Artist To Watch: Elvis Perkins
Fuss-worthy folkies just don't come easy. But from the deep morass of capos and acoustics we have Elvis Perkins's Ash Wednesday, a stellar debut from a rising NY singer-songwriter. Double bass, harmonica, and strings color these lyrical laments, but the man's easy melodicism is the real charm. Yeti dragged us down to a night of Elvis's Rockwood Hall residency, and we were sold on the spot.
A few choice cuts:
Elvis Perkins - "While You Were Sleeping" (MP3 Link Expired)
Elvis Perkins - "Ash Wednesday" (MP3 Link Expired)
The album's unreleased and looking for a label to call home (ahem). And it's good to see someone with a celebrity dad doing something constructive (you heard us Nicole Richie).
Posted at 6:29 PM in Band To Watch, MP3
Tags: Elvis Perkins
He was on KEXP recently. Believe it's available as a podcast.
Posted by: Kevin at June 20, 2006 8:16 PM | ReplyScore = 0
These are great songs. He looks awful warm in that scarf.
Posted by: Susan at June 20, 2006 8:28 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Wow, this guy is really great. If I ran a record company, I'd sign him tomorrow.
The lyrics make no sense though. Guess coherant songs have been passe for a while now. Oh well. Really Really enjoying it nonetheless.
Posted by: J at June 20, 2006 9:42 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i like!
Posted by: yay at June 20, 2006 9:50 PM | ReplyScore = 0
i really dig this guy. great writing and a great voice!
Posted by: elvin at June 21, 2006 12:31 AM | ReplyScore = 0
His dad was norman bates in psycho? awesome.
Posted by: booboo at June 21, 2006 9:25 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Woah. He looks exactly like his father, and that's kind of neat and kind of creepy.
His voice is pretty unremarkable in that Jeff Buckley-meets-M. Ward singer songwriter kind of way. Maybe he's more interesting live; "Ash Wednesday" is pretty unremarkable and zonky, "While You Were Sleeping" is pretty good, though.
Posted by: cindy hotpoint at June 21, 2006 10:33 AM | ReplyScore = 0
These guys are deserving of all the hype they are about to get. Their show at Joe's Pub last month sounded unbelievable.
Posted by: Max at June 21, 2006 12:43 PM | ReplyScore = 0
And he's playing at Austin City Limits. Oh gods of booking conflicts, please arrange for him to play when nobody I want to see more is playing. Thank you.
Posted by: St. Murse at June 22, 2006 7:31 AM | ReplyScore = 0
Actualy his songs do make sense you just have to know some personal history about the songs. As most are about very personal subjects like "While you were sleeping" - when his mother died on Sept 11, 2001 in one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, it's a catharis of memories and dealing with the then present.
Posted by: Jiffy at November 16, 2006 7:09 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Actualy his songs do make sense you just have to know some personal history about the songs. As most are about very personal subjects like "While you were sleeping" - when his mother died on Sept 11, 2001 in one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, it's a catharis of memories and dealing with the then present.
Posted by: Jiffy at November 16, 2006 7:10 PM | ReplyScore = 0
Actualy his songs do make sense you just have to know some personal history about the songs. As most are about very personal subjects like "While you were sleeping" - when his mother died on Sept 11, 2001 in one of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center, it's a catharis of memories and dealing with the then present.
Posted by: Jiffy at November 16, 2006 7:22 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This guy is amazing!! I saw him when he opened for MMJ in Tempe, AZ. First song finished and went and bought the album. Its nice to hear good music that is comming from the soul.
Posted by: BEE at April 19, 2007 6:44 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This is a wonderful song. Elvis is a delightful person! He is AMAZING!!
Posted by: josie at July 5, 2007 1:04 PM | ReplyScore = 0
This song makes so much sense, in so many ways. It is beautiful that although he gave it his own meaning, anyone can interpret it the way they feel. I think it is just an amazing song and very moving, atleast for me.
Posted by: ccc at February 28, 2008 1:03 PM | ReplyScore = 0