Revered folk blues guitarist/songwriter Chris Smither releases his powerful new album, All About The Bones, today on Signature Sounds Records. Melding his spare, assured playing with his gruff vocals and wry, witty lyrics, Smither explores mortality with a collection that cuts to the core of the matter, the bones. Smither's rumbling baritone, percussive foot stomps and Delta-blues influenced picking infuse the songs with the rhythms and imagery of his native New Orleans. Recorded at Sonelab Studios in Easthampton MA by Justin Pizzoferrato (Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., the Hold Steady), All About the Bones has a feel that is somehow baroque and austere at once. Smither is backed by longtime colleague David “Goody” Goodrich (electric guitar, electric diddley bow, percussion), Zak Trojano (drums, percussion), Chris Cheek (baritone sax) and Betty Soo (vocals).
"It’s a theme that surfaces many times in the album,"Smither explains of the album's title. "It's the search for the essence, the inner framework that holds everything together, which we hope will be lasting, and like everything, is transitory."
After six decades of sharpening his knife as a songwriter, Smither can damn near conjure anything with a flick of his wrist. God and the Devil are opened here. Mortality is too. Politics, consciousness, renewal, family, vulnerability, surrender… Smither has sat with these topics like so many Zen koans, for so long, that every line is a pearl.
Smither turns 80 this year, but his tour schedule, including dates at the Iridium in New York City, Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock and two nights at McCabe's in Los Angeles, shows he has no intention of slowing down. (Scroll down for complete dates.)
RECENT PRAISE FOR CHRIS SMITHER
“With his signature beat-driven finger-picking, foot-tapping and playful vocal wisdom, Smither and company let the good times roll on this bayou blues, this Cajun dance party exalting his New Orleans beginnings.” —American Blues Scene
“...stands as evidence that he remains one of the most consistent and truthful artists of his time, bridging this and the last century seamlessly and in a way that is never tired or imitative.” —PopMatters
"You might be inclined to overlook Chris Smither when the names of the great singer-songwriters of the last fifty years in the Americana sphere come to mind (Kris Kristofferson, John Prine, Steve Earle yes, even Bob Dylan) – you shouldn’t. Smither is a master…" —Americana UK
“'All About The Bones' reveals once again how deftly Smither cuts to the chase in his songwriting, singing, and playing, peeling away layers of cultural cliché to expose the pulsing heart of the matter
that animates human nature.” —Folk Alley
“Chris Smither cuts deep on ‘All About the Bones’…his sage, felicitously worded reflections are as free-flowing as his intricate guitar work.” —No Depression
“There’s irony, wit, scorn, and clever wordplay, as we’d expect from this masterful songwriter.… we remain rather spellbound.” —Glide Magazine
"With the departure of artists such as Guy Clark, Leonard Cohen & especially John Prine someone needed to step up to continue that rich creative tradition. Smither was already there..." —Americana Highways
TOUR DATES:
# with special guest Peter Mulvey
% with special guest Betty Soo
TH MAY 02 Nashville, TN - Bluebird Cafe
SA MAY 04 Decatur, GA - Eddie’s Attic
FR MAY 17 Fall River, MA - Narrows Center for Arts #
SA MAY 18 Boston, MA - City Winery Boston #
SU MAY 19 Portsmouth, NH - 3S Artspace #
SA MAY 25 Pomeroy, OH - Fur Peace Ranch #
WE MAY 29 Washington, DC - The Hamilton #
TH MAY 30 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live #
FR MAY 31 Woodstock, NY - Levon Helm Studios #
SA JUN 01 Northampton, MA - Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity #
TH JUN 06 Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head On Stage #
FR JUN 07 New York City, NY - Iridium #
TH JUN 20 Madison, WI - The Bur Oak %
FR JUN 21 Evanston, IL - SPACE %
FR-SA, JUN 22-23 Effingham, IL - Moccasin Creek Festival
TH JUL 11 Berkeley CA - Freight and Salvage
FR JUL 12 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 13 Santa Monica, CA - McCabe’s
SA JUL 14 Santa Cruz, CA - Kuumbwa Jazz Center
WE JUL 17 Eugene, OR - Shedd Institute
TH JUL 18 Portland, OR - Alberta Rose Theatre
SA-SU, JUL 20-21 Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Folk Fest
MO JUL 22 Salt Spring Island, BC - Pitchfork Social
TU JUL 23 Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
TU JUL 30 Fish Creek, WI - Door Community Auditorium
TH AUG 1 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
FR AUG 2 Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
SU AUG 18 Chocorua, NH - The Farmstand
TH SEP 5 Toronto, ON - Hughs Room
WE SEP 11 Columbus, OH - Natalies Grandview
TH SEP 12 Pittsburgh, PA - City Winery
FR SEP 13 Cleveland, OH - Music Box Supper Club
SA SEP 14 Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
SA OCT12 Denver, CO - Swallow Hill/Daniels Hall
TH OCT17 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck
FR OCT18 Houston, TX - Mucky Duck
SA OCT19 Austin, TX - The 04 Center
