Wham City’s Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez will release his debut solo album Why Is Bear Billowing? on Aug. 19, after playing a few solo shows he’ll head out on the road with kindred spirit Jana Hunter for a trek across the U.S. – his first full tour.
When we first met Baltimore resident and Cuban-born Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez a couple years ago he was playing stripped down electro-pop (60s French chanteuse style) in the exceptional yet short-lived band Cache Cache. Lesser’s wide-ranging musical projects also include playing guitar in the drone-tinged country-folk group The Tall Grass as well as an electronic side project called The Ruby Stallion Ensemble.
It should therefore come as no surprise that Lesser’s first solo record, Why Is Bear Billowing? is just Lesser and his acoustic guitar crafting some of the prettiest folk tunes you’ll hear this year or any. A testament to the beauty of simplifying your life, Lesser delivers his songs with a sense of whimsical earnestness, and has garnered comparisons to Nick Drake, John Fahey, and Donovan. Lesser is also an accomplished visual artist whose work can be seen at www.thinplastic.com
LESSER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ
July 02 Brooklyn, NY Death By Audio
July 12 New York, NY Knitting Factory
July 17-20 Baltimore, MD Whartscape Fest
Aug 14 Washington, DC Black Cat*
Aug 15 Philadelphia, PA M Room*
Aug 16 New York, NY Knitting Factory Tap Bar*
Aug 17 Providence, RI AS 220*
Aug 19 Cambridge, MA T.T. the Bears*
Aug 20 Montreal, QC Le Divan Orange*
Aug 22 Buffalo, NY Soundlab*
Aug 24 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room*
Aug 27 Chicago, IL Schubas*
Aug 29 Denver, CO Hi- Dive*
Aug 30 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court*
Aug 31 Boise, ID Neurolux*
Sept 02 Portland, OR Holocene*
Sept 05 San Francisco, CA The Hemlock Tavern*
Sept 12 Austin, TX Emo’s*
Sept 13 Denton, TX Rubber Gloves*
Sept 17 Houston, TX DiverseWorks*
Sept 19 Birmingham, AL Bottle Tree*
Sept 21 Atlanta, GA Eyedrum*
Sept 22, Mount Pleasant, SC Village Tavern*
* = w/ Jana Hunter
Why Is Bear Billowing?
1. A Magic
2. All With Golden Locks
3. Pinecone Eyes
4. A Twist In The Sky
5. Narwhal Horn
6. Little Island
7. Love For Longer
8. The Letter B
9. Build A Tiny Hill
10. The Owl and The Pussycat
11. Mostly A Friend
LESSER GONZALEZ ALVAREZ LINKS:
Myspace: www.myspace.com/lessergonzalezalvarez
Press Materials: www.carparkrecords.com/lesserpresspage.html