Pitchfork

Photo by Lauren Dukoff

Seems Smokey won't be rolling down Thunder Canyon alone this fall! Indeed, Devendra Banhart has corralled quite the cadre of guest stars to enliven the reigning freak folk deity's latest musical enterprise, out September 25 on XL.

In addition to the previously mentioned likes of Noah Georgeson (who played and arranged a bunch of stuff and gets a co-production credit along with Devendra), Andy Cabic (Vetiver), Greg Rogove (Priestbird), Joanna Newsom's brother Pete, and others, gregarious Banhart also roped in some folk legends of another era: old pal Vashti Bunyan (vocals on "Seahorse" and "Loneliness") and Linda Perhacs (vocals on "Freely").

Then there's Black Crowe Chris Robinson (who plays the uke-like charango on "Samba Vexillographica"), Motorcycle Diaries/Babel/Y Tu Mamá También actor/heartthrob Gael García Bernal (vocals on "Cristobal"), Banhart BFF Matteah Baim (vocals on "Loneliness"), and string contributors the Section Quartet.

As if that weren't enough, how about the chatter on Billboard.com surrounding Stroke Nick Valensi's "contribution"?

"What I find exciting about his contribution," Devendra told the publication, "is that it requires actual physical human techniques-- meditation techniques-- to hear. It's almost like playing a record backwards, but there's no equipment necessary." Translation, courtesy of Devendra's publicist: Valensi dropped by the studio to hang out, but never laid anything to tape. You're a sly one, Devendra!

Give Mr. Meditation Techniques a good boxing about the ears for that one when he comes to your town this fall.

Devendra:

08-16 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival
08-17 Biddinghuizen, Netherlands - Lowlands Festival
08-19 Brecon Beacons Powys, Wales - Glanusk Park (Green Man Festival)
08-21 Paris, France - L'Europeen
08-23 Glasgow, Scotland - The Arches
08-24 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
08-26 Reading, England Reading Festival
09-01 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
09-02 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival *
09-04 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom *
09-06 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theater *
09-07 San Francisco, CA - Place of Fine Arts *
09-10 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre (Native American benefit) #
09-12 Omaha, NE - Sokol Auditorium #
09-13 Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall Theater #
09-15 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue #
09-16 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater #
09-18 Chicago, IL - Portage Theater !
09-19 Detroit, MI - Majestic Theater !
09-21 Toronto, Ontario - Danforth Music Hall !
09-22 Montreal, Quebec - Le National !
09-23 Burlington, VT - Davis Center Grand Ballroom at University of Vermont !
09-25 Boston, MA - Roxy Ballroom !
09-27 New York, NY - Grand Ballroom !
09-29 Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts !
10-01 Washington, DC - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue !
10-04 Nashville, TN - City Hall $
10-06 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater $
10-07 Austin, TX - La Zona Rosa $
10-09 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater (Native American benefit) %
10-10 Tucson, AZ - Rialto Theater %
10-12 Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theater %
10-13 Los Angeles, CA - Orpheum Theatre %

* with Noah Georgeson
# with Rio En Medio
! with Matteah Baim
$ with Jana Hunter
% with Hecuba