(Back in April, we caught up with the 97's as they were pre-recording material at Sons of Hermann Hall in Deep Ellum.)
About a week after Rhett Miller tweeted that the upcoming, planned double-disc release of the Old 97's new album, The Grand Theater, would indeed be a split release after all, Murry Hammond, bassist for local legends, confirms the news--and adds a little more insight onto matters.
"The Grand Theatre, Volume 1 is due October 12," explains Hammond. "The second part comes out next June, as it is just two-thirds recorded and mixed and we're adding to it as we speak."
So the long-rumored double CD will not happen after all. But Hammond says that's a good thing, promising that fans can expect the split release to result in more new material.
"We just had songs coming out of our ears," Hammond says. "It just looked like a chance to do either a double or just two back to back [records]. We went with the back to back idea to get even more songs out there, as we've had a bonanza of good material lately."
Hammond went on to say that the Old 97s would be starting a big tour in December.
One wonders, with all these plans, when Hammond will find time to record to follow up to his great 2008 solo effort, I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm On My Way.
"I have a half-finished one in the can, but the studio is in San Diego and I'm too busy with family life and the 97's," Hammond says.