JD McPherson's "Crying's Just A Thing That You Do" Premieres At Rolling Stone Country, 'Undivided Heart & Soul' Out October 6
JD McPHERSON RETURNS WITH UNDIVIDED HEART & SOULOCTOBER 6th, 2017 ROLLING STONE COUNTRY PREMIERES “CRYING’S JUST A THING THAT YOU DO” NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen JD McPherson is set to return with Undivided Heart & Soul on October 6th, 2017. The 11-song set was produced by McPherson and Dan Molad (Lucius, Here We Go Magic), and was recorded at the Historic RCA Studio B™ in Nashville, TN, which celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year. Undivided Heart & Soul is McPherson’s first studio album in nearly three years and follows his critically acclaimed Let The Good Times Roll (2015), which Rolling Stone praised as “timeless, forward-thinking rock & roll.” The new, soul-baring album is a snapshot of his creative process bringing the record to life, a journey filled with fear and change, then boldness, and, eventually catharsis. The album features collaborations with Parker Millsap, Butch Walker, and Aaron Lee Tasjan. In addition to his longtime band members Doug Corcoran on guitar, Raynier Jacob Jacildo on keys, Jimmy Sutton on bass, and Jason Smay on drums, the album also features guest appearances by Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, Greenhornes), Jess Wolfe & Holly Laessig of Lucius, and Nicole Atkins. Rolling Stone Country premiered the second track from the new album, “Crying’s Just A Thing That You Do,” HERE, calling it a “Jerry Lee Lewis-in-the-key-of T. Rex rocker” and “some fearless and flawless rock & roll.” Of the record, they go on to add, “From the pure, jittery rock & roll of ‘Crying's Just a Thing That You Do’ to some more personal, sentimental moments, Undivided Heart & Soul is a record that sounds full of vital urgency because it was never once dialed in. Rather, it takes true effort to make something effortless.” NPR Music previously premiered the video for the album’s first single, “Lucky Penny,” calling McPherson a "supreme rock reinventor" and stating, "There's a certain fugitive feel to the sound [of]Undivided Heart & Soul – McPherson's mastery of rock and soul fundamentals is beyond question, but his voice moves in wild ways on these songs, and the band exudes a new kind of risky energy. JD McPherson has said the process of making this album pushed him hard. That's a good thing; he's crossing some new lines on the highway." The video depicts McPherson and his band performing the song at RCA Studio B and was directed by George Salisbury (Flaming Lips, Nathaniel Rateliff) and can be seen HERE. Undivided Heart & Soul will be available digitally, as well as compact disc, and vinyl and is now available for pre-order HERE. Prior to writing and recording the new album, McPherson moved his family from their longtime home of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to the burgeoning artist community of East Nashville, TN. His decision was based on opportunity and one he was reluctant to make, but notes the profound influence the city has had on his new work. “Up to this point, I thought I knew what I was doing with songwriting, that I don’t do this or that,” says McPherson. After collaborating with multiple artists in the scene, he began to experiment, exploring personal themes and injecting more of himself into his work (including a co-write on the album with his wife Mandy). Opening up his process was no easy task. “I was having nightmares every night, thinking, ‘Wow, they’re going to hate this.” With a group of songs taking shape, McPherson and crew scheduled studio time to begin work on the album. After initial tracking began, it quickly became apparent that the sessions were not going to work, bringing his momentum to a halt. At the invitation of his friend and longtime supporter Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, who was also recording at the time, McPherson, Homme, and his Queens bandmate Dean Fertita jammed together over a weekend in Los Angeles. They played around with some songs, with Homme pushing McPherson outside of his comfort zone in a no-stakes environment. McPherson calls the getaway “the most fun I’ve had since I was 15 years old” and returned to Nashville with a clear head, internal filters successfully stifled, and ready to move forward with a new co-producer in Dan Molad (also the drummer for the band Lucius). “There’s a pretty broad gap in our tastes, what we do and what we’re into,” McPherson says of Molad. Where McPherson is as likely to lean on The Cramps as he is Irma Thomas for inspiration, Molad’s left-field production suggestions influenced a new perspective on his sound. “We ended up learning a lot from each other, and he did a lot of stuff I’d have never thought to do.” The legendary RCA Studio B was fundamental to the creation of the "Nashville Sound," and the ghosts of some of the greatest songs in history live within its walls: Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You," among them. Since the facility is a working museum by day and offers public tours, the entirety of McPherson’s workspace had to be reset at night: Loading in all equipment in the late afternoon after the final tour was completed and working through the night. During the album closer, “Let’s Get Out Of Here While We’re Young,” McPherson sputters “We’ve worn out all the songs we’ve sung.” This is not a statement McPherson takes lightly. “This record was difficult for me to make, difficult to write, difficult to record. It took a lot for me to say that I can’t force these songs to be the way people are expecting.” McPherson says. Undivided Heart & Soul is statement record, one that asserts McPherson as he is now, battle-weary but stronger than ever. JD McPherson has also announced his initial North American tour dates in support of Undivided Heart & Soul. The band will be in Madison, WI tonight and will also appear at the American Legion Hall in Nashville, TN next Thursday night during the Americana Festival. Please see all dates below (with more to be announced). 
