Purple Mountains (AKA David Berman) Takes Over Drag City’s Instagram, Debut Album Out Now, Tour Launches This Week

Purple Mountains (AKA David Berman) Takes Over Drag City’s Instagram, Debut Album Out Now, Tour Launches This Week


It’s time for a takeover! Drag City Records has handed the keys to its Instagram account over to Purple Mountains (AKA David Berman) for the day. The poet/singer-songwriter is posting some far out things over there. The takeover comes in lead up to Purple Mountains’ inaugural tour of North America, which kicks off this week. Purple Mountains’ majestic self-titled debut is out now. You can find some sample tracks below.

This isn’t the first time Drag City has let one of its artists take the reins of its Instagram. Back in February, Ty Segall took it over to promote Deforming Lobes. He posted images of his dog Fanny, cat Bug, a photo of his 7th grade self and some wacky videos. And last July, Red Crayon’s Mayo Thompson had some fun promoting his book Art, Mystery on the account.

As for David Berman and his new project, Purple Mountains, it’s been a longtime coming. In 2009, Berman, who was then recording music under the moniker Silver Jews, announced he was getting out of the music game. The news was devastating for fans. However, things began to look up last year. Berman came out his self-imposed retirement to work on Yonatan Gat’s second solo album Universalists. Berman earned a co-producer credit on the adventurous record, which is one of the most exciting albums of 2018.

Purple Mountains Album CoverNow, here we are halfway through 2019, and Berman has gone a step further, delivering 10 finely tuned tracks recorded and packaged under a new nom de plume, Purple Mountains. The record is Berman at his best. An LP of country-rock songs birthed from Berman’s endearing wit and sardonicism, Purple Mountains is undoubtedly one of the best albums of 2019. The Woods’ Jarvis Taveniere and Jeremy Earle served as producers on the record.

Surprisingly, Berman has done a fair amount of press for the new project. He’s spoken with the Washington Post, UPROXX, exclaim, and Aquarium Drunkard over the last couple months. He also did an AMA on Reddit where he answered questions about his favorite comedian, when he last saw Stephen Malkmus, his comb-over and more. Today, we find Berman expressing himself on Drag City’s Instagram with old photos of him and pals Will Oldham (AKA Bonnie “Prince” Billy) and Harmony Korine, and goofy images. We included a couple below. You can check out the rest here.

Purple Mountains’ tour kicks off on Saturday, August 10 with a set at Huichica East in Kingston, New York. He then headlines White Eagle Hall in New Jersey on Sunday, August 11, and comes back through New York at the end of the month for two nights at Murmrr Theatre in Brooklyn. All his North American tour dates are below.

As for getting your ears on the new album, head over to the Drag City Records’ website for details.

 

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PURPLE MOUNTAINS TOUR DATES:
8/10/19 Huichica East Kingston NY
8/11/19 White Eagle Hall Jersey City NJ
8/12/19 World Cafe Live Philadelphia PA
8/14/19 Black Cat Washington DC
8/15/19 The Grey Eagle Asheville NC
8/16/19 Pilot Light Knoxville TN
8/17/19 Mercy Lounge Nashville TN
8/19/19 Zanzabar Louisville KY
8/20/19 Duck Room at Blueberry Hill St. Louis MO
8/21/19 The Mill Iowa City IA*
8/23/19 Cedar Cultural Center Minneapolis MN^
8/24/19 Sleeping Village Chicago IL*
8/25/19 Sleeping Village Chicago IL
8/27/19 Lee’s Palace Toronto Ontario Canada
8/28/19 La Sala Rossa Montreal Quebec Canada
8/30/19 The Sinclair Cambridge MA
8/31/19 Murmrr Theatre Brooklyn NY
9/1/19 Murmrr Theatre Brooklyn NY
9/6/19 Hopscotch Festival Raleigh NC
9/13/19 Neptune Theatre Seattle WA
9/14/19 Huichica Walla Walla Walla Walla WA
9/15/19 Wonder Ballroom Portland OR
9/18/19 The Chapel San Francisco CA
9/19/19 The Chapel San Francisco CA
9/20/19 Fernwood Resort Big Sur CA*
9/22/19 The Lodge Room Los Angeles CA
9/23/19 The Lodge Room Los Angeles CA

*w/Bill MacKay
^w/ Axis: Sova

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