joe pug

Joe Pug, Live Session #92

by oz on August 24, 2011

Joe Pug released his first EP around the same time folks started noticing this music blog. I vividly remember the day Nation of Heat arrived by mail and how my jaw slowly dropped as I listened to Pug’s songwriting. Music blogging is a labor of love and musicians like Pug are the reason we continue our evangelism. In addition to rising to the top of the ranks in folk songwriting, Joe has won over fans with humility and a blue collar work ethic each time he takes the stage.

This session was a reunion. It’s our second live session with Joe and our first with him since he recorded his 2010 album, Messenger, in the very same studio with Steve Shirk at Shirk Music + Sound. I once said that it’s hard to put a price tag on Joe’s music – its importance to me is hard to put into words. My admiration for his song craft has been reinforced over the years seeing him perform at festivals like Lollapalooza and SxSW (where he joined us at two of our parties) and at small venues in different cities. His stage presence has matured over the years, but the gratitude for his fans is always an emotion worn on his sleeve.

I saw Pug in Atlanta at The Earl this summer accompanied by his 100 Mile Band that includes Greg Tuohey on guitar and Chris Merrill on upright bass. If you missed the experience of seeing this threesome, then this session will be extra special for you. Joe is finishing up work on a new album with producer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron & Wine, etc) and in addition to the few tour dates listed below, will be announcing more in the coming days/weeks. If you miss him in your town, you can catch him in Sweet Tone, USA (see the prelude to “Unsophisticated Heart” for context). We’ll be sure to keep you apprised on the future details.

Tour Dates:

August 26 Woodstock, VT–Suicide Six w/ Levon Helm Band
August 28 Ottawa, ON–Ottawa Folk Fest
Sept 4 Seattle, WA–Bumbershoot
Sept 5 Bellingham, WA–The Green Frog
Sept 7 Spokane, WA–The A Club
Sept 9 Portland, OR–Music Fest Northwest @ Alladin w/ Horse Feathers
Sept 10-11 Sisters, OR–Sisters Folk Festival

Joe Pug Band Introduction

Exclusive: Joe Pug – Call It What You Will

Exclusive: Joe Pug – How Good You Are

Exclusive: Joe Pug – Unsophisticated Heart

Exclusive: Joe Pug -Nobody’s Man

Exclusive: Joe Pug – Dodging The Wind

Download the Joe Pug Live Session as a zip file.

Video: Joe Pug – Nobody’s Man (Live in Chicago at Shirk Music + Sound)

Video: Joe Pug – How Good You Are (Live in Chicago at Shirk Music + Sound)

Video: Joe Pug – Call It What You Will (Live in Chicago at Shirk Music + Sound)

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Joe Pug covered Tex Thomas last night at The Earl. Tex who?

by oz on April 7, 2011

Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks played an early show at The Earl in Atlanta last night. I’d review the show, but do I really need to say more about Joe and Tim? It’s impossible not to love both of these artists and I’m proud to have been introduced to their music very early on in their careers.  Take the time to check out the tour dates. It’ll be the best $10 you’ve spent in awhile.

Other than seeing Joe accompanied by upright bass and an incredible lead guitarist on this tour, one of the highlights from last night was seeing Pug cover an Austin, TX singer/songwriter named Tex Thomas. I don’t have the song title, but it’s a great two minutes of song. Anyone out there familiar with Tex Thomas?

Video: Joe Pug covers Tex Thomas (Live at The Earl in Atlanta, 4/6/11)

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Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks Cover Each Other’s Songs, Begin Tour

by oz on March 28, 2011

I have two special treats today. The first is an announcement that two of my favorite songwriters, Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks (aka Timothy Showalter) are embarking on a tour together. The second is that, to kick off the announcement, each artist covered a favorite song from the other. Pug chose to record “End In Flames” off of Strand of Oaks’ debut album Leave Ruin while Strand of Oaks chose to cover “Hymn #101,” the song from Pug’s debut EP that put him on the map.

You’ll find tour dates below the mp3′s. I’m planning to be at the show in Atlanta.

Joe Pug – End In Flames (Strand of Oaks Cover)

Strand of Oaks – Hymn #101 (Joe Pug Cover)

Previously posted:

Strand of Oaks – End In Flames (Album Version)

Strand of Oaks – End In Flames (from the Hearya Live Session)

Joe Pug – Hymn #101 (from the HearYa Live Session)

