Where to start with the uniquely-talented singer-songwriter Tom Brosseau?  Suffice it to say we’ve been a huge fan of TB’s from the first moment we heard him sing his songs (as a duo with another of our faves, Angela Correa(town) who also joins Brosseau occasionally in Les Shelleys) at the much-missed Buffalo Records in Santa Barbara.  Since then we haven’t missed a performance of the North Dakotan’s within 75 miles of Santa Barbara, and have traveled to his new-homeland LA on multiple occasions to catch him at his Largo hideaway.   We love everything about Brosseau except that he hasn’t received the fame and fortune warranted by his songwriting and live delivery.  His entire discography is amongst our favorites.  He has written many of our favorite songs, and his How To Grow A Woman From The Ground remains at the very top of our (and many others’) list of all-time best songs.  Dark Garage, Broken Ukelele and Portrait of George Washington are other outstanding songs from his rich mine.  In a live setting, Brosseau has one of the keenest senses of stage dynamics.  He always makes the best use of that gift, his lilting vocalese and elegantly spare guitar-playing.  Don’t miss the next opportunity you have to catch him live (see upcoming tour dates at bottom).

In addition to his own work, since 2010 Brosseau has performed with Santa Barbaran Becky Stark and John C. Reilly in John Reilly & Friends, a band devoted to unheralded American folk music.  In 2011, Reilly and Brosseau recorded a 7″ vinyl single entitled John & Tom that was produced by Jack White for Third Man Records.

In the meantime, after five long years, Brosseau has today released a superb new album entitled Grass Punks.  Grass Punks is his seventh studio album, and it was recorded and produced by Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) “in a room in a house near the 101 FWY in Hollywood, California.”  According to Brosseau: “the title of this album is a phrase belonging to a very talented, original San Diego female artist, who would perform her soft, low voiced poetry over cafard melodies on the piano…. Grass Punks at once brought to my mind an earthen smoldering stick, used to light a wick or ward off peskiness, but now it stands for something greater, a sort of heading for everything I believe in when it comes to my brand of folk music and DIY recording.”  And that, we totally get (having lit and listened to a multitude of “Black Cats” in our time).

To get a feel for the new album’s songs, watch the newly-released official video for the tremendous Today Is A Brand New Day, one of the highlights off the new album.  After, listen to two other superb songs off the album, the witty and clever Cradle Your Device and the sweet Tami.  And speaking of Largo, Brosseau will appear tonight at Largo in support of the release of Grass Punks.  And ferheavensake go buy the new album HERE, and support this great artist.

Tour Dates:
01.21.14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Largo at the Coronet: Album Release Party
01.25.14 – San Francisco, CA @ Sketchfest @ Verdi Club
01.26.14 – San Francisco, CA @ Sketchfest @ Marine Memorial Theatre
02.05.14 – Cambridge, MA @ Passim
02.06.14 – New York, NY @ Rockwood Music Hall
02.07.14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Ortlieb’s
02.08.14 – Hudson, NY @ Half Moon
02.10.14 – Brooklyn, NY @ Pete’s Candy Store
02.12.14 – Brooklyn NY @ The Paper Box
02.25.14 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios *
02.26.14 – Seattle, WA @ Fremont Abbey *
02.27.14 – Cottage Grove, OR @ Axe and Fiddle *
02.28.14 – Davis, CA @ Veteran’s Memorial Theater
* with Shelby Earl
03.01.14 – Sacramento, CA @ TBA*
03.03.14 – Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage*
03.04.14 – Northern CA @ Private Show*
03.06.14 – San Diego, CA @ North Park Vaudeville & Candy Shoppe
03.07.14 – Santa Monica, CA @ The Sanctuary: Presented by The Bluegrass Situation
03.08.14 – Lompoc, CA @ Certain Sparks Dinner & Show: Presented by The Bluegrass Situation
03.11 – 03.15 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
* with Shelby Earl