SARGENT HOUSE

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!

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In 2006, I was introduced to a band by Dave Davison of Maps & Atlases out of Chicago called Karma with A K. I fell deeply and madly in love with them. They never even got around to releasing an album before they disbanded.  I was so sad when I heard they called it quits without ever having really left Chicago. But I kept dibs on the boys of the Karma unit for years waiting. Then one day Dave Davison emailed me two demos of songs that blew my mind and he said “Remember Karma with A K ? Well this is Adam and Kyle’s new band GYPSYBLOOD. The rest is history. I signed the bloods and this my friends is that story.

So, May we Introduce you to GYPSYBLOOD? All this week their album Cold In The Guestway is FREE for download HERE. They have mellowed, my Karma boys but oh what sweet tunes they make. So, what have you got to lose? Get turned on, I know I did. And if you love our “May We Introduce You” Free downloads thing make sure and help us spread the music! 

 

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

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)

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)

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

You know us we can’t help but make everyone play us a song or two in the Sargent House Glassroom when they come over. So, enjoy this clip of Dave Davison aka Cast Spells performing with the rest of his band mates from Maps & Atlases and a little special guest action from Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes who was also staying at the house when the gang came over.

Maps & Atlases is, in a word, eclectic. Citing influences  from Ornette Coleman to Jethro Tull to David Bowie and coming together from all corners of the country, the quartet’s mutual love for classic rock and layered guitars converged while attending school at Columbia College in Chicago. They generated quite the buzz after their debut EP Tree, Swallows, Houses and eventually signed with Sargent House. After re-releasing their debut, they released their follow-up EP You and Me and the Mountain. National tours with the likes of Frightened Rabbit and Ra Ra Riot followed,  which eventually led them to be signed by Barsuk Records (Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley, Ra Ra Riot etc.)

Since Maps & Atlases’ 2006 debut, their songs have slowly progressed from a type of experimental “math rock” (as the pros like to call it) to pop sensible songs with a flair for technicality—pop songs at the core disguised by layered instruments and mixed meters.

Lead singer and songwriter Dave Davison is one busy guy. He is at once writing and touring nationally with Maps & Atlases while working on his side projects Cast Spells and Hey! Tonal, and still finds the time to maintain his crazy awesome beard. In between Maps & Atlases’ tour with Frightened Rabbit and their upcoming summer tour in support of their new record Perch Patchwork out June 29th, Dave found some time to talk with us about past tours and who they’re ideal tour-mates are. Check it out!

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Vacationing Daydreams Of The Times Before

Words by Sean Moeller

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OR LISTEN TO MAPS & ATLASES DAYTROTTER
“If we’ve asked it once, we’ll ask it a thousand times: Where did Dave Davison come from and where is he continually coming from? These are natural questions that seem to formulate every time the Chicago musician and lead singer for Maps & Atlases writes and then utters those written words out and through a microphone.
He cuts angles and diverts thoughts into eagle’s nests and uncharted territories. He should be crowned one of the most innovative and exciting singers in America today and the same adjectives should be used in discussing a band that just continues to branch out into new oddities - and again topping itself with its latest, “Perch Patchwork.”

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Well you know we just love that Dave Davison and his band Maps & Atlases. Their new album is killer! Check out this Wild Honey Pie video buzz session of an impromptu acoustic version of Solid Ground shot in NYC before their show with Frightened Rabbit

“Gearing up for the release of their debut full-length, Perch Patchwork, next month, the Chicago experimental/prog/math/pop band Maps & Atlases are currently on tour in support of Frightened Rabbit. The show hits Neumos this Sunday night, and a couple days ago I was able to catch up with lead singer Dave Davison in Minnesota, where the band had been wandering the Mall of America for three hours - and recovering from a crazy morning:” - READ FULL Q&A with Dave