5 free Long Winters MP3s, 1 free show, beards

DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters – Pushover (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters – Stupid (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters – Blue Diamonds (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters – Carparts (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Long Winters – Scent of Lime (MP3)

For the last few years the beard has surged in popularity, first among indie-rockers in denim-rock bands, and now increasingly among the general population. I see them sprouting on faces everywhere, and I’ve noticed that I’m asked about my beard more and more all the time. It occurs to me that today’s young men, and the young women and men who love them, may be as confused about the care and maintenance of beards as I was at their age, so they keep bringing the topic up in the hope that someone will offer some encouraging words of advice. I remember asking my Dad, who wore a moustache for thirty-five years, how he kept it trimmed so perfectly. He explained by taking out the scissors on his Swiss-Army knife and making a snipping motion while looking at me like I was retarded. This is the way men in my family explain things to each other. I used to surreptitiously examine older men’s beards in the hopes of divining their secrets, but had to be very careful not to get caught staring too intently, especially in my old Pike/Pine neighborhood around the corner from the old Spar, where altogether too many men would have been HAPPY to show me how they trimmed their beards… [John Roderick of the Long Winters]

The Long Winters play a free show at historic Castle Clinton in NYC tonight (July 31, 2008) (the second week in a row this venue has prominently featured beards), part of the River to River Festival..

Tickets are required and space is limited. Two free tickets per person will be distributed at the Castle on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5:00PM on the day of the show.

No other tour dates for John and band at the moment.