So let’s keep on trucking. We’ve taken a bit of a break from the road (our guitarist Greg has been recording a jazz album of his own) but it’s time to get back at it. The year will begin with a headlining tour next week that starts in Texas and heads to the northeast, followed by some very righteous opening dates for the great Joe Ely out west.

Also, we’ve gotten a few emails regarding the stripped-down version of “The Great Despiser” that we’ve been playing live. While we don’t have a proper recording of it, we did get a nice video of it courtesy of our friends at Do317 last time we stopped through Indianapolis. The link is here, take a peek.

Yours in music,

Joe

Pug Recommends

“Austin Beerworks – Many of you are probably heading to Austin next month for South By Southwest. Do yourself a favor, skip the Lone Star and get yourself a Pearl Snap or a Fire Eagle.

“Parting the Waters: America in The King Years” by Taylor Branch – With my time off, I finally got a chance to read what is certainly one of the definitive accounts of Dr. King’s life. It’s a trilogy, but the first volume mentioned here (which begins with the Montgomery bus boycotts and goes through the Kennedy assassination) is a true gem. Alternately inspiring and exasperating, it’s a stunningly intimate portrait of the leader and the trials that he endured.

“Guttersnipe” by Bhi Bhiman – On our headlining tour in April, we will be joined by this remarkable songwriter. If you’re planning on skipping the opening act, DO NOT listen to this powerful song, else you will undoubtedly have to change your plans.

Free Music

For this month’s edition we’re going back a long way to one of the personal highlights of my career to date. One of the first “big” shows I played was the Newport Folk Festival, and we were lucky enough that NPR recorded the whole set and put it up for free download. Grab a copy here..

New Merch Items

But enough of all that free stuff….if you’re in the mood to be relieved of your hard-earned currency, we’ve added a couple new things to the merch store. We repressed Messenger onto 180 gram red vinyl, which came out pretty gorgeous and we also added some embroidered logo hats. Check em out.

Current Tour Dates

For ticket links visit the tour page.

Feb 7 Houston, TX–The Mucky Duck ( tickets )
Feb 8 Ft. Worth, TX–Live Oak Music Hall ( tickets )
Feb 10 Nashville, TX–3rd and LIndsley ( tickets )
Feb 12 Knoxville, TN–Barley’s ( Free Show! )
Feb 13 Asheville, NC–The Grey Eagle ( tickets )
Feb 14 Charlotte, NC–Visulite Theater ( tickets )
Feb 15 Chapel Hill, NC–Local 506 ( tickets )
Feb 16 Washington, DC–The Hamilton ( tickets )
Feb 17 New York, NY–The Mercury Lounge ( tickets )
Feb 18 Boston, MA–Brighton Music Hall ( tickets )
Feb 19 Keene, NH–UCC @ The Starving Artist ( tickets )
Feb 20 Burlington, VT–Higher Ground ( tickets )
Feb 21 Ottawa, ON–Cafe Deckuf ( tickets )
Feb 23 Toronto, ON–Hugh’s ( tickets )
Mar 2 Albuquerque, NM–Route 66 Casino *
Mar 6 Park City, UT–Egyptian Theater *
Mar 10 Seattle, WA–Tractor Tavern *
Mar 12 San Francisco, CA–Slim’s *
Mar 13 Sacramento, CA–Harlow’s *
Mar 16 Los Angeles, CA–The Mint *
Mar 17 Pioneertown, CA–Pappy and Harriet’s *
Mar 19 Phoenix, AZ–Rhythm Room *
Mar 21 El Paso, TX–Tricky Falls *
Mar 22 Alpine, TX–Railroad Blues *
Mar 23 Austin, TX–Cactus Cafe *

Track Listing:

1. Dodging the Wind
2. In The Meantime
3. Lock the Door Christina
4. A Thousand Men
5. Black Eyed Susan

Buy “The Great Despiser” from iTunes

Buy “The Great Despiser” from Amazon

Sampler Track Listing (press play above to listen):

1. Hymn #101
2. Nation of Heat
3. How Good You Are
4. Speak Plainly Diana
5. Hymn #76

Current Tour Dates
For Tickets to any of the shows Click Here

June 29 Chicago, IL–Old St. Pat’s Block Party
June 30 Berwyn, IL–Fitzgerald’s American Music Festival
July 1 Milwaukee, WI-Summerfest
July 13 Alta, WY-Targhee Festival
July 14 Boise, ID–Knitting Factory (w/ Josh Ritter)
July 22 Bridgeport, CT–Gathering of the Vibes
July 27-28 Guelph, ON–Hillside Music Festival
August 2 Colorado Springs, CO–Chico Basin Ranch
August 3 Bellvue, CO–Mishawaka Ampitheater
August 4 Boulder, CO–Chautauqua
August 11 Annapolis, MD–Silopanna Music Festival
August 16 Manchester, UK–Castle Hotel
August 17 London, UK–The Lexington
August 18 Wales, UK–Green Man Festival