This Thursday, October 8, the very talented Annie Crane and Robin Aigner will join me at The Fire (412 W. Girard Ave.) in Philly -- I'm excited for this show, anyone in Philly or the surrounding area who enjoys music should plan on attending. Surprise guests!

It's been awhile since I've updated this page...I'd like to say it's because I've been hiking  the Amazon rainforest or trying to start a Charles-Is-Dead rumor or incoherently protesting free health care (it's our right as Americans to go bankrupt due to medical bills dammit!), but the truth is I've been locked out of Myspace. The e-quivalent (i-quivalent?) of locking your keys in the car. It was mostly due to a late night password change--it may have been the combination of the late hour and the speed at which my fingers fly across the keyboard, much like how they fly across the fretboard...in any case, I made a typo (twice!) and when I went to log in, I was denied. Also, the email address associated with the account was defunct (I'm sure this is all fascinating)...but after a month long campaign of trying to prove my identity, I finally got some assistance and ba-da-bing! I'm back!

So, what's new? Well, while I was absent, someone kindly created a fanpage! I urge you to check it out: www.myspace.com/charleslathammusic. I played a couple of shows in Philly before taking a brief hiatus to work on write and record. I had a birthday! I went to the beach! I like summer. I am apprehensive about the approaching fall--the thrill of long sleeves and hot drinks is short-lived for me.

On Saturday 8/15, I will play (what will probably be) my last show of the summer: the annual Summer Antifolk Festival in NYC. As usual, I am as excited to play as I am to hear some of my favorite antifolkers: Erin Regan and Carl Creighton, among others. If you live in NYC or the surrounding area, I highly recommend that you make the show--it's free with a two drink minimum! Can you really complain about being forced to have two drinks?? I am kicking off the night, so get there early and stay late. http://www.sidewalkmusic.net

It's summer! Maybe not officially, but the windows are open, people are outside, frisbees are flying, and most importantly, outdoor music festivals abound! I had a great time this weekend performing at the Northern Liberties Music Festival: in fact, I was the very first act on the brand new stage. I was also surrounded by a veritable army of dancing children for the entire set--pictures to come!

On Tuesday, June 9 the music will be back indoors when I play Northstar Bar (2639 Poplar St.) here in Philly as part of the New Music Series. Tickets are $5, and when you buy one from me in advance, you get a copy of one of my albums! Doors at 7pm, music starts around 8.

Looking forward, I'm also playing Studio 34 on Saturday June 20--this is a really cool space that features live music in addition to teaching yoga and wellness practices. They're at 4522 Baltimore Ave in West Philly--check out their website: http://www.studio34yoga.com/ 

The following day, I'll be back outside in Central Park (the Central Park, not a central park) with a handful of my acoustic-instrument-weilding friends for Wagstock 2009! This festival is produced by Elizabeth Devlin and Annie Crane, both of whom are extremely, heartbreakingly talented and will be performing for your listening pleasure. Be sure to visit the myspace page (one of my "top friends") for more info!

I've posted a new song, "Taxi Driver"--it doesn't really have anything to do with the film of the same title, except maybe there is a similar creepiness to the protagonist? If so, this was largely unintentional. I meant this song to be a straightforward love song (platonic love). If I ever get to make a big-budget music video for this one, though, I'm totally getting De Niro.
Also, I am taking advantage of the new 10 song policy here on "the 'space" (as the kids say) and have posted some older stuff, too.
Meanwhile, I am hard at work writing and recording new material, fueled only by peach schnapps and triscuits. I'm also busy cleaning my recording space (hiding all the human hair dolls and star charts) in preparation for visits by a handfull of musically-talented friends, who will be helping me create some otherworldly shit. Stay tuned.

"Dressed Up For Nothin'" is another new song--it could also be the title of a romantic comedy. Speaking of which, the tentative title for my new album is "I'm Just Not That Into Me".
I hope you enjoy the song!
I'll be performing this song (and many others) live at this year's Fortified Winter Antifolk Festival on the final night of the fest: Friday 2/27 at 8pm. It's a free show (i.e. recession-friendly)! Don't miss it!

It's been a rough eight years. Even after the election, 1-20-09 seemed like a lifetime away. To celebrate the election of the most brilliant and electrifying candidate we've seen in decades and the last day of Bush's tyranny, the "end of an error", I've posted some of my topical songs: "Boot Hill" is an older song, written during Bush's first (stolen) term, and the rest ("8 Years" and "Immigrate") are more recent. The negativity of these songs, I am happy to say, seems outdated. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy them.

At the stroke of midnight last night (this morning?) I posted two tracks from my forthcoming EP, which will be available exclusively at the very fabulous show I've curated at The Sidewalk Cafe (94 Ave A. NYC) this Friday, December 12!

Tonight (tomorrow morning?) at midnight I will post two more tracks for you listening pleasure...stay tuned!

 

I stumbled across this blurb on Salon.com while I was surfing the internets:

"I've tried, really tried to like Bright Eyes and Oberst himself but find my mind always wandering. I strongly recommend Philly-based, Charles Latham as an alternative. Hate to do the Myspace thing but here he is: http://www.myspace.com/sircharleslatham"

http://letters.salon.com/ent/music/review/2008/08/07/conor_oberst/view/?show=ec

Someone going under the name "bennc" posted that response to a review of the new Bright Eyes record.

There you have it, folks! I'm the recommended alternative to Mr. Oberst--the Sierra Mist to his Sprite, if you will. Same great taste, fewer calories! No offense meant to any Bright Eyes fans out there, but I am very proud of these three glorious sentences. Thank you, "bennc", where ever you are. And no, I didn't post that myself.

 

The Fortified Summer Antifolk Fest 2008 rolls on this weekend, and I am excited to be performing on Saturday, August 16 at 7:30...it's an early slot, so please plan ..ing to drink sometime in the early afternoon. It's at the Sidewalk Cafe (94 Ave. A), of course, the home of antifolk.

On Thursday, August 21, however, antifolk is leaving home and hitting the road. The internationally-beloved domestic rock duo Schwervon! and road-battered warrior/poet Brook Pridemore will be joining me for Antifolk Night in Philly! The Green Line Cafe (45th and Locust) will host this motley crew, thanks to the folks at Sherman Community Arts.

In other news, I will be posting some new songs soon, fresh from the oven, still covered in blood and placenta and stuff.