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Laura Stevenson talks cover songs, creative streaks, constant touring and making a live record for Planned Parenthood

Laura Stevenson | photo by Kenneth Bachor | courtesy of the artist
Laura Stevenson | photo by Kenneth Bachor | courtesy of the artist

Laura Stevenson has been quite busy. Over the past year and a half, the punk scene songwriter fave released her excellent fourth LP, Cocksure, via Don Giovanni Records and went on several back-to-back-to-back laps touring the U.S. and abroad in support of it. She hit the festival circuit last summer, released a live album this winter, and appeared on the Don’t Stop Now covers compilation to benefit the ACLU. Somewhere along the way, she found a minute to marry her bass player, Mike Campbell.

Live At the Vera Club came out in December, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Planned Parenthood. It captures a night at the storied club and community creative space in Groningen, situated in the North of the Netherlands. The crowd was small, Stevenson recalls in the album notes, and she couldn’t speak Dutch, so she wasn’t as chatty as usual, but the show rules — the band sounds tremendous, from the uppers like “Torch Song” and “Runner” to the slow burn of “Out With a Whimper” and “Renee,” and a delightful cover of “Alex Chilton” by The Replacements.

Stevenson and her band — Campbell, Alex Billig on accordion and keys, John Burdick on guitar, and Sammi Niss on drums – just headed out on an east coast tour that brings them to Boot and Saddle Thursday. When I caught up with Stevenson via phone from the Hudson Valley home she’s lived in for the past few years, she had just gotten back from a solo tour of Australia with the frontpersons of various down-under DIY acts: Iona Cairns of Shit Present, Lucy Wilson of The Sugarcanes and Wil Wagner of Smith Street Band. We began by discussing this photo of them cuddling a chill koala named Waffles at the Lone Pine Sanctuary in Brisbane. Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Savages at Union Transfer, The Felice Brothers at Ardmore Music Hall, Laura Stevenson at Boot & Saddle

Savages
Savages | Photo by Dustin Cohen, courtesy of the artist

Post-punk outfit Savages headline Union Transfer tonight. The London-based band released its second LP Adore Life in January, stopping by The Late Show with Steven Colbert earlier this week to perform album single “Adore.” Check out the video below and pick up tickets for the all-ages show here.

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Laura Stevenson at The Fillmore, Family Vacation at Boot and Saddle, Hiss Golden Messenger at Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center

Laura Stevenson | Photo courtesy of the artist.
Laura Stevenson | Photo courtesy of the artist.

Long Island singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson released her fourth studio album, Cocksure, last month via Don Giovani Records. Tonight her tour in support of Matt Pond PA hits the Foundry at the Fillmore. Her set tonight is sure to feature some new songs off of Cocksure, as well as some of her classics from earlier records like 2013’s Wheel. Get tickets and show info at the XPN Concert Calendar, and check out Laura’s brand new music video for “Jellyfish.” Continue reading →

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Getting cocky with Laura Stevenson

Laura Stevenson | Photo by Christopher Hainey | courtesy of the artist
Laura Stevenson | Photo by Christopher Hainey | courtesy of the artist
Earlier this fall, Laura Stevenson released her fantastic, fourth solo album Cocksure through Don Giovanni Records. Punkier, perkier, and poppier than anything she’s ever done, it marks both a natural progression from and stark contrast to her previous efforts. In preparation for her upcoming stop at The Foundry at The Fillmore to debut the album live, I caught up with Stevenson to discuss the making of the record, how to stay sane on the road, and her memorable first experience playing in Philly… Continue reading →

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Listen to Laura Stevenson’s dark and catchy “Jellyfish”

Laura Stevenson | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com
Laura Stevenson | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com

Laura Stevenson sure has a way with words. Her latest single “Jellyfish” opens with the harsh line “I’m fucking hideous and spiteful when left to my own devices”, and yet still remains deliciously poetic. The song is brimming with self-inflicted venom and heavy choruses that beg to be hummed incessantly. Stevenson, although considered a member of the punk community, churns out upbeat and melodic tunes, despite her knack for dark lyrical content. “Jellyfish” premiered this week over at Noisey, where blogger Dan Ozzi called it “next-level self-loathing.” Listen to the song below; Stevenson’s third full length album, Cocksure, is slated for an October 30th release via Don Giovanni Records, and you can pre-order it here. She plays the Foundry at the Fillmore Philly on Wednesday, November 18th with Matt Pond PA. Tickets and more information can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar. Continue reading →

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Listen to Laura Stevenson’s “Torch Song,” get stoked to see her play The Foundry at Fillmore Philly

Laura Stevenson | Photo by Christopher Hainey | courtesy of the artist
Laura Stevenson | Photo by Christopher Hainey | courtesy of the artist

Brooklynite Laura Stevenson often gets pulled under the umbrella of punk rock, not so much for how her music sounds but more for the company she keeps: Don Giovanni Records, Against Me!, Gaslight Anthem, Gainesville’s annual FEST. But take a listen to any point in her catalog and you’ll hear smart, sophisticated songwriting with appeal that stretches beyond scenes and subgenres.

2013’s Wheel had a jangling folk-pop vibe in the vein of Aimee Mann, Bright Eyes and Laura Veirs, while her follow-up – Cocksure, due out on October 30th via Don Giovanni – is reportedly more raw. We can definitely pick that up on “Torch Song,” premiered today on Spin, which has a strong power-pop thing going on: a little bit Go-Gos, a little bit Fountains of Wayne. Needless to say, we’ve had it on repeat this afternoon, and are pumped to hear the entire record – and to see Stevenson’s next Philly show, slated for the Foundry at The Fillmore Philly on November 18th. Tickets and more information can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar. Continue reading →

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“An Echo Chamber for the Soul”: Laura Stevenson brings Wheel to MilkBoy

Laura Stevenson | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com
Laura Stevenson | Photo by Chris Sikich | countfeed.tumblr.com

There is a jangle, a soothing pop sensibility and something uncannily new encased in the sounds of Laura Stevenson. Last Friday she and her four bandmates turned MilkBoy into an echo chamber for the soul.

A voice both delicate and direct, Stevenson aims for the orchestral and the highly intimate on her 2013 masterwork Wheel. The crowd was hanging on her every syllable, often singing along to such catchy works as “Runner” and “Eleonora.” Continue reading →

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Tonight’s Concert Picks: Little Big League at Johnny Brenda’s, Laura Stevenson at MilkBoy, Lily and Madeleine at World Cafe Live and more…

Little Big League
Little Big League | photo via Spin.com
Little Big League celebrates the release of Tropical Jinx at Johnny Brenda’s tonight.  The record marks a difficult several months for the band, and tonight’s show will be the last for a while as front-woman Michelle Zauner moves to the west coast.  The record, though, is Little Big League’s second overall and first for its new label Run For Cover Records.  The collection of cathartic personal songs explore themes of love, loss and growing-up over catchy, edgy indie rock.  Tickets and information for the 21+ release party can be found here.  Listen to the title track below.