Bowerbirds – Upper Air – Sneak Peak

July 7 is going to be a good day for music lovers.  On that date, Dead Oceans will release the second record from Raleigh-based trio, Bowerbirds.  2008’s Hymns for a Dark Horse gets a lot of spins from us when we’re in the mood for lush, melodic folkiness with a twinge of both modest despair and plucky hopefulness.  Upper Air, given the strength of the just released single, “Northern Lights,” promises much of the same.  The forcefully mellow acoustic guitar, Phil Moore’s silky pipes, the haunting yet tunefully sparse piano and the shuffling, sniping drum sound are a sure recipe for soothing the ears on hot summer porches across the heartland. Good luck getting the tune out of your head in the immediate future.

We’re stoked to hear the rest of the record, but, arguably, we’re even more excited that Bowerbirds will be touring to support it.  They’re rolling through Cleveland on July 15 and have dates all over the map.  Even better news (if you’ve got tastes similar to my own, which is likely, since mine is impeccable) is that Citizen Dick favorites Megafaun will be with Bowerbirds on all the dates currently scheduled.  Any night that I can hear “The Marbled Godwit” and “Drains” coming from a single stage is certain to be a highlight of the summer.  Enjoy “Northern Lights,” and mark your calendars for both the album’s release and the tour date most relevant to you.

“Northern Lights” – Bowerbirds

Snag Bowerbirds at insound.