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CASS MCCOMBS


BIO:
Cass McCombs was born in 1977 and raised in Northern California. He is of the generation that grew up hearing the stories still fresh on people’s minds: Zodiac killings, Zebra killings, Manson, Black Panthers, SLA, riots, People’s Park, LSD, etc. These were the local legends and became the basis for McCombs’ imagination. He is a child of the 70s. Since leaving the area, he lived many years drifting the U.S. until ever attempting to make music seriously. He has said that from this experience he learned to listen to people’s stories from many walks of life. Instead of university, this was his education. McCombs worked as a janitor, in a horse stable, a book shop; he was a soda jerk, a truck driver, and a movie projectionist. He worked construction in New Jersey and at a midtown NYC delicatessen. McCombs developed his narrative songwriting style, and since has always expressed himself through the use of characters. He writes stories for his friends using their humour, their language, with detail and color, relating their drug use to classical literary themes, for instance. Rather than fulfilling the stereotype of the confessional singer-songwriter, he describes the lifestyles and feelings of those that surround him, with more love than judgment. McCombs is a mirror. Deeply distrustful of the Business, McCombs has stayed relatively underground, supported by a devoted fan base and his label/publisher. In 2010, Domino Records hired a photo-surveillance private investigator to follow McCombs and take what would be become the publicity shots for Wit’s End. Examples such as this suggest that he and mainstream acceptance are in a state of perpetual stalemate. However, in contrast to his persona, McCombs’ music is generous, the melodies always infectious, the production and musicianship first-rate. And at the forefront of his craft are always the lyrics, which more than any songwriter today propels the avant-garde. He presents morally ambiguous situations for the listener, allowing them to interpret however they choose. McCombs has always refused to speak his influences, except for American folk music and The Beatles. He is a folk artist, telling the stories of his native land in a modern tongue. Humor Risk is his sixth-and-a-half record, was released in 2011, following Wit’s End, which featured the tragic song “County Line”. Musically, it is more rhythm-based, and with a heavier lyricism, than its sparse predecessor. Both were compiled from recordings made over the course of three years, in various places such as New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and mixed in a single session and divided into albums. This follows the way McCombs works, he writes continuously, not for any album in mind, and then puts them into themed groups. Humor Risk is an attempt at laughter instead of confusion, chaos instead of morality, or, as fellow Northern Californian Jack London said, “I would rather be ashes than dust!”

Latest Articles


Sam Evian Releases New Single 'Stay' From Forthcoming Album 'Plunge' Photo Sam Evian Releases New Single 'Stay' From Forthcoming Album 'Plunge'
by Michael Major - March 06, 2024

Tracked during the early winter months of 2023 over a 10-day period, the Plunge sessions were nothing short of joyous. Joined by a group of his closest friends and collaborators (including Liam Kazar, Sean Mullins, El Kempner of Palehound and Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief), Evian set out with a wide-...

Kayslee Don Collins (Daisy Jones & The Six) Shares Her Heartbreaker Of A New Single ' Photo Kayslee Don Collins (Daisy Jones & The Six) Shares Her Heartbreaker Of A New Single 'Canyon Daddy'
by Michael Major - November 03, 2023

Kayslee Don Collins (Daisy Jones & The Six) shares her heartbreaker of a new single 'Canyon Daddy'. Find out more about the latest release from the talented artist. Fresh off the heels of recent singles “Easy to Leave,” “Cycles” and Daisy Jones & The Six soundtrack highlight, “The River,” Kayslee Do...

DAISY JONES & THE SIX Writer Kayslee Don Collins Shares 'Easy To Leave' Photo DAISY JONES & THE SIX Writer Kayslee Don Collins Shares 'Easy To Leave'
by Michael Major - August 29, 2023

Kayslee’s songwriting credits on the soundtrack for the buzzworthy miniseries, Daisy Jones & The Six – alongside tenured songwriters Marcus Mumford, Phoebe Bridgers, Jackson Browne, Cass McCombs, Ali Tamposi, Taylor Goldsmith, and others – landed a #1 spot on Billboard’s Soundtracks chart and #10 on...

Palehound Unveils 'Independence Day' Single Photo Palehound Unveils 'Independence Day' Single
by Michael Major - June 22, 2023

Palehound has unleashed the raucous new “Independence Day” single & video, the latest cut from their new album Eye On The Bat. The new song wrestles with a newfound emotional clarity over a fireworks display of masterful guitar, crashing percussion and Kempner’s signature croon....

