The Parson Red Heads relocate and release tour-only EP
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If you’ve spent any time in the Silver Lake/Echo Park axis over the last half decade, chances are you’ve seen the Parson Red Heads. They’re hard to miss, an all-white-costumed crew who have, over the years, swelled to as many as eight people, looking like a cross between Danielson Famile and the Partridge Family, and playing sun-soaked and serene tunes that touched on the Beachwood Sparks and the usual Laurel Canyon suspects (The Byrds, Fleetwood Mac, CSNY).
Their live shows ran the gamut between drowsy folk-tinged acoustic sets and unruly psychedelic guitar workouts. The band played early, often and everywhere, with residencies at Spaceland, the Echo, and Silverlake Lounge that evidenced a visible joy that distinguished them from the often ultra-serious swarm of indie bands. Lamentably, the jubilation and jams will be far less frequent in these parts, with the band’s core trio of Evan Way (guitars, vocals), his wife, Brett Marie Way (drums, vocals), and Sam Fowles (guitar, vocals) announcing that they will be relocating back to their native Oregon.
The band’s departure statement cited the cheaper rents of Portland and the “closeness to numerous musicians there that will help them continue to explore their art and keep them on the road.” Among their confederates in Portland include childhood friends, the Sub Pop-signed Blitzen Trapper.
Of late, the band has been recording the followup full-length to 2007’s “King Giraffe,” with a release date expected sometime in the fourth quarter. In the interim, they’re releasing a tour-only EP consisting of three old songs originally written in 2003 and 2004 that the band touched up and re-recorded, in addition to a new tune. The EP will be only available at the band’s five-week summer tour (dates here) alongside Cotton Jones and Roadside Graves.
The lone local appearance will be on Aug. 17 at the Echo. It promises to be their last L.A. date for a while, so stock up on your white suits and tambourines. It is before Labor Day, after all.
DOWLOADS:
MP3: The Parson Red Heads -- “Choose”
MP3: The Parson Red Heads -- “You Can Leave It”
MP3: The Parson Red Heads -- “Got It All”
MP3: The Parson Red Heads -- “Knew a Young Girl”
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