Elf Power

Bio:

Elf Power 2010 European Tour dates

*All European dates are with MADELINE opening!!!

Nov 29 2010 - Cafe Video - Gent, Belgium

Nov 30 2010 - 013 - Tillburg, Netherlands

Dec 1 2010 - Patronaat - Haarlem, Nethlands

Dec 2 2010 - Der Gute Club - Vienna, Austria

Dec 3 2010 - TBA

Dec 4 2010 - Gratis Club - Ancone, Italy

Dec 5 2010 - Treessessanta - Cesena, Italy

Dec 6 2010 - Init - Rome, Italy

Dec 7 2010 - Covo - Bologna, Italy

Dec 8 2010 - TBA - Zurich, Switzerland

Dec 9 2010 - Treibhaus - Luzern, Switzerland

Dec 10 2010 - Swamp - Freibrug, Germany

Dec 11 2010 - Lieu Commun - Toulouse, France

Dec 12 2010 - La Lata de Bombillas - Zaragoza, Spain

Dec 13 2010 - El Juglar - Madrid, Spain

Dec 14 2010 - Theatre - Zamora, Spain

Dec 15 2010 - University Auditorium - Vitoria, Spain

Dec 16 2010 - Moog Club - Barcelona, Spain

Dec 17 2010 - Tanned Tin Party - Castellon, Spain

Dec/18/2010 - Cafe Theatre - Lleida, Spain

contact the band: elfpower(at)yahoo.com

U.S. Booking: Jim Romeo - jim(at)groundcontroltouring.com

European Booking: Felix - felix(at)toutpartout.be

Publicity: Liz Lawson - liz(at)deusexmachinapr.com

Our last release was titled Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and The Amorphous Strums "Dark Developments" out now on Orange Twin Records

Our new album, self-titled "Elf Power" will be released worldwide on Orange Twin Records on September 14 2010.

EPISODE 1: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 2: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 3: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 4: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 5: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 6: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 7: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



EPISODE 8: Vic Chesnutt & Elf Power European Tour Video



Available at Insound on vinyl and CD or at

Elf Power formed in 1994 and over the last 16 years have released ten albums, two eps, a handful of singles, while also touring America, Europe, and Japan. The Athens, Georgia pioneers have readied their tenth studio album for release - a self-titled, dozen-song sonic totem, representing the group's spiritual endurance and their continued relevance as the flagship band of the celebrated psych-rock scene, which they helped forge over a decade and a half ago. The new record conveys a unique synthesis of expansion and space, as deft rhythmic interplay, thoughtful instrumental flourishes, and subtle hands at the mixing-board frame all contribute to the Elves' lithe, powerful folk-rock, and the frank, beautiful lyrical exposition that's come to be expected from head songwriter Andrew Rieger.

“Elf Power” is dedicated to the memory of dear friend, mentor, and close collaborator Vic Chesnutt, who committed suicide in late 2009. Chesnutt was long a guiding light in the close-knit Athens community; the Elves recorded a collaborative album, "Dark Developments," with Chesnutt in 2008 and toured extensively with him through the years. Elf Power's latest album found shape in the vacuum caused by Vic's loss, and finds the band exploring the void created by his departure.

Tracked initially by Andy LeMaster (REM, Bright Eyes, Drive By Truckers) at his studio Chase Park Transduction, then brought to bassist/engineer Derek Almstead's home studio out in the Athenian sticks for overdubbing, rumination, and general tweaking, this double-faceted strategy proved beneficial for the development of the album as a whole. LeMaster's nearly-transparent sheen lent the record a fundamental sonic purity and muscularity that makes for great listening in the car. A return, however, to the familiar realms of home-recording encouraged the Elves to harken back to their initial experimental and communal forays. Freedom from the tyranny of the ticking studio clock allowed for key contributions from old Elephant 6 pals Will Cullen Hart and Bill Doss of the Olivia Tremor Control and some characteristically esoteric instrumentation: Circulatory System's John Fernandes' and Heather McIntosh (recently of Gnarls Barkley and Lil Wayne's touring bands), contributing string arrangements; the beautiful Mellotron they borrowed from REM; and Laura Carter's contagious Moog and drummer Eric Harris' experiments with fidelity and texture.