HAND HABITS Shares New Single 'The Bust of Nefertiti' Photo HAND HABITS Shares New Single 'The Bust of Nefertiti'
by Michael Major - June 13, 2023

Hand Habits, the moniker of Los Angeles-based Meg Duffy (they/them), shares “The Bust of Nefertiti,” the final single from their upcoming new record, Sugar The Bruise. Hand Habits has also announced your dates supporting The National in addition to the already announced headlining North America summ...

Blake Mills to Debut New Album 'Jelly Road' in July & Drop 'Skeleton Key' Photo Blake Mills to Debut New Album 'Jelly Road' in July & Drop 'Skeleton Key'
by Michael Major - June 01, 2023

Blake Mills’ new album Jelly Road, co-written with Chris Weisman is out in July. Mills learned of Weisman through a friend while making the critically acclaimed album Notes With Attachments with bassist Pino Palladino. A reclusive songwriter, jazz musician and conceptual artist, Weisman has released...

Blake Mills to Be Joined By Chris Weisman on West Coast Summer Tour Dates Photo Blake Mills to Be Joined By Chris Weisman on West Coast Summer Tour Dates
by Michael Major - May 03, 2023

This June, Grammy-winning producer, composer, guitarist and songwriter Blake Mills is playing a run of shows around his performance with Joni Mitchell at Washington’s The Gorge Amphitheater. Joining him will be frequent musical collaborator Chris Weisman. The duo will kick off performances in select...

Palehound Announces New 'Eye On The Bat' LP Photo Palehound Announces New 'Eye On The Bat' LP
by Michael Major - April 25, 2023

Palehound’s new album Eye On The Bat, is a documentation of illusions shattering in the face of profound change. Witnessing the tiny details that build or break a relationship, and the flood that comes after. The new record was announced alongside an intimate and electrifying new video for lead sing...

Dan Horne Of Circles Around The Sun & Grateful Shred To Release Debut Studio Album 'C Photo Dan Horne Of Circles Around The Sun & Grateful Shred To Release Debut Studio Album 'Count The Clouds' On April 7
by A.A. Cristi - February 17, 2023

Record producer and electric bassist Dan Horne returns to his Lone Palm a.k.a. Liberty Hair Farm studio in Echo Park, Los Angeles for his debut full-length studio album, Count The Clouds, due out on April 7, 2023....

Kate Bollinger Shares New Single 'Running' Photo Kate Bollinger Shares New Single 'Running'
by Michael Major - September 07, 2022

Kate Bollinger shares “Running” a remarkable new single out now via Ghostly International that follows the release of her acclaimed Look at it in the Light EP released earlier this year. The track was produced, mixed and recorded by Sam Evian (Big Thief, Cass McCombs). ...

Tomberlin Releases New Album 'i don't know who needs to hear this...' Photo Tomberlin Releases New Album 'i don't know who needs to hear this...'
by Michael Major - April 29, 2022

The album was recorded, at Figure 8 studios over the course of two weeks, with producer and engineer Phil Weinrobe (Adrianne Lenker, Buck Meek) and features an impressive cast of players including Cass McCombs, Stuart Bogie, Shahzad Ismaily, Felix Walworth, Gyða Valtýsdóttir and Doug Wieselman. Plus...

Strange Parade Share New Single 'Bag Of Blood' Photo Strange Parade Share New Single 'Bag Of Blood'
by Michael Major - April 14, 2022

'Bag of Blood,' the second single from The Watchers, is an amped-up storytelling affair that marries early 80’s new wave with a 60’s girl group beat, landing somewhere between The Chiffons and Echo & The Bunnymen. Listen to the new single and pre-order their new album now!...

Tomberlin Announces Sophomore Album 'i don't know who needs to hear this…' Photo Tomberlin Announces Sophomore Album 'i don't know who needs to hear this…'
by Michael Major - February 16, 2022

Tomberlin announces her new album, i don’t know who needs to hear this… via Saddle Creek. To mark the occasion she has shared a video for the album’s lead single “happy accident.” The song features Cass McCombs on guitar, Felix Walworth on drums and Philip Weinrobe, who also co-produced the album, o...

Papercuts Share 'The Partisan' Cover from New EP Photo Papercuts Share 'The Partisan' Cover from New EP
by Michael Major - November 16, 2021

Leonard Cohen popularized the song in 1969 when he released his version on the LP Songs From A Room. Today Papercuts, the project of Bay area multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Quever, offers up his own take on 'The Partisan'. Listen to the new track now!...

