Bradley’s Almanac

[LP Preview/DVD Review/EP Giveaway] MARK KOZELEK (Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters)

Posted on March 19, 2012 at 8:08 am | 1 Comment

By necessity, longtime followers of Mark Kozelek have become a patient people. The wait for 2001’s last-ever Red House Painters LP was five slow-going years. And after the debut full-length from his follow-up project, Sun Kil Moon, we waited another half-decade for their 2nd album in 2008 (no, I won’t count Mark’s 2005 time-killing collection of Modest Mouse covers). Sure, there are the relatively frequent live releases and compilations to ease some withdrawal symptoms, but proper LPs and tour dates were hard to come by for good while there.

Which makes the recent past so surprising, and so very welcome – especially for us devotees in the Boston area. Check this: In the past year-or-so alone we’ve had not just one, but two Koz live performances here, along with the release of his first-ever DVD (“Mark Kozelek – On Tour“), and last month’s announcement of his next full-length under the Sun Kil Moon moniker, “Among The Leaves”, arriving in late May on his own Caldo Verde label. Throw in last year’s live collection (“Live at Union Chapel & Sodra Teatern”) and another one on deck (“Live At Lincoln Hall“, out May 1st), and we’re in the midst of a bonafide bonanza. In short: It’s a very, very good time to be a Mark Kozelek fan.

Consider this post an informational catch-all, of not just what’s ahead for “crazy Koz” (hey, Mojave 3 said it, not me), but of his past couple visits to a particular Cambridge, Massachusetts church…

First the important stuff: A brand new album of original Kozelek-compositions, out on May 29th, and available for pre-order here. He’s been playing many of the songs from “Among The Leaves” at shows over the past 6 months, though you’d be hard-pressed to find those performances online – he’s notoriously strict about live recording. A rare exception: Video of a new one performed on February 4th at the Wilmot Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick during the Shivering Songs Festival. Here’s Mark doing Sunshine In Chicago, after a performance of “Heron Blue“…


Mark Kozelek – Live at the Shivering Songs Festival

We’ve also been privy to previews of the new record in the form of officially-approved MP3s from a couple different music blogs, including Stereogum (the LP version of Sunshine In Chicago) and Paste Magazine (a stream of “Track Number 8“).

While Mark’s songs have traditionally been known for being on the sad side (yeah, ok, understatement), the tracks on the new LP promise to be among his most amusing yet. Well, maybe amusing is the wrong word. Wry? Sarcastic? Biting? Somewhere in there. All you have to do is look at the “Among The Leaves” track list to know he’s letting loose a little bit…

Sun Kil Moon
“Among The Leaves” Track List
Release Date May 29 on Caldo Verde Records

1. I Know It’s Pathetic But That Was The Greatest Night Of My Life
2. Sunshine In Chicago
3. The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged Man
4. That Bird Has A Broken Wing
5. Elaine
6. The Winery
7. Young Love
8. Song For Richard Collopy
9. Among The Leaves
10. Red Poison
11. Track Number 8
12. Not Much Rhymes With Everything’s Awesome At All Times
13. King Fish
14. Lonely Mountain
15. UK Blues
16. UK Blues 2
17. Black Kite

Ok, so maybe there are only 3 or 4 songs titles that hint at Morrissey-style humor, but hey, it’s more than he’s given us in the past. I will say that the last time I saw him, just two months ago at the First Church in Cambridge Congregation, I’ve never laughed so much at one of his shows. Relatively speaking, it was the “Koz Comedy Hour”. And it wasn’t just new stuff that did it, but his between-song banter. Here’s what he played, with asterisks on the new ones…

Mark Kozelek live
On Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
At First Church in Cambridge Congregation

