Hiss Golden Messenger has announced the release of his new LP Hallelujah Anyhow out September 22nd worldwide on Merge Records. Its ten new songs, penned by HGM principal M.C. Taylor, were recorded with Brad Cook, Phil Cook, Chris Boerner, Josh Kaufman, Darren Jessee, Michael Lewis, and Scott Hirsch. Alexandra Sauser-Monnig, Tift Merritt, Skylar Gudasz, Tamisha Waden, Mac McCaughan, and John Paul White provided vocal harmonies. Taylor penned his thoughts about the new LP below…
Hiss Golden Messenger have announced a fall headlining tour following summer festivals and three shows supporting Mumford & Sons. Tour dates below…
I’m from nowhere. That’s the way I feel about it now, right at this moment. Music took me and made me and gave me a purpose and I built my world with it, and now my geography is a musical one, forever. And when I break, when I think about running as far as I can, I remember that there is nothing that does me like music, and I might as well be a poor man in a world of my own devising. Hallelujah anyhow.
Rhythm? I learned it over twenty years in the back of rented vans, in attics and back rooms—hard places to get to, harder places to get out of. And now rhythm is my clock and I live by it. We all do. But it’ll kill you if you’re not careful. It might kill you even if you are. Hallelujah anyhow.
I see the dark clouds. I was designed to see them. They’re the same clouds of fear and destruction that have darkened the world since Revelations, just different actors. But this music is for hope. That’s the only thing I want to say about it. Love is the only way out. I’ve never been afraid of the darkness; it’s just a different kind of light. And if some days that belief comes harder than others, hallelujah anyhow.
Whatcha gonna do when the wall comes down?
When the wall comes down?
What you ought to do is let it lie—let it lie
And in the gathering darkness vow to never go back
It was built by man and you can tear it down
Tear it down, tear it down
Step back, Jack, from the darkness
I’ve seen darker things than night. Hallelujah anyhow.
—M.C. Taylor, July 2017
Hallelujah Anyhow tracklist:
1. Jenny of the Roses
2. Lost Out in the Darkness
3. Jaw
4. Harder Rain
5. I Am the Song
6. Gulfport You’ve Been on My Mind
7. John the Gun
8. Domino (Time Will Tell)
9. Caledonia, My Love
10. When the Wall Comes Down
Hiss Golden Messenger on tour:
Jul 26 Portland, ME – One Longfellow Square (solo performance)
Aug 5-6 Happy Valley, OR – Pickathon
Aug 12-13 Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Folk Festival
Aug 26 Arrington, VA – Lockn’ Music Festival
Sep 14 Nashville, TN – Americanafest
Sep 15-17 Bristol, VA – Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion
Sep 16-17 Atlanta, GA – Midtown Music Festival
Sep 19 Miami, FL – American Airlines Arena*
Sep 20 Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena*
Sep 21 Orlando, FL – Amway Center*
Oct 20 Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
Oct 21 Louisville, KY – Zanzabar
Oct 22 Indianapolis, IN – The Hi-Fi
Oct 23 St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
Oct 24 Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
Oct 26 St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
Oct 29 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
Oct 30 Denver, CO – The Bluebird Theater
Nov 02 Seattle, WA – Tractor Tavern
Nov 03 Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore Cabaret
Nov 04 Bellingham, WA – The Shakedown
Nov 05 Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater
Nov 07 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Nov 08 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
Nov 10 Phoenix, AZ – Valley Bar
Nov 11 Tucson, AZ – Club Congress
Nov 14 Austin, TX – Barracuda
Nov 15 Dallas, TX – Club Dada
Nov 16 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
Nov 17 New Orleans, LA – Tipitina’s
Nov 18 Birmingham, AL – Saturn
Nov 19 Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
Dec 06 Boston, MA – The Sinclair
Dec 07 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Dec 08 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Dec 09 Philadelphia, PA – World Café Live
* w/ Mumford & Sons
