15 years after its initial release, Califone (namely, Tim Rutili) has announced the 15th Anniversary re-issue of Roomsound, out later this year via Dead Oceans. Although it began as aRed Red Meat album, this record, born of a particularly brutal Chicago winter, would become Califone’s first proper album (2 EPs in 1998 and 2000, notwithstanding).
Prior to recording, Rutili had gone on a gas station run (during a blizzard no less) in his ’83 Chevy Blazer, referred to fondly as The Burnt Marshmallow. He was in and out quickly, only to be greeted by an empty parking lot. The Marshmallow was gone, and his notebook full of lyrics and notes for recording gone with it. The following Monday he attempted to recall the tracks, without much success. When the Blazer was recovered, it had been turned into a mobile home, steering column gone, a few notebook pages scattered in the rear seat, Rutili stopped trying to recall its contents and began writing fresh in the present tense. It forced all kinds of new, stronger ideas to come forward. Rutili on recording the album;
“Roomsound was a real beginning. By listening. By letting it be, by force. I remember the stomach ache and winter tense in my shoulders. Computers were new to me. We chip away at it. All of us were discovering new ways to work and use the room.
Brian Deck was calm and incredibly creative. Ben Massarella was gentle, driving the feel, adding goodness to the vibe and digging into the microscopic details of the percussion tracks. There were moments in there that touched something real and pure. Maybe it (Califone recording) was (and is) the only place on Earth where what I say goes. There was hope in those little moments in the studio.
On and off over the course of about 6 months, we finished it. It sounded enormous and important to me. I feel like we made something good.”
Califone will be performing Roomsound in full over a handful of dates in select cities. Tim Rutili will lead a full band comprised of members that recorded the record; Ben Massarella, Brian Deck,Wally Boudway and Ross Andrews. Full list of dates is below.
CALIFONE ROOMSOUND TOUR DATES
Thu. Sept. 22 & Fri. Sept. 23 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
Sat. Sept. 24 – Brooklyn, NYC @ Rough Trade
Thu. Oct. 6 – Los Angeles, CA @ Highland Park Ebell
Fri. Oct. 7 – San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel
Fri. Oct. 14 – Seattle, WA @ The Sunset
Sat. Oct. 15 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
