often wrote about his experiences in his journals, and his close study of nature is apparent in his paintings. Join us for a reading of excerpts from Burchfield's journals by Jonathan Rosen, author of The Life of the Skies: Birding at the End of Nature, paired with a performance of songs by Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater who will be joined by Andy Stack of Wye Oak. Rosen and Meiburg both share Burchfield's enthusiasm for nature, particularly birds. Tonight discover the wonders in paying attention to the backyard bird.

This event is free with Museum admission, which is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays from 6-9 pm; no special tickets or reservations are required.

Speaking of the Whitney, the museum is currently open 24 hours a day as part of its Biennial exhibit. The open-24-hours-ness stops May 28th at midnight. The Biennial runs through May 30th. When that closes, the hazy, somewhat-psychedelic-tinged watercolors of Charles Burchfield will run at the museum from June 24-October 17 (as noted above, the concert is June 25th).

Shearwater don't have any other dates coming up. Wye Oak, who are releasing an EP, My Neighbor/My Creator, June 8th on Merge, do have some. You may have noticed them (Philly and DC) in Deer Tick's tour dates. No NYC date announced for Wye Oak, but when we contacted Andy with some questions about the Whitney show, he hinted that there was "one really fun" show coming in July (Siren?) (answer = yes). Those questions and answers, with a bunch of videos and other stuff below...

Continue reading "Wye Oak & Shearwater recently toured, covered the Kinks, are playing the Whitney (sort of) (and other shows)"