BIRDS OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCE CANADIAN TOUR DATES
SHOWS IN BC AND ALBERTA NEXT MONTH
“Nero and Russell play folk-rock with impressionistic flourishes and gospel warmth, lent unexpected extravagance by Russell’s singing…” – NPR
“Birds of Chicago seduce us with their joyous, intimate, spare, rousing, soaring vocals and their hauntingly evocative lyrics. Love in Wartime contains one memorable song after another, each tune its own musical suite filled with spiraling melodic beauty.” – No Depression
Toronto, ON – October 9, 2018 – Fresh on the heels of an incendiary set at Third Man Records during Americanafest, where NPR named them one of the Best of Americanafest 2018, Birds of Chicago are hitting the road north of the boarder for a string of Canadian tour dates. The band has been riding a swell of good mojo in the Americana world since their inception in late 2012, and will bring their captivating live show to audiences in BC and Alberta in November. Alternating between moments of hushed attention and wild, rock and soul abandon, this is a show that should not be missed. See below for full details and have a look at their live session video for Super Lover.
Built around the chemistry and fire between Allison Russell and JT Nero, Birds of Chicago has included a core band of empathetic assassins since it took to the road full time in 2013. Playing 200+ shows a year between 2013-17, the group has attracted a diverse mix of indie-rockers, NPRists, jam-kids and folkies to their gigs. The band has graced festival stages across Canada over the last two years, although many may not realize that Canada can claim these Birds as their own. Though formed in Chicago, and relocated to Nashville, Russell made her first waves in the mid-aughts with Vancouver-based group, Po’ Girl, and multiple JUNO Award-winning instrumentalist and producer, Steve Dawson, has now joined the ranks.
When BOC released their last album, the Joe Henry produced, Real Midnight, in 2016, critics scrambled to find the right terminology to describe the deep lyricism, gut-punch singing and fevered musicality. “Secular gospel” was one phrase that caught some traction. That fervor is evident in Love and Wartime as well. Call it “secular gospel” or call it what they used to call poetry intoned over roots music mash-ups: rock n roll. The Birds consider themselves a rock and roll band first and foremost, and Love In Wartime doesn’t leave any doubt about that.
Recorded in Chicago against a backdrop of bewilderment, deep-divide and dread, the album is a rock and roll suite with a cinematic sweep. Co-produced by Nero and Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), it evokes epic efforts of the 60s and 70s, with love as the undeniable through-line.
UPCOMING CANADIAN TOUR DATES:
November 2 – St Albert, AB – The Adren Theatre
November 3 – Calgary, AB – The Gateway
November 5 – Penticton, BC – The Dream Café
November 7 – Vancouver, BC – Rio on Broadway
DOWNLOAD – hi-res press photo
