John Ralston announces co-headlining tour with Modern Skirts
Music News | Nov 16th, 2007
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…lovingly arranged, lushly layered pop that leans toward Elliott Smith and John Vanderslice”, “…he perfectly dresses grown-up words in elegant outfits.” — Magnet
“‘Lessons I & II’ haunts its way through slow waves of melancholia while ‘Fragile’ and “the Only Evidence” set up camp in your brain with no intentions of leaving anytime soon….Ralston’s evolution from closet poet to full band majordomo (is) vividly and poignantly complete.” — Alternative Press
“He has created something akin to a seminal milestone. Finding the perfect mix of attitude and ambiance, Ralston crafts a sound that begs an instant connection rich, textured, atmospheric anthems imbued with brooding discontent. instrumental overdubs and an agitated underbelly give Sorry Vampire a heady mystique as affecting and provocative as its title implies. Ralston never settles for self-absorption. Instead he opts for a grand statement that’s both sumptuous and sublime.” Miami New Times
(November 16, 2007) JOHN RALSTON will barely take a breather after an extensive 10-week tour with Dashboard Confessional, as the Lake Worth, Florida native has announced a string of dates with the Modern Skirts stretching into December.
On Ralston’s sophomore disc, Sorry Vampire (10/2, Vagrant) you’ll hear gorgeously layered sounds that feature a “hybrid 21st century junk-shop orchestra” that includes mellotron brass, tongue-drum, and PortaSound keyboard with the heart & soul provided by John and his long time band along with guest stars, like Jon Wilkins and Tim Yehezkeley of The Postmarks. The first track, “Fragile,” is a song he began tinkering with almost 3 years ago with Jay Bennett and John’s then-current bandmate, David Vandervelde. John spent weeks, months and in some cases, even years to finesse each note to the point he’s satisfied and hopes the listener will hear something new with every repeated listen.
John and his Grammy winning mixer Charles Dye took the “loudness wars” into account when making Sorry Vampire. A note on the final CD packaging will read: “To preserve the excitement, emotion and dynamics of the original performances, this record is intentionally quieter than some. For full enjoyment simply Turn Me Up! (www.TurnMeUp.org).”
Sorry Vampire features cover art by Jesse Ledoux (who was nominated for a Grammy for The Shins Chutes Too Narrow cover art).
Sorry Vampire follows John’s critically acclaimed debut, Needle Bed, that Alternative Press claimed ” channels the spirit of the late Townes Van Zandt to create a piece of reflective folk-rock nouveau that even bests Bright Eye’s I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning” and HARP described as “Brian Wilson’s teenage basement demos to God.”
www.john-ralston.com
www.myspace.com/johnralston
www.vagrant.com
JOHN RALSTON ON TOUR:
(All tour dates with Modern Skirts)
11/30 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt (supporting Modern Skirts)
12/1 Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar (supporting Modern Skirts)
12/3 Farmville, VA @ Mad Hatter (co-headline)
12/4 Richmond, VA @ Common Groundz (supporting Colin Healy)
12/5 Washington, DC @ DC9 Nightclub (co-headlining)
12/6 Philadelphia, PA @ Northstar (supporting TBA)
12/7 Syracuse, NY @ Funk N Waffles (supporting Julian Velard)
12/8 New York, NY @ Union Hall (co-headlining)
12/10 Nashville, TN @ Rutledge (supporting Parachute Musical)
12/11 Knoxville, TN @ World Grotto (co-headlining)