New Bright Eyes Download & More!

Cassadaga, the new full-length from Bright Eyes, will be released on April 10. Pre-orders are now being taken in the Saddle Creek online store. For a limited time, pre-orders will include a special 3″ CD (for CD pre-orders) or 7″ (for LP pre-orders) with a non-album track! And if that’s not enough, pre-orders will ship from here on March 27, two weeks before the release date!

In stores now is first single from the album, Four Winds CD/12″. The single includes “Four Winds” (watch video above) plus 5 exclusive b-sides and is now shipping from the online store. Also out now is a new video for “Four Winds.” Check it out on the Cassadaga site at Saddle Creek or a video outlet near you.

Download: Bright Eyes – “No One Would Riot For Less“

Here are a few downloads to sample from the Fanatic Promotion line-up:
The Sammies: “Falling Out“, “Caretaker“
Ruby Isle: “Atom Bomb“, “Into The Black“
Cassette: “Ladybug“, “Shaved“

 

Label Profile: Saddle Creek

A brief bio of your label: Who started it? When? First band signed and/or first release?
the label was started in 1993 by justin and conor oberst (bright eyes) to ‘release’ conor’s first cassette ‘water.’ so i guess conor was the first artist. some of the early bands are polecat, slowdown virginia, commander venus, and smashmouth (no, not THAT smashmouth) back then it was called lumberjack records. the name was changed to saddle creek because lumberjack was already taken by a distributor. the label has grown organically from two guys dubbing cassettes, to a legitimate indie label with 11 full time employees.

Where does your label call home? Describe your headquarters.
we are based in omaha nebraska. most of the bands grew up here, or live here now. our office is a very average looking office building hidden behind a strip mall. it’s nothing special. a few offices, a warehouse, etc. we are building a new venue/warehouse/office space downtown, so it’s only temporary.

Your name? What are your primary duties for the label?
my name is jeff tafolla. since we are a small company, we all end up with a few ‘jobs.’ my main job is licensing. i pitch songs to film, television, commercials, etc. when they want to use a saddle creek artist’s song, i will negotiate the terms and fees, and take care of the contracts with the help of our lawyer and sometimes the publisher. i’m also in charge of music video promotion, new media promotion, and the street team.

Who are a few of the bands on your roster? Most recent signee.
Azure Ray, Beep Beep, Bright Eyes, Broken Spindles, Criteria, Cursive, Desaparecidos, Eric Bachmann, The Faint, The Good Life, Orenda Fink, Maria Taylor, Now It’s Overhead, Rilo Kiley, Sorry About Dresden, Son, Ambulance Two Gallants (our most recent signee)

What is the best method for an unsigned band to capture your attention?
the best way to get my attention is to tour. even if i don’t see the show, if i see that a band is getting out on the road, and maybe i recognize the name, I’m far more likely to give a demo a chance, or look up a myspace profile.

Any upcoming release(s) you’d like to plug?
we have a pretty exciting spring. Maria Taylor’s new album ‘Lynn Teeter Flower’ and Bright Eyes’ single ‘Four Winds’ are both out March 6th. Bright Eyes’ full length ‘Cassadaga’ comes out on April 10th.

Download: The Faint – “Worked Up So Sexual”, Maria Taylor – “A Good Start”, Bright Eyes – Tourist Trap

 

Download: New Bright Eyes Song "Tourist Trap"

From Saddle Creek Records: Bright Eyes announces US tour dates along with Four Winds single and Cassadaga CD/LP.
Cassadaga, the new full-length from Bright Eyes, will be released on April 10. The first single from the album, Four Winds, is set to be released as the Four Winds CD/12″ on March 6 and will include 5 exclusive b-sides.

Touring for Cassadaga and Four Winds will begin on February 25 in Chicago. A full list of dates is below. Tickets will go on sale January 25. This smaller tour will be followed by a full US tour in the spring.

Bright Eyes – Four Winds With the once revolving line-up of musicians settled on the three constants of Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott, Bright Eyes spent much of 2006 in the studio working on their follow-up to the acclaimed simultaneous releases Digital Ash in a Digital Urn and I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning. The first single from these sessions, “Four Winds”, is presented here along with 5 exclusive B-sides.

Retaining the simmering glow of its predecessors, Four Winds is full of the magic that brought Bright Eyes to international attention. Carefully played, deftly poetic and quietly enchanting, the release has a wandering country charm and all of the story-telling seductiveness of earlier work.

Four Winds and Cassadaga were recorded in various studios in New York City, Los Angeles, Portland, OR and Lincoln, NE. The sessions included a host of guest performers including M.Ward, David Rawlings, Gillian Welch and Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney.

Tour Dates:
Sun-Feb-25, Chicago, IL, Metro
Tue-Feb-27, Toronto, ON, Opera House
Wed-Feb-28, Somerville, MA, Somerville Theatre
Fri-Mar-02, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
Sat-Mar-03, New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
Mon-Mar-05, Washington, DC, 9:30 Club
Wed-Mar-07, Los Angeles, CA, El Rey
Thu-Mar-08, Los Angeles, CA. El Rey
Fri-Mar-09, San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
Sat-Mar-10, San Francisco, CA, Great American Music Hall
Sun-Mar-11, Seattle, WA, Showbox

Download: Bright Eyes – Tourist Trap

 

Rock Sellout Christmas: Bright Eyes

Bright Eyes’ version of the Billy Hayes and Jay Johnson classic “Blue Christmas” is available on A Christmas Album. The internet only album is available for download on the Saddle Creek Records site. All proceeds to benefit the Nebraska AIDS Project.

Click here for details.

Download: Bright Eyes – “Blue Christmas”

 

Videophile: Two Gallants – The Prodigal Son

From the fine folks at Saddle Creek Records…