Constantines are reuniting this year, but that isn't stopping frontman Bry Webb from pressing ahead with his solo career. His latest album is called Free Will, and it will be out on May 20 through Idée Fixe Records.
The album was recorded at Toronto's 6 Nassau Recording Studio, with Webb producing alongside Jeff McMurrich (Constantines, Jennifer Castle, Owen Pallett). It finds Webb backed by his band the Providers, which includes Nathan Lawr of Minotaurs on drums, Anna Ruddick of Ladies of the Canyon on bass, Aaron Goldstein of Lee Harvey Osmond on pedal steel, and Rich Burnett on guitar and lap steel. Guests include Jennifer Castle, Will Kidman of Constantines and others.
The record is made up of 10 songs and two bonus cuts, which come as a downloadable accompaniment to the CD or as a bonus 7-inch along with the LP. One of those bonus track is "Someplace I'm Supposed to Be," which was commissioned by the podcast This American Life and previously premiered in 50-second form. A press release notes that the album is "about responsibility, love, work, desire, art and will."
Watch a two-minute trailer for the album below, which includes a clip of atmospherically folksy music and shows behind-the-scenes clips from the studio. Also below, hear the countrified "AM Blues." Scroll past Web's upcoming Ontario tour schedule to listen.
Free Will follows Webb's 2011 album Provider.
Read our Questionnaire with Bry Webb here.
Tour dates:
03/14 Kingston, ON - The Grad Club *
03/15 Orangeville, ON - Shinn Institute For The Arts *
03/21 Ottawa, ON - Zaphods *^
03/22 Peterborough, ON - Gordon Best Theatre *~
03/23 Waterloo, ON - Jane Bond *
04/11 Guelph, ON - Dublin St. United Church (Kazoo! Fest) %
* with Jennifer Castle
^ with Jonathan Pearse
~ with Nick Ferrio
% with Destroyer
The album was recorded at Toronto's 6 Nassau Recording Studio, with Webb producing alongside Jeff McMurrich (Constantines, Jennifer Castle, Owen Pallett). It finds Webb backed by his band the Providers, which includes Nathan Lawr of Minotaurs on drums, Anna Ruddick of Ladies of the Canyon on bass, Aaron Goldstein of Lee Harvey Osmond on pedal steel, and Rich Burnett on guitar and lap steel. Guests include Jennifer Castle, Will Kidman of Constantines and others.
The record is made up of 10 songs and two bonus cuts, which come as a downloadable accompaniment to the CD or as a bonus 7-inch along with the LP. One of those bonus track is "Someplace I'm Supposed to Be," which was commissioned by the podcast This American Life and previously premiered in 50-second form. A press release notes that the album is "about responsibility, love, work, desire, art and will."
Watch a two-minute trailer for the album below, which includes a clip of atmospherically folksy music and shows behind-the-scenes clips from the studio. Also below, hear the countrified "AM Blues." Scroll past Web's upcoming Ontario tour schedule to listen.
Free Will follows Webb's 2011 album Provider.
Read our Questionnaire with Bry Webb here.
Tour dates:
03/14 Kingston, ON - The Grad Club *
03/15 Orangeville, ON - Shinn Institute For The Arts *
03/21 Ottawa, ON - Zaphods *^
03/22 Peterborough, ON - Gordon Best Theatre *~
03/23 Waterloo, ON - Jane Bond *
04/11 Guelph, ON - Dublin St. United Church (Kazoo! Fest) %
* with Jennifer Castle
^ with Jonathan Pearse
~ with Nick Ferrio
% with Destroyer
Bry Webb "Free Will" (album trailer) from Idée Fixe Records on Vimeo.