photo courtesy of MySpace
Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole, is Moving Back Home #2
by Richmond Fontaine from the 2007 album Thirteen Cities on Union Records.
Having long been based in Portland, Oregon, the members of Richmond Fontaine chose to record their eighth album at Wavelab Studios in Tucson, Arizona. The Southwest vibe is nothing new for Willy Vlautin (vocals/guitar) who often writes about marginalized figures in the American west. Contributing to the album are members of Calexico and Giant Sand‘s Howie Gelb with production duties falling again on the band’s favorite JD Foster (Calexico, Richard Buckner, Laura Cantrell). To speak more of displacement, with Americana being more popular in Europe than in America, folks across the water got their hands on this record three months prior to folks in the states. Richmond Fontaine now plays into that scenario by touring Europe three times longer than they tour their own country. In addition to working with the band, Willy Vlautin’s debut novel, The Motel Life, recently hit book shelves followed by a great review from the New York Times.
Their are just a few more California shows along with readings and acoustic sets from Vlautin before these guys head overseas. Be sure to check out their website and MySpace page for upcoming dates and other information. Here is a video of Willy performing two songs off the new record in a motel room:
