Ever come across the work of a musician who isn’t exactly new on the scene and think to yourself, “How on Earth did I not already know about this guy?!” I mean, I’m always coming across new artists I don’t know about, but usually they are young (or young-ish) and are either just starting out or finally breaking out of a regional rut. It isn’t that often anymore that I come across someone with a few decades under their belt and a significant  oeuvre  to boot. Shoot, last time that happened was probably when I came to the Vic Chesnutt party late (may he rest in peace), only finding out about him through a track he had on that terrific Discovered Covered Daniel Johnston tribute record.

Now I can add a new name to that list: Seth Augustus. Over the last thirty years, Augustus has drifted from DIY art punk in early 80s Boston to gritty blues in San Francisco (a transformation driven in part befriending and being mentored by the late great Paul Pena) to a stint in Tuva studying throat singing. Back now in San Francisco, Augustus has recorded and will release on February 16th via Porto Franco Records his latest album, To The Pouring Rain. A little bit of Howlin’ Wolf, a little more Captain Beefheat, Augustus sounds on “Trickeries of the Great Emptiness” the way I’d like to imagine the Kurt Cobain who sang his desperate version of “In the Pines” would sound a few decades later, with most of the demons exorcised and a relaxed acceptance of what came and was still to come.

Seth Augustus – Trickeries of the Great Emptiness