From the forthcoming How They Are Peter has created this video from 3446 still photos for the first song on the recording, “Sideline”.
Get up to speed with Peter via his website: peterbroderick.net
Check out this rather awesomely assembled mini-doc of Danish band Efterklang on tour, with them performing “The Soft Beating”—a highlight from their splendid new Magic Chairs album—in a variety of different places, with incredibly consistent results until the whole thing devolves into a pillow fight. Portland musicians (and siblings) Peter Broderick and Heather Woods Broderick have joined the Danish band Efterklang as auxiliary members, but due to unfortunate circumstances Peter had to drop out of the tour. (That’s Peter “softly beating” on his chest in the video.) You can read all about that in our article on Efterklang…
I asked Peter about the circumstances around his having to drop out of the tour, and he went above and beyond by writing me an incredibly detailed account of his injury and the subsequent events. I’m posting the entirety of Peter’s story; be sure to check it out. Peter is returning home later this month, ironically only a few short days after Efterklang plays their show here. It’s too bad Peter had to drop out of the tour, but it will be great to have him back home in Portland as he takes time to fully recuperate.
Peter Broderick has stepped onto the global stage this year with a dizzying array of releases. As Broderick settles into a late summer run of Festival dates in Europe and his 09′ release schedule (Over half a dozen solo titles finding release, not to mention numerous appearances and production credits in 2009) slows a bit, we have a nice audio snapshot in the form of two songs. Take it from here, Peter:
LISTEN: an introduction from the artist.
Download this free gift in high quality in The HUSHshop.
photo: Tom Platten-Higgins
The pace is not letting up for Peter Broderick, who will spend about 90% of 2009 on tour.
Nonetheless, he found time recently to release a very limited edition cassette concisely entitled Ten Duets which sold out shortly after it was announced. Digitalis Industries generously offers up two mp3’s what fast became a collector’s item:
(Peter also has two others posted on his Myspace.)
Miss out? Take heart:
“I will have a bunch of smaller releases this year! Already confirmed are a 3″ CD on a small Italian label, a CD release of my score for Falling From Trees, a reissue album of some old 4 track recordings, and a collaborative full-length album with one of my favorite musicians working today, Machinefabriek.”
In addition Peter’s European label Bella Union has a 7″ release on deck, and something else I’ve heard of which appears unannounced as yet.
Speaking of media, the most recent episode (Ep 18, Season 5) of Grey’s Anatomy features Broderick’s “With The Notes In My Ears” from Home. Scoring the final chapter montage, the song adds tenderness to a rather steamy sequence. For the curious, it can be seen at abc.com.
Lastly, in Broderick related news, a few Portlanders were lucky to see the Peter’s sister Heather Broderick play an intimate set of her own music under the name Heatherwoods with Peter’s accompaniment last February. Her Myspace suggests she is still working on a debut album which is rumored to (at the very least) have a home in Australia on the young Preservation imprint:
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V61ZwHQSeW4
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIazz4HMAKo
HUSH ambassadors to the Texas fest. Going to be there? Don’t miss ’em!
Laura Gibson
Thurs March 19 Afternoon / Time TBA Twangfest party
Thurs March 19 5:45 pm – Nail Distro Party
Thurs March 19 – Evening / Time TBA – Red Eye Fly official showcase
Fri March 20 Afternoon / Time TBA – Other Music party at French Legation Museum
Fri March 20 – 8 pm – The Round Austin at Space 12
Loch Lomond
Thurs Mar 19 2009 Official Day Stage- Conference Center
Thurs Mar 19 2009 Red Eyed Fly- Little Radio Party
Mar 20 2009 Sidebar- NAIL Distribution Party
Mar 20 2009 Tiniest Bar in Austin- Rumblefish Party
Peter Broderick
Thurs Mar 19th: w/ Efterklang @ 2 PM @ Other Music and DigForFire.tv’s Lawn Party;
Thurs Mar 19th: Peter Broderick 9 PM @ Bella Union Showcase @ The Ranch, and later w/ Efterklang @ 11 PM @ Habana Bar/Leaf & Hometapes showcase!
Shelley Short
Sun Mar 15: Horchow Auditorium, Dallas Museum of Art
supporting M Ward 7:00pm (1717 N. Harwood, Dallas)
Tickets: $19.99
Thur Mar 19: SXSW Showcase, 8:00 pm @Red Eyed Fly (715 Red River St)
w/Laura Gibson,The Thermals, Upsidedown, Horsefeathers, The Shaky Hands
Shelley will also be singing with Tom Brosseau:
Fri March 20 at Hilton Garden 9:15pm (40 min set)
I nominate Peter Broderick Hometown Hero.
