JD McPherson is bringing his “Socks: A Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas Tour” to First Avenue on Thursday, November 29th.
“I was having nightmares every night, thinking, ‘Wow, they’re going to hate this,” says JD McPherson. When he talks about his 2017 album, Undivided Heart & Soul, there’s no glimmer of self-adulation, or even the confidence one might expect of a veteran artist. Instead, there’s a snapshot of McPherson’s creative process bringing the record to life, a journey filled with fear and change, then boldness, and, eventually, catharsis.
The best rock music has a story to tell. This record chronicles a series of upheavals, frustrations, roadblocks, and kismet—a cross-country move, failed creative relationships, a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity, and learning to love making music again by letting go. McPherson calls moving his family from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to East Nashville a decision based “on opportunity” and one he was reluctant to make but notes the profound influence the city has had on his new crop of songs. “Up to this point, I thought I knew what I was doing with songwriting, that I don’t do this or that,” McPherson says. “Writing with people who co-write for a living…maybe I saw myself as John Henry, and them as the steel-driving machine.”
Eddie Angel’s Guitar Party will be kicking the night off. Eddie Angel grew up in a house where Elvis records were constantly playing courtesy of his two older sisters. His brain was wired to play like Scotty Moore by the time he picked up a guitar at age 12. His early musical education was rounded out by a copy of Play Guitar with the Ventures and by wearing out every Beatles record he owned. Today, Eddie tours the world with Los Straitjackets, internationally renowned instrumental combo. They have appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien six times, been nominated for a Grammy and have their music in TV shows and movies. He lives in Nashville with his wife Melanie, who runs Spinout Records and is a co-promoter of 60’s festival Las Vegas Grind and Chicago Exotica.
Tickets are still available here.
Remaining Tour Dates:
Nov. 28 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
Nov. 29 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
Nov. 30 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall
Dec. 01 – Detroit, MI – El Club
Dec. 02 – Toronto, ON, Canada – Lee’s Palace
Dec. 04 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
Dec. 05 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
Dec. 06 – Washington, DC – Black Cat
Dec. 08 – Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle
Dec. 09 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
Dec. 11 – Houston, TX – Continental Club
Dec. 12 – Austin, TX – Historic Scoot Inn
Dec. 13 – Dallas, TX – 91.7 KXT Holiday Concert
Dec. 14 – Oklahoma City, OK – Tower Theatre
Dec. 15 – Memphis, TN – Minglewood Hall
Dec. 16 – Nashville, TN – 3rd and Lindsley
