photos by Caleb Heller

"The unlikely duo of former Belle and Sebastian singer and cellist Isobel Campbell, and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, QOTSA, Gutter Twins) remain initially elusive in order to allow anticipation, as well as the crowd itself in the Bowery Ballroom, to build. Sauntering silently on, backed by a four-piece band, the pair launch into the opener from new album Hawk; 'We Die and See Beauty Reign,' a track that wouldn't sound out of place in David Lynch's Twin Peaks' 'Red Room'; a dream-inducing, pulsating slow dance to hypnotize every listener. Followed by most recent single 'Come Undone,' Lanegan, with words on a music stand in front of him, assumes his trademark stance, gripping the microphone with right-hand, stand with left, wincing with every note and watching over his female counterpart like Halloween's killer Michael Myers. Campbell on the other hand, who has produced the new album, is noticeably nervous, delivering her breathless vocals perfectly, but shifting around to involve her beloved cello and as many obscure percussion instruments in each song as possible." [The Arcane Review]

Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell brought their Hawk-supporting tour to Bowery Ballroom on 10/16, their first of two NYC dates with Willy Mason (the last being Sunday, 10/17, at Music Hall of Williamsburg). That's a review of the Bowery show above. Pictures from that show are also in this post.

Mark Lanegan was, as it says above, the frontman for Screaming Trees in the 90s. A pair of vocalists of a similar persuasion: Greg Dulli (of Afghan Whigs, and collaborator in Twilight Singers and The Gutter Twins with Lanegan) and Craig Wedren (of Shudder To Think) are on tour and will play Bowery Ballroom on 10/19 (tomorrow) as part of CMJ. Badges or tickets (which are still available) will get you in.

More pictures from Mark and Isobel's Bowery show, with the setlist, below...

Continue reading "Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan played Bowery Ballroom (pics & setlist) "

"We don't really talk about it but there's a trust thing there. He's a friend. He's a dear friend, and I know he's said the same of me. It's just about good music and singing with this man that's my friend, and it's an honor for me that he will sing stuff that I wrote, that he respects me. I think we're both interested in songs and we'll talk about... sometimes I'll say, 'I really like your songs' and he'll say, [imitates Lanegan's deep voice] 'No, I really like your songs,' and we'll just go 'Awwww...' [laughs] I think there's an understanding between us that's hard to put into words." [Isobel]

As previously mentioned, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan are playing shows in support of a new album called Hawk. Two of those shows happen in NYC this weekend: Saturday/tonight (10/16) at Bowery Ballroom, and Sunday at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Both are with Willy Mason and both still have tickets available. Updated tour dates below...

Continue reading "Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan are on tour (dates)"

Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan will be in the US this October, to play shows behind their new album, Hawk, due August 16th on V2/Cooperative Music. As previously mentioned, the album's guests include ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha and songwriter Willy Mason.

The full tour dates haven't been released yet, but the pair will be playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, October 16th and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday, October 17th. Tickets go on AmEx presale Wednesday at noon and then general sale Friday, July 30th at noon.

Two days later, Mark's friend Greg Dulli plays Bowery Ballroom as part of his own solo tour that was just announced.

Mark and Isobel tour in the UK and Europe this September. That's the same month Isobel's old bandmates Belle & Sebastian play in NYC. The two groups are apparently on good terms, as Isobell & Mark are scheduled for the B&S-curated Bowlie 2 ATP Fest in the UK this December.

Tour dates and more are below...

Continue reading "Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan scheduling dates "

"We're still in sunny L.A., in the final stages of recording the album, but plans are already afoot for touring throughout the rest of 2010" wrote Belle & Sebastian at the end of May. Those 2010 touring plans include shows in Europe, Asia and North America (with a TBA trip to South America). As part of that (and as previously reported), the band will be playing Brooklyn's Williamsburg Waterfront on September 30th with Teenage Fanclub (who have a new album of their own coming out). Tickets for the NYC show go on "Internet Presale" Thursday at 10am.

They'll continue on for a show in L.A., a pair in Mexico and a handful more in Canada and the US this fall. Full tour dates are below (Las Vegas still TBA?).

Also due in 2010, ex-Belle & Sebastian singer Isobel Campbell will be releasing her third album with collaborator Mark Lanegan, called Hawk and due August 16th on V2/Cooperative Music. Guests include ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha and songwriter Willy Mason.

All B&S tour dates, and Hawk cover art, below...

Continue reading "Belle & Sebastian tour dates, new Isobel Campbell record "

The upcoming Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan US tour, scheduled to start in May, has been postponed.

See you all in September x

Due to unavoidable circumstances I am disappointed and sorry to announce that we have had to postpone NYC, San francisco and Los Angeles concerts until September this year. For anyone who has bought tickets, these tickets will still be valid in September. And I am sorry for any inconvenience. The good news is that there will be a more extensive U.S and Canadian tour at this time. Thanks for bearing with me! More information to follow....isobelxo
[Isobel Campbell's MySpace]

The NYC show was scheduled to take place at Webster Hall on Wednesday, May 27th. Campbell writes that the shows will be rescheduled for September. Most likely they'll be planned around the pair's appearance at Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival, which takes place September 5th - 7th.

The 39th annual Bumbershoot: Seattle's Music & Arts Festival, Presented by Samsung Mobile announces a small portion of the 2009 lineup. The 3-day urban event takes place Labor Day Weekend (September 5 - 7). The Festival stretches across the 74-acre Seattle Center, located beneath the city's iconic Space Needle, and programs 20 indoor and unique outdoor venues. This progressive Festival features a diverse array of arts including live music, comedy, theatre, dance, film, urban crafts, and literary and visual arts.

Modest Mouse, Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan (who also have a NYC show scheduled), MSTRKRFT (who are also playing All Points West) and No Age (who just played SXSW) are all part of the intitial announcement. $80 three-day passes are on sale now. Full artist list and more info below...

Continue reading "Bumbershoot announces partial 2009 lineup & ticket info"