LA songstress Eleni Mandell, known for her captivating, intelligent songwriter and smoky, sultry vocals, as well as being a third of indie folk supergroup The Living Sisters, has announced tour dates for her eighth solo album, I Can See the Future, slated for release on July 10th via target="_blank">Yep Roc Records. The tour will kick off with a hometown CD release show on July 10 at Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and will take her across the US through the end of August. For a complete list of dates, see below.
Set for release July 10 on her new label, Yep Roc Records, I Can See the Future is a wonderful summer jam with its ’60s am radio pop sound — Bacharach meets Jimmy Webb — embellished with string arrangements and horns. Whether she sings of dying embers or smoldering passion, a warm glow imbues the music throughout — all 13 of these new songs are marked by the wry humor and lyrical economy that have long made her work so striking, as well as the tasteful, empathetic arrangements and timeless songcraft that’s always characterized her work.
Produced by Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, The Strokes, White Stripes), the two put together a impressive group of players for the sessions. Their combined dream teams yielded a variety of instrumental flavors that complement and frame Mandell’s dreamy, understated singing. The pedal steel guitar of Greg Leisz helps paint the Southwestern imagery of "Desert Song," saxophonist Steve Berlin (Los Lobos) burnishes the soulful contours of "Who You Gonna Dance With," and Benji Hughes plays Lee Hazlewood to Eleni’s Nancy Sinatra on the rambling "Never Have To Fall In Love Again." Joey Waronker plays drums throughout, including the brushed snares of the jazzy "So Easy." Mandell’s colleagues from vocal trio the Living Sisters contribute backing vocals throughout, while the string and horn arrangements of Bright Eyes’ Nathaniel Walcott lend a classic pop sensibility to tunes like "Magic Summertime" and "I’m Lucky."
Eleni has created an impressive body of work over the last decade. Her critically acclaimed solo albums, characterized by her sultry, airy vocals, languid LA noir persona and sophisticated songwriting and arrangements have had critics drawing comparisons to Elvis Costello, PJ Harvey, Feist, Chrissie Hynde, Joni Mitchell, Talking Heads and Television. As a member of the LA songwriting scene, she is also a member of The Living Sisters along with Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and Inara George (The Bird and the Bee).
Eleni Mandell 2012 Tour Dates
* with David Dondero
TU 7/10 – LOS ANGELES, CA @ HOTEL CAFÉ CD RELEASE SHOW
TU 7/17 – PHILADELPHIA, PA @ WORLD CAFÉ LIVE
WE 7/18 – ANNAPOLIS, MD @ METROPOLITAN KITCHEN & LOUNGE
TH 7/19 – ARLINGTON, VA @ IOTA CAFE
FR 7/20 – NYC, NY @ JOE’S PUB
SA 7/21 – CAMBRIDGE, MA @ CLUB PASSIM
TU 7/24 – ASHEVILLE, NC @ GREY EAGLE
WE 7/25 – CHAPEL HILL, NC @ LOCAL 506
TH 7/26 – ATLANTA, GA @ THE EARL
FR 7/27 – NASHVILLE, TN @ THE BASEMENT
SA 7/28 – BLOOMNGTON, IN @ THE BISHOP
SU 7/29 – CHICAGO, IL @ ACE BAR
WE 8/01 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ 7TH ST. ENTRY
FR 8/02 – IOWA CITY, IA @ THE MILL
SA 8/04 – KANSAS CITY, MO @ DAVEY’S UPTOWN RAMBLERS CLUB
SU 8/19 – SEATTLE, WA @ TRACTOR TAVERN *
TU 8/21 – PORTLAND, OR @ MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS
TH 8/23 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ CAFÉ DU NORD *
FR 8/24 – SANTA BARBARA, CA @ MUDDY WATERS *
TH 10/11 – CARRBORO, NC @ CAT’S CRADLE "YEP ROC 15TH ANNIVERSARY
