by Andrew Sacher

Kath Bloom in NYC in 2011 (via)

Kath Bloom is something of a cult hero in folk circles. You might know her song "Come Here" which was used prominently in Richard Linklater's film Before Sunrise. (Crayon Fields covered the song as a b-side last year too.) Chapter Music, which is Crayon Fields' label, has been a champion of her for some time, reissuing much of her impossible-to-find '70s/'80s catalog, as well as new material, including 2008's Terror, her first official new album since 1984.

Last year, Chapter Music released Loving Takes This Course, a two-CD set that featured one disc of covers by the likes of Devendra Banhart, Bill Callahan and The Dodos, and a second disc of the original Kath Bloom songs that were covered on the first disc. Kath's brand new album, Thin Thin Line, which got an 8.0 on Pitchfork.

The above quote is taken from a post Bill wrote in 2010 when Kath Bloom had just released Thin Thin Line, her most recent solo album. Kath began a tour last night (6/5) in Burlington, VT which she'll be on for the rest of the month. That tour includes an East Coast leg which brings her to NYC on June 10 at Zebulon for a show with fellow cult folk singer Ed Askew along with Cave Country and Fancy That. That tour also includes a hometown show in New Haven, CT show and a few more East Coast dates before Kath heads to California to finish up the final leg of her tour.

I caught Kath on her 2011 fall tour and she's definitely worth seeing if you have the chance (especially on a shared bill with Ed Askew). Like Ed, she's a totally humble performer and her voice is in great shape. With just her delicate guitar and sorrow-filled voice, Kath has the ability to keep a room entirely quiet in a way that fans of Phil Elvrum should find appealing. Some live videos are below.

Speaking of Ed Askew, he's got another NYC show coming up this month at La Sala on June 25 with Ry Crane and Strawberry Hands.

A list of all dates and videos below...

Continue reading "Kath Bloom touring; playing Zebulon w/ Ed Askew (dates)"

R Stevie Moore at SUNY Purchase in 2011 (more by Kellyann Petry)

Inhumanly prolific "godfather of home recording" R. Stevie Moore will be in NYC this weekend for a show at Cake Shop on Sunday (5/6) with The Pendulum Swings and Ry Crane. He'll be performing with a full band featuring members of Supercute! (who feature a member of the Trachtenberg Slideshow Players).

This past February, R. Stevie Moore released Ku Klux Glam, a 61-track collaborative album with Ariel Pink. The whole album is available to stream on bandcamp. You can also download it for $27 or order the double CDR at his website for $25. A 19-track version is available on iTunes. A double LP is coming soon. Theophilus London is thanked in the liner notes.

All dates, album artwork and tracklist below...

Continue reading "R Stevie Moore released a 61 track album with Ariel Pink, playing Cake Shop and other dates"