August 7th, tragic news broke that David Berman, poet and leader of Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, had passed away. A chronicler of despair and beauty, Bermans’ work casts a long shadow. Here, Wooden Wand’s James Jackson Toth reflects on his singular stature and remembers the man.
Category: David Berman
David Berman :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
David Berman is now recording under the moniker of Purple Mountains, and with the help of Jeremy Earl and Jarvis Taveniere of Woods, has created an album that encapsulates an entire missing chapter of his life—and, in typical fashion, has revealed quite a lot about that chapter in the process.
The Aquarium Drunkard Guide To Drag City Records: Volume One
Chicago’s venerable Drag City turns 30 years young in 2019. In perhaps typical fashion, the label doesn’t seem to be doing much in the way of commemoration — no star-studded festival, no limited edition boxed set, no self-congratulatory excess. Instead, Drag City is doing what it’s always done: releasing great records.
But those past glories deserve a little celebration, don’t they? That’s why the Aquarium Drunkard team has put together this eclectic guide to Drag City’s immense catalog: 30 masterpieces for 30 years.
Silver Jews :: Trains Across The Sea (Live, WFMU)
On September 8, 2008, David Berman rolled his touring band into WFMU ‘s New Jersey studio to record a live set for Benjamin Walker’s show. Berman – who by this point […]
Silver Palace :: Mr. Jews (Will Oldham / David Berman)
One thing fans of Chicago-based Drag City Records have always hoped for was a full-album collaboration by their two all-star players, Will Oldham and David Berman. To this date, that […]
Decade :: Silver Jews, Tanglewood Numbers (2005)
What is it that makes us want to deconstruct art by units of time? Lists. We love making them. We love arguing over them. And here, on the verge of […]
Silver Jews :: Chicago, IL (Metro 10.10.08)
David Berman’s voice dominates the six records that he has released under the once-tattering banner of the Silver Jews . The baritone pulls tension across the loose ends of the Joos’ fall-apart […]
AD Presents :: Silver Jews, Echoplex, Sept. 26th
Aquarium Drunkard welcomes one of our all-time favorites, Silver Jews , to the Echoplex Friday September 26th. We have five pairs of tickets to give away to AD readers. Joos fan? Leave your […]
Silver Jews :: Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is a the epitome of well crafted modern art – its search for truth and progress takes it through moments both high and low, serious and silly, and comes out all the better for it on the other side.
Silver Jews :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview
Earlier this week Aquarium Drunkard caught up with Silver Jews’ David Berman whose new album Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea drops June 17th via the Drag City label. Here, in part one of the interview, Berman discusses his faith, recovery, the documentary film Silver Jew, songwriting and his fairly recent role as bandleader in a live setting after years of non-touring, and what effect that has on one’s creative process. Stay tuned for part two of the interview which digs into the new LP and more.