OE PUG’S THE GREAT DESPISER OUT NOW TO WIDESPREAD CRITICAL ACCLAIM
NATIONAL HEADLINE TOUR CONFIRMED
“…Pug’s scorching poetry and soulful, ‘every phrase could be my last’ voice will stop you cold.” —Paste Magazine
“His hypnotic wordplay lingers with the gut-punching imagery of self-realization. ” —Blurt
“…infuriatingly good…” —Nine Bullets
The Great Despiser, the new album from celebrated singer-songwriter Joe Pug, is out now on Lightning Rod Records. Released to widespread critical acclaim, the Austin Chronicle praises, “…his songwriting continues to hone down a basic emotional reality,” while the UTNE Reader asserts, “If you don’t know up-and-coming singer-songwriter Joe Pug yet, that’s about to change with his second release.” In celebration of the album, Pug is currently in the midst of a nationwide headlining tour, including dates at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall and New York’s Bowery Ballroom. See below for complete details.
The Great Despiser is the follow-up to Pug’s critically acclaimed full-length debut, Messenger (2010), and his wildly popular word-of-mouth EP, Nation of Heat (2008). Of the music, NPR Music praises, “Not only does Chicago-based singer have a beautifully mature voice, but the lyrics on Pug’s debut EP, Nation of Heat, possess wisdom seemingly beyond his age. Pair that with his powerful songwriting and it's nearly impossible to avoid drawing comparisons between Pug and folk legends like Bob Dylan or contemporaries like Josh Ritter,” while American Songwriter heralds, “…he turns unblurred thought and crisp imagery toward more introspective territory, to good result.”
The 11-track album was recorded in Chicago with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, Califone, etc). In addition to Pug, the album features various acclaimed musicians, including Sam Kassirer (Josh Ritter, Langhorne Slim) on piano, organ and marimba as well as backing vocals from The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn on the album’s title track.
Since his debut in 2008, Pug has toured alongside Steve Earle, M. Ward and Josh Ritter among others and has performed at both Lollapalooza and the Newport Folk Festival.
For further information please contact Asha Goodman (615.383.3110) or Carla Sacks (212.741.1000) at Sacks & Co.
Label: Logan Rogers 615.423.2038 at Lightning Rod Records
Booking: Josh Brinkman 312.640.7500 at Monterey International
www.joepugmusic.com
JOE PUG CONFIRMED TOUR DATES
(additional dates to be announced)
*with support from David Wax Museum
†co-headline with David Wax Museum
April 24 /// Albuquerque, NM /// Low Spirits
April 25 /// Phoenix, AZ /// Crescent Ballroom
April 26 /// San Diego, CA /// The Casbah
April 27 /// Los Angeles, CA /// The Satellite
April 28 /// Santa Barbara, CA /// Soho
April 29 /// Pioneertown, CA /// Pappy and Harriet’s
April 30 /// Santa Cruz, CA /// Crepe Place
May 1 /// San Francisco, CA /// Bottom of the Hill
May 3 /// Vancouver, BC /// The Media Club
May 4 /// Portland, OR /// The Doug Fir
May 5 /// Seattle, WA /// The Crocodile
May 6 /// Pullman, WA /// Tower Theater
May 9 /// Boise, ID /// Neurolux
May 10 /// Salt Lake City, UT /// Urban Lounge
May 12 /// Denver, CO /// Larimer Lounge (Afternoon BBQ – 2pm)
May 12 /// Denver, CO /// The Bluebird
May 13 /// Kansas City, MO /// Record Bar
May 14 /// St. Louis, MO /// Off Broadway
May 15 /// Iowa City, IA /// The Mill
May 16 /// Madison, WI /// Frequency
May 17 /// Minneapolis, MN /// 7th Street Eatery
May 18 /// Chicago, IL /// Lincoln Hall
May 19 /// Chicago, IL /// Lincoln Hall*
May 20 /// Bloomington, IN /// The Bishop*
May 22 /// Columbus, OH /// Rumba Cafe*
May 23 /// Cleveland, OH /// The Beachland Tavern*
May 24 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// Club Café*
May 25 /// Ann Arbor, MI /// The Blind Pig*
May 26 /// Toronto, ON /// The Horseshoe*
May 27 /// Ottawa, ON /// Mavericks*
May 29 /// Boston, MA /// Brighton Music Hall†
May 30 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s
May 31 /// New York, NY /// Bowery Ballroom*
June 2 /// Washington, DC /// 9:30 Club†
June 3 /// Charlottesville, VA /// The Southern*
June 4 /// Chapel Hill, NC /// Evening Muse*
June 5 /// Charlotte, NC /// Evening Muse*
June 6 /// Atlanta, GA /// The Earl*
June 8 /// Houston, TX /// Fitzgerald’s*
June 9 /// Dallas, TX /// Uptown Untapped @ Common Table
June 10 /// Kerrville, TX /// Kerrville Folk Festival
June 16 /// Vail, CO /// Palisade Music Festival
July 1 /// Milwaukee, WI /// Summerfest
July 13 /// Alta, WY /// Targhee Music Festival
July 22 /// Bridgeport, CT /// Gathering of the Vibes
July 27-28 /// Guelph, ON /// Hillside Festival
August 4 /// Boulder, CO /// Chautauqua Auditorium