Mark Eitzel - Don't Be A Stranger

One of the greatest record store epiphanies I've ever experienced occurred after I walked into the New Paltz branch of Rhino Records to hear the then newly released Mark Eitzel: Songs Of Love Live. Luckily for me, the store manager was a huge fan of Eitzel and his band American Music Club, setting in motion a now almost two decade love affair with the band's darkly beautiful stylings.

AMC ran its course by 1995 and Eitzel has been plying a solo path for the better part of the decades that followed. There have been a couple decent enough stabs at American Music Club reunions, but none has come close to capturing the glories of their mid 90s heyday. Eitzel was firing on all cylinders at that point, recording the brooding 60 Watt Silver Lining in 1996. Underpinned by airy production and muted trumpet, the record is definitely his best solo work, and the handful of eponymous releases Eitzel has recorded have been decent at best and paled in comparison.

Eitzel survived a heart attack earlier in the year and after some time in the cold, word came down the internets earlier this year that Eitzel was recovering nicely and had been afforded a block of free studio time. Further investigation revealed that our hero was recording with strings and a backing unit that included bassist Bruce Thomas and ex-AMC guitar foil Vudi. Suffice to say that interest was piqued over at JS-NYC central. Merge is throwing some promo muscle behind the record, most notably a series of tongue-in-cheek video shorts that preceded the release of Don't Be A Stranger, featuring a series of luminaries giving Eitzel promotional advice about promoting the record.

While I was quick to snap up Don't Be A Stranger, I wasn't especially crazy about it after the first couple of spins, but I'm pleased to report its a grower.  I'd say that I Love You But You're Dead is the best of the eleven tracks. The record doesn't hit me in the gut like his mid 90s output, but the more expansive production is definitely a plus, and Stranger is undoubtably the best Eitzel release in some time.

Keep track of our dear Mr. Eitzel here and get Don't Be A Stranger here from the good folk of Merge Records.

Live: Mark Eitzel Sings American Music Club @ Les Poisson Rouge 7.19.9

When he's on, there are few singers that are as wonderful as Mark Eitzel. You should be aware of him from fronting American Music Club, but I guess there is the odd chance that you maybe got into him via his Peter Buck collaborations. If you are not aware of his greatness, might I suggest you stop reading this babbling and grab a copy of Mark Eitzel: Songs Of Love Live immediately. There are few better solo acoustic records.

Live, especially solo, Eitzel can be a trainwreck, melting down on a level I've rarely encountered this side of crazy women I've taken home. At best, the worst sets can be filled with stopped, repeated, or out and out aborted songs. That's bad, but when he reverts into his second defense mechanism of constant joking, it can get even more wearisome. It was always nicer with Danny Pearson or Vudi around to slap him back into line. This night was just Mark and sometime AMC keysman Mark Cappelle accompanying on piano. Save for a horrific choice of shirts, Mark seemed in good spirits, aborting only one song (The Patriot's Heart), which he redid for the encore. Not too much in the way of old stuff, or much AMC at all, now that I think about it. It was mildly interesting to find that one of the newer songs (I Think Decibels and The Little Pills) was about going to an Earthless show, but I would have liked to have heard a couple more songs and a little less patter, but again it's pretty much par for the course. Mark was pretty candid about being woefully unprepared for the shows, as he's finishing up the new AMC record and a solo record with Peter Buck. Here's hoping that the shows get a little tighter and that those records are more of a return to form. Here's the rest of the dates (they are in Hoboken at Maxwells tomorrow).

Sat 7/18 New York, NY at Le Poisson Rouge
Sun 7/19 Hudson, NY at Jason’s Upstairs
Mon 7/20 Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell’s
Tue 7/21 Boston. MA at Lizard Lounge
Wed 7/22 Albany NY at Lindas at WAMC
Thu 7/23 Rochester, NY at Lovin’ Cup Cafe
Fri 7/24 Buffalo, NY at Marty & Susan’s House
Sat 7/25 Baltimore, MD at Metro Gallery
Sun 7/26 Chapel Hill, NC at Memorial Hall Theatre w/ She&Him & Wye Oak (part of the Merge XX celebration)
Mon 7/27 Arlington, VA at IOTA Club
Tue 7/28 Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s
Wed 7/29 Brooklyn, NY at Bell House

AMC is playing Merge Fest next weekend, if you're in the neighborhood. If you're not, here's the AMC web presence and Mark's site.

xo

R

Mark Eitzel Plays American Music Club

Hey Kids:

Mr. Mark Eitzel of the mighty American Music Club is going to be playing some intimate duo shows in the coming weeks. Here's the skinny from the man himself:

Here is a tour I am doing this summer with my friend and AMC alumnus Marc Capelle. Its kind of a Tony Bennett thing I guess - but it gives me the chance t do these songs - and really sing them - without the distraction of a guitar.

We are calling the tour Mark Eitzel performs American Music Club - which I guess is obvious... Also we have a few covers - and some newer songs...

Sat 7/18 New York, NY at Le Poisson Rouge
Sun 7/19 Hudson, NY at Jason’s Upstairs
Mon 7/20 Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell’s
Tue 7/21 Boston. MA at Lizard Lounge
Wed 7/22 Albany NY at Lindas at WAMC
Thu 7/23 Rochester, NY at Lovin’ Cup Cafe
Fri 7/24 Buffalo, NY at Marty & Susan’s House
Sat 7/25 Baltimore, MD at Metro Gallery
Sun 7/26 Chapel Hill, NC at Memorial Hall Theatre w/ She&Him & Wye Oak (part of the Merge XX celebration)
Mon 7/27 Arlington, VA at IOTA Club
Tue 7/28 Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s
Wed 7/29 Brooklyn, NY at Bell House