JD McPHERSON'S UNDIVIDED HEART & SOUL TRACK LIST:
1. Desperate Love
2. Crying’s Just A Thing You Do
3. Lucky Penny
4. Hunting For Sugar
5. On The Lips
6. Undivided Heart & Soul
7. Bloodhound Rock
8. Style (Is A Losing Game)
9. Jubilee
10. Under The Spell of City Lights
11. Let’s Get Out Of Here While We’re Young
JD McPHERSON ON TOUR:
September 7 – Madison, WI @ Central Park Sessions
September 8 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell's Eccentric Cafe
September 9 – Akron, OH @ The University of Akron*
September 14 – Nashville, TN @ American Legion Hall*
September 22 – Tahlequah, OK @ Medicine Stone^
September 23 – Helotes, TX @ John T. Floore Country Store
September 28 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
September 30 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
October 1 – Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater & Club
October 2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
October 4 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo's*
October 5 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom*
October 7 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Wineryƒ
October 8 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
October 11 – Solana Beach, CA @ The Belly Up*
October 12 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown*
October 13 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory*
October 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent*
October 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom*
October 18 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler*
October 19 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn*
October 20 – Gruene, TX @ Gruene Hall*
October 21 – Houston, TX @ The Continental*
October 22 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
November 1 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West~
November 2 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle~
November 3 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle~
November 4 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat~
November 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live~
November 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg~
November 8 – Troy, NY @ The Hangar
November 9 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
November 10 – Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace
November 11 – Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
November 14 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
November 15 – Columbus, OH @ Skully's
November 16 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
November 17 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner's
November 18 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *with Nikki Lane
^with Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Cody Canada & The Departed
ƒwith The Mavericks
~with Nicole Atkins
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen JD McPherson is set to return with Undivided Heart & Soul on October 6th, 2017. The 11-song set was produced by McPherson and Dan Molad (Lucius, Here We Go Magic), and was recorded at the Historic RCA Studio B™ in Nashville, TN, which celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year. Undivided Heart & Soul is McPherson’s first studio album in nearly three years and follows his critically acclaimed Let The Good Times Roll (2015), which Rolling Stone praised as “timeless, forward-thinking rock & roll.” The new, soul-baring album is a snapshot of his creative process bringing the record to life, a journey filled with fear and change, then boldness, and, eventually catharsis. The album features collaborations with Parker Millsap, Butch Walker, and Aaron Lee Tasjan. In addition to his longtime band members Doug Corcoran on guitar, Raynier Jacob Jacildo on keys, Jimmy Sutton on bass, and Jason Smay on drums, the album also features guest appearances by Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, Greenhornes), Jess Wolfe & Holly Laessig of Lucius, and Nicole Atkins. Rolling Stone Country premiered the second track from the new album, “Crying’s Just A Thing That You Do,” HERE, calling it a “Jerry Lee Lewis-in-the-key-of T. Rex rocker” and “some fearless and flawless rock & roll.” Of the record, they go on to add, “From the pure, jittery rock & roll of ‘Crying's Just a Thing That You Do’ to some more personal, sentimental moments, Undivided Heart & Soul is a record that sounds full of vital urgency because it was never once dialed in. Rather, it takes true effort to make something effortless.” NPR Music previously premiered the video for the album’s first single, “Lucky Penny,” calling McPherson a "supreme rock reinventor" and stating, "There's a certain fugitive feel to the sound [of]Undivided Heart & Soul – McPherson's mastery of rock and soul fundamentals is beyond question, but his voice moves in wild ways on these songs, and the band exudes a new kind of risky energy. JD McPherson has said the process of making this album pushed him hard. That's a good thing; he's crossing some new lines on the highway." The video depicts McPherson and his band performing the song at RCA Studio B and was directed by George Salisbury (Flaming Lips, Nathaniel Rateliff) and can be seen HERE. Undivided Heart & Soul will be available digitally, as well as compact disc, and vinyl and is now available for pre-order HERE. Prior to writing and recording the new album, McPherson moved his family from their longtime home of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma to the burgeoning artist community of East Nashville, TN. His decision was based on opportunity and one he was reluctant to make, but notes the profound influence the city has had on his new work. “Up to this point, I thought I knew what I was doing