Old Sea Brigade Announces Spring Tour In Support Of ‘Ode To A Friend’
February 5, 2019 BY Nettwerk
“Eleven subdued indie-rock tracks envelop the listener, welcoming them into a shared sense of loss… like a warm blanket you wrap around yourself on a winter evening, Ode to a Friend keeps the cold at bay for a little bit.” – No Depression
“a species of expansive folk with a somber, swelling ambiance” – Boston Globe
“Cramer has a strong handle on what makes folk both gentle and exciting…” – Uproxx
“The arrangement betrays an affinity for orchestral pop that might be surprising for a so-called indie-folk artist, but which fits the emotional tenor… occasionally shot through with a Flannery O’Connor-style streak of Southern Gothic.” – WNYC New Sounds
“Old Sea Brigade’s sound is haunting, captivating, and ultimately beautiful.” – Glide
Following a fall tour supporting Tall Heights and an extensive headline winter run across the UK, Scandinavia and Switzerland, Ben Cramer, aka Old Sea Brigade, has announced a North American spring tour, starting April 2nd in Carrboro, NC. He’ll head back to the UK and Europe in May for additional headline dates. Cramer has been on the road since the fall in support of his debut album Ode To A Friend, which released last month to critical acclaim.
For Ode To A Friend, Cramer teamed up again with producer Jeremy Griffith, whom he worked with on his 2016 self-titled, debut EP as Old Sea Brigade. The two looked to build upon the work that came before, breaking barriers and blurring the lines. While the songs remain rooted in Americana, indie, rock, and ambient soundscapes, they also toss and turn between analog cinematic flourishes and provocative lyricism. The album title, Ode To A Lost Friend, was inspired by the loss of Cramer’s best friend to suicide.
The album ends with the title-track, “Ode To A Friend”, two-minutes that leaves a lasting impression, that’s both heartfelt and heartbreaking. Discussing, Cramer stated, “When I started Old Sea Brigade, the time that followed was the best two years of my life. I could tour and work on music full-time. In the middle of all that happening, one of my best friends committed suicide. It’s a heavy record in that respect. I came up with the lyrics to the title-track, right after he passed. I didn’t want the song to have a normal structure. It’s almost like an interlude to tie up the album dedicated to him. He was always such a big proponent and fan of my songs. He encouraged me to move towards a solo career. The title made sense. I finally felt vulnerable enough to put out music that was close to me.”
Old Sea Brigade’s 2016 self-titled debut EP featured single “Love Brought Weight”, which caught fire and has since generated almost 20 million Spotify streams. Between touring alongside Julien Baker, Joseph, Luke Sital Singh, Lewis Watson, John Paul White, and more, he released 2017’s Cover My Own EP.
Tour Dates:
04/02: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
04/03: Washington, D.C. @ Songbyrd
04/04: NYC @ Mercury Lounge
04/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
04/06: Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom
04/07: Boston, MA @ Great Scott
04/09: Toronto, ON @ Drake
04/10: Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
04/11: Detroit, MI @ Pike Room
04/12: Chicago, IL @ Schubas
04/13: Minneapolis, MN @ Icehouse
04/14: Ames, IA @ Maintenance Shop
04/16: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
04/17: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
04/19: Portland, OR @ Bunk Bar
04/20: Seattle, WA @ Ba’rboza
04/23: San Francisco, CA @ Café Du Nord
04/24: Los Angeles, CA @ Moroccan Lounge
04/27: Dallas, TX @ Ruins
04/28: Austin, TX @ Mohawk Indoors
05/01: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
05/02: Nashville, TN @ The Basement
05/04: Newcastle, UK @ Hit the Horth
05/06: Birmingham, UK @ The Cuban Embassy
05/08: London, UK @ Sebright Arms
05/10: Brussels, BE @ AB Salon
05/12: Amsterdam, NE @ Melkveg
05/13: Paris, FR @ Olympic Cafe
05/14: Cologne, DE @ Die Wohngemeinschaft
05/16: Hamburg, DE @ UE&G Turmzimmer
05/17: Rees, DE @ Haldren Pop
05/18: Frankfurt, DE @ Bedroom Disco
