Pitchfork: The Court and Spark Release New Music, Tour

The Court and Spark Release New Music, Tour
Joni Mitchell too old to move

San Francisco alt.country.indie band The Court and Spark are getting ready to head out on a nearly two-month long spell of hanging around the left half of the U.S. The tour is in support of two new releases for Absolutely Kosher Records. First up is an EP that came out last week entitled Dead Diamond River which features guest appearances from British folk legend Linda Thompson and singer/songwriter M. Ward. Fast forward two months into the future, and Witch Season hits the shelves. The full-length was recorded with Scott Solter, who has worked with such acts as John Vanderslice, Spoon, and Okkervil River, and is rumored to feature between 25 and 30 collaborating musicians. Take that, Polyphonic Spree!

For the first twelve dates or so, Willy Mason, the young, up-and-coming jangle-crooner famously "discovered" by Sean Foley from New York's Irving Plaza, will precede The Court and Spark, to support his own forthcoming release on Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst's new Team Love label. Dates:

06-04 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore (w/ Lambchop)
07-09 London, England - The 12 Bar (M.C. Taylor solo)
07-11 Brixton, England - The Windmill *
07-26 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *
07-27 Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge *
07-29 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry *
07-30 Chicago, IL - Gunther's *
07-31 Columbus, OH - Little Brother's *
08-01 Indianapolis, IN - Melody Inn *
08-03 Nashville, TN - Exit Inn *
08-04 Memphis, TN - HiTone *
08-07 Austin, TX - Emo's *
08-08 Denton, TX - Hailey's *
08-09 Oklahoma City, OK - Conservatory *
08-12 Tucson, AZ - Plush *
08-19 Portland, OR - Holocene (w/ Dolorean, Call and Response)
08-20 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern (w/ Dolorean, Call and Response)
08-21 Chico, CA - Moxies (w/ Call and Response)
08-26 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall (record release show w/ Call and Response, Mystic Chords of Memory)

* with Willy Mason

The final four dates find the band alongside fellow Californians Call and Response, who, after briefly calling both Kindercore Records and Emperor Norton Records home, have joined the Badman stable for their recent release, Winds Take No Shape. Described as a more mature, more intricate album, Winds is in stores now. Call and Response will also be on a roughly two month long tour, but will only find overlap with The Court and Spark on the aforementioned final four dates. The rest go as follows:

06-25 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
06-26 San Francisco, CA - Amoeba Records
07-02 Oakland, CA - The Mile High Club
07-10 Santa Barbara, CA - Buffalo Records
07-10 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
07-11 Long Beach, CA - Fingerprints
07-11 Los Angeles, CA - The Tangier
07-13 San Francisco, CA - 12 Galaxies
07-15 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
07-16 Olympia, WA - TBA
07-17 Portland, OR - Berbati's Pan
07-31 San Francisco, CA - Bottom of the Hill
08-19 Portland, OR - Holocene (w/ The Court and Spark, Delorean)
08-20 Seattle, WA - Sunset Tavern (w/ The Court and Spark, Delorean)
08-21 Chico, CA - Moxie's (w/ The Court and Spark, Delorean)
08-26 San Francisco, CA - Great American (w/ The Court and Spark, Delorean)

.: Willy Mason http://www.willy-mason.com