The collective now known as My Jerusalem met through critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Jeff Klein, who played with each of them in his travels as a solo artist. Bassist Ashley Dzerigian was in Great Northern and toured with Ed Harcourt. Drummer Cully Symington was in bands like Cursive and Bishop Allen and tracked the Gutter Twins album. Michael St Clair, who rotates playing violin, viola, cello, trombone and keyboards in the band was a member of the Polyphonic Spree. Matt Bricker, also a member of the Polyphonic Spree, had been playing with The Low Lows. Guitarist and keyboardist Evan Jacobs was a founding member of Midlake and fronts his own remarkable band Tacks, The Boy Disaster.
After performances at this year’s SXSW and a wildly successful European run, the band now turns their attention to the west coast with upcoming shows next month.
My Jerusalem pins Klein’s razor sharp wit against a lush backdrop of strings and horns, which is driven home by a beat that is sometimes even reminiscent of Bauhaus. There is a lot of genre mixing when it comes to the bands offerings. One song can be delivered through a pulsing wounded whisper, while the next can be a schizophrenic, headphone dance-party such as "Sleepwalking" to which the band likens to "Abba on ecstasy."
Fueled by their DIY ethic, My Jerusalem recorded the album in two adjacent apartments in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA.. The experience proved to be both challenging and liberating. "Almost every piece of gear we used was broken or duct-taped together," muses Klein. That ram shackled environment and the creativity it birthed to overcome its limitations only added to the music’s charm. From the Bacharach meets Orbison album opener "Valley of Casualties," to the cathartically driving "Sweet Chariot," Gone For Good is a set of 12 songs that illustrate, as the group puts it "ones journey to find hope and satisfaction through even the hardest of times, and come out victorious."
For the live shows the band will continue to grow and change, consisting of any configuration of their large group of well-seasoned indie rock friends.. "It definitely keeps me on my toes. Wait, who's playing drums tonight? And there are how many people onstage?" jokes Klein.
The band’s debut album, Gone For Good, is out now on 00:02:59 Records thru Sony/RED.
More US and UK dates for My Jerusalem are planned for later this year.
MY JERUSALEM DATES – MAY 2011
5/8 - Tin Can Alehouse - San Diego, CA
5/9 - Bootleg Theatre - Los Angeles, CA - FREE SHOW
5/10 - Bottom of the Hill - San Francisco, CA
5/11 - Portland, OR - TBA
5/12 - Seattle, WA - TBA
5/13 - Neurolux - Boise, ID,
5/16 - Salt Lake City, UT TBA
5/17 - Larimer Lounge - Denver, CO
5/18 - Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS
5/19 - The Opolis Norman, OK
http://www.myspace.com/jerusalemtx
http://www.facebook/myjerusalem
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