Jesse released his first album of all instrumental compositions this week. The album features Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, Rob Burger on keys, Eivind Opsvik on bass and CJ Camerieri on trumpet and Jesse on guitar. It’s available direct from the Undertow Store, Amazon and iTunes.

Cotton Jones will be on tour in the USA September 22 – October 15
Please come out and say hello! Tour dates are here.

Jesse recorded a new version of his song “The Secret Sun” for Corona’s “Find Your Beach” campaign. The spots will be running for the next few months during NFL games, SNL, The Daily Show, Jimmy Fallon, and MLB Games.

Pay what you want for the new Shadows on a River EP, out now exclusively on bandcamp.com.  While you’re there you can also pickup their full-length debut LP for the same whatever-you-can-afford price.

We’re excited to announce Rocky Votolato’s headlining tour this fall with Ha Ha Tonka!  For more information including ticket links click here.

Sept 9 : Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge ##
Sept 17 : Victoria, BC – Olio Cooperative
Sept 18 : Vancouver, BC – Waves on Howe
Sept 25 : Seattle, WA – Q Cafe (One Day’s Wages benefit show)
Oct 01 : Oswego, NY – Sheldon Ballroom
Oct 14 : Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock **
Oct 15 : Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen **
Oct 16 : Kalamazoo, MI – The Strutt **
Oct 17 : Pontiac, MI – Pike Room **
Oct 18 : Toronto, ON – The Drake Hotel **
Oct 20 : Allston, MA – Great Scott **
Oct 21 : Teaneck, NJ – Mexicali Live **
Oct 22 : Philadelphia, PA – M Room **
Oct 23 : Washington DC – The Red Palace **
Oct 24 : Richmond, VA – The Camel **
Oct 26 : Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 **
Oct 27 : Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade **
Oct 28 : Orlando, FL – The Backbooth **
Oct 29 : Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits **
Nov 01 : Birmingham, AL – BottleTree **
Nov 02 : Nashville, TN – Exit/In **
Nov 03 : Memphis, TN – Hi-Tone Cafe **
Nov 04 : Little Rock, AR – Juanita’s Cantina **
Nov 05 : Austin, TX – Emo’s (Indoor) **
Nov 06 : Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves **
Nov 07 : Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory **
Nov 09 : St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway **
Nov 10 : Lawrence, KS – Jackpot Music Hall **

## = w/ David Bazan
** = w/ Ha Ha Tonka

We are happy to announce that Will Johnson and Anders Parker will continue their House Show Tour on the west coast.

These will be a totally acoustic (no sound system) shows hosted by fans in their homes. Limited to only 30-40 tickets per show.

Please help us spread the news about these shows if you have friends that live in any of these towns.

Tickets on sale now.

Thursday, Sept 16 : Seattle WA
Friday, Sept 17 : Seattle WA
Saturday, Sept 18 : Portland OR
Tuesday, Sept 21 : Oakland, CA
Wednesday, Sept 22 : San Francisco CA
Thursday, Sept 23 : Los Angeles CA Area
Friday, Sept 24 : Los Angeles CA
Saturday, Sept 25 : Guerneville, CA
Sunday, Sept 26 : Reno NV
Tuesday, Sept 28 : Corvallis OR
Wednesday, Sept 29 : Portland OR

BUY TICKETS

As always, thanks for your continued support. We really appreciate it.

Beginning in March of 2010, Monahans started releasing a new song each month for the remainder of the year. Each recording will be made available in mp3 format, and announced to fans and members of our email list and other media networks (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc). In addition to the songs themselves, you may also expect to see video footage, photos from the studio, album art and liner notes along the way, as a means to provide a little more insight into the process as it unfolds over the course of the year.

These recordings will be FREE downloads for the time being, but may be released as a collection for purchase in various formats at a later date.  Visit:  http://www.monahans.net/sub_record_downloads.html

Good summer to ya’ from the banks of the Colorado. Happy to report on some things here in the camp that should make for a solid second half of the summer.

NEW EP:
There’s a new release coming up for September. “Eyas” is comprised of seven additional songs (six previously unreleased) we recorded during the Dual Hawks sessions, including our take on Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”. Matt Pence has floored us again with his documenting, mixing and mastering, and the release will feature our old friend Mark Ray’s artwork. Songs included on this one are:

Christmas ’83
No, They Ain’t Mine
Cracking Of The Seal
Liquidation Heart
Water 4 Legs And Lungs
Inhabitants
All Night Long

WILL J./ELLIOTT McPHERSON ART SHOW IN BIRMINGHAM, AL:
Elliott McPherson and I will have an art opening on Sat. August 7th at The Bottletree in Birmingham, Alabama. Elliott plays guitar and sings for one of my long running favorite bands, The Dexateens. He is also an upstanding gentleman and master cabinet craftsman. During his free time he builds beautiful light boxes and shadow boxes. I’m bringing a few new baseball paintings I made earlier this year. One is of Dock Ellis tripping real hard on acid en route to throwing his no-hitter in 1970. The reception is from 5-8pm, and the show will be up through August 31st. Music later that night includes The Glory Fires and Henry Dunkle. Elliott’s art can be seen HERE.

Also, Barry Wittenstein’s piece on current doin’s in the baseball art world was released July 14 on mlb.com. He kindly included a couple of my paintings in the gallery. The article is HERE.

NEW WILL J. TEXAS SOLO SHOWS:
Wednesday August 11th – Dallas, TX/Renfield’s Corner. This show begins at 10pm sharp w/ no opener. This is a unique and new territory for one of our shows, and to make things better it is also a FREE show. No admission will be charged this night.

Thursday August 12th – Austin, TX/The Ghost Room w/ Austin Collins (solo).

NEW CENTRO-MATIC SHOW:
Centro-matic will be reuniting with our old friends The Toadies at the annual Dia De Los Toadies Festival on Sat. August 28th. We are elated about these circumstances for rock and roll communion. This year it’s in New Braunfels, TX at Whitewater On The Horseshoe and also includes Black Joe Lewis And The Honeybears, Heartless Bastards, Sleepercar and a bunch of other great bands. Come out early for sufficient swimming, maximum farmer tan opportunities. More info right HERE.

LIVING ROOM EXPERIMENT GOES WEST:
Anders Parker and I will be heading out on another acoustic living room tour in September. The eastward springtime jaunt brought us so much unbridled joy that we had to see what the west might have in store. Dates will be announced soon.

THANK YOU, ANIMIC:
Thanks to my Catalan friends, Animic for the musical treasure shared last month. We all convened in the village of Collbato, rehearsed up a bunch of music for four shows, and it yielded some big and enjoyable sounds. There is a full documentary in the works on this project. I’m thankful for the friendships forged and the songs shared. Check out their music and sonic offerings HERE.

Thanks for the time and hopefully we’ll see you out there soon. Harvey Pekar, may you rest in peace.

-Will J