This duality in production makes for a layered and varied listen. Opening track "The Taking Under" is an otherworldly collision of warped 1950s balladry and tripped out, cavernous drumming, pinned together by majestic string flourishes. "Wander Through" is a frantic explosion of joyful noise, filled with wild riffing and bizarre sound effects. Songs like “Tiny Insects” and “Ghost of John” conjure a meeting between the heavy, dark and prog-informed pop of The Soft Boys' “Underwater Moonlight” and the fuzzed-out, giddy bedroom psych of New Zealand weirdos and Elf Power associates Tall Dwarves. Gentler, more-pensive moments like the country-tinged, yet simultaneously futuristic, “Stranger in the Window” and the heart-tearing “Little Hand” allow the Elves to dive headlong into folk music that sounds at once both modern and traditional. In terms of unlikely sonic execution, “Elf Power” makes literal what Andrew Rieger sings overtop of the cut-loose garage pop of “Goldmine in the Sun:" “the ending is hard to conceive.” Easy thumbnail comparisons such as these are handy; this record, however, is very much its own entity within a wider pantheon and the band's formidable discography. “Elf Power” finds the group exploring darker places melodically and texturally in what might be their most fully conceived and rewarding album ever.

“Elf Power” sees release on September 14, 2010 on the band's own label, Orange Twin Records. The label works in conjunction with The Orange Twin Conservation Community, 155 acres of beautiful land on the outskirts of Athens that has initiated the development of a highly progressive, self-sustainable and ecologically-minded cluster village and nature preserve.

Member Since:

November 22, 2005

Members:

Elf Power has had a lot of help over the years with a variety of wonderful musicians playing from album to album. The current lineup is:

Andrew Rieger- vox and guitar
Jimmy Hughes- guitar, keys
Derek Almstead- bass
Eric Harris - drums
Laura Carter- keys, clarinet, accordian
Heather McIntosh- cello, keys
John Fernandes - violin

Sounds Like:

for mailorder of our music you'd want to check Orange Twin

Elf Power review in Relix Magazine (.pdf)

Andrew Remembers Vic Chesnutt on Aquarium Drunkard

Elf Power album review on Snobs Music

Elf Power's Andrew Rieger wrote a review of Tonetta at Rock Torch

Elf Power on Utne Reader Music Sampler August 2010

Elf Power preview on Love Shack, Baby

Elf Power on Danger Mouse's 2010 Endless Summer Playlist

Elf Power preview on Pitchfork

Elf Power preview on Stereogum

Elf Power on Fense Post

Elf Power on Octopus Windmill

Elf Power on NME

Andrew's recommendations on I Highly Recommend

Dark Developments review in Goldmine Magazine (.pdf)

Daytrotter Session from 2006 (click pic below)


Elf Power in Spin Magazine:



Elf Power on The Onion's "A.V. Club":



Andrew's personal mixtape for You Ain't No Picasso

"Dark Developments" review in Pitchfork

Vic Chesnutt interview in The Village Voice regading "Dark Developments"

"Dark Developments" review in Crawdaddy

Elf Power article in SouthEast Performer Magazine

Comic Strip on Toothpaste For Dinner referencing Elf Power

Scottish interview with Andrew of Elf Power

Elf Power new song for download on You Ain't No Picasso

Elf Power article in Time Out New York

Elf Power article in Phoenix New TImes

Elf Power article in Charleston City Paper

Elf Power interview with PopMatters

"In A Cave" Review in PopMatters

"In A Cave" Review in Optical Atlas

"In A Cave" Article in Flagpole Magazine

"In A Cave" Article in The Athens Banner-Herald

Interview with Andrew from SXSW 2008

Record Label:

Orange Twin