SARGENT HOUSE

Dave Davidson, frontman of one of the most eccentrically addictive musical acts of the decade, released his creative juices full-bore on the first EP of his solo project Bright Works and Baton.  At the time, Maps and Atlases had only released a couple of EPs, likely on their way to recording the impeccable Perch Patchwork.  I had initially missed this release, discovering its quirky loveability only a few weeks ago.

By no means should Cast Spells be construed as a diet version of M&A.  Davidson’s characteristic warble is alive and well, adding a timbre that is virtually impossible to replicate.  In fact, Cast Spells doesn’t deviate too far from the quirk of M&A, but highlights Davidson’s folk subtleties over the complex instrumentation and composition found in previous and subsequent M&A records.

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Dave Davison performs the Maps & Atlases track “Israeli Caves” at the Sargent House Glassroom accompanied by Good Old War who also performed on the album version of the song from Perch Patchwork. Video courtesy of Terroreyes.TV

This video of Dave Davison was shot on the very first day I ever met him. It is the very first Glassroom session and sparked the idea to keep making these Sessions. Since then Dave has come back and done so many others, just this past week with Good Old War, ones in his band Maps & Atlases and perfoming songs from his Cast Spells EP. I can’t fathom my life without Dave Davison and his incredible voice and musicianship in it! Dave, you are such a huge part of the Sargent House family. We love you so much and  wish you a very Happy Birthday!

Maps & Atlases playing the song ‘Pigeon’ for the Take Away Shows. Filmed at SxSw festival, for Invisible Children’s Silver Series. 

Filmed by Derrick Belcham
Produced by Sarah Schutzki for la Blogothèque
and Nada Alix, Kenny Labbacher et Alex Collins for Invisible Children

One of our very favorite songwriters and music makers is named David Davison, perhaps you know him from Maps & Atlases already or you have heard about his Cast Spells EP well this week we are making that EP called Bright Works And Baton FREE because we’d like everyone to have this fine music in their players. So enjoy it and spread the love. While you are at it check out the split EP he did with Good Old War and also make sure not to miss Maps & Atlases on tour with our very own RX Bandits and Zechs Marquise in June/July. Dave will also be performing his Cast Spells songs for the July 21st show on that tour in Chicago. 
Just click Download to get for free. 

David Davison stopped by Breakthrough Radio in New York on 4/19/11 while out on tour with Maps & Atlases  for a bit of a chat and an acoustic session of his Cast Spells songs. It’s a real beauty.

Take A LISTEN HERE 
00:00 Cast Spells on BTR Live Studio
01:21 Potted Plant
04:51 Interview
09:08 Vampire
11:56  Pioneer Scalps
14:38 Interview
15:32 American Quilts
17:40 Interview
21:18 A Badge
24:08 Interview
28:17 Glamorous Glowing
30:08 Interview
32:50 Finish

Taken from the Blog of Crushing Destroyer. The one the only Kenny Remster. 

“so fucking happy they played this wednesday. For all of you who dont know, which is probably a lot…because even being a big Maps and Atlases and Cast Spells fan, I didnt know…There is a little of an undiscovered phenomenon that is Dave Davison. The entire show was awesome, and they played songs from all three albums, almost all my favorites, the crowd was into it, the band was energetic, and musically dialed in. Perfect. For their encore, Maps and Atlases came into the center of the room (Good Old War style. This is a new trademark of the amazing bands Sargent House has dealt with…a real, intimate connection with their fans. They are humble. Dave even commented on my Sargent House shirt, I was right up front and he goes “Hey Im glad you wore that! I have the same one at home!”) and played their encore. Starting with “You and Me and the Mountain,” and ending with “The Ongoing Horrible” all acoustic, it was wonderful. But I had never heard Dave’s voice like that, just live, in a quiet room, not through amplification, not

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Gypsyblood will be celebrating the release of their debut album Cold In The Guestway with a hometown Chicago show on April 29th. Yes, we know its two weeks after it comes out but they are doing a mini tour first with Maps & Atlases & Delicate Steve. And who better to join them than the man who brought Gypsyblood to Sargent House,  Dave Davison, Mr. A&R himself will be playing his own Cast Spells on this fine evening at the Liars Club. Don’t miss it Chicago. Both bands you should be proud to call natives.

