Today, Kevin Morby shares the first video and single off his forthcoming record, Singing Saw, out 4/15 on Dead Oceans. “I Have Been To The Mountain” is as angry a song as Kevin has written, which can almost be gleaned from the purposeful opening acoustic strum. “‘I Have Been To The Mountain’ is a song for those struck down by the hands of evil – senseless killings which have always overwhelmed our planet, but especially recently,” says Morby. “It’s dedicated to and inspired by the death of Eric Garner.”
The video, directed by Phillip Lopez and starring dancer Nathan Mitchell, portrays a man on his deathbed that, upon death, is reborn as an exuberant and jovial presence, performing for no audience in glum surroundings. Perhaps just as interesting as the video and song is how Kevin and Phillip came to collaborate. Phillip had produced a short film called “Fred Astaire with a stomach full of Corn Chips and Valium” starring Mitchell and featuring his emotive dancing, which used Kevin’s song “Harlem River,” though it was uncredited. Morby loved the video, and reached out to Lopez asking for him to credit his song, which he happily did. When it came time to create a video for Singing Saw’s first single, Kevin knew whom to tap for the job. Mitchell’s almost Buster Keaton-esque mannerisms are captivating to behold. “Kevin wanted to embrace the dancing of Nathan,” said Lopez, “and I had remembered a time in the hospital when a man was dying in the bed next to me, and his family was wailing in grief. The moment he died, they were all silent, and i felt as if his soul danced around the place. To me the message of the song resonated with this sort of nostalgic sagely wisdom, that empowers us even in death.”
Pre-Order Singing Saw now:
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iTunes: http://smarturl.it/kevinmorby_itunes
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/kevinmorby_amz
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KEVIN MORBY TOUR DATES (new dates in bold):
(more info and tix here)
Thu. Feb. 25 – Rennes, FR @ La Route du Rock Winter Festival
Wed. Mar 16 – Fri. Mar. 18 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
Thu. May 5 – London, UK @ Oslo Hackney
Fri. May 6 – Paris, FR @ La Maroquinerie
Sat. May 7 – Brussels, BE @ Atelier 210
Sun. May 8 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet
Mon. May 9 – Berlin, DE @ Lido
Tue. May 10 – Copenhagen, DK @ Copenhagen Jazzhouse
Wed. May 11 – Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
Thu. May 12 – Lund, SE @ @ Mejeriet
Fri. May 13 – Aarhus, DK @ Radar
Sat. May 14 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow
Thu. June 2 – Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room *
Fri. June 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater *
Sat. June 4 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Crepe Place *
Mon. June 6 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
Tue. June 7 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club *
Wed. June 8 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern *
Fri. June 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kliby Court *
Sat. June 11 – Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge *
Sun. June 12 – Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room *
Tue. June 14 0 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St. Entry *
Wed. June 15 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas *
Thu. June 16 – Grand Rapids , MI @ Pyramid Scheme *
Fri. June 17 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall *
Sun. June 19 – Allston, MA @ Great Scott *
Mon. June 20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle *
Wed. June 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade NYC *
Thu. June 23 – Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel *
Fri. June 24 – Durham, NC @ The Pinhook *
Sat. June 25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl *
Sun. June 26 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd & Lindsley
Tue. June 28 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
Wed. June 29 – Austin, TX @ The Sidewinder
Sat. July 2 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
Thu. Aug 4 – Sun. Aug. 8 – Happy Valley, OR @ Pickathon
* w/ Jaye Bartell