VIDEO: Papercuts Shares New Visual from Upcoming EP Photo VIDEO: Papercuts Shares New Visual from Upcoming EP
by Michael Major - November 02, 2021

Today Papercuts, the project of Bay area multi-instrumentalist and producer Jason Quever, announces a new digital-only EP, Baxter's Bliss, due November 19 on his own imprint, Psychic Friends. The first single / video, 'Try Baxter's Bliss' is the first new music from Papercuts since 2018's Parallel U...

Dean Wareham Announces New Album, Shares Single 'The Past is Our Plaything' Photo Dean Wareham Announces New Album, Shares Single 'The Past is Our Plaything'
by TV News Desk - August 17, 2021

Since the release of his last solo album, 2014’s Dean Wareham, Dean made a film soundtrack -- Mistress America --  with his wife, Britta Phillips, released an album and toured with his recently reunited group Luna....

Watch Woody & Jeremy's New 'Distant Lands' Video Photo Watch Woody & Jeremy's New 'Distant Lands' Video
by Sarah Jae Leiber - April 19, 2021

Regarding the meaning behind the single/video, the band stated: 'The demo of this song was just bass and vocals. We brought it to the band and it became fleshed out and muscular and yet still retained its original spareness that gives it a lot of its power.'...

Lia Ices Shares Aura Video for 'Family Album' Photo Lia Ices Shares Aura Video for 'Family Album'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - April 02, 2021

The final music video is an unedited, 500 ft. mag of 35mm 4-perf film, quadruple exposed at Step + Direction, Sonoma and developed and scanned at Fotokem, Burbank.  ...

Paul Jacobs Unveils the Video for 'Day to Day' Photo Paul Jacobs Unveils the Video for 'Day to Day'
by Sarah Jae Leiber - March 16, 2021

Available for pre-order currently, his new solo effort will be released on April 30th via Blow The Fuse Records. He also is announcing a virtual album launch scheduled for May 7th, 2021....

Lia Ices' FAMILY ALBUM Out Today, Video For Title Track Available to Watch Photo Lia Ices' FAMILY ALBUM Out Today, Video For Title Track Available to Watch
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 29, 2021

Today, January 29, Lia Ices has released her new LP Family Album, via her own label Natural Music. Today Ices also shares the groundbreaking, cinematic video for Family Album’s title track. Collaborating with director, Aaron Brown, the clip represents a breakthrough in capturing the relationship bet...

VIDEO: Katy J Pearson Releases Video For 'Beautiful Soul' Photo VIDEO: Katy J Pearson Releases Video For 'Beautiful Soul'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 19, 2021

Following the release of her stunning debut album Return in November, today Katy J Pearson has shared shared a charming and colorful lyric video for standout track 'Beautiful Soul', directed by Raissa Pardini. ...

Arbouretum Share Title Track from New Album LET IT ALL IN Photo Arbouretum Share Title Track from New Album LET IT ALL IN
by Kaitlin Milligan - March 05, 2020

Ahead of the release of their transportive new album Let It All In on March 20th, Arbouretum have shared the record's second single and title track. 'Let It All In' encompasses the album's themes of acceptance in times of change, musing on both the pitfalls and benefits of letting the outside world ...

Cass McCombs + Steve Gunn Announce Co-Headlining Spring Tour Dates Photo Cass McCombs + Steve Gunn Announce Co-Headlining Spring Tour Dates
by Kaitlin Milligan - February 18, 2020

Today Cass McCombs announces a co-headlining North American spring tour with Steve Gunn. Both artists will tour with full bands on a run of West coast dates that include San Francisco, Portland and two nights in Los Angeles....

Jack Johnson, Cage The Elephant and The 1975 to Headline Forecastle 2020 Photo Jack Johnson, Cage The Elephant and The 1975 to Headline Forecastle 2020
by Kaitlin Milligan - February 12, 2020

Embarking on its 18th year at sea, the Forecastle Festival will return this July 17-19, 2020, featuring iconic acoustic rocker Jack Johnson; 2020 Grammy-winning Kentucky natives Cage The Elephant; and pop rock sensation The 1975....

Graham Norwood Releases Debut Album 'Out Of The Sea' Photo Graham Norwood Releases Debut Album 'Out Of The Sea'
by Abigail Charpentier - January 31, 2020

Today, San Francisco singer-songwriter Graham Norwood releases his debut album Out Of The Sea. Along with the release of the album, Graham has also shared the music video for the single 'Greenfield', directed by Christopher Toms....











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