Rhythm and Roots Concert Series, Live Americana Music in Downtown TucsonRhythm and Roots Concert Series, Live Americana Music in Downtown Tucson
Karl Blau is a Pacific Northwest staple, a prolific troubadour who defies genre. Outfitted with an unmistakable, deeply emotional voice that roams between baritone and falsetto with ease. He has performed solo and in bands (EARTH, Your Heart Breaks, Laura Veirs, Bright Black Morning Light, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, D+, The Gift Machine, The Solvents, The Microphones/Mount Eerie, Little Wings, Lori Goldston to name some), touring across the globe since the mid 90s.
In the past few years Blau has released two, critically acclaimed, albums: Introducing Karl Blau (Raven Marching Band Records/Bella Union) and Out Her Space (Bella Union), and consequently announced to entirely new audiences in both the US, Europe and beyond. As an artist who has often been described as ahead of his time it’s possible the rest of us are finally catching up.
In keeping with his visionary, genre-less, ways Karl will be adding songs by Waylon Jennings, Townes Van Sant, Tom T. Hall and Don Gibson to his set; gorgeous, lush cover versions drawing mostly on vintage Nashville’s country-soul with Blau concentrating on his rich, reverberating voice.
The Easy Leaves are proud ambassadors of California Country & Western music; over the course of 2 full length albums and EPs, under the guidance of Merle Haggard’s music, and countless other barroom heroes, have released their own unique collection of poetry for the common man.
They’ve played many venerable festivals across the land, had their videos premiered by and performed in-studios for CMT, were featured in the documentary The 78 Project (alongside Rosanne Cash, Loudon Wainwright III, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Justin Townes Earl, and Richard Thompson), and have been tapped as sole support by Dwight Yoakam, Junior Brown,
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Asleep At The Wheel, Billy Joe Shaver, Robert Earl Keen, Blind Boys of Alabama, Jim Lauderdale, Ry Cooder, Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Musselwhite, Kasey Chambers and Los Lobos.
The pairing of these two acts is reminiscent of the late 60’s and early 70’s in Austin, TX, essentially what Willie Nelson was creating there, as well as many shows at famed venue, the Armadillo World Headquarters – Where the outlaws, outcasts, hippies, honky tonkers, freaks, and forward thinkers converged in harmony for a plethora of music happenings; you could see Willie Nelson, Doug Sahm, Waylon Jennings and other Country troubadours playing shows alongside folks like The Grateful Dead.
That time and place is to many the greatest in music history; with The Fall Classic Tour, Karl Blau and The Easy Leaves aspire to create an experience worthy of mention in the same breath, as well as being memorable in its own right.