Thin Lear

“Silver Bridge” is out TODAY – a brand new single for your listening pleasure, accompanied by a lovely animated video by @ali_gemma Gave it my all on this one. It’s a story about family, loss, grief, the afterlife...and the stuff you try not to carry with you, but end up shouldering anyway. Links to everything in bio. Thanks to @undertheradarmag for premiering it and for the beautiful words. It seems like as good a time as any to say that this is the opening track from Many Disappeared, a whole new album that will arrive on April 24th via First City Artists. Produced by @monsieurmatt at Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, it features heroes like @ken.coomer @willsextonmemphis @ricksteff and Dave Smith playing along. This album is the sound of all of us in one big room together, as organic and moving a recording process as I’ve ever had. And hey, vinyl pre-orders are open NOW on Bandcamp, if you want to own a gleaming physical version of this music for your record players, along with beautiful artwork by @5pt5panoramic To get these songs directly to you, in May, Thin Lear will be taking its show on the road with a twenty-date tour through the East Coast, Northeast, and Mid-South, including an album release show at @night_club_101 in NYC on May 6th – all tix on sale today. More on all this stuff soon, but I’m delirious to share this music with you, and I hope it makes you feel something – the enduring goal, right? #indiefolk #indiemusic #newsingle

Today, I share “The Beast in Me,” a Thin Lear cover of the stunning Nick Lowe tune, made especially beloved by one J.R. Cash (streaming & video links in bio). This song has been woven into my language of artistic expression for a long while now, as a lofty point of reference for where I want to be as a songwriter. The lyrics are honest, ugly, a little surreal, and succinct (unlike this post). This devilish animation here, present in a loop in our lyric video, was made by the always brilliant @srta_do with a vibrancy that is typical of her work. There’s a book by John Gardner called Grendel about a lonely, pathetic monster, pulled cheekily from the Beowulf tale, and the opening lines of this song feel like an extension of that story – “The beast in me / Is caged by frail and fragile bars / Restless by day and by night / Rants and rages at the stars / God help the beast in me.” A somewhat self-aware beast irritated by its very nature, driven to follow the same challenging patterns again and again. I can relate. Thanks to @northerntransmissions for announcing the track this morning and First City Artists for putting it out. Dig into it when you can and let me know your thoughts/feelings. As Johnny Cash used to ask Nick Lowe when he would check in on the song’s process, “How’s the Beast?” Credits: @carlosfonsecasound - Co-Production, Mixing, Engineering @alangoodparker - Electric Guitars @jakeshermanwooo - Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer @joelambertmastering - Mastering Matt Longo - Co-Production, Guitar, Vocals, Bass @5pt5panoramic - Artwork #indiefolk #folk #nicklowe #americana

Thank you for a glorious evening, @citywinerynyc and beautiful people of NY/NJ. @theshiversmusic brought a tear to my eye, @damonisaacsmith is McCartney’s long lost son, and @__katypinke is a lyricist like no other. And folks, you hung with us on that balmy night and made us feel a sense of community in the room, something we were really hoping for. For all the shows this month, I’m most thankful for this one; see you again soon... #livemusic #nyc #indierock #nycmusic

The tour is in full swing here as I write this from a rest stop in upstate NY – we (me) are now halfway through this trek. Beyond doing my best (not really) to maintain a semi-normal eating schedule, I also managed to break two of my toes just prior to leaving. Good timing! Some initial reflections and highlights 10 shows deep into the Many Disappeared tour: For starters, that album release show at Night Club 101 was a beautiful experience; for everyone who came out, thank you for giving me such a nice kickoff and warm reception to this music that I’ve been sitting on for a while. I’m finally starting to get enough separation from the songs to start enjoying them again at these stops. And I’ve been sharing the stage with more brilliant songwriters than I can count, getting inspired at such a regular clip that I’m almost taking it for granted. If you need an afternoon read, @americana_uk_ kindly ran an in-depth feature on the new record this morning, saying, “He has a knack for bringing subjects to life with tiny, strange details that break your heart…” Sounds like a good time to me! And I delved into the writing and recording process a bit, for anyone who wants insight into these strange songs (link in bio). Anyway, I’ll keep you posted on the rest of this journey, and see you on the other side. Next up... 5/13: Buffalo, NY – @amys_place_buffalo w/ @ianmccuen @tylerbagwell @emandthebc 5/14: Pittsburgh, PA – @poetrypgh w/ @horace_whisper @reliable_child @tuckermuetzel 5/16: Philly, PA – @upstairsabyss w/ @badhistorymonth @lowercaseroses @forrester_grey_music 5/21: Emmaus, PA – @apportusedbooks w/ @mshoneyband @sailclothsounds #americanauk #americana #indiefolk #folk

