A prolific songwriter for nearly twenty years, Laura Veirs proves the depth of her musical skill on her tenth solo album, The Lookout. Here is a batch of inimitable, churning, exquisite folk-pop songs; a concept album about the fragility of precious things. Produced by Grammy-nominated Tucker Martine, Veirs’ longtime collaborator, The Lookout is a soundtrack for turbulent times, full of allusions to protectors: the camper stoking a watch fire, a mother tending her children, a sailor in a crows nest and a lightning rod channeling energy.
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91.3 KBCS Presents: Laura Veirs w/ guests
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Laura Veirs
Pop
From one of the country’s most inimitable songwriters – Portland, Oregon’s Laura Veirs
– comes her ninth full-length album. Beautiful, lush and at times deeply dark, "Warp and
Weft" captures the intensity of motherhood, love and violence. Primarily electric-guitar
driven, it is a fever dream of an album and could well be Veirs’ best work to date. It
builds on the uniform praise and commercial success of 2010's "July Flame," which Utne
Reader dubbed “idiosyncratic and captivating” and received glowing reviews from The
New York Times, Pitchfork, NPR and others.
The recording of "Warp and Weft" (a weaving term) was a community effort. Produced in
Portland in March 2013 by Veirs’ longtime collaborator Tucker Martine, the album
features Jim James, kd lang, Neko Case, Brian Blade and members of The
Decemberists and many more.
Veirs sings not only of mid-winter suns, white blossoming cherry trees and melting ice,
but also suicide, gun violence and war. She weaves threads of old folk songs including
“Motherless Children” as well as stories of folk-art hero Howard Finster and jazz harpist
Alice Coltrane. “I think of this record as a tapestry where disparate elements come
together and are stronger and more lovely as a result,” says Veirs.
Veirs was eight months pregnant with her second child during the recording; she says
her experience as a mother brought about some of the more beautiful and painful songs.
“I’m haunted by the idea that something terrible could happen to my kids but that fear
pushes me to embrace the moment. This record is an exploration of extremes – deep,
dark suffering and intense, compassionate love.”
"Laura makes such complicated melodies sound easy,” says Neko Case. “The first
listen is so comforting and warm, then after two or three listens, the time when you
wanna start singing along, you are struck by the thoughtful work that went into making
the sounds; the twists and turns she makes like a light gazelle. It's masterful; as a
listener, it makes me feel loved. As a musician it makes me feel challenged and
engaged. It's a complete protein!"
“Warp and Weft” will be released on Veirs’ own Raven Marching Band Records (North
America) and Bella Union (rest of the world) on August 20, 2013. Veirs will tour with a
full band in the fall in the US and Europe
$17.00 Ages 21+
A prolific songwriter for nearly twenty years, Laura Veirs proves the depth of her musical skill on her tenth solo album, The Lookout. Here is a batch of inimitable, churning, exquisite folk-pop songs; a concept album about the fragility of precious things. Produced by Grammy-nominated Tucker Martine, Veirs’ longtime collaborator, The Lookout is a soundtrack for turbulent times, full of allusions to protectors: the camper stoking a watch fire, a mother tending her children, a sailor in a crows nest and a lightning rod channeling energy.
Laura Veirs
Pop
From one of the country’s most inimitable songwriters – Portland, Oregon’s Laura Veirs
– comes her ninth full-length album. Beautiful, lush and at times deeply dark, "Warp and
Weft" captures the intensity of motherhood, love and violence. Primarily electric-guitar
driven, it is a fever dream of an album and could well be Veirs’ best work to date. It
builds on the uniform praise and commercial success of 2010's "July Flame," which Utne
Reader dubbed “idiosyncratic and captivating” and received glowing reviews from The
New York Times, Pitchfork, NPR and others.
The recording of "Warp and Weft" (a weaving term) was a community effort. Produced in
Portland in March 2013 by Veirs’ longtime collaborator Tucker Martine, the album
features Jim James, kd lang, Neko Case, Brian Blade and members of The
Decemberists and many more.
Veirs sings not only of mid-winter suns, white blossoming cherry trees and melting ice,
but also suicide, gun violence and war. She weaves threads of old folk songs including
“Motherless Children” as well as stories of folk-art hero Howard Finster and jazz harpist
Alice Coltrane. “I think of this record as a tapestry where disparate elements come
together and are stronger and more lovely as a result,” says Veirs.
Veirs was eight months pregnant with her second child during the recording; she says
her experience as a mother brought about some of the more beautiful and painful songs.
“I’m haunted by the idea that something terrible could happen to my kids but that fear
pushes me to embrace the moment. This record is an exploration of extremes – deep,
dark suffering and intense, compassionate love.”
"Laura makes such complicated melodies sound easy,” says Neko Case. “The first
listen is so comforting and warm, then after two or three listens, the time when you
wanna start singing along, you are struck by the thoughtful work that went into making
the sounds; the twists and turns she makes like a light gazelle. It's masterful; as a
listener, it makes me feel loved. As a musician it makes me feel challenged and
engaged. It's a complete protein!"
“Warp and Weft” will be released on Veirs’ own Raven Marching Band Records (North
America) and Bella Union (rest of the world) on August 20, 2013. Veirs will tour with a
full band in the fall in the US and Europe
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