NASHVILLE, TN – Less is more. It is an ideal that has always defined Shovels & Rope, the critically acclaimed, award-winning husband and wife duo of Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent. Their intimate and incendiary live performances can exude the sound and energy of a six-piece live band or command the ‘pin drop’ attention of an audience at any given moment. That ideal may have never been more apropos than on their new album Something Is Working Up Above My Head (out September 6th on Dualtone Records).
For their sixth studio album, the self-contained, DIY band from Charleston, SC chose to simplify their recording process more than usual by only utilizing instrumentation they can recreate live as a two-piece, their only live configuration. This is in opposition to recording first, then working out the arrangements for the performances. The resulting Something Is Working Up Above My Head finds Hearst and Trent leaning heavier into the rock and punk roots that have always been foundational to the signature sound of Shovels & Rope.
While Something Is Working Up Above My Head may offer a slight sonic shift, Hearst and Trent remain storytellers. The album is full of character-driven narratives and cinematic vignettes of flawed protagonists who are often derailed by their shortcomings. The first new single “Colorado River” is a classic Shovels & Rope murder ballad ripe with vivid imagery, drama and tension as the truth slowly begins to reveal itself (listen HERE). The second new single is the heart-wrenching “Love Song From A Dog,” featuring Gregory Alan Isakov on backing vocals. Initially, the duo had no plans for the track until they randomly decided to add it to their set one night while opening for Isakov. They were overwhelmed by the audience’s response that evening, on social media, and in following performances since the debut, as the song continued to resonate deeply. Watch the beautiful video for “Love Song From A Dog” HERE.
Album opener “Something Is Working” and closer “Dass Hymn” (referring to Ram Dass) were written and added to the album last. Appropriately, the album begins and ends asking questions – whether spiritual, metaphysical or pragmatic – about who or what is actually in control.
Shovels & Rope have announced a tour in support of Something Is Working Up Above My Head. See full list of dates below.
Pre-order Something Is Working Up Above My Head HERE
For press information about Shovels & Rope, please contact Jim Flammia jim@alleyesmedia.com or Brittany Kellam brittany@alleyesmedia.com
at All Eyes Media (615) 227-2770
Shovels & Rope Tour Dates
June 14 – Gulfport, MS – iMPCAC
June 22 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
June 27 – Black Mountain, NC – Pisgah Brewing Company
July 13 – Whitefish, MT – Under the Big Sky Festival
July 26 – Newport, RI – Newport Folk Festival
Sept. 11 – Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre
Sept. 13 – Brooklyn, NY – Music House of Williamsburg
Sept. 14 – Fort Hill, PA – Deer Valley Folk Festival
Sept. 15 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
Sept. 17 – Portsmouth, NH – 3S Artspace
Sept. 18 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
Sept. 20 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Sept. 21 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag
Sept. 22 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Sept. 24 – St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam
Sept. 25 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Sept. 27 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Sept. 28 – Maquoketa, IA – Codfish Hollow
Sept. 29 – Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
Oct. 1 – Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
Oct. 2 – Knoxville, TN – Bijou Theatre
Oct. 3-4 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
Dec. 4 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
Dec. 5 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
Dec. 6 – Los Angeles, CA – Teragram Ballroom
Dec. 7 – Menlo Park, CA – The Guild Theatre
Dec. 9 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
Dec. 10 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
Dec. 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room
Dec. 13 – Denver, CO – The Gothic Theatre
Dec. 14 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen