The Purple Mountains train rolls on through its desolate American landscape, equal parts joy and resignation. The voice, former Silver Jew David Berman, is returned from the hinterland, ten years after turning off the tap to his string of indie-jukebox classics - and his findings, he warns us, are candid. Not only is his heart heavy with trepidation, but the world around him seems to be lacking. The only respite for our singer is to bury himself in the garish surroundings that make up our misbegotten disunited states. When David sings, "50 gates of understanding, 49 are closed," he's not just referring to his own limitations, its an observation of the fading empire that is the USA.
With a cantina horn section blaring meaningfully in the background, the chorus is as joyfully singable as "All My Happiness is Gone" - and as disillusioned behind it's shiny, bright surface. For all for all of us who've grown up singing along with Silver Jews' hits, David's doing it again - but speaking to a country that can't locate its soul amidst the distraction and clutter that makes up our everyday existenz. Sing it with him: "We're just drinking margaritas at the mall / That's what this stuff adds up to after all." Purple Mountains drops on July 12th, don't you miss it.
TOUR DATES:
8/10/19 Huichica East Pine Plains NY
8/11/19 White Eagle Hall Jersey City NJ
8/12/19 World Cafe Live Philadelphia PA
8/14/19 Black Cat Washington DC
8/15/19 The Grey Eagle Asheville NC
8/16/19 Pilot Light Knoxville TN
8/17/19 Mercy Lounge Nashville TN
8/19/19 Zanzabar Louisville KY
8/20/19 Duck Room at Blueberry Hill St. Louis MO
8/21/19 The Mill Iowa City IA
8/23/19 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis MN
8/24/19- 8/25/19 Sleeping Village Chicago IL
8/27/19 Lee's Palace Toronto Ontario Canada
8/28/19 La Sala Rossa Montreal Quebec Canada
8/30/19 The Sinclair Cambridge MA
8/31/19 Murmrr Theatre Brooklyn NY
9/1/19 Murmrr Theatre Brooklyn NY
9/6/19 Hopscotch Festival Raleigh NC
9/13/19 Neptune Theatre Seattle WA
9/14/19 Huichica Walla Walla Walla Walla WA
9/15/19 Wonder Ballroom Portland OR
9/18/19 The Chapel San Francisco CA
9/22/19 The Lodge Room Los Angeles CA