* new songs

1. Thirteen (Danzig cover)
2. Glenn Tipton
3. * The Moderately Talented Yet Attractive Young Woman vs. The Exceptionally Talented Yet Not So Attractive Middle Aged Man
4. * Sunshine in Chicago
5. Half Moon Bay
6. Like The River
7. * Track Number 8
8. * That Bird Has A Broken Wing
9. * Among The Leaves
10. Australian Winter
11. Heron Blue
12. * Black Kite
13. * Elaine
14. * Young Love
15. Third and Seneca
16. * UK Blues

encore
17. Duk Koo Kim
18. Send in the Clowns (Sondheim) / Trailways

Yeah, so many new ones, and I relished them all. If the new material suggests an overall theme, it’s of his life on the road as an aging songwriter, of the struggle with making and performing music after two decades in the “biz”. He’s writing what he knows, and what he knows is wrestling with his muse.

Highlights included the laugh-out-loud main-set-closer “UK Blues“, with echoes of Monty Python of all things (“Finland, Finland…“) while taking shots at various tour stops (“London, London… it’s all the rage, if your favorite color’s beige“), “Sunshine In Chicago” (“My band played here a lot in the 90s when we had / Lots of female fans, and fuck, they all were cute / Now I just sign posters for guys in tennis shoes.“), and “Track Number 8” (“Well I wrote this one and I know it ain’t great, will probably sequence at track number eight“), which is, of course, sequenced at track number 11.

That song also brought what was, for me, the saddest moment of his set, with Mark acknowledging the loss of some songwriting peers…

Songwriting costs, it doesn’t come free
Ask Elliott Smith, ask Richie Lee
Ask Mark Linkous, ask Shannon Hoon
To get up and dance, to sing you a tune

That was a rough one to hear for the first time in a crowd.

His live performance of “Sunshine In Chicago” namechecked another songwriter, Jolie Holland, though not in a reverential way – she was apparently booked to play Lincoln Hall a few days after his own July 2010 appearance, and her name on the marquee prompted Mark to sing…

“and I looked up at the marquee, and hey, it was my name
next to Jolie Holland, man that girl is lame…”

He says the same in the live video above, though he softens up the slight on the studio version (“… next to Julie Holland, think that was her name“.) Gotta wonder if Mark decided to change the line after he recorded it, or if he just didn’t want the dig to be loose in the world? Either way, the Southern Souls video above lets it out there, so cue the inevitable comment-section war between Koz and Jolie fans. Ok, maybe not.

The number of new songs in that set stands in contrast to his performance in the same church just 11 months earlier. In place of new ones, we were treated to a few more choice covers…

Mark Kozelek live
On Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
At First Church in Cambridge Congregation

1. Up To My Neck In You (AC/DC)
2. Carry Me Ohio
3. Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes (Modest Mouse)
4. Moorestown
5. Like The River
6. Natural Light (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone)
7. Australian Winter
8. Heron Blue
9. Third and Seneca
10. Half Moon Bay
11. Take Me Out
12. Blue Orchids
13. New Partner (Palace/Will Oldham)
14. Church Of The Pines

encore…
15. Summer Dress
16. All Mixed Up (The Cars)
17. Glenn Tipton
18. Follow You, Follow Me (Genesis)

Like the most recent Cambridge show, that one was dark. And I’m not talkin’ lyrically (though, of course, it was at times), but instead literally – the lights were brought down so low that Mark could barely be seen. In fact, when asked if I’d seen him play, I could only say that, well, I’d heard him play. I’m guessing it’s as much a mood thing as an image thing – he’s as protective of captured photos as he is of recorded audio. Recent live shots, like YouTube footage, are relatively rare. The January show was a bit better, thanks to a candle set on stage, though even Mark said that while he’d forgot some lyric sheets, he probably wouldn’t be able to read them even if he’d remembered.

Late last summer, about halfway between his two area appearances, Kozelek released his “On Tour” DVD. And like the latest show, it allows his lighter side shine through a lot more. As the title suggests, it documents Mark’s life on the road, not just through live performances (of which there are plenty), but with a fair amount of solitary travel footage.

