William Elliott Whitmore Set to Release Animals In The Dark February 17th, 2009
ANTI- Records Debut Marks a More Expansive Sound and Worldview for Iowa's Son of the Soil
Tour with Murder By Death Begins 10/23
From the first lines of "Mutiny," the opening track on William Elliott Whitmore's ANTI- Records debut Animals In The Dark, one can see that this is decidedly not simply a continuation of his Southern trilogy that spanned his last three releases. Rather than a reflection of life and loss and the world surrounding his Iowa horse farm on the banks of the Mississippi, "Mutiny" finds Whitmore's focus turned outward, to the state of the country and the missteps of the government. Conveyed with ire and humor, Whitmore sings over a martial beat:
Well it's a goddamn shame what's going down How we got to this I do not know There's a sick sick wind that is blowing 'round And the captain's got to go
Yet Animals In The Dark, is by no means a political record. It has more in common with the preacher blues of Reverend Gary Davis or the romantic populism of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska than it does a Billy Bragg record. What Animals In The Dark highlights is the maturation and growth of an exemplary artist. On the release, Whitmore showcases his classic songwriting and mastery of the acoustic guitar and banjo, but adds elements such as strings, an organ and a pedal steel, putting the songs into full arrangements and a band context for the first time. The results are a more expansive, cultivated sound, without losing any of the palpable soul that has garnered the 30 year old such critical acclaim.
William Elliott Whitmore naturally bridges the Americana music scene which embraces his sound and the Midwestern DIY rock movement which holds him as one of their own. Beginning on October 23rd, Whitmore sets out on tour with dark country rockers Murder By Death.
William Elliott Whitmore on tour: Oct 23 Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, Georgia Oct 24 Backbooth - Orlando, Florida Oct 25 Common Grounds - Gainesville, Florida Oct 27 Bottletree - Birmingham, Alabama Oct 28 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, Louisiana Oct 29 Thirsty Hippo - Hattiesburg, Mississippi Oct 30 Rubber Gloves - Denton, Texas Oct 31 Stubb's BBQ - Austin, Texas Nov 1 Marquee - Tulsa, Oklahoma Nov 2 Foundry Music Theatre - Joplin, Missouri Nov 4 Uncle Pleasants - Louisville, Kentucky Nov 5 Brewery - Raleigh, North Carolina Nov 6 Steppin Out - Virginia Beach, Virginia Nov 7 Canal Club Lounge - Richmond, Virginia Nov 8 Ottobar - Baltimore, Maryland Nov 9 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Nov 11 Maxwell's - Hoboken, New Jersey Nov 12 Southpaw - Brooklyn, New York Nov 13 Pearl Street - Northampton, Massachusetts Nov 14 Higher Ground - S. Burlington, Vermont Nov 15 Cafe 939 at Berklee - Boston, Massachusetts Nov 17 Mohawk Place - Buffalo, New York Nov 18 Club Cafe - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Nov 19 Basement - Columbus, Ohio Nov 20 Metro - Chicago, Illinois Nov 21 Mac's Bar - Lansing, Michigan Nov 22 Grog Shop - Cleveland, Ohio