For a city that congratulates itself for being indie music Valhalla, and hyper-self-aware, it’s surprising that Peter Broderick has largely escaped attention in our local press. Perhaps because he’s spent more time in Denmark or on tour for the past couple of years, he’s not been visible on the scene. Nevertheless, his contribution to Portland music is practically peerless (excepting friend, and at various times bandmate, Dave Depper). I submit:
Exhibit A: Appearances and collaborations, Abridged to Portland Acts.
M. Ward – Hold Time (2009, Merge/4AD)
Horse Feathers – House With No Home (2008, Kill Rock Stars)
She & Him – Volume 1 (2008, Merge)
White Hinterland – Phylactery Factory (2008, Dead Oceans)
Loch Lomond – Paper the Walls (2007, Hush Records)
Dolorean – You Can’t Win (2007, Yep-Roc Records)
Loch Lomond – Lament for Children EP (2007, Hush Records)
Laura Gibson – If You Come to Greet Me (2006, Hush Records)
Norfolk & Western – The Unsung Colony (2006, Hush Records)
Horse Feathers – Words are Dead (2006, Lucky Madison Records)
Norfolk & Western – A Glided Age (2006, Hush Records)
That is a mad decent portfolio. And that would be enough. That would be hero criteria right there. But that’s just back story.” While in town recently, Peter played a handful of dates as a solo act, sampling from his three solo (!) album releases of the past 18 months (including Home, his vocal debut, on HUSH” Peter Broderick – Home sampler mix) while on a mini tour with friends, Austin’s Balmorhea.” The venues in town included the chapel at Reed College and the relatively humble Alberta Pub.” He played his strengths to both rooms like a seasoned stage veteran (which he is, owing to whirlwind world tour schedules with Danish sensation Efterklang and a diverse touring history with Horse Feathers, Loch Lomond, and Norfolk & Western) overcoming technical hiccups, the din of the bar, and playing Reed’s acoustic grand piano with his trademark mix of restraint and drama:
Exhibit B:” Solo Performance Documents
“Begin” (with surprise)
Unknown piano composition.
“Below It” from Home
(An evening’s worth of HD video here.)
That’s not all.” I can’t think of better proof of living & breathing music, than this off-the-cuff video series dubbed “Songy” that Peter silently slipped on to YouTube a few weeks ago while spending some time at home with family (including wonder-twin extraordinaire Heather Woods Broderick) in Yamhill County and Portland.
I’m not sure this a wholly original concept, but what we have here are multi-tracked YouTube videos which appear to feature Peter fresh out of bed in his PJs knocking out a little song about travel and songwriting; a rough ode to the guitar he will have to abandon again, and a message to loved ones. And it’s likely largely unrehearsed (He’s been dubbed The Whipper Snapper, and The One Take Kid for his studio performance acumen.) For keywords Peter chose “peter broderick” and “bad”, with esoteric descriptions like “music is definitely weird” and “i don’t know”. We get that this is not his usual fare, nonetheless it’s surprisingly tender, candid, endearing, clever, and catchy. Have a look:
Exhibit C: “Songy” Series
And finally, I submit to you, both Portlanders and citizens of the world, Peter may already be nearing that tipping point where the sidestream meets slipstream.” Peter’s solo output may soon eclipse his performance contributions to bigger acts.” Across the pond, Home has received big print accolades, and Peter is charting a course for headlining tours of the UK and European continent later this year.” Before that though,” North Americans will have the rare treat of seeing Peter perform a solo set before joining Efterklang on stages from coast to coast this spring .” Don’t miss it (dates on sidebar)!
Exhibit D: The UK is about the size of Oregon on a map.” Will we let them take all the credit?
“No needless virtuosity; no clever sonic treatments; no unusual instruments.” We stumble on moments that recall the magnificence of Simon & Garfunkel at their peak, or David Pajo at his most ambient, and we don’t care how long the search takes. ” (5 out of 5 stars) – Sunday London Times
“On the second listen it sounds like a future classic. ” – Mojo
“The pinnacle is the tidal rhythms of ‘Sickness, Bury,’ but there’s plenty more here to admire and absorb.” – Uncut
“This is a work oft-enchanting and tenderly relayed: the sound of a first hand both confident and considered, whetting the appetite for more from this young American with a stately flourish. ” – Drowned In Sound