It begins near his home, as he waits for a cab in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood, and ends months later with a homeward-bound flight from gray Toronto back to sunny SF. In between are a multitude of planes, trains and automobiles that connect solo stops in Sweden, Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain, Denmark, and the States. In fact, after arriving in Boston by train, there’s a bit of soundcheck from that 2010 First Unitarian Church of Cambridge show, after which he plays the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. And as a nod to both, you’ll hear a new instrumental called “First Unitarian Piece“.

Along with the travelogue, there are interviews throughout, with Mark reflecting on his 20-year touring history, which started with the Red House Painters opening for 4AD labelmates the Pale Saints in 1992. He talks about how invigorating it was to switch from playing steel guitar strings to nylon (“It’s almost like playing a brand new instrument”). In a particularly touching moment, he laments being away from home so often, and of not making it back in time to say goodbye to the cat he had for 16 years.


Mark Kozelek live in London
19 years ago with Red House Painters

The lightness comes in a few forms, through his interaction with autograph-and-photo-seeking fans (some not wearing tennis shoes), a little puppy-petting (see, it’s not just cats he loves), but especially from a particularly infectious hotel-room giggle fit. Blame exhaustion, blame jetlag, but it’s cool to see.

If you’ve read this far, either you’re a real Koz fan, or you’re ready to become one, so it’s time I gavee you a shot at a gift…

One of the true highlights of Mark’s January 2011 Cambridge show was a cover of the song “Natural Light“, written by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s Owen Ashworth. It really struck me that night, and I was glad to find a recorded version on his 4-song “I’ll Be There” EP. In addition to that cover, the disc includes an alternate version of “Third and Seneca“, along with a Stereolab cover (“Tomorrow Is Already Here“) and, of course, his take on the Jackson 5/Berry Gordy classic “I’ll be There“.

Thanks to its inclusion as a freebie when buying one of Mark’s other releases, I’ve got an extra copy of the EP, so it’s up for grabs. If you live in the US or Canada, fire off an email to giveaways [at] bradleysalmanac [dot] com with your shipping address (don’t worry, won’t share it) and a subject line of “Koz EP”. Do it before Noon on Monday, March 25th, when I’ll pick a random winner, let them know, and send it on its way.

Pre-order Sun Kil Moon’s “Among The Leaves” (out May 29th) over at Caldo Verde, where you can also stream “Sunshine In Chicago” and “Track Number 8“. The CD release of the album comes with a 5-track bonus disc of live songs and a couple alternate tracks.

All pre-orders of “Among The Leaves” (as well as any other orders placed at Caldo Verde after May 1st) will also come with a free copy of the new “Live At Lincoln Hall” CD, recorded last July in Chicago. It addition to live versions of new songs “Young Love” and “Sunshine In Chicago”, the set includes his Danzig, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Cars covers.

That live collection replaces last year’s “Live at Union Chapel & Sodra Teatern”, which will be officially out-of-print at the end of April, so if you’re looking for that one, place an order at Caldo Verde soon and hopefully they’ll throw one of those in with your shipment. Drop a note to make sure, though. There’s also a 2-CD live companion soundtrack to the “On Tour” DVD on the way, which arrives in late August.

Mark’s admiration for Owen Ashworth of (the now retired) doesn’t end with just one cover version: He’ll be putting out the debut album from Ashworth’s new project, Advance Base. Titled “A Shut-In’s Prayer”, the full-length arrives May 1st from Caldo Verde, and can be pre-ordered right here.

That two-decades-old photo of Mark above comes from the 4AD Records “13 Year Itch” anniversary celebration, which took place at ICA London in July 1993. I took some time last week to scan in and share my shots from that life-altering experience, and you can see the whole set right here. Includes photos of Kristin Hersh, Pale Saints, Unrest, Breeders, His Name Is Alive, Wolfgang Press, and more.

