New Multitudes: Woody Guthrie Lyrics put to music…

A new record of lost Guthrie gems...

A while back, we became aware that studio friends Jay Farrar and Anders Parker were putting together a record of songs, based on the words of Woody Guthrie, with music they composed on their own.  One thing led to another, and the next thing you know…Jim James and Will Johnson have jumped on board – and a record is created.  John Agnello did some of the mixing here at Headgear Recording Studios, and we are proud to have been a part of this project.  Below is a press release:

Dear friends, Anders Parker is proud to announce the release of “New Multitudes”, today, February 28, 2012. Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Gob Iron, Uncle Tupelo), Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel), Anders Parker (Varnaline, Gob Iron, Space Needle) and Yim Yames (My Morning Jacket, Monsters of Folk) gratefully deliver New Multitudes, an intimate interpretation of American icon and musical legend Woody Guthrie’s previously unrecorded lyrics.

On the year of the centennial celebration of Woody Guthrie’s birth year, New Multitudes is being released on Rounder Records as a 12 track release (CD or LP) and a 23 track deluxe, limited edition 2 CD package. The limited edition features original Guthrie lyric sheets, the 12 track release, and 11 additional compositions recorded by Farrar and Parker. Under the invitation of Nora Guthrie, Woody’s daughter, to tour the Guthrie archives, each of the four songwriters were offered the chance to plumb and mine the plethora of notebooks, scratch pads, napkins, etc. for anything that might inspire them to lend their voices and give the words new life.

Musically, it is the sense of collaboration that makes New Multitudes not just another trite and traditional acoustic regurgitation of back porch blues. From the ragged jangle of its opening track, “Hoping Machine”, the loping lilt of “Fly High”, the floorboard stomp of “No Fear”, to the lush warmth and sudden sonic gut punch of “My Revolutionary Mind” the cohorts deliver a lesson in discovering a song’s sweet spot. It’s the function and preparedness of each artist’s dogged work ethic gleaned the old-fashioned way; veracious songs, road weary odometers, and sweat stained live shows, all attributes of the man they are honoring.

Agnello works with Free Energy

Courtesy of Free Energy

Producer and Engineer John Agnello is back once again, doing overdubs for the band Free Energy.  Engineer Ted Young is assisting on the sessions.  The Philly based band tracked the bulk of their follow up to “Stuck on Nothing” in a former church, Dreamland Studio, in Woodstock, NY.  By all accounts, the experience was fun and productive, and the band now settles into Headgear to finish the final touches.  Stay tuned for updates in the near future, because this record is going to blow your socks off!

John Agnello mixes Darling Don’t Dance

Darling Don't Dance

The Danish connection, it can not be denied!  Engineer/Producer John Agnello is in this week mixing tracks for the Danish band, Darling Don’t Dance.  The songs are all in English, so the international language barrier is moot.   Siting influences such as Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies and Sleater-Kinney, there is no excuse not to check out this band.

Playing shows throughout Denmark, as well as Iceland and a few trips to New York, the band steadily gains exposure in their home-country press.  It can only be a matter of time before the word starts spreading across the pond.  Look for the new record soon…

Kurt Vile: Free MP3s and tour dates…

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of Matador Records

Matador Records recording artist Kurt Vile was at Headgear with Producer/Engineer John Agnello earlier this year, mixing his debut album for the label.  Kurt has been getting some great press here in the states, and seems to be expanding his presence to other continents as well.  Soon to be traveling to Australia, the album appears to be creating quite a stir far and wide.  Check out his PAGE at the Matodor site, for dates, as well as some new, free MP3s.

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Sub Pop band Male Bonding have a new album, and it’s been getting some amazing reviews.  This latest slew of press led to an extensive write-up on music blog Altsounds.com.  The band was at Headgear Recording Studio, for a week of mixing the tracks recorded in Woodstock, at Dreamland Studio.  Producer/Engineer John Agnello manned the helm for the band, capturing what looks to be an album that has gained the band a wider audience.  We look forward to seeing the band the next time they swing through.

Courtesy of Sub Pop

HEADGEAR LIVE SESSIONS

Phosphorescent performing “A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise”

Frankie Rose & the Outs performing “Little Brown Haired Girls”

Grooms performing “Dreamsucker”

Keepaway performing “Head”

 

KEEPAWAY – Glasslands 9/23/11

MALE BONDING – New Video – “Tame the Sun”

DRUNKEN SUFIS – New Album

Drunken Sufis have released a digital full length via bandcamp called “Death Cult Summer Camp”.  This band is a self-described “conspiracy, prog-punk” band with song title’s like “Bohemian Grove” to prove it.  Just check out the cover art with all of it’s symbology and you’ll notice the references. This band is comprised of guys from Sri, Exit Clov, Jukebox the Ghost and Milly Beau.  This record was tracked at Headgear last summer over the July 4th weekend.  Freemasons, Illuminati, Knights Templar and Bilderbergers are welcome to listen and download!  This shit is bombastic and craaazy!

 

TEACHERS – Debut Show at Glasslands

Teachers finally play their debut show at Glasslands on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 8:30pm.  Get your tickets here. Teachers is the project of Ben Bronfman, who’s an all-around renaissance man.  Ben runs a sustainable record label called Green Owl and dabbles in renewable energy with Global Thermostat, but you might know him from his former band, The Exit or his recent production contributions on Kanye West’s “Monster” track.

Teachers spent a lot of time at Headgear tracking with Alex Lipsen.  Listen to “Gold” below.