It’s been 12 days of Many Disappeared being out there in the wild, and my cortisol is nearly returning to normal. As someone who is vaguely inept at social media, releasing music is always a journey, but I am growing and learning, like some kind of indie folk Lestat at the end of Interview with the Vampire. Very grateful for the beautiful reviews so far from @bigtakeovermag @popmatters @godisinthetvzine @magnetmagazine @varioussmallflames @undertheradarmag @starttrack_com @ink19mag and more...but really I’d like to hear what YOU think. Yes, you...the person reading this. Putting the music out online, for the most part, is the least exciting part of the creative process, but for anyone who’s streamed the album, bought a vinyl, or bought tickets to a show, you have warmed my heart. Now it’s on to the enjoyable part with other human beings – playing. And the shows have been lovely so far, if I saw you out there in Asbury Park, New Haven, Holyoke, or Catskill. TONIGHT (5/6), for the album release show, we take the stage at @night_club_101 with @ciwk @theadamlytle @damonisaacsmith (who himself is releasing an album). Vinyl will be there, in addition to good cheer (tix in bio). Tomorrow (5/7), we head out to Providence, RI, at Getties, and then Somerville at Union Tavern on Friday (5/8). And onward from there – full list of tour dates in bio. Wish me (and my car) luck on my long journey... #newrecord #indie #indiefolk #americana

Oh, what an exciting (and also terrifying) day! Many Disappeared is out everywhere NOW. Thin Lear’s sophomore album – 10 hand-crafted tracks of cinematic folk – is out of my hands and into the world. The journey of writing, recording and releasing these songs has been a substantial one, with far too many ins and outs to coherently discuss in an IG post, but there were moments where I wasn’t sure it’d ever see the light of day. Thankfully, I was wrong. I gave a whole lot of myself to this music, and at this point, it’s nearly impossible to separate myself from it, but I will do my best. Thanks to @monsieurmatt and the whole crew down in Memphis for working with me on this one, and @luckybirdmedia and First City Artists for helping me put it out there. Links in bio to listen in your platform of choice – and vinyl is shipping out to folks who pre-ordered as we speak. Yes, did I mention it’s available on vinyl now? Order yourself a copy on Bandcamp today! Thanks to @popmatters for the early review, with Chris Ingalls calling it “a gorgeous, elegantly produced masterpiece...one can hear echoes of Harry Nilsson, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, and Randy Newman...the songs are astonishingly good.” Anyway, enjoy, and I’d love to hear your initial reactions. I hope it lands kindly upon your ears. Tour starts tomorrow (4/25) in Holyoke, MA at De La Luz, and then on to Avalon Lounge in Catskill, NY (4/26). And don’t forget our NYC release show on Wednesday, May 6th at Night Club 101 – NYC and NJ folks, we need to see you out there! All tix in bio. Album credits: Produced, engineered, and mixed by Matt Ross-Spang Mastered by Kim Rosen at @knackmastering Drums, Percussion: @ken.coomer Guitars: @willsextonmemphis Piano, Organ, Wurlitzer, Mellotron: @ricksteff Bass: Dave Smith Assistant Engineer: @gravybone_ Artwork by @5pt5panoramic Animation by @ali_gemma #indiefolk #newmusicfridays #newalbum #folk

"This record is about my connection to loss and trying to figure out how to make sense of it without any religious infrastructure inside of me." -@thinlear (Matt Longo) on his latest LP, Many Disappeared // INTV LINK IN BIO

A creative oversharing post (sorry): So many of the songs on Many Disappeared, the new Thin Lear record out April 24th, are thoroughly personal, even when it’s something funneled through the lens of a quasi-fictional tale or bizarre true story. It still feels like me hanging out there in an uncomfortable way. Which is why, when recording, the goal was to put down the songs in as live a fashion as possible, and not my usual overdub style. It just would’ve sounded too lonely without that communal energy. Isn’t it odd being a solo artist? So I recorded in a huge space with a group of empathetic people. I didn’t explain what any of these tunes were about before we started working in that room in Memphis w/ @monsieurmatt . I thought it’d make things weird, but they picked up on the vibe regardless, and in between takes, we were talking about family, grief, and the heartache of the unknown. And over the weeks, it took its shape. We finished this record a while back, and it sure has taken a minute to come out, but in a little over a week’s time, these ten songs won’t be mine to obsess over anymore. Finally. #indiefolk #folk #songwriting #newalbum