Oh and Thanks Dave for turning us onto the Bloods….

(Source: artistdata.sonicbids.com)

A really beautiful cover by Matthew Embree of David Davison’s Cast Spells song “A Badge”. I love when my bands cover each other.

What happens when director Phil Thomas Katt & Horatio Sanz get there hands on a Cast Spells song? Well weird videos happen. And we love it. Thanks to PTK and Horatio for their glorious contributions.

(Source: youtube.com)

The L.A. based management company and record label Sargent House and its affiliate Rodriguez Lopez Productions has announced the full schedule for their bands performing during the South By Southwest Festival in Austin, TX this month. Nine bands from their roster will each be playing a handful of shows during the festival from March 16th - 19th, as well as the Sargent House / Rodriguez Lopez Productions official showcase on Saturday, March 19th.
Here is the complete schedule (please note that set times may change):

Adebisi Shank
3/17 Giant Steps Productions’ @ Plush (617 Red River Street) - 4:10pm
3/18 The Full Irish Breakfast @ BD Riley’s (204 East 6th St) - 5:00pm
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 10:30pm

Cast Spells
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 8:00pm

Fang Island
3/18 Thrasher Magazine/Converse Death Match @ Scoot Inn (1308 E 4th St) - 2pm
3/19 The Deli & The Musebox Present @ Lipstick 24 (606 East 7th St) - 5:00pm
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 12:00am

Gypsyblood
3/16 Betsy’s Bar (301 W. 6th St) - 3:15pm
3/17 Back Alley Block Party (Presented by ExplodingInSound.com + Friends of Sound Records) @ Friends of Sound Records (1704 South Congress) - 1:00pm
3/18 Your Mom’s Out Of Town Party @ Your Mom’s Burger Bar (1701 East Cesar Chavez) - 2:00pm
3/18 Redeye SXSW Day Party @ The Dirty Dog (505 East 6th St) - 4:30pm
3/18 AAMP @ Austin Art & Music Partership (411 W. Monroe St) - 6:00pm
3/19 Subaki Showcase @ The Chicken Farm (2108 Tillery St) - 3:30pm
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 8:30pm

Native
3/17 Giant Steps Productions’ notSXSW @ Plush (617 Red River Street) - 3:20pm
3/19 No Sleep and Atticus Presents @ Red 7 (611 East 7th Street) - 3:40pm
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 7:25pm

Le Butcherettes
3/17 NACO Showcase @ Flamingo Cantina (515 East 6th St) - 10:00pm
3/18 Redeye Distribution Day Party @ The Dirty Dog (505 East 6th St) - 3:20pm
3/19 Consequence of Sound / Antiquiet @ Rumbler Lounge (402 E 6th St) - 4:30pm
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 11:15pm

Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 12:50am

Therapies Son
3/16 Fat Possum Records Presents @ Club Deville (900 Red River) - 12:30pm
3/17 Forest Family x Transparent Showcase @ Double Down Lounge (515 Pedernales St) -2:30pm 
3/19 Sargent House / RLP Showcase @Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 9:15pm

Zechs Marquise
3/19 Sargent House/RLP Showcase @ Emo’s Annex (600 Red River St) - 9:50pm

(Source: myemail.constantcontact.com)

We are happy to confirm the following nine bands from Sargent House & Rodriguez Lopez Productions will be playing our official show this year at SXSW on Saturday March 19th at Emo’s Annex doors at 7:00pm. Native on at 7:25pm and down the line as seen in the order below. 

Native 
Cast Spells 
Gypsyblood 
Therapies Son 
Zechs Marquise 
Adebisi Shank 
Le Butcherettes 
Fang Island 
Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group

Maps & Atlases perform their fantastic tracks,  Solid Ground, Pigeon & Living Decorations for the BBC Radio show The Beat. Makes me super excited to see the guys at SXSW and to have Dave Davison’s Cast Spells performing at our Official Show. Also, check out the awesome remix by Breton Labs of their track Living Decoration below.  

Maps and Atlases - “Living Decorations” (Breton Labs Remix) by Some Kind of Awesome

maps-and-atlases:

Rad video of an encore at the Maps & Atlases Indianapolis show at Radio Radio of Dave doing Ongoing Horrible from My Old Kentucky Blog