Adam Levy & The Coming Collapse
w. Humbird & Jeremy Ylvisaker
Saturday, October 6th
7pm Doors || 8pm Show
$10 advance || $13 Door
Felt art by Charlie Van Stee
Adam Levy is regarded by many to be one of the great American songwriters of his era. His newest solo endeavor might be his best and most original work to date. Levy is probably best known for his 20+ years of work as lead singer-songwriter for The Honeydogs. Levy's songwriting has always been musically expansive, exploring styles as diverse as American roots music, psychedelia, soul, world, jazz, and classical music. His lyrics have always been thoughtful, literary and provocative, and have garnered him international critical accolades and fans. Adam's wry wit and incisive lyrics are wrapped inside layers of deceptively beautiful melodies and hooks that come to life with his signature great guitar work. Paste Magazine once said Levy's songwriting captured "the zeitgeist of our time."
His lyrics reflect his years in social work, commitment to social justice issues and lifelong interest in history, culture and political matters. This has distinguished Adam among his peers as a singer-songwriter, blending the great traditions of pop and American folk music into something unique and timeless. Levy has also embarked on a slew of side-projects in the last 5 years: electronic experimental music with Liminal Phase, orchestral chamber pop with And The Professors, children's music with Bunny Clogs, '60s and '70s soul and funk with Hookers $ Blow, and early-mid 20th century jazz with Rose Room.
In 2012 Levy lost his son, Daniel Levy (an amazing visual artist), to suicide after a lengthy struggle with mental illness. Levy released a solo record called Naubinway (2015) in which he explores his son’s struggle, mental illness, death and he and his family’s grief around Daniel’s death. Critical response has been resoundingly positive: Powerpopoholic calls Naubinway “the most heartbreaking record in years.” Germany’s Pop Matters calls it “one of the best records of the decade,” and No Depression calls it “an unassuming, auspicious accomplishment.” Levy is now touring, performing and speaking to people around the country to help reduce the stigma of mental illness and to help reduce suicides.
After traversing 5 continents and 20 countries with only a guitar and a backpack, Humbird returns home to sing songs from the edge of the world. Combining a wintry longing with the warmth of a familiar folktale, Humbird stretches traditional genres of folk and Americana to embrace the unexpected. This music invites a refreshing dissonance into the house, it leaves breadcrumbs along the path and reflects light back at the stars.
Creating music out of a mosaic of influences like Joni Mitchell, Bon Iver and Bill Frisell, Humbird weaves it all together with powerful lyrics and a stubborn pursuit of the sound of the North. The release of Humbird’s double EP Elsewhere and Where Else in Summer 2017 is just the beginning.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD
Jeremy Ylvisaker is an independent songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and teacher living in south Minneapolis. He is one of the stars in a constellation of local musicians and artists that partner with each other in a variety of music projects including Andrew Bird, Dosh, Guitar Party, The Cloak Ox, Gramma's Boyfriend and Alpha Consumer.
Adept at a wildly diverse range of styles, he is influenced by Minnesota musicians including Prince (for his groovy, free-styling guitar like Jimi Hendrix), Bob Dylan (for his singing styles that illuminate lyrics that reveal interesting stories), Michael Larsen (EYEDEA), and Martin Dosh (for his multi-layering rhythms). The collision of different musical influences fire Jeremy’s imagination from lo-fi experimental, contrapuntal-Afro rhythmic music, and noise rock – all of which reside under the umbrella of Indie-rock. He uses the K.I.S.S. method while songwriting: keep it simple, silly. The best songs embed musical styles and influences into a single, simple musical expression.