This summer, citizens west of the Missouri River are advised to stay alert! Come late August, there's gonna be Dead Rider sightings along the I-80 corridor as far west as Colorado. Since there's no telling what they might do outside their natural habitat, you are further advised to BE THERE, WHAT MATTER NO: in Iowa City, for their first local show since 2018, in Omaha, unplayed since 2014, and — this can't be correct — Des Moines, for the first time ever? Dead Rider should... (read more)

Drag City is pleased to announce reissues of the first two OM records, out May 29. Variations on a Theme and Conference of the Birds are available to pre-order now on vinyl, CD and cassette.

The first OM album, Variations on a Theme, features Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius. It was produced by OM, and was originally released in 2005 on Holy Mountain.

The second OM-ing, Conference of the Birds, also features Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius,... (read more)

Songwriter, guitar innovator, private press legend and man Michael Yonkers has passed away at the age of 78. We join his fans to send our condolences to his other friends and family. He will be missed, but more importantly, Michael’s music, his DIY musical experimentation and his singular approach to conveying his songs over several dozen independently released recordings throughout his life, will be remembered.
 
Inspired as a teenager by the hair-raising freedom rock of The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” and the degraded... (read more)

Los Angeles guitarist Cole Berliner dives into the world of his solo material with his first album, The Black Door, out May 29. Known for his shape-shifting pop compositions as one half of Sharpie Smile (formerly Kamikaze Palm Tree), his debut LP features acoustic-electric arrangements and lineups ranging from stripped down folk, to chamber ensemble, to jazz combo. The second single, "Bongo Syndicate," is out today with a new music video by Brian Bartus.

Guitar and bass lines push and pull... (read more)