“The title comes from the boyhood home of my favorite character in my favorite book,David Copperfield,” says singer/songwriter STEPHEN KELLOGG of his new album BLUNDERSTONE ROOKERY. Like the Charles Dickens’ novel, Kellogg’s album is a largely autobiographical collection of serials, seen through the eyes of a very observant protagonist.
Set for release on June 18 on Elm City Music which was founded by Michael Caplan, Blunderstone Rookery is Kellogg’s third solo album, and first since his critically-acclaimed band The Sixers took a break last Fall. “In November of 2012, my band of the last ten years decided to take a hiatus,” he explains. “We performed our final show at Webster Hall in New York City for three hours and said goodbye for now. 2012 also took with it my mother-in-law and my grandmother, Most of this happened in late Spring, when my house was under renovation. The foundation was still there, but the house was literally ripped apart. Some metaphor, huh? The musical result of this tumultuous period is Blunderstone Rookery.”
The album kicks off with the acoustic lilt of “Lost and Found” about the eternal search for identity, and traipses to the lo-fi tonk of “The Brain Is A Beautiful Thing”, to the tender piano ballad “I Don’t Want To Die On The Road”, to the warm melody of the first single “Crosses”. The first-released track “Thanksgiving”, is a contemplative song that USA TODAY calls “an American coming-of-age tale [that], over the course of 10 minutes, transforms into something grander, sadder and more redemptive.” USA TODAY premiered the song and video which can be seen here: http://usat.ly/XBU9RF
Prior to the release of the album, Kellogg will kick off a national solo acoustic tour in listening rooms across the USA, starting in Northampton, MA on April 25th and moving right into the release of the record in June (tour dates below).
Produced by Kellogg and and his longtime musical collaborator Kit Karlson, Blunderstone Rookery was mixed by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk) and mastered by Bob Ludwig. It was recorded in his current hometown of Bridgeport, CT, because, as he says, “after making the last few in Los Angeles and New York, I really wanted to work on home turf.” Continuing on the very personal tone of the record, he recruited a number of his friends including Travis McNabb and Annie Clements of Sugarland, Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, Jerry DePizzo from OAR.
“I loved working on Blunderstone Rookery more than I’ve ever album I’ve ever made and it’s my ninth studio effort,” he says proudly. “It was a fresh process – one that began with the exciting notion, ‘what if I say exactly what I want to say’ and ended with me handing my father a vinyl copy to add to his record collection.” Blunderstone Rookery began with and ends with family, not unlike David Copperfield.
TOUR DATES
Apr 25 – Iron Horse – Northampton, MA (w/ The Alternate Routes)
Apr 30 – Mucky Duck – Houston, TX (w/ The Alternate Routes)
May 01 – Cactus Cafe – Austin, TX (w/ The Alternate Routes)
May 03 – Club Dada – Dallas, TX (w/ The Alternate Routes)
May 04 – Soiled Dove – Denver, CO (w/ The Alternate Routes)
May 05 – eTown Hall – Boulder, CO (w/ The Alternate Routes)
May 08 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 10 – Coconino Center for the Arts – Flagstaff, AZ (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 11 – Lestats – San Diego, CA (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 12 – Hotel Cafe – Los Angeles, CA (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 14 – Freight and Salvage – San Francisco, CA (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 17 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 18 – The Royal Room – Seattle, WA (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 19 – The Railway Club – Vancouver, BC (w/ Rebecca Pidgeon)
May 30 – Dakota – Minneapolis, MN (w/ Milow)
May 31 – The Frequency – Madison, WI (w/ Milow)
Jun 01 – Seven Steps Up – Spring Lake, MI (w/ Milow)
Jun 02 – Space – Evanston, IL (w/ Milow)
Jun 03 – Flying Mango – Des Moines, IA (w/ Milow)
Jun 05 – Red Cat Cafe – Birmingham, AL (w/ Milow)
Jun 06 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA (w/ Milow)
Jun 07 – Evening Muse – Charlotte, NC (w/ Milow)
Jun 08 – Ashland Coffee Company – Ashland, VA (w/ Milow)
Jun 10 – Jammin Java – Vienna, VA (w/ Seth Glier)
Jun 11 – Tin Angel – Philadelphia, PA (w/ Seth Glier)
Jun 13 – New Hope Winery – New Hope, PA (w/ Seth Glier)
Jun 14 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York, NY (w/ Seth Glier)
Jun 15 – Linda Norris – Albany, NY (w/ Seth Glier)
