Mark Eitzel Talks About Songwriting to Northampton Students

Mark Eitzel of American Music Club came to the University of Northampton and spoke to music students about song writing and many other things. Also contains some amazing performances by Mark.

Mark talks about songwriting in general, his songwriting process or lack of it,working with Peter Buck of R.E.M., why he uses real live in his songs and songwriting as art v songwriting as commerce, working in American Music Club (with special mention of Vudi's guitar playing). He also talks about the difference between songwriting with electronics and writing song's with guitars. He also talks about his favorite lyric writers name checking Nick Drake and Iggy Pop.

The crowd look a little confused by it all but then his back catalogue is confusing. 

Live songs are:

• Mission Rock Resort 
• I Love You But Your Dead 
• Firefly
• I've Been a Mess

Mark Eitzel full LP stream - Don't Be a Stranger

Paste Magazine have posted a complete stream of the new Mark Eitzel LP - Don't Be a Stranger. I have had a copy of the LP for about a month and its a glorious listen. The production on it is full of light and air and Mark's guitar playing carries real shades of Nick Drake.

I am not one for listening to streams of records that I think I am going to love. I think listening to a record should be like a first date, something that should be treasured and given the attention it deserves not done at your desk at work.

This is what Paste have to say about the LP.

"...Renowned songwriter Mark Eitzel, of San Francisco band American Music Club, is set to release his new solo album Don’t Be A Stranger on Oct. 2 via Merge Records.

For the album, Eitzel worked with acclaimed producer Sheldon Gomberg (Rickie Lee Jones, Ben Harper) to create a piece of work that displays his finest musical talents.

Eitzel has plans to make a US tour later in 2012 followed by a European tour in early 2013. In the meantime, you can stream his album below and look out for the release of Don’t Be a Stranger on October 2..."

Anyway - here the link to the stream. Enjoy it -

http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2012/09/album-stream---mark-eitzel-dont-be-a-stranger.html

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Mark Eitzel - I Love But You're Dead (Audio Stream)

I Love You But Your're Dead is the opening track on Mark Eiztel (American Music Clubs) new LP Don't Be A Stranger.
When he played it live in Winchester on Sunday he talked about how it was about meeting  Destroy all Monsters when he was a young man in his first ever punk band.

The production on the new LP is great and lightness of touch really shows of the ache and awe in Mark Eiztels voice.

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Mark Eitzel - Don't Be A Stranger New LP

Very pleasing to hear that Mark Eitzel is going to release a new LP this year.

Don't Be a Stranger will be released by Decor Record in the UK on the first of October.

"...in May of 2011, Mark suffered a serious heart attack that kept him out of circulation until the following October, forcing him to re-evaluate his lifestyle and habits and take a step back from the recording.  Good luck suddenly appeared in the form of a friend who had just won the lottery and offered to fund his recording in a professional studio. Producer Sheldon Gomberg put together a band that included Attraction’s drummer Pete Thomas and American Music Club guitarist Vudi on a few songs, as well as a full string section and many Los Angeles musical luminaries. The collaboration between Mark and Sheldon had an organic sound resulting in a generous and beautiful record, about which Mark says, “I wanted to make an album more reminiscent of records like Harvest by Neil Young or Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake than anything I’ve previously done..."

The track listing is as follows - 

Tracklist: Mark Eitzel, Don’t Be a Stranger

1. “I Love You But You’re Dead”
2. “The Bill Is Due”
3. “All My Love”
4. “Oh Mercy”
5. “Costume Characters Face Dangers In The Workplace”
6. “Why Are You With Me”
7. “Lament For Bobo The Clown”
8. “Break The Champagne”
9. “We All Have To Find Our Own Way Out”
10. “You’re Waiting”
11. “Nowhere To Run”

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Mark Eitzel The Thorn in My Side is Gone Live SXSW

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Brilliant version of the American Music Club track - The Thorn in My Side is Gone from the San Francisco LP. Mark Eiztel is is wonderful voice, the piano playing by Marc Capelle is great. Its good to see him have use of a grand piano and not the piano synth he played in Bristol last year. Getting Mark to give up the guitar and just sing has proved to be inspired. The man has a golden voice full of red wine hurt and experience. He is a soul singer if I have ever heard one!

Thanks to Ben Londa of Exit Productions for filming and uploading this.

