Rachael Sage Sets DELANCEY STREET US Tour Dates, Album Released Digitally 4/20
By: Mary Hanrahan Mar. 25, 2010
Singer/songwriter/producer Rachael Sage has confirmed a major U.S. tour to coincide with her ninth CD, ‘Delancey Street'. With 32 cities confirmed so far, Sage's tour will traverse the nation as her album is released digitally on April 20th and via brick-and-mortar on May 18th. Listen to a streaming audio sampler of the MPress Records release, here: http://www.sethcohenpr.com/player/rachaelsage/.
Sage infuses her album with warmth and wit, as she weaves an introspective tapestry of a gypsy seeking a home. Featuring an atmospheric, art-rock sound reminiscent of the idiosyncratic work of Kate Bush, Sage's ‘Delancey Street' depicts one of NYC's notable downtown thoroughfares as a metaphor for heartbreak. Once known as the main shopping district on the Jewish Lower East Side, most traces of its former character have vanished in recent years. Sage observes, "I think what often happens to a historic neighborhood over time sort of mirrors the fading of a romance. The qualities that once drew you to someoNe You love - their soulfulness, their intelligence - can gradually erode...and it's not always easy to put your finger on exactly how or why."
The album is a musical exploration of identity...of cultural heritage, family history, and how where we come from shapes the paths we ultimately take in life. Drawing inspiration from her own immigrant Jewish heritage as a creative starting point, Sage has written 11 original compositions for the CD, and also includes an inspired cover of the Hall & Oates classic, ‘Rich Girl'. A twelfth song, Sage's understated rendition of ‘Fame', is offered as an iTunes exclusive Bonus Track.
Highlights include the uptempo pop treat ‘Big Star', the lush ‘Everything Was Red', the cinematic ‘How I Got By' and the wistful ‘Wasn't It You'. Sage features both long-time collaborators and some new faces, including guitarist James Mastro (Ian Hunter), renowned bassist Will Lee (David Letterman), cellist Dave Eggar (Coldplay, The Who), guitarist Jack Petruzelli (Rufus Wainwright), organist Jon Loyd (Gavin DeGraw), and percussionist/vocalist Everett Bradley (Hall & Oates). Sage previewed the forthcoming release last week at SXSW's MPressFest, an event which the Examiner.com syndicate described as one of the ‘winners' of SXSW.
In December, Sage celebrated the biggest hometown show of her career - a holiday event at NYC's Joe's Pub, 'Tchatchkes & Latkes!', which earned her notable coverage in The NY Times, New York Magazine, Time Out NY, NY Daily News and elsewhere. The performance featured Sage's trademark theatricality, a trait she showcases on 'Delancey Street'. Leaving aside set lists in favor of a more spontaneous approach, every show she performs combines top-notch musicianship with hilarious between-song banter, what The New York Times recently dubbed Sage's "inner Fanny Brice". These qualities will be front and center as Sage tours the country behind the release.
More about Rachael Sage:
The award-winning singer/pianist/performer mixes extraordinary musicality and an affinity for on-stage improvisation with a savvy business mind - she founded and runs MPress Records, she produces her albums, regularly tours over 150 dates per year, has built an impressive international following, and is an advocate for numerous causes.
A musical gypsy, Sage has spent the better part of the last decade releasing albums and circling the globe in support of an impressive repertoire of original material. Mentored by such seminal artists as Eric Burdon, John Lee Hooker, Judy Collins and Colin Hay, Sage has steadily built a passionate fan base, prompting Performing Songwriter Magazine to name her "One of the Top 100 Independent Artists Of The Past 15 Years".
The two-time Independent Music Award winner and multiple OutMusic Award recipient is a prolific artist who has nonetheless learned the hard way that constant creative output and productivity don't necessarily lead to fulfillment. "I'm really lucky to have a handful of amazing friends and a partner I've been with now for several years...but traveling so much, it's always an ongoing challenge to sustain relationships. Balance has definitely never been my forte", Sage admits.
Sage, who has a degree in Drama from Stanford and has studied at The School of American Ballet, has been writing songs since she was barely able to reach the piano keys.
Rachael Sage on Tour:
Mar 27 Knitting Factory Brooklyn, NY
Apr. 2 Café Nine (w/ Seth Glier) New Haven, CT
Apr. 3 Godfrey Daniels Bethlehem, PA
Apr. 6 Club Passim Cambridge, MA
Apr. 7 Eddie's Attic (w/ Danielle Howle) Decatur, GA
Apr. 8 The Evening Muse (w/ Danielle Howle) Charlotte, NC
Apr. 9 Acoustic Seen (w/ Danielle Howle) Greenville, SC
Apr. 10 WHQR Gallery, 7:30 pm (w/ Danielle Howle) Wilmington, NC
Apr. 12 The White Mule 8:00 pm (w/ Danielle Howle) Columbia, SC
Apr. 13 The Tin Roof 9:00 pm (w/Danielle Howle) Charleston, SC
Apr. 15 SPACE Evanston, IL
Apr. 16 Urban Element Indianapolis, IN
Apr. 17 CD Central In-Store 3pm Lexington, KY
Apr. 17 Al's Bar Lexington, KY
Apr. 19 Beachland Tavern Cleveland, OH
Apr. 20 Foundry Hall South Haven, MI
Apr. 21 Ninth Ward Buffalo, NY
Apr. 22 Club Café Pittsburgh, PA
Apr. 23 Cyber Cafe West Binghamton, NY
Apr. 27 Broward Center Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 7 The Birchmere (opening for Shawn Colvin) Alexandria, VA
May 8 NightCat Easton, MD
May 9 WXPN Philadelphia, PA
May 11 Joe's Pub New York, NY
May 14 House Concert Washington, D.C.
May 15 The Psalm Salon Philadelphia, PA
May 19 Turner Hall Ballroom (opening for Colin Hay) Milwaukee, WI
May 21 Georgie's Bar Asbury Park, NJ
May 29-31 Virginia Women's Music Festival Kents Store, VA
(* Sage performance confirmed for May 30 at 11:00 am)
Jun. 3 Hotel Café Hollywood, CA
Jun. 12 Milwaukee Pride Milwaukee, WI
Jul. 10 Bridger Folk Music Society Logan, UT
Jul 11 Magpie House Concerts Salt Lake City, UT
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