Uh oh, look out East Coast & Mid-South! A folk-rocking middle-aged man is headed your way, and that only spells trouble. So, once the new album comes out on April 24th, Thin Lear will be taking Many Disappeared on the road to (maybe?) a city near you this April & May. Check out the tour flyer for the full list (second pic) and the Bandsintown in the bio for venues and tickets. If you want to come see a show, you have 20 options to choose from, and I’d definitely recommend choosing the venue and city that’s closest to you. Truly hoping the car holds out for this trek. If there’s another city or venue I should be playing on my next run, please tell me. I’m all ears for recommendations! This is just me doing my best to play where people are listening. And you know I’m all about the data. It’s a high-tech operation over here. And hey, I plan on doing one cover in each city that’s bespoke for that city – what should I be playing and where? Themed approaches are welcome. One thing I’d definitely recommend for the NYC and NJ folks: Thin Lear’s album release show at @night_club_101 on March 6th. It’s a standout lineup and we’ll be waiting for you, patiently. Like, we can’t start without you. Pics by @annarhody April 25 | Holyoke, MA – De La Luz April 26 | Catskill, NY – Avalon Lounge April 29 | New Haven, CT – Stella Blues May 4 | Asbury Park, NJ – Wonder Bar May 6 | NYC (release show) – Night Club 101 May 7 | Providence, RI – Getties at Fete Music Hall May 8 | Somerville, MA – Union Tavern May 9 | Portland, ME – Blue Portland Maine May 10 | Dover, NH – Auspicious Brew May 12 | Rochester, NY – Bar Bad Ending May 13 | Buffalo, NY – Area 54 at Amy’s Place May 14 | Pittsburgh, PA – Poetry Lounge May 16 | Philadelphia, PA – Abyssinia May 21 | Bethlehem, PA – Apport Used Books May 23 | Baltimore, MD – Holy Frijoles May 24 | Charlottesville, VA – Superfly Brewing May 26 | Richmond, VA – The Camel May 28 | Nashville, TN – Venue TBC May 29 | Memphis, TN – Lamplighter Lounge May 30 | Knoxville, TN – WDVX Blue Plate Special #tour #indiefolk #newalbum #indiemusic

Can you tell this was recorded late at night? “A Cherished Man” has been out for about a week now and I’m just chuffed at the response to this very last single before the album drops. Thanks to the folks at @varioussmallflames who say, “[The previous singles] might have held a sense of ambition in their themes and narrative, but this song pushes even further,” calling it “a triptych of character studies which follows three ostensibly eccentric people through their honest attempts to connect with others from the margins of society.” And thanks to the editors of Apple Music’s New in Alternative playlist for featuring the song. But you shouldn’t just take their word for it, you know? Dig in and see how it sits with you. For the few folks who asked, yes, in the second verse, I do believe the person poking people with pins on buses in NYC was a real thing at one point. Or perhaps I dreamed it. I guess we’ll never know. Many Disappeared will be out at the end of the month on April 24th on First City Artists...this is it. No more singles, just a full-on mid-spring record. I am nervous and eager for this thing to finally be out, and yet I’m also going to attempt to enjoy the last three weeks that it’s still vaguely just my own. And hey, if you own a record player, I have a truly wonderful piece of information: this album can be pre-ordered on vinyl through Bandcamp at this very moment! Let this record sit snugly between the “S” and “U” artists in your collection, where it rightfully, alphabetically belongs. #indie #folk #newalbum #vinyl #indiefolk

Friends! The new Thin Lear single “A Cherished Man” is out everywhere today, with a characteristically far-out animated vid from @ali_gemma In a word, I’d love to know what mood this song puts you in. Link(s) to the vid and song in bio. It’s strange to talk about these winding story songs on social media. There’s this (maybe self-imposed) pressure to go, “Here’s what this is about,” with every release, to have something catchy to say, but as it is for a lot of songwriters, I didn’t sit down with a plan or a theme. The songs say something to me, and maybe to some other people, hopefully, but they definitely don’t cry out with a direct message. Speaking of direct messages, my sophomore album, Many Disappeared, is out on April 24th – the whole thing was produced by @monsieurmatt and played on by a group of incredible musicians, eye to eye, in one big room in Memphis. We’d rehearse all day and hit record on the tape machine in the evening, and it was just the most idyllic environment for reflection and creation; I hope that comes across in the recordings. Hear this song, and probably about 10 others, LIVE at @night_club_101 on May 6th for the album release show, consisting of a dream lineup of @ciwk @theadamlytle and @damonisaacsmith We’ll see you there. #indiefolk #indie #newsingle #animation

Hey, wait! There’s one last single prior to the new album, Many Disappeared, arriving in full on April 24th via First City Artists. It’s called “A Cherished Man,” and it’s out one week from today on March 25th. This tune, a ballad, was born from a far-too-long poem, and features a host of real and imagined characters seeking validation and embrace. It was also partially inspired by the probably not entirely true story of Tarrare, for those of you into bonkers folklore. (If you have any other strange historical stories I should be reading, please send them my way; you know I love them). If you’ve been checking out these songs so far, thanks for digging into “Witness” and “Silver Bridge.” This has been one of the more enjoyable release experiences in recent memory. But if you reeeeally want to see these tunes in all their glory, and share in the communicative magic that is live music, come check me out on the road in a city near you. Full tour in bio... Pics by @annarhody Single pre-save is in the bio as well, if you do that #indiefolk #indiefolkmusic #indie #indiemusic