Following a series of sold-out winter shows and festival dates, San Francisco's The Family Crest hits the road June 26 on a headline tour in support of their highly acclaimed album, Beneath the Brine (out now on Tender Loving Empire), which caused Paste to name them one of "The 20 Best New Bands of 2014" and NPR Music to include the title track in its "Favorite Songs Of 2014" raving, "[The song] builds to a feverish and astonishing vocal performance by Liam McCormick. There's so much power and talent in this young band." Tour stops include a set at Outside Lands and major markets across North America-see below for full itinerary.
In addition to frontman and founding member McCormick (guitar, vocals)-about whom NPR's Bob Boilen says, "Liam McCormick is a knockout singer, you simply must hear him live"-the seven-piece consists of Laura Bergmann (flute, piano), Owen Sutter (violin), Charly Akert (cello), Charlie Giesige (drums), John Seeterlin (bass) and George Mousa Samaan (trombone). Paste notes, "Even with just seven people on stage, The Family Crest's sweeping orchestral pop can hardly be contained..."
Check out their Tiny Desk performance here, their Daytrotter session here or their Paste "Riverview Session" here.
The Family Crest was started as a recording project in 2009 by co-founders McCormick and Seeterlin, and by 2010 had grown into a six-piece core band with over 250 "extended family members" with whom they collaborate on recordings, live shows and other projects. Today that number has reached more than 400-with the now seven-piece core-and the band's music has been featured on "Grey's Anatomy," NBC's "Marry Me," ABC's "Revenge" and "Rising Star," Snapchat's "Snap Channel" and more. Beneath the Brine follows on the heels of the Headwinds EP, which WXPN called "an immediately compelling listen," and prompted SPIN to praise its "sharp strings, galloping percussion, and an ambition wide enough to swallow you whole."
THE FAMILY CREST HEADLINE TOUR:
June 26 /// Grand Performances /// Los Angeles, CA
June 28 /// Mississippi Studios /// Portland, OR
June 29 /// The Tractor Tavern /// Seattle, WA
June 30 /// Biltmore Cabaret /// Vancouver, BC
July 1 /// Neurolux /// Boise, ID
July 2 /// Kilby Court /// Salt Lake City, UT
July 3 /// Lost Lake Lounge /// Denver, CO
July 4 /// Crested Butte Music Festival /// Crested Butte, CO
July 6 /// 7th Street Entry /// Minneapolis, MN
July 7 /// High Noon Saloon /// Madison, WI
July 8 /// Schubas Tavern /// Chicago, IL
July 10 /// Mercy Lounge /// Nashville, TN
July 11 /// The Bootleg /// St. Louis, MO
July 13 /// Pittsburgh Winery /// Pittsburgh, PA
July 15 /// Madison Square Park /// New York, NY
July 16 /// Middle East /// Cambridge, MA
July 17 /// Rock & Roll Hotel /// Washington, DC
July 18 /// World Cafe Live-Upstairs /// Philadelphia, PA
July 20 /// Motorco Music Hall /// Durham, NC
July 21 /// Eddie's Attic /// Atlanta, GA
July 23 /// Bronze Peacock Room at House of Blues /// Houston, TX
July 24 /// Stubbs Jr. /// Austin, TX
July 25 /// Three Links /// Dallas, TX
July 27 /// Valley Bar /// Phoenix, AZ
July 28 /// Soda Bar /// San Diego, CA
July 29 /// The Wayfarer /// Costa Mesa, CA
August 7 /// Outside Lands Music Festival /// San Francisco, CA
August 16 /// Rocky Mountain Folks Festival /// Lyons, CO
BENEATH THE BRINE TRACK LISTING
1. Beneath the Brine
2. The World
3. Love Don't Go
4. William's Dirge
5. Howl
6. The Water's Fine
7. I Am the Winter
8. She Knows My Name
9. As We Move Forward
10. When the Lights Go Out
11. There's a Thunder
12. Make Me a Boat
For more on The Family Crest, follow them on Facebook: facebook.com/thefamilycrest and Twitter @thefamilycrest.
Photo Credit: Emily Sevin
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