A new album and a tour itinerary as long as your arm means a busy three months for one of America’s finest singer / songwriters.
Tom Russell’s new album – Blood And Candle Smoke – is due in stores Sept. 15. Recorded in Tucson at Wave Lab Studios, the album features Calexico members Joey Burns, John Convertino and Jacob Valenzuela providing most of the instrumentation.
How did Russell hook up with the folks from Calexico? Blame it on the soundtrack to that 2007 film about Bob Dylan – “I’m Not There” – where various musicians interpreted the maestro’s music.
“The ones that really stood out to me were the ones backed by Calexico,” Russell said. “I thought, how great is that – you’ve got a new kind of world/mariachi sound but the great writing of Bob Dylan.
“So I did more research and I found that a lot of the records Calexico, Neko Case and others were making came out of this one studio in Tucson called Wave Lab. I went in there for two weeks and sat on a stool and sang everything live with my guitar, and they built it around that.”
Russell’s tour supporting Blood And Candle Smoke begins Sept. 18 in Albuquerque at the El Rey Theatre. The next night finds the artist in Durango, Co., at the Henry Strater Theatre and by Sept. 30 he’ll be on the East Coast where he’ll play Passim Folk Music & Cultural Center in Cambridge, Mass.
Other stops include New York City at Joe’s Pub Oct. 3; Pittsburgh’s Rex Theatre Oct. 6; Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom & Tavern Oct. 7; Berwyn, Ill. At Fitzgerald’s Oct. 10 and St. Louis at Off Broadway Oct. 16.
November dates include Phoenix at Rhythm Room on the 4th; Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Brewing Company on the 8th; Houston at Mucky Duck on the 14th; and San Antonio at Casbeers on the 15th.
Russell plays the West Coast in December, stopping in San Diego for a gig at the Acoustic Café on the 4th; Berkeley at Freight And Salvage on the 11th; and Seattle’s Tractor Tavern on the 16th.
For more information on Tom Russell and his new album – Blood And Candle Smoke – please click here for his official Web site.