Crafty Canadian outfit Bahamas has been notably silent, so we were happy to learn that they have a new album pending entitled Bahamas Is Afie (self-explanatory since the multifaceted Afie Jurvanen is the heart and soul of the “band”) on Brushfire Records.  If you haven’t heard Bahamas, do yourselves a huge favor (particularly all you “boomers”–we guarantee you will love this album or your money back from what you paid to read this). You can currently stream the new album over at Spin HERE.

In conjunction with the new album, Central Coasters  will again have the chance to catch Bahamas in Santa Barbara when they open for label mate Jack Johnson at the Santa Barbara Bowl on August 31st (all you JJ fans–get to the Bowl early and catch this great opener).  We last caught Bahamas at Soho in SB in 2012 where they put on a fantastic show.  While Bahamas shines on record (and the new album is their best yet), where they really excel is live.  Jurvanen is an outstanding guitar-player and singer (vocally somewhere on a spectrum between M. Ward, Ron Sexsmith and the late, great Jesse Winchester, but with Afie’s own inflections and emphases).

To see what we’re talking about, check out their superb performances recently for KCRW below.  And at bottom check out Afie Jurvanen’s superb acoustic lead guitar-play for Exclaim!

To order Bahamas is Afie and see their tour dates, go HERE.