Mark Eitzel & American Music Club South by South West 2011

The great Mark Eitzel is playing a number of shows at South by South West in 2011 as solo and American Music Club.

The details can be found on his blog here - Mark Eitzel South by South West

He is playing as part of the Merge Records show case and a number of other public/free events.

Friday night Merge showcase and Saturday night showcase are both wristband/badge-only, as they are official SXSW events. All others below are free to the public. Most of the shows are Mark Eitzel, Marc Capelle and Vudi.

Weds 3/16
AnSo Party @ Spiderhouse - Mark plays 1-1:30pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=126420674098574

Weds 3/16
Noise Pop @ Red Eyed Fly - Mark plays 5:15-6pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102370176509669

Thurs 3/17
Joe Raaen Party @ Cheers Shot Bar Deck - Mark plays 3:45

Thurs 3/17
Music By The Slice @ Home Slice - Mark/AMC plays 5:50-6:20pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200620243282963

Fri 3/18
Merge Showcase @ The Parish - AMC plays at 10pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=193197650710070

Sat 3/19
Yard Dog Party @ Yard Dog Gallery - Mark plays 1:30-2pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154459411274327

Sat 3/19
Showcase @ St. David's Bethel Hall - Mark plays at 10pm
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102677506478529

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Mark Eitzel Live 2009

The ever wonderful Mark Eitzel is touring with Marc Capelle. They will performing American Music Club Songs, some covers and some new songs.

They is a good post on Mark Eitzel's blog.


Sat 7/18 New York, NY at Le Poisson Rouge
Sun 7/19 Hudson, NY at Jason’s Upstairs
Mon 7/20 Hoboken, NJ at Maxwell’s
Tue 7/21 Boston. MA at Lizard Lounge
Wed 7/22 Albany NY at Lindas at WAMC
Thu 7/23 Rochester, NY at Lovin’ Cup Cafe
Fri 7/24 Buffalo, NY at Marty & Susan’s House
Sat 7/25 Baltimore, MD at Metro Gallery
Sun 7/26 Chapel Hill, NC at Memorial Hall Theatre w/ She&Him & Wye Oak (part of the Merge XX celebration)
Mon 7/27 Arlington, VA at IOTA Club
Tue 7/28 Philadelphia, PA at Johnny Brenda’s
Wed 7/29 Brooklyn, NY at Bell House

Mark Eitzels upcoming tour for his new solo album looks a bit like this.

04.10.09 Exeter -Phoenix
06.10.09 Winchester – Tower Arts Centre
07.10.09 London - St Giles in the Fields
08.10.09 Brighton – The Basement
15.10.09 I-Milan, House Concert
16.10.09 I-Massa Carrara, Tagomago
17.10.09 I-Turin, House Concert
18.10.09 CH-Zurich, El Lokal
20.10.09 Karlsruhe, Jubez
22.10.09 L-Dudelange, Centre Culturel opderschmelz
23.10.09 B-Brussels, AB Club
24.10.09 B-Brugge, Music In Mind Festival
01.11.09 NL-Utrecht, Ekko
03.11.09 Bristol – St Bonaventures
04.11.09 Birmingham – Glee Club
05.11.09 Manchester - St Margaret's Church
07.11.09 Edinburgh – Cabaret Voltaire
08.11.09 Newcastle – Cluny 2
09.11.09 Leeds - Brudnell Social Club

The Larks - The New American Music Club

This is the myspace page of the new guys in AMC.

The Larks MYSPACE PAGE

There are three tracks on the page. Its a sweet indie pop jangle with sunshine harmonies and some clever musical hooks. Its really not dark enough to be in the same league as classic American Music Club. I am interested to hear how its going to effect or compliment Marks songs. It maybe and case of Vudi meets the textures of West the record that Mark recorded with Peter Buck. Vudi's guitar playing adds so much texture to Mark's songs I am interested to hear how it will play out against a different rhythm section.

The Invisible Blog

I wanted to point all Mark Eitzel and American Music Club fans in the direction of the wonderful Invisible Blog.

Shaun has done an amazing job of collating all manor of fabulous Mark Eitzel and American Club related information, MP3, sessions and videos. It’s the X on the blog treasure map for American Music Club fans like me.

It’s a goldmine of info. I had never heard of the film, I, Curmudgeon. Has anyone ever seen it? There are links to a wealth of wonderful video clips, interviews and some interesting reviews.

Go visit today its well worth the time.

The Invisible Blog