For the past few weeks, the Family Band-ers in Dallas' Fox & The Bird have been on the road, taking part in their largest tour to date, all of which is meant to promote Floating Feather, the band's long-awaited debut release, which formally comes tonight with a celebratory performance at Sons of Hermann Hall.
Joining the band on tonight's bill are The Beaten Sea and Whiskey Folk Ramblers. Meaning? Tonight's show is going to be a rather noir-ish, backwards-looking good time, featuring three of the regions best roots-reveling acts.
Exactly a month ago today, you may recall, we introduced you to some of the material on Fox & The Bird's three-year-sin-the-making release, sharing a free download of the album's title track.
Since that post, the band's been on the road, touring the southwest and midwest, bringing their songs to audiences they'd never yet played before. And, from the looks and sounds of it, it was a successful venture.
Observer photographer Sara Kerens joined the band on the road, capturing video and photos from their tour. See her photo slideshow of the band's travels here. After the jump, enjoy a video of the band performing its song "No Man's Land" for a receptive crowd in a Madrid, New Mexico, restaurant. There, you'll also find a quick note from band member Jacob Metcalf, who was kind enough to share with us a few memories from the band's trip. Check it out.
Sounds like a it was a success -- and about as good a case as we've seen as to why local bands really should do all they can to try and tour.Fox and the Bird Summer Tour NotesWe are a blue-collar band from Dallas, traveling on our first Midwestern tour in support of our debut album, Floating Feather. No single town we are visiting has ever seen us live before. What follows are some of the trip's highlights.
In Amarillo, we were given a clarinet from a generous show-goer named Liz after being invited to play an impromptu set at a neighboring venue, The Golden Cantina. In Madrid, we performed before John Wayne Haynes, a modern-day cowboy who drove his horse from Michigan to New Mexico and lives without electricity in a teepee. In Santa Fe, we fired long-barreled guns and climbed onto the rooftop of the Alamo house.
In Arroyo Seco, we hiked down into a ravine and took a dip in the Rio Grande before performing at a hippie commune. In Taos, we ambushed a solar-powered radio station and Rick DeStefano was kind enough to air our in-studio performance. In Salida, we sang in the streets to drive folks to our show. In Grand Junction, a thunderstorm slowed our musical parade and we were caught outdoors under an awning until the deluge resigned. Showgoers attended our event at the historic Mesa Theater despite the inclement weather.
In Salt Lake City, we pumped several quarts of motor oil into an ailing engine and the van held steady. In Denver, we took part in a four-day festival and were featured in their local newspaper. In Wichita, we performed to a crowd seated in mahogany leather chairs in a cigar lounge. In Tulsa, we wore many hats, running sound and taking money at the door in one of the city's oldest bars. In Norman, we reunited with family.
Three thousand miles in a fifteen passenger van. The venture was a success.We are celebrating our first tour and CD release Friday night at Sons of Hermann Hall with the Beaten Sea and The Whiskey Folk Ramblers. This is the first show where all 10 members of Fox and the Bird past and present will share the stage.
-- Jacob Metcalf of Fox and the Bird
