[CMJ 2010] Bad Books @ Bowery Ballroom10/20/2010

Next stop was Bad Books at Bowery Ballroom. This was their first public appearance and the guys seemed to have more fun on stage than the fans did! Lots of cracking jokes and fun covers, including Built To Spill ("The Plan"). If you thought the record had a lot of energy, well wait till you see them live! I must admit, it took some getting used to seeing Kevin Devine amongst the Manchester guys, probably about two songs, but after that it was like they've always belonged together. That includes how tight they sounded, too. Nothing sloppy from what I could tell (granted, I don't know the album inside and out...yet).

Make sure you check out their live acoustic performance from earlier on Wednesday if you haven't already.

You can check more photos here.

[Watch] Bad Books Live Acoustic Stream Today @ 1pm EDT

Andy Hull and Kevin Devine's Bad Books project released it's debut earlier this week and it's one hell of a listen. Both write moving tracks for the self titled album and the guitar work is nice. I'm sure there's a theremin thrown in for good measure on "You're A Mirror I Cannot Avoid" too. Andy's voice always gets to me I don't know what it is, it just sounds so haunted and full emotional. Every note he sings he sounds like he means it with all of his heart and that's most definitely a good thing. It's passion. If you're yet to get your hands on the album you can stream it in full over here thanks to Myspace. I'd advise you pick it up too if you have the cash (it's $2.99 if you act fast so it's not exactly a wedge!). 

For all you lovers of these guys they are doing an Acoustic Session today at 1pm ET (8pm GMT) and the session will also consist of a "chat". Maybe this chat will reveal some more details on how the whole album came about and the process they went through for writing the 5 songs each and piecing it together as this wonderful album. The live Session is a perfect watch for your lunch break and it's even better for me as I'll be at home, finished for the day with a beer in my hand. They are set to head out on the road this month and Andy and Kevin head out together in December. Dates after the jump.

TOUR DATES

10.20.10 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY
10.22.10 – T.T. The Bear’s Place – Cambridge, MA
10.23.10 – TheNorthStar Bar – Philadelphia, PA
10.24.10 – The Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
11.24.10 – The Stuffing @ The Center Stage Complex –Atlanta, GA

12.01.10 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC**
12.02.10 – New Brookland Tavern – West Columbia, SC**
12.03.10 – The 567 – Macon, GA**
12.04.10 – The Social –Orlando, FL**
12.05.10 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL**

**Andy Hull & Kevin Devine

[Listen] Bad Books - 'Bad Books' Full Album

Earlier this month we introduced you to the new project from Andy Hull and Kevin Devine who with a little help from the rest of Manchester Orchestra are better known as Bad Books. We only had a few tracks to go off of but now, with their album due out next week digitally (19th October) and on CD/Vinyl next month (9th November) via Favourite Gentleman, they have made it available for stream in full on their Myspace. Take a listen to it in all its glory below. Head on over to the official site to pick yourself up a copy and watch out for them when they hit the road later this month.

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[Listen x Download] Bad Books - "Please Move" x "You Wouldn't Have To Ask"

When I first heard that there was an Andy Hull and Kevin Devine were organising a side project I nearly exploded. Then add to this the fact the backing music is made up of the rest of Manchester Orchestra, I was pretty excited and realised this project was going to be pretty special. The band in question have been named, Bad Books and they formed by accident and with no real plan to write a full length album. The pair had toured together for years within the Favourite Gentleman circle of bands. The fully realised album will comprise of five compositions each from both Devine and Hull.

 

Songs have been floating around the internet for a while now and if you were looking for them, no doubt you found them. However as the time grows ever nearer to them releasing there first album on the 18th of October via Favourite Gentleman. In turn the band have been throwing together a load of limited edition vinyl releases and Andy also put out some solo tracks. The band even put together a extremely limited run of deluxe packages containing a hollowed out book, yellow vinyl and a unique polaroid from the band. This package sold out almost immediately! ( I was a little bummed to say the least!)

If you head on over to the official site you can download yourself another track called "You Wouldn't Have To Ask" as well as the track below "Please Move". If you were to pre-order the album you get another track entitled "Holding Down The Laughter"! So what are you waiting for...go and treat yourself to some amazing new music and keep an eye out for them when they head out on the road later this month.

Bad Books - "Please Move" by Some Kind of Awesome