U.S.-based British singer-songwriter-guitarist Bobby Long begins the New Year with a new single from his critically-acclaimed album ODE TO THINKING and a series of newly-announced shows. "Ode to Thinking," the title track from the album, arrives at radio this week, accompanied by a creative lyric video for the song.
Long will launch the new single when he appears on WXPN Radio's first "Free At Noon" broadcast of 2016 live from Philadelphia this Friday, January 8, from 12Noon to 1:00PM eastern time. It can be streamed live at www.xpn.org
Recorded in Austin, TX, the ODE TO THINKING CD is a taut collection of 11 original songs, produced by veteran producer Mark Hallman at his Congress House Studios. It was funded by pledges from fans and music supporters via PledgeMusic and released in August by Compass Records.
The lyric video for the new single "Ode to Thinking" is a collaboration between Long and his good friend New York-based British photographer Jamie Strachan (http://jstrachan.tumblr.com/), whose stark, sometimes disturbing black and white images of everyday life are the perfect complement to Long's plaintive lyrics. Strachan's images also grace the cover of ODE TO THINKING. The two friends mined Strachan's portfolio for images to create the lyric video, which was painstakingly edited by Nashville-based video director Casey McBride. The result is a visual feast that conveys the elements of despair and hopelessness found in the song's lyrics, of which Long says: "This song was written out of a sense of frustration about how simple things actually can be. It's more socially conscious than other songs I've written, but its sad irony is that I'm merely commentating from an ivory tower without offering any real solutions."
The vinyl version of the album called simply ODE, which debuted in November as a RSD First selection for Black Friday Record Store Day, will become available everywhere on March 4. ODE comprises six tracks from the ODE TO THINKING CD plus three never-before-available songs.
Long, who emerged from London's burgeoning folk music renaissance, relocated to New York in 2009, cultivating a loyal fan base for his evocative lyrics set to affecting melodies. In addition to ODE TO THINKING, his catalogue includes two well received albums, A WINTER TALE (2011) and WISHBONE (2013), as well as a five-song EP called THE BACKING SINGER (2011) and a volume of poetry, LOSING MY BROTHERHOOD (2012). He is working on a sequel to be published this year.
Long toured the U.S., Europe and the UK for three months in support of ODE TO THINKING and will hit the road again in 2016. Confirmed dates are as follows:
Upcoming Tour Dates:
January 9-Mercury Lounge, New York City
January 14-World Café Live, Philadelphia
January 24-Club Passim, Boston
February 17-Folk Alliance Conference showcase, Kansas City
February 28-Tractor Tavern, Seattle
February 29-Mississippi Studios, Portland
March 1-Hotel Utah Saloon, San Francisco
March 3-Hotel Café, Los Angeles
More shows will be announced soon.
