Belle and Sebastian and Yo La Tengo are playing the Skyline Stage at The Mann on July 10th. Yo La recently played a Free At Noon and were on World Cafe with David Dye. Listen to the Cafe session here. Ticket info coming soon. Below, watch the Pitchfork TV special about the making of Belle and Sebastian’s classic album, If You’re Feeling Sinister.
Photo by John Vettese
[UPDATE 5/3/12: Click HERE to stream our session with Stevie Jackson!] A couple weeks ago, Belle and Sebastian’s Stevie Jackson brought his solo acoustic tour to Philadelphia for an intimate, sold-out performance in the Joseph Priestly Chapel at the First Unitarian Church. The next morning, he and his guitar paid a visit to WXPN studios. The resulting session and interview with Eric Schuman will air on XPN2 tomorrow, but you can get a taste now with three videos of the performance.
There’s “Try Me,” a peppy number from the recent LP I Can’t Get No Stevie Jackson; “I Follow The Moonglade,” a new song from Paper Laced With Gold, Jackson’s upcoming theatrical production written in collaboration with lyricist Maggie MacDonald of The Hidden Cameras; and a delightful rendition of the Belle and Sebastian classic “Seymour Stein.”
Watch the videos below, and tune in to XPN2 tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the entire session, and to hear Stevie and Eric discuss new and inventive approaches to songwriting, the craft behind Belle & Sebastian’s cover versions of songs, and the way Jackson felt like Elton John when writing music for MacDonald’s play.
More than four and a half years have passed between Belle And Sebastian‘s 2006 album The Life Pursuit and the brand-new Write About Love, which probably explains why so many eager fans and critics were ready to heap praise on the album before it even hit the shelves. Then again, many other Belle And Sebastian fans might say that the indie-pop ensemble’s music hasn’t quite been up to snuff since the departure of cellist/vocalist Isobel Campbell during the band’s 2002 national tour. After splitting ways with Stuart Murdoch and his merry band of twee musicians, Campbell raised a few eyebrows by pairing up with world-weary rocker Mark Lanegan; the unlikely pairing, however, has produced three well-received albums since then, including this year’s Hawk. The new record—released in August by V2 Records—finds Campbell in full control of the reins, and alternatively infusing the band’s stripped-down Americana with elements of folk, country, and blues. Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan perform with Willy Mason at 9 p.m. at Johnny Brenda’s; tickets to the 21+ show are $15-$17.