Joe Pug + Strand of Oaks Tour Dates

March 31 Austin, TX–Mohawk
April 1 Houston, TX–Mucky Duck
April 2 Dallas, TX–The Loft
April 3 Knoxville, TN–Rhythm and Blooms Festival (JP Only)
April 5 Asheville, NC–The Grey Eagle
April 6 Atlanta, GA–The Earl
April 7 Birmingham, AL–Workplay
April 8 Nashville, TN–The Basement
April 9 Charlotte, NC–The Evening Muse
April 11 Chapel Hill, NC–Local 506
April 12 Charlottesville, VA–The Southern
April 13 Washington, DC–The Black Cat
April 14 Philadelphia, PA–Johnny Brendas
April 15 Brooklyn, NY–The Rock Shop
April 16 New York, NY–The Mercury Lounge
April 18 Boston, MA–Middle East Upstairs
April 19 Williamstown, MA–Private Show
April 20 Toronto, ON–The Horseshoe
April 21 Buffalo NY–9th Ward
April 22 Cleveland, OH–Beachland Tavern
April 23 Pittsburgh, PA–The Club Cafe
April 26 Columbus, OH–Rumba Cafe
April 27 Champaign, IL–The Canopy Club
April 28 Bloomington, IN–The Bishop
April 29 Chicago, IL–Lincoln Hall
April 30 St. Paul, MN–Turf Club
May 1 Madison, WI–High Noon Saloon
May 2 Iowa City, IA–The Blue Moose
May 3 St. Louis, MO–Off Broadway
May 4 Lawrence, KS–The Bottleneck
May 6 Denver, CO–Hi Dive
May 7 Colorado Springs, CO–Fuel/Friends House Show
May 8 Salt Lake City, UT–Kilby Court
May 10 Pullman, WA–BellTower
May 11 Bellingham, WA–The Green Frog
May 12 Vancouver, CAN–The Media Club
May 13 Seattle, WA–Tractor Tavern
May 14 Portland, OR–The Doug Fir
May 15 Willamina, OR–Wildwood Hotel
May 17 San Francisco, CA–Bottom of the Hill
May 18 Santa Cruz, CA–The Crepe Place
May 19 San Diego, CA–The Casbah
May 20 Los Angeles, CA–The Satellite (formerly Spaceland)
May 21 Tempe, AZ–The Sail Inn
May 22 Albuquerque, NM–Low Spirits
May 24 Oklahoma City, NM–The Blue Door

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Joe Pug covers The Low Anthem, Tom Waits [Backstage and Bootleg]

by oz on November 12, 2010

Joe Pug ended his $10 tour in Austin, TX at The Cactus Cafe on November 6th. Luckily, Aaron Wevodau was in attendance and recorded the show because it’s fantastic. Here are a few song selections, but head over here to hear/download the entire set. “Not So Sure” has become one of my favorite tracks of the year.

Joe Pug – Unsophisticated Heart

Joe Pug – Not So Sure

Joe Pug – Hymn 101

Joe Pug – T0 Ohio (Low Anthem cover)

Joe also posted a video of a backstage rehearsal of Tom Waits’ “Old Shoes” with Vandaveer.

Not the first time he’s covered Tom Waits. Here’s another video of Joe Pug doing “Ol’ 55.”

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Joe Pug, Elvis Costello, and The Levon Helm Band perform “The Weight” in Vancouver

August 17, 2010

Joe Pug is all growed up. He’s been touring and joining the stage with the likes of Steve Earle, Josh Ritter, and most recently, The Levon Helm band and Elvis Costello (video below). Joe is endearing on stage with what I’d imagine are his idols. I’m sure it was a surreal experience. It’s been pretty [...]

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Joe Pug gives away Bury Me (Far From My Uniform) in honor of Memorial Day. [new mp3]

May 28, 2010

Joe Pug is one classy dude. He’s giving away one of the best songs of 2010 in honor of Memorial Day. I’ll let him explain: Often songs are difficult to write but, once written, easy to release,” explains Pug.‚  “That was certainly not the case with ‘Bury Me Far (From My Uniform).’‚  The song nearly [...]

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Josh Ritter’s encore invitation to Joe Pug [Live Video]

May 20, 2010

We mentioned Josh Ritter’s classy move this past Saturday at his show at The Vic in Chicago.‚  Josh invited Chicago’s folk pride and joy, Joe Pug, on stage during his encore to perform “Speak Plainly, Diana,” the closer from Joe Pug’s latest album, Messenger. One of yesterday’s readers, Mandy, posted a comment with a link [...]

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A glimpse inside the business of indie music. Discussions with The Low Anthem, Joe Pug, The Deep Dark Woods [Podcast]

May 17, 2010

At our SxSW 2o10 day party, a Chicago-based interactive design agency called Manifest Digital, interviewed a few of the bands in our lineup about the business side of being in an indie band. After getting back to Chicago, they spent time in Shirk’s studio (where we tape our live sessions) to record this podcast. The [...]

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Joe Pug’s Messenger delivers a preview of new album. [Streaming]

December 7, 2009

During my recent cross country relocation, the advanced copy of Joe Pug’s forthcoming album, Messenger, kept me company and stayed on repeat as I drove through snowstorms in West Kansas.‚  Pug is streaming the title track and “Unsophisticated Heart” (below). The album will be released on February 16th. Tweet

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Joe Pug at a SxSW 2009 Late Night Loft Party

April 7, 2009

After a rowdy evening watching the Felice Brothers over at Habana, I met up with Joe Pug for a Lone Star before heading to a late night loft party on Brazos where he was invited to perform a short acoustic set.‚  It turned out to be the perfect ending to a long day at SXSW. [...]

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