• Full length release, available
October 6th
• October and November tour dates all below
When Mike Doughty released his second official solo album, 2008’s
Golden Delicious, the reaction from fans was intense. “Some hated
it, some loved it better than Soul Coughing,” Doughty says. “I tend
to take sharp left turns. Every time I put out a record, the audience
seems to like what I did two years ago better. You’d think I could
shrug it off because that’s what always happens, but it always gets
to me.”
Doughty admits that his upcoming album, Sad Man Happy Man - released
October 6th on ATO Records - is a reaction to his fans’ reaction and
that he’s giving the people what they want. “I really went for the
‘na-na-na's’ and the simple choruses and stuff on Golden,”
he says. “The songs on Sad Man are more arcane and convoluted
songwriting-wise, though they’re sparer in terms of instrumentation.
Although my choruses are still simple — I love taking phrases and
repeating them ad infinitum.”
The largely acoustic Sad Man Happy Man is a deliberate return
to everything people love about Mike Doughty, he makes albums that simmer
with verbal wit, and Sad Man Happy Man is no exception with its
songs about everything from relationship bust-ups (Doughty was going
through one while he was recording it) to his astute observations about
the American economy.
"Pleasure on Credit" is a celebratory tale of the American
spender in the face of the U.S.’s credit addiction crushing the world's
markets; “Lord Lord” is all sly drug references, like “Tango and
Cash” and “Dr. Nova,” which are both brand-names for bags of heroin.
“That song is kind of like my ‘Walk on the Wild Side,’” Doughty
says. “I like how Reed’s tune is all about tranny whores and yet
is all over classic rock radio.” Doughty wrote "Rising Up"
after his girlfriend sent him a terse email and, with his heart thumping,
wrote five pages trying to exorcise his anxiety. “It’s my Gloria
Gaynor moment,” he says with a laugh. “The message of the tune is:
‘You're fucked, but it doesn't matter. I'll keep on with my spiritual
journey.’ Yes, I really am that much of a hippie.”
Musically, Sad Man Happy Man finds Doughty returning to his acoustic
roots thanks to its stripped-down arrangements that feature Doughty
backing himself on guitar. He also did all the drum programming, as
well as played keyboards and what he calls the “weird noise stuff,”
while his long-time touring partner Andrew “Scrap” Livingston handles
bass duties. Recorded at New York’s Kampo Studios, the album was co-produced
by Doughty and engineer Pat Dillett (They Might Be Giants, David Byrne,
Arto Lindsay), with the exception of album’s first single “Doubly
Gratified,” which was produced by David Kahne, who helmed Soul Coughing’s
1996 album Irresistible Bliss, as well as albums by Paul McCartney,
Sugar Ray, and Tony Bennett.
Doughty maintains a widely read blog (mikedoughty.com/blog) that chronicles
his unique shows, international travels, and creative endeavors. He’s
currently writing a memoir, recording an electronic album entitled
Dubious Luxury, and working on a photo book about Eritrea’s capital
city of Asmara, for Yeti Books. He also recently published a play,
Ray Slape is Dead, in 24 by 24: The 24 Hour Plays Anthology,
alongside Terrence McNally and Theresa Rebeck.
But for now, Doughty is looking forward to a fall ‘09 “Question
Jar” tour with his friend Scrap and releasing Sad Man Happy Man.
“Basically I'm trying to make stuff I want to listen to,” he says
of the album. “And I mean that in a literal sense, not like, “Were
I a listener, I would like this,” but rather something I can listen
to on the subway on headphones and really dig. This is my life, this
is what I do. That sounds matter-of-fact, but I really do look at it
as a sort of calling — and being an artist at its best is selfless.
I'm working for the language, I'm working for the music, I'm working
for the songs. I'm a happier guy when I'm conscious of that.”
Sad Man Happy Man tracklisting
– ATO # 0081
Nectarine (part two)
(I Keep On) Rising Up
(You Should Be) Doubly (Gratified)
Lorna Zauberberg
(I Want to) Burn You (Down)
Pleasure on Credit
Lord Lord Help Me Just to Rock Rock On
(He's Got the) Whole World (in His Hands)
(When I) Box the Days (Up)
Year of the Dog
Diane
How to Fuck a Republican
Casper the Friendly Ghost (written by Daniel Johnston)
Mike Doughty Fall ‘09 tour
– all dates subject to change
OCTOBER
10/8 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe(2
shows), ages 21+
10/9 Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe,
ages 21+
10/10 Toronto, ONT, Canada - Drake
Hotel, ages 19+
10/11Toronto, ONT, Canada - Drake
Hotel (2 shows), ages 19+
10/13 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
10/14 Ann Arbor, MI - The Ark
10/15 Chicago, IL - Schubas (2 shows),
ages 21+
10/16 Chicago, IL - Schubas, ages
21+
10/17 Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall,
ages 21+
10/18 St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill
10/20 Louisville, KY - Zanzabar,
ages 21+
10/21 Nashville, TN - 3rd & Lindsley,
all ages
10/22 Athens, GA - Melting Point,
ages 18+
10/23 Atlanta, GA - Eddie's Attic
(2 shows)
10/24 Charlotte, NC - Evening Muse
10/25 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle
10/27 Carrboro, NC - Arts Center,
all ages
10/28 Charlottesville, VA - The Southern,
all ages
10/29 Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere
10/30 Sellersville, PA - Sellersville
Theatre, all ages
10/31 New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge,
ages 18+
NOVEMBER
11/12 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse
(2 shows)
11/13 Cambridge, MA - Regatta Bar
(2 shows)
11/14 Newmarket, NH - Stone Church
(2 shows)
11/15 Portland, ME - One Longfellow
Square
11/17 Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
Lounge (2 shows)
11/18 Albany, NY - Revolution Hall,
ages 18+
11/19 Syracuse, NY - Westcott Theatre,
all ages
11/20 Ithaca, NY - Castaways
11/21 Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
11/22 Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage
11/24 Harrisburg, PA - Harrisburg
Midtown Arts Center, ages 21+
11/25 Towson, MD - Recher Theatre,
all ages
MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED…
publicity: Rob Moore, 60 Cycle
Media
office 845-358-6026 cell 646-918-4360
moore@60cyclemedia.com