Residency at Threes Brewing

Very excited to announce that we'll be taking up residence at Threes Brewing on the first four thursdays in the month of September. We've got some amazing musicians, comedians, and dancers lined up so let's get to it: 

EACH WEEK: at 7:30 PM, "In Limbo," a 30 min piece by GB for 4 cassettes

SEPTEMBER 1: MUSIC + DANCE: Alex Morris, Zachary Cale, Ellen Askonas/Trees Take Ease, Wilder Maker

SEPTEMBER 8: MUSIC + COMEDY: Matt Strickland, Brett Davis, Lorelai Ramirez, Lane Moore, Star Rover, Wilder Maker

SEPTEMBER 15: MUSIC + COMEDY Josh Gondelman, Aparna Nancherla, Phoebe Robinson, Sue Smith, Matt Strickland, Drama Section, Wilder Maker

SEPTEMBER 22: MUSIC + DANCE Relatives, Wilder Maker, The Lovelies

see u there, darlings

post-tour hello

Thank you all for coming out and making that solo tour a really amazing and welcoming experience, eating some of the best brussels sprouts I've ever had at Company Brewing in MKE or getting told that I don't play the saxophone like an asshole, even though I COULD (s/o to Columbus, OH). 

We're going to be laying a little low as we finish up this next record, but I'll be making sure you hear it as soon as humanly possible!

SOLO TOUR

Lemons --------------------------> Lemonade

Come see me play solo WM and other songs at the following spots:

and then the full band finale:

The bills are great, the bands are great, and the times will be heady. Would love to see you out there. 

 

<3 GB

Welcome 2016

We have big plans for this year. But first, a smaller plan: a show. 

ONE. On January 14th, we're hitting the wonderful Union Pool with our pals Pavo Pavo and Buck Meek (featuring his new live band, which is full of superstars). 

FACEBOOK ATTEND, IF YOU'RE INTO THAT KIND OF THING

TWO. I'd also like to take a minute to point out a kind little notice for EC 2 & 3 from our friend, the great songwriter Will Stratton: 

Gabe Birnbaum and his band redefine Americana as a genre, making it more expressive and subtle in the process. Volume 2 is as neat and tidy as Volume 3 is refracted and broken, reminding me of the transition Big Star made from #1 Record and Radio City into Third.

Anytime anyone says Big Star and Wilder Maker in the same breath, I'm a happy man. Read Will's full best of 2015 list here, and buy his albums here.

THREE. As for those big plans, well, what is it they say? Man plans and god laughs? Let's just say that within the calendar year or so, there will be an awful lot of new Wilder Maker recorded, and hopefully you'll have access to it.

 

WE TOUR; YOU WIN

  • 9.27 - New York, NY @ Elvis Guesthouse - FACEBOOK
  • 9.30 - New York, NY @ Columbia University
  • 10.2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie - FACEBOOK
  • 10.3 - Richmond, VA @ Hardywood Brewery - FACEBOOK
  • 10.4 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter - FACEBOOK
  • 10.5 - Raleigh, NC @ Neptune's - FACEBOOK 
  • 10.6 - Charleston, SC @ Royal American
  • 10.7 - Athens, GA @ Normaltown Hall - FACEBOOK
  • 10.8 - Nashville, TN @ The 5 Spot
  • 10.9 - St Louis, MO @ Layla
  • 10.10 - Chicago, IL @ Observatory Studios - FACEBOOK 
  • 10.11 - Milwaukee, WI @ Sprecher Brewery (daytime) 
  • 10.11 - Milwaukee, WI @ Boone & Crockett (nighttime)
  • 10.12 - Cincinnati, OH @ The Comet
  • 10.13 - Oberlin, OH @ Oberlin College
  • 10.14 - Columbus, OH @ Rumba Cafe
  • 10.15 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Founders Brewing Co
  • 10.16 - Rochester, NY @ Abilenes
  • 10.17 - Princeton, NJ @ Princeton University

Wherever you see these, you'll find us: 

"Relief" Video premieres on CMJ!

Very stoked to be back on CMJ.com today, premiering the new WM music video for relief: 

Beautifully shot and conceived by Evan Cohen and his team, the video is patient and lovely, relying on polaroid photos developing in real time on screen alongside the action. Very happy to share it with you today. And tonight we play at Alphaville in Bushwick alongside our friends new project CVS at Night. 


God Bless The Hunger

Most of you probably know this, but in 2011 we put this record out under a different name. It features some of the folks involved in WM today, and some who have moved on or were just passing through. It was the first time I'd ever recorded with Elio, or sung with Katie, two things that have come to define a lot of what WM does as a band. The seeds of it are all here. 

I still remember, we had about 4 hours to track the (unnecessarily complicated) horn charts I'd written for 9 of the songs. We raced madly through the whole thing, and when we'd somehow made it (even though the part on Of Cowboys had wound up taking out like half of that time) and everyone had walked out the door of the shop, Elio just handed me a flask of whiskey. 

Then at some point I did an interpretive dance in the live room to guide David Bentley's cello part on GBTH the song. 

Anyway, I just put it all back up on soundcloud today. Stream away! It's quite likely new to you. 

or buy it here!