Delta Spirit Taps Friends For ‘An Evening With’

Delta Spirit has lined up a few buddies for the band’s upcoming “An Evening With Friends” outing.  Members of Deer Tick, Dr. Dog, The Walkmen plus other acquaintances will join the indie rock band on select dates.

Photo: John Davisson
SXSW, Austin, TX

“You’ve Got To Have Friends,” sang Bette Midler more than 40 years ago.  The Divine Miss M’s 1973 hit written by Buzzy Linhart and Utopia founding member Mark “Moogy” Klingman could very well apply to Delta Spirit’s upcoming road trip beginning in late May in the band’s San Diego home base.

That’s because Delta Spirit is drawing from its musical comrades to make the band’s “An Evening With Friends” tour one of the more memorable experiences of the year.  Also appearing on various shows will be Alec Ounsworth (Clap Your Hands Say Yeah), T. Hardy Morris, Robert Ellis, Sam Outlaw, Richie Eaton, Jessica Dobson, and Amasa Hines.  And if those names aren’t enough to draw you out of hiding for a night on the town, Delta Spirit promises even more surprise guests to be announced soon.

While Midler singing about “Friends” was a hit, Delta Spirit turned to another ’70s moment for inspiration – The Band’s “Last Waltz” – that epic Thanksgiving 1976 concert at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom that marked the group’s farewell and included performances by such friends as Muddy Waters, Ronnie Hawkins, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison and Dr. John.

“We really wanted to do something unique and personal on this tour, and give fans a rare chance to see us perform in intimate venues,” Delta Spirit frontman Matt Vasquez said.  “We’re going to do some deep cuts from our albums, covers of some of our favorite jams, and some reworked and stripped down versions of our most popular songs.”

Here’s the plan:

May 29 – San Diego, Calif., The Irenic
May 30 – San Diego, Calif., The Irenic
June 1 – Los Angeles, Calif., Teragram Ballroom
June 3 – Santa Ana, Calif., The Observatory
June 6 – Austin, Texas, The Parish
June 9 – Seattle, Wash., The Crocodile
June 10 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Biltmore Cabaret
June 11 – Portland, Ore., Mississippi Studios
June 13 – San Francisco, Calif., The Independent
June 18 – Salt Lake City, Utah, Urban Lounge
June 19 – Denver, Colo., Lost Lake
June 20 – Denver, Colo., Lost Lake
June 22 – Omaha, Neb., The Waiting Room
June 23 – Kansas City, Mo., The Record Bar
June 27 – Maquoketa, Iowa, Codfish Hollow Barn
July 1 – Milwaukee, Wis., Henry Maier Festival Park (Summerfest)
July 24 – Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Burl’s Creek Event Grounds (Wayhome Music And Arts Festival)
July 27 – Columbus, Ohio, The Basement
July 28 – Cincinnati, Ohio, 20th Century Theatre
July 29 – Grand Rapids, Mich., The Pyramid Scheme
Aug. 1 – Chicago, Ill., Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
Aug. 4 – Millvale, Pa., Mr. Small’s Theatre
Aug. 5 – Philadelphia, Pa., World Cafe Live
Aug. 6 – Washington, D.C., Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
Aug. 7 – Brooklyn, N.Y., Warsaw
Aug. 10 – Providence, R.I., Met Café
Aug. 11 – Portland, Maine, Port City Music Hall
Aug. 14 – Cambridge, Mass., The Sinclair

Some shows are already on sale.  Go to DeltaSpirit.net for more information.

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