with songwriting, that I don’t do this or that,” says McPherson. After collaborating with multiple artists in the scene, he began to experiment, exploring personal themes and injecting more of himself into his work (including a co-write on the album with his wife Mandy). Opening up his process was no easy task. “I was having nightmares every night, thinking, ‘Wow, they’re going to hate this.” With a group of songs taking shape, McPherson and crew scheduled studio time to begin work on the album. After initial tracking began, it quickly became apparent that the sessions were not going to work, bringing his momentum to a halt. At the invitation of his friend and longtime supporter Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, who was also recording at the time, McPherson, Homme, and his Queens bandmate Dean Fertita jammed together over a weekend in Los Angeles. They played around with some songs, with Homme pushing McPherson outside of his comfort zone in a no-stakes environment. McPherson calls the getaway “the most fun I’ve had since I was 15 years old” and returned to Nashville with a clear head, internal filters successfully stifled, and ready to move forward with a new co-producer in Dan Molad (also the drummer for the band Lucius). “There’s a pretty broad gap in our tastes, what we do and what we’re into,” McPherson says of Molad. Where McPherson is as likely to lean on The Cramps as he is Irma Thomas for inspiration, Molad’s left-field production suggestions influenced a new perspective on his sound. “We ended up learning a lot from each other, and he did a lot of stuff I’d have never thought to do.” The legendary RCA Studio B was fundamental to the creation of the "Nashville Sound," and the ghosts of some of the greatest songs in history live within its walls: Elvis Presley’s “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You," among them. Since the facility is a working museum by day and offers public tours, the entirety of McPherson’s workspace had to be reset at night: Loading in all equipment in the late afternoon after the final tour was completed and working through the night. During the album closer, “Let’s Get Out Of Here While We’re Young,” McPherson sputters “We’ve worn out all the songs we’ve sung.” This is not a statement McPherson takes lightly. “This record was difficult for me to make, difficult to write, difficult to record. It took a lot for me to say that I can’t force these songs to be the way people are expecting.” McPherson says. Undivided Heart & Soul is statement record, one that asserts McPherson as he is now, battle-weary but stronger than ever. JD McPherson has also announced his initial North American tour dates in support of Undivided Heart & Soul. The band will be in Madison, WI tonight and will also appear at the American Legion Hall in Nashville, TN next Thursday night during the Americana Festival. Please see all dates below (with more to be announced). JD McPHERSON'S UNDIVIDED HEART & SOUL TRACK LIST: 1. Desperate Love
2. Crying’s Just A Thing You Do
3. Lucky Penny
4. Hunting For Sugar
5. On The Lips
6. Undivided Heart & Soul
7. Bloodhound Rock
8. Style (Is A Losing Game)
9. Jubilee
10. Under The Spell of City Lights
11. Let’s Get Out Of Here While We’re Young
JD McPHERSON ON TOUR:
September 7 – Madison, WI @ Central Park Sessions
September 8 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell's Eccentric Cafe
September 9 – Akron, OH @ The University of Akron*
September 14 – Nashville, TN @ American Legion Hall*
September 22 – Tahlequah, OK @ Medicine Stone^
September 23 – Helotes, TX @ John T. Floore Country Store
September 28 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
September 30 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
October 1 – Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater & Club
October 2 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
October 4 – Seattle, WA @ Neumo's*
October 5 – Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom*
October 7 – Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Wineryƒ
October 8 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
October 11 – Solana Beach, CA @ The Belly Up*
October 12 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown*
October 13 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory*
October 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent*
October 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom*
October 18 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler*
October 19 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn*
October 20 – Gruene, TX @ Gruene Hall*
October 21 – Houston, TX @ The Continental*
October 22 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
November 1 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West~
November 2 – Asheville, NC @ The Grey Eagle~
November 3 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle~
November 4 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat~
November 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live~
November 7 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg~
November 8 – Troy, NY @ The Hangar
November 9 – Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
November 10 – Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace
November 11 – Buffalo, NY @ Tralf Music Hall
November 14 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Bag
November 15 – Columbus, OH @ Skully's
November 16 – Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
November 17 – Louisville, KY @ Headliner's
November 18 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East *with Nikki Lane
^with Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Cody Canada & The Departed
ƒwith The Mavericks
~with Nicole Atkins
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