And lastly, any self-respecting Koz follower should keep an eye on the oft-updated Sad Reminders fansite. Just sayin’.

Alright, get those giveaway entries on their way…

Comments

One Response to “[LP Preview/DVD Review/EP Giveaway] MARK KOZELEK (Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters)”

  1. d-lee
    March 29th, 2012 @ 4:40 pm

    Excellent post. I can’t wait for the new album.

    I can’t say that I endorse his treatment of Jolie Holland, but the new song is great, too.

    I stumbled upon your site via the Hype Machine. I’ve subscribed and added you to my “music resources and other bloggy stuff” list.

    I’m running a blog on which I highlight one song a day every day. From what I’ve read on your site, we have some similar interests. If you want to check me out, I’m at http://www.thisisthatsong.com

    Thanks,
    David
    This is That Song
    dlee@thisisthatsong.com

Leave a Reply





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    @ The Wilbur

    Thursday, October 23rd
    Shudder to Think
    @ Sonia

    Thursday, October 23rd
    Belly
    "King" 30th Anniversary Tour!
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday & Friday
    October 23rd & 24th
    Ali McGuirk
    "Watertop" Release Shows
    @ the Lizard Lounge

    Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
    October 24th, 25th, & 26th
    Jonathan Richman
    with Tommy Larkins
    @ the Somerville Theatre

    Saturday, October 25th
    Cheap Trick
    @ Lynn Auditorium

    Saturday, October 25th
    Amy Rigby
    House show in Dorchester
    @ the Acoustic Den

    Saturday, October 25th
    Rufus Wainwright
    @ City Winery

    Saturday, October 25th
    Ezra Furman
    The Golden Dregs
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, October 25th
    Minus The Bear
    @ the House of Blues

    Sunday, October 26th
    Bryan Adam
    Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
    @ the Garden

    Saturday, October 26th
    Big D & the Kids Table:
    A Nightmare Before Halloween
    with Westbound Train,
    & the JB Conspiracy
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, October 27th
    Laufey
    Suki Waterhouse
    @ TD Garden

    Monday, October 27th
    Autechre
    Mark Broom
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, October 29th
    Herbie Hancock
    @ the Wang Theatre

    Wednesday, October 29th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Wednesday, October 29th
    The Beta Band
    @ the Royale

    Thursday, October 30th
    Cage the Elephant
    Hey, Nothing
    Common People
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, October 30th
    Thundercat
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday & Saturday
    October 31st & November 1st
    Fleshwater
    Chat Pile
    @ the Paradise

    Saturday, November 1st
    Andy Bell (of Erasure)
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, November 2nd
    Fruit Bats (solo)
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, November 5th
    Boris
    "Pink" 20th Anniversary Tour
    with Uniform
    @ the Paradise

    Thursday, November 6th
    Colin Hay (Men at Work)
    @ the Chevalier Theatre

    Thursday, November 6th
    Robert Plant's Saving Grace
    featuring Suzi Dian
    @ the Shubert Theatre

    Thursday & Friday
    November 6th & 7th
    The Lone Bellow
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
    November 6th, 7th, & 8th
    Buffalo Tom's 2nd annual
    "Please Come to Boston" fest
    with special live performances
    & guests each night
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday & Saturday
    November 7th & 8th
    Steve Martin & Martin Short
    three shows @ the Wang

    Saturday, November 8th
    Cracker
    with special guests
    @ Abbot Hall, Marblehead

    Saturday, November 8th
    The Mars Volta
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, November 9th
    Flock of Dimes
    @ the Rockwell

    Sunday, November 9th
    The Samples
    @ City Winery

    Tuesday, November 11th
    Jason Bonham's
    Led Zeppelin Evening
    @ the House of Blues Boston

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 11th & 12th
    Micky Dolenz (the Monkees)
    Songs & Stories
    @ City Winery

    Wednesday, November 12th
    Jens Lekman
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, November 13th
    Janeane Garofalo
    two shows
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, November 14th
    The Smithereens
    with John Cowsill
    @ City Winery

