'The Congress House Sessions'
Executive Producers: Bruno & Franziska Mancia
Recorded By: Mark Hallman and Andre Moran at The Congress House Studio. Austin, Texas
Mixed and Mastered By: Mark Hallman
Ruby White Records, 2020
All Songs by Jaimee Harris
Art & Design by Seela Misra
Original Photos by Brandon Aguilar
Additional Design by Emily Shirley
Jaimee Harris - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Kris Nelson - Backing Vocals
Jane Ellen Bryant - Backing Vocals
Brian Patterson - Electric Guitar
Sammy "P. on the Keys" Powell - Piano
Ray Bonneville - Harmonica
Mark Hallman - Piano

Depressive State

out February 14 on Pretty New Songs / PotLuck

Before You Go

Co written by Kim Ware. Recorded at Studio M with the help of Ron Morales and Maestro Aurora.

Elizabeth From Knoxville

LIVE REHEARSAL TRACK MIXED AND RECORDED BY OUR FRIEND KEVIN (SPIRITS OF THE POORHOUSE)
RINGTONE COMING SOON

KEYCARD TO JUILLIARD

Wild is the Wind

Do It Again with John DaVersa on Trumpet

“Magnapop is kind of like Young Marble Giants backed by AC/DC” – Michael Stipe

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s Magnapop!

Magnapop’s new album, The Circle Is Round, is the Atlanta-based group’s debut release for HHBTM Records, and is their sixth album, coming nearly a decade after their previous record, 2009’s Chase Park. Prior to this, the group had a fruitful run during the Alternative Rock heyday of the mid-90s, finding critical acclaim with 1994’s Hotboxing (with single “Slowly, Slowly”) and 1996’s Rubbing Doesn’t Help, which featured their most beloved song, “Open The Door.” And although the phrase was an endearing joke courtesy of slacker film Singles, Magnapop were indeed “big in Belgium,” finding enduring success that has led them to visit the Benelux region numerous times over their three decade career. (They have a tour slated for the area this September.)

Yet let’s not think of it as a “comeback,” shall we?  Magnapop never really went away, appearing on the live circuit in Europe sporadically since their last release.  The seeds that would blossom into The Circle Is Round were planted in 2011. “We reunited in 2011 when bassist Shannon Mulvaney contacted us about playing a benefit for Criminal Records, a local record store,” says guitarist and songwriter Ruthie Morris. “Playing together was easy, but we knew we needed time together to play our old songs again. The more we played together, the more we realized we wanted to work on new material.” 

The Circle Is Round was recorded at Furies Studios in Marietta, Georgia, and produced by the band and studio owner Ed Burdell—he worked with the band on one of their first recording sessions—the album came together quickly this past February. Furthermore, there’s a sense of the circular nature of existence at play, as a few of the songs are some of the band’s earliest. “’Change Your Hair’ was the very first song Linda and I ever wrote together, before there was a band,” says Morris. “Our drummer, David McNair, was the one who came up with the idea of recording it. At first it seemed like a crazy idea, but the more I listened to it, the more I thought it would be fun!” The album also includes two demos from a 1992 recording session, previously unheard until now. Longtime fans of the band will find much to love with The Circle Is Round, while new listeners will get a taste of what converted listeners way back when to become lifetime fans. 

“During one of our recent tours of Benelux we were interviewed on a Belgian radio program,” says Morris. “We were talking about the four of us reuniting and
coming back together as a band. The interviewer said something in Flemish and he translated it as "The circle is round" to describe our situation. At first it sounded kind of funny, but the more we thought about it, the more poignant and appropriate it seemed.” 

Indeed.

Magnapop - Need To Change

A sad little love song based on the title of a master's thesis I found on line.

Decisions Made by Primates

POWERDOVE : DE RETOUR EN FRANCE EN NOVEMBRE !

Nos chouchous Powerdove, concentré en duo autour de la voix dangereusement suave d’Annie Lewandowski et du barouf poétique de l’ogre végétarien Thomas Bonvalet, sont de retour en France et en novembre !

→ CONCERTS À VENIR :

26.11 • Toulouse (31) • DAda 
28.11 • Paris (75) • Petit Bain – Release Party ‘Soleil Enculé’ Arlt
29.11 • Genève (CH) • Festival Face Z, Salon d’Hiver
30.11 • Vaulx-En-Velin (69) • Grrrnd Zero / GZ Anniversaire 15 ans
01.12 • Avignon (84) • Les Hauts Plateaux

Powerdove 'Frost Broken Willow' (teaser)

First song from the soundtrack for Peter McDade's next novel. Music by Kim Ware, lyrics by Peter McDade. Kim also sings and plays guitar; Jim Bryson plays keyboards and sings; Lee Wiggins plays drums, percussion, and bass, and mixed.

Image from fractalenlightenment.com.

All I Have (Long is Samsara)

Bedroom Walls of Sound / Solo Home Recordings

Before You Go

Kim Ware and the Good Graces