William Elliott Whitmore on tour in support of new album

From the first lines of “Mutiny,” the opening track on William Elliott Whitmore’s ANTI- Records debut Animals In The Dark, one can see that this is decidedly not simply a continuation of his Southern trilogy that spanned his last three releases. Rather than a reflection of life and loss and the world surrounding his Iowa horse farm on the banks of the Mississippi, “Mutiny” finds Whitmore’s focus turned outward, to the state of the country and the missteps of the government. Conveyed with ire and humor, Whitmore sings over a martial beat:

Well it’s a goddamn shame what’s going down
How we got to this I do not know
There’s a sick sick wind that is blowing ‘round
And the captain’s got to go

Yet Animals In The Dark, is by no means a political record. It has more in common with the preacher blues of Reverend Gary Davis or the romantic populism of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska than it does a Billy Bragg record. What Animals In The Dark highlights is the maturation and growth of an exemplary artist. On the release, Whitmore showcases his classic songwriting and mastery of the acoustic guitar and banjo, but adds elements such as strings, an organ and a pedal steel, putting the songs into full arrangements and a band context for the first time. The results are a more expansive, cultivated sound, without losing any of the palpable soul that has garnered the 30 year old such critical acclaim.

William Elliott Whitmore naturally bridges the Americana music scene which embraces his sound and the Midwestern DIY rock movement which holds him as one of their own. Beginning on October 23rd, Whitmore sets out on tour with dark country rockers Murder By Death.

William Elliott Whitmore on tour:

Oct 23 Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 24 Backbooth - Orlando, Florida
Oct 25 Common Grounds - Gainesville, Florida
Oct 27 Bottletree - Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 28 One Eyed Jacks - New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct 29 Thirsty Hippo - Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Oct 30 Rubber Gloves - Denton, Texas
Oct 31 Stubb’s BBQ - Austin, Texas
Nov 1 Marquee - Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nov 2 Foundry Music Theatre - Joplin, Missouri
Nov 4 Uncle Pleasants - Louisville, Kentucky
Nov 5 Brewery - Raleigh, North Carolina
Nov 6 Steppin Out - Virginia Beach, Virginia
Nov 7 Canal Club Lounge - Richmond, Virginia
Nov 8 Ottobar - Baltimore, Maryland
Nov 9 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nov 11 Maxwell’s - Hoboken, New Jersey
Nov 12 Southpaw - Brooklyn, New York
Nov 13 Pearl Street - Northampton, Massachusetts
Nov 14 Higher Ground - S. Burlington, Vermont
Nov 15 Cafe 939 at Berklee - Boston, Massachusetts
Nov 17 Mohawk Place - Buffalo, New York
Nov 18 Club Cafe - Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
Nov 19 Basement - Columbus, Ohio
Nov 20 Metro - Chicago, Illinois
Nov 21 Mac’s Bar - Lansing, Michigan
Nov 22 Grog Shop - Cleveland, Ohio



Animals In The Dark Tracklisting:

Mutiny - 4:03
Who stole the soul - 3:26
Johnny law - 4:30
Old devils - 3:39
Hell or high water - 2:31
There's hope for you - 5:43
Hard times - 3:16
Lifetime underground - 3:19
Let the rain come in - 4:07
A good day to die - 2:38