    Friday, November 14th
    John Fogerty
    doing CCR songs
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Friday, November 14th
    Geese
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, November 14th
    Spiller
    The Long Wait
    @ the Middle East

    Saturday, November 15th
    Hallelujah The Hills
    (20th anniversary show!)
    with the return of the mighty...
    Ho-Ag! @ Deep Cuts

    Saturday, November 15th
    Beach Fossils
    @ the Paradise

    Sunday, November 16th
    The Faint
    Hercules & Love Affair
    @ the Royale

    Sunday, November 16th
    Black Flag
    (Ginn & the kids)
    @ Taffeta in Lowell

    Monday, November 17th
    Tom Morello & Friends
    (electric full band show)
    @ the Paradise

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 18th & 19th
    The Barr Brothers
    Land of Talk
    @ the Sinclair

    Wednesday, November 19th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Wednesday, November 19th
    Author Joe Hill
    presenting 'King Sorrow'
    @ Brookline Booksmith

    Thursday, November 20th
    Weakened Friends
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, November 21st
    Queensrÿche
    Accept
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday & Saturday
    November 21st & 22nd
    Letters to Cleo
    The Cavedogs
    @ the Paradise Rock Club

    Saturday, November 22nd
    Couch
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, November 23rd
    Story of the Year
    Senses Fail
    Armor for Sleep
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, November 24th
    Stevie Nicks
    @ TD Garden

    Monday, November 24th
    Bar Italia
    Lifeguard
    @ the Paradise

    Monday, November 24th
    Patti Smith
    Horses 50th Anniversary Tour
    @ the Orpheum

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    November 25th & 26th
    The English Beat
    @ City Winery

    Wednesday, November 26th
    The Lemonheads
    @ The Wilbur

    Saturday, November 29th
    Portugal. The Man
    @ Roadrunner

    Sunday, November 30th
    Caspian
    Aisha Burns
    @ Sonia

    Monday, December 1st
    (second show added)
    The Beths
    Phoebe Rings
    @ the Royale

    Friday, December 5th
    The Besnard Lakes
    @ Deep Cuts

    December 6th
    Sorry
    @ the Middle East Up

    Tuesday, December 9th
    They Are Gutting A Body Of Water
    Hooky
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Wednesday, December 10th
    EARFULL series
    "Writers reading, songwriters playing"
    @ Regattabar, Cambridge

    Saturday, December 13th
    Paula Poundstone
    @ the Mosesian Center, Watertown

    Saturday, December 13th
    Converge's SADDEST DAY Fest
    with Touché Amoré, Coalesce,
    The Hope Conspiracy, Soul Glo,
    Year of the Knife, Stress Positions,
    Wormwood, and more
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, December 13th
    A John Waters Christmas
    @ Berklee Performance Center

    Sunday, December 14th
    Cursive
    AJJ
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Monday, December 15th
    Algernon Cadwallader
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, December 21st
    Samantha Fish
    Cedric Burnside
    Jon Spencer
    @ the Wilbur

    Saturday, December 27th
    John Oliver
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Monday & Tuesday
    December 29th & 30th
    The Disco Biscuits
    Monday @ the Sinclair
    Tuesday @ the Royale

    Thursday, January 15th, 2026
    Cate Le Bon
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, January 19th
    Shame
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, February 20th
    Marissa Nadler
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Tuesday, March 3rd
    Spiritual Cramp
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    May 19th & 20th
    Belle and Sebastian
    play "Tigermilk" (19th) and
    "If You're Feeling Sinister" (20th)
    @ the Orpheum

    Wednesday, June 26th
    The Church
    The Singles Tour
    (rescheduled from 8/1/25)
    @ Somerville Theatre

    Friday, September 4th
    Peter Hook & the Light
    play New Order's "Get Ready"
    @ House of Blues