Iron & Wine w/Rarities Set, Short Tour

Also issues subtle challenge to ticket scalpers....

By Blurt Staff

On May 19 Iron and Wine will issue Around the Well (Sub Pop), a 2-CD/3-LP collection of rare tracks ranging from out-of-print to never-before-released. In support of Around the Well Iron and Wine will be performing ten intimate shows in five cities. Each individual show will be wholly unique, as Iron and Wine will turn the set list over to the fans to create. In addition, Iron and Wine have begun work on the follow-up to The Shepherd's Dog and plan to release a new album in spring, 2010. 

Around the Well

The tracks collected on Around the Well span from Iron and Wine's earliest sessions which yielded the band's debut (2002's The Creek Drank the Cradle) through material recorded for 2007's The Shepherd's Dog.  The double-disc collection is broken up into two sections. The first half is an assortment of hushed home recordings, unedited and raw, and the second highlights moments captured in the confines of proper studios with the help of other musicians, friends and engineers. 

The album's title comes from a line in the song "The Trapeze Swinger," a fan favorite which was written for and included in the movie In Good Company. Three more songs written and recorded for the film finally make their appearance here as well: "Belated Promise Ring," "God Made the Automobile" and "Homeward, These Shoes." Around the Well also brings together hard to find covers such as The Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman" and New Order's "Love Vigilantes," along with one of Iron and Wine's earliest originals, "Sacred Vision," which appeared on a compilation for Sound Collector magazine..

Iron and Wine Spring 2009 US Tour

In support of Around the Well Iron and Wine will be performing ten intimate shows in five US cities. Tickets for all these shows go on sale February 20, 2009. Complete list of tour dates listed below.

Each show will feature a unique set list, determined by Iron and Wine fans. Beginning March 6^th and running thru March 30^th at www.ironandwine.com, fans can vote by city and night for the songs they'd like to see performed each evening. For those who can't attend, the shows will be made available after the tour is completed, in some cases days after, on Iron and Wine's official live recording site Played Last Night, www.playedlastnight.com.

Around the Well Track Listing

Disc 1

1. Dearest Forsaken     

2. Morning                    

3. Loud as Hope

4. Peng! 33

5. Sacred Vision

6. Friends They Are Jewels                   

7. Hickory                    

8. Waitin' for a Superman                      

9. Swans and the Swimming                 

10. Call Your Boys                    

11. Such Great Heights

(Vinyl break occurs between "Friends" and "Hickory.")

Disc 2

1. Communion Cups & Someone's Coat

2. Belated Promise Ring            

3. God Made the Automobile                  

4. Homeward, These Shoes                  

5. Love Vigilantes                     

6. Sinning Hands                      

7. No Moon      

8. Serpent Charmer                   

9. Carried Home

10. Kingdom of the Animals

11. Arms of a Thief                   

12. The Trapeze Swinger

(Vinyl break occurs between "Sinning" and "No Moon." At nearly ten minutes, "The Trapeze Swinger" will stand alone on the third piece of vinyl.)

Iron and Wine Spring 2009 US Tour Dates

Monday, May 4, 2009                         Seattle, Vera Project (w/Yogoman Burning Band)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009                        Seattle, Triple Door (w/Alela Diane)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009                  San Francisco, Swedish American Hall (w/Yogoman Burning Band)

Thursday, May 7, 2009                      San Francisco, Swedish American Hall (w/Magic Leaves)

Friday, May 8, 2009                            Los Angeles, Masonic Hall at Hollywood Forever Cemetery (w/ Alela Diane and DJ Small Town Talk)

Saturday, May 9, 2009                       Los Angeles, Troubadour (w/Yogoman Burning Band)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009                     Chicago, Lakeshore Theatre (w/Katie Stelmanis)

Wednesday, May 13, 2009                               Chicago, Schuba's
Sunday, May 17, 2009                       New York, Abrons Arts Center (w/Lia Ices)

Monday, May 18, 2009                       New York, Abrons Arts Center (w/partyface)

*All shows go on sale February 20, 2009. Tickets are will-call only. They are NON-TRANSFERABLE. No advance hard tickets will be issued. Purchaser must present ID at the door to claim tickets. NO EXCEPTIONS.