MP3: Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – “Mostly A Friend”
Wham City’s Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez will release his debut solo album Why Is Bear Billowing? on Sept. 9, last night in DC he and Jana Hunter began their lengthy trek across the U.S. and then in Oct. they’ll both be a part of the Baltimore Round Robin tour, put together by Dan Deacon.
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
August 21st – Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo*
August 22nd – Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab*
August 23rd – Pittsburgh, PA @ Morning Glory Coffeehouse*
August 24th – Pontiac, MI @ The Pike Room*
August 26th – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon* (early show)
August 27th – Chicago, IL @ Schubas*
August 29th – Denver, CO @ Hi Dive*
August 30th – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court*
August 31st – Boise, ID @ Neurolux*
September 2nd – Portland, OR @ Holocene*
September 5th – San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern*
September 6th – San Luis Obispo, CA @ TBA
September 7th – Los Angeles, CA @ Tangier*
September 10th – Marfa, TX @ Thunderbird Hotel*
September 11th – San Antonio, TX @ The Warhol*
September 12th – Austin, TX @ Emos*
September 13th – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves*
September 17th – Houston, TX @ Diverse Works*
September 19th – Birmingham, AL @ Bottle Tree*
September 21st – Atlanta, GA @ Eye Drum Gallery*#
September 22nd – Mount Pleasant, SC @ Village Tavern*
September 23rd – Asheville, NC @ Harvest Records*$
October 02nd – Boston, MA @ Mass Arts +
October 04th – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal +
October 08th – Detroit, MI @ Museum of Contemporary Art +
October 10th – Chicago, IL @ Epiphany +
October 13th – Oberlin, OH @ Oberlin College +
October 15th – Philadelphia, PA @ Starlight Ballroom +
October 17th – New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge +
* = w/ Jana Hunter
# = w/ These Are Powers, The Coathangers
$ = w/ Indian Jewelry
+ = as part of Baltimore Round Robin Tour
Why Is Bear Billowing?
(Carpark)
Street Date: Sept. 9, 2008
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