speed of dark

Josh Tillman started his set off Monday night at the Glass House with an apology of sorts. After the better-than-decent but ill-matched opening band The Color Turning seared everyone's eardrums with their high-energy rock, the stage was stripped of every piece of musical technology and equipment, and Tillman came on with only his voice and sparing acoustic guitar to fill the cavernous little hall.

This crowd, however, primed for whatever former Pedro and the Lion frontman David Bazan would bring, were extremely courteous and open to the difference. Even though most of the audience were not familiar with the material, you could have heard a pin drop in the place as they focused on his introspective compositions, and the applause between songs was warm and increasingly enthusiastic.

The small attendance encouraged greater rapport, and Tillman joked in between songs in his dry, self-deprecating manner. After a gorgeous rendition of "With Wolves," he pulled his fist and exulted, "Nailed it!" Following "Casualties," one of my favorites from his 2005 album Long May You Run, he asked if anyone knew any Tillman songs. Of course, my hand was up, and I was rewarded with my request for "Crooked Roof" from last year's Minor Works (my #4 album of 2006). I could have gone on naming more songs just to keep hearing his beautiful voice, but after two more his set was done.

COPYRIGHTED CONTENT HAS BEEN REMOVED
1. When I Light Your Darkened Door (from Cancer and Delirium)
2. Ties That Bind (from Long May You Run, J. Tillman)
3. With Wolves (from Minor Works) "Nailed it!"
4. Seven States Across (from Long May You Run, J. Tillman)
5. Jesse's Not a Sleeper (from Cancer and Delirium)
6. New song: The Master's House?
7. Casualties (from Long May You Run, J. Tillman)
8. Crooked Roof (from Minor Works)
9. A bluesy little number I haven't been able to identify.
10. New song: Bottomline?

Previously about J. Tillman on Speed of Dark:
Cancer and Delirium | Top Four of 2006 | Letter to J. Tillman
The "letter" was written as a spoof when I was feeling frustrated that Tillman was touring Europe instead of the U.S. That's understandable, because Minor Works had been released on the French label Fargo Records. I got to talk to Josh after the show and found out that he has read the "letter" and completely got the humor in it. It was a thrill for me to finally get to see him perform.

He's been working with some other musicians, some of them from another Speed of Dark favorite, Siberian, on his next album Territory, scheduled for release sometime in 2008. This album will reprise the fuller band sound he explored on a few numbers on Minor Works. You can hear two new tracks, "Steel On Steel" and "Daytrips" MySpace.
MySpace | Website | Label: Yerbird
Buy all CDs at Fargo Records
Cancer and Delirium at Yerbird Records
In January, Minor Works will be available for U.S. fans at Undertow Music

Show Schedule:
Dec 12 2007 - Bottom of the Hill w/ David Bazan, San Francisco, CA
Dec 13 2007 - Indigo District w/ David Bazan, Eugene, OR
Dec 14 2007 - Mississippi Studios w/ David Bazan, Portland, OR
Dec 15 2007 - Crocodile Cafe w/ David Bazan, seattle, WA

Next post: David Bazan