In House #1812: Elvis Perkins' Ash Wednesday; Erin McKeown Plays Missoula

On the actual Ash Wednesday, today we get to the debut album of the same title from singer-songwriter Elvis Perkins and his band, Elvis Perkins in Dearland. After a self-released version last year, Perkins' Ash Wednesday got a label issue yesterday on XL and for good reason. Perkins operates in the mode of greats like Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, occasionally coming across like a less melodramatic Jeff Buckley. Much of the material on the album comes directly from lived experience-- Perkins, as has been well documented at this point, is the son of actor Anthony Perkins (who died of AIDS in 1992) and photographer Berry Berenson (who was killed aboard one of the hijacked September 11th airliners). There's a lot of emotion to go around here, in other words, but Perkins plays it subtly on reflective, meditative pieces like the powerful title track. As tough as these experiences no doubt were for Perkins, they've certainly informed his ability as a songwriter, ensuring that he's known as something more than offspring of the famous. Perkins tours with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah this spring before playing Bonnaroo in June.


Also today, music from Erin McKeown, who plays the University of Montana in Missoula tonight. McKeown is currently touring in support of her most recent full-length Sing You Sinners, on which she covers Tin Pan Alley and golden age of pop tunes written by the likes of Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen and others. The album was issued to high acclaim in January on Nettwerk.



In House #1812.
Airdate: 2/21/07
Focus: Debut release from Elvis Perkins, Ash Wednesday, plus Erin McKeown plays the University of Montana in Missoula tonight, and we get to new music from Andrew Bird, Eleni Mandell, and more.

BONUS MP3s-
Elvis Perkins, from Ash Wednesday:

"Ash Wednesday" (MP3)

"All the Night Without Love" (MP3)

Erin McKeown, from Sing You Sinners:

"Melody" (MP3)

PLAYLIST

In House PODCAST #262