May 2006 News Archive (Older news link at bottom of page)
May 27, 2006
Paste Magazine Article
The cover feature in the latest issue of Paste (June/July 2006, #22) is a countdown of the 100 best living songwriters with laudatory words about each written by a fellow artist. Hem isn't on the list (woe!), but Dan contributed the text for #60, Jimmy Webb. Thank goodness Dan got to wax about songs like "Wichita Lineman" because he's never had that chance before. Of course I jest - that influence and respect hasn't been kept secret. The article isn't online, but if and when it is, you'll find the link here.
May 22, 2006
May 7 Seattle Show
New today are photos from Hem's May 7 show at Neumos in Seattle. You can see them by clicking on the preview to the left (my favorite of the bunch for its capture of the angst of Dan) or by visiting the 2006 tour archive or the tour pictures archive. (Thanks, Kirk!)
May 15 Hollywood Show
Even more photos from Hem's May 15 show at the Knitting Factory are now available. The new pictures are the 3 in the bottom row, all ones featuring the guys in action. (Thanks, Marianne!)
May 21, 2006
May 15 Hollywood Show
Photos from Hem's May 15, 2006 show at the Knitting Factory that were linked in a previous news update are now collected in larger size and archived here at All About Hem on their very own page. Permanent links to these pictures are at the tour pictures and 2006 tour archives. (Thanks, Marianne!)
April & May Setlist Updates
The 2006 tour archive now has a partial setlist for Hem's May 4 show at the Bowery Ballroom in New York and an updated but still partial setlist for their April 28 show at the Narrows Center in Fall River, MA. I should add "Half Acre" to every partial setlist because unless a venue gets evacuated before Hem can reach the end of their set at least that song will be on the list, but in the name of total validated accuracy, setlists will have to remain partial as is. That's 'partial' as in 'incomplete,' not as in 'biased' because otherwise you'd be seeing me add rarely-played but loved tunes like "Beautiful Sea" and "Oh No" all over the place.
May 18, 2006
Daily Bruin Article
The May 15, 2006 edition of UCLA's newspaper The Daily Bruin includes a nice article about Hem with a bunch of words from Dan. He mostly talks about the band's sound and why they (and he) make music. Comforting indeed. The article has a permanent home at the interview archive.
May 17, 2006
May 15 Los Angeles Show
Enjoy some photos (off site) from Hem's May 15, 2006 show at the Knitting Factory by clicking on the image to the left. Hem's pictures are in the top row, the rest are of Over The Rhine. A permanent link to these photos is at the tour pictures archive. To find out the show's setlist, click here. The lucky Hollywood crowd got to hear the excellent new song "Not California" live!
May 15, 2006
May 12 Roseville, CA Show
One new photo from Hem's May 12 show at the Underground Cafe is now available through the 2006 tour archive or through clicking on the preview to the left. You can only see Steve, but trust that the 3 other Hem folks are somewhere on stage too. (Thanks, Sarah!)
May 11 San Francisco Show
A (very) partial setlist for Hem's May 11, 2006 show at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco is now at the 2006 tour archive. (Thank you, Beth!)
May 14, 2006
May 12 Roseville, CA Show
The 2006 tour archive now has the setlist for Hem's May 12, 2006 show at the Underground Cafe in Roseville, CA. You can also see the setlist including the encore songs that didn't get played, at least partially because of a weird, non-existent backstage setup that didn't lend itself well to encores. (Thanks, Brad!)
Funnel Cloud Update
A new song has been added on the discography page to the collection of possible songs for Hem's upcoming album Funnel Cloud. The band played "We'll Meet Along The Way" in Portland and apparently considered it in Roseville.
May 11, 2006
Sweet Intoxication Tour Poster
Remember the fantastic tour poster mentioned in the last update? You can see and read about its development here in the designer's blog. Word is that there are 8 hidden Over The Rhine meanings in the poster, but I can't find them all. Hidden Hem meanings, on the other hand, I'd be all over. Also, the posters will be available at the May/June shows on this tour and afterwards only a handful of the 300 made will be available for sale online here. So grab them while you can! (But make sure you leave one for me!)
May 8 Portland, OR Show
The tour archive now has a setlist for Hem's May 8, 2006 show at the Wonder Ballroom in Portland, OR. It's the only full setlist there for this tour, so help make it feel less lonely and email in more!
The Drop Online Interview
Go listen to a new Hem interview at the web-only broadcast spot The Drop Online. Tune in for the excellent band intro where loud rock incongruously plays while Sally and Dan talk and stay for the fun, interesting interview complete with bleeping. A permanent link to this interview is at the interview archive.
May 7, 2006
May/June 2006 Sweet Intoxication Tour
Hem's tour with Over The Rhine that is presented by Paste Magazine and kicks off tonight has a name and a poster! Click on the image to the left to see the full version of this lovely poster. It's also available through the tour page along with details for all the upcoming shows, including playing order. Hem and Over The Rhine are co-headlining the tour, each playing a full set each night, but which act plays first varies by show.
April 29 Boston Show
Even more photos from Hem's April 29 show at the Avalon in Boston are now available through the 2006 tour archive or by clicking on the preview to the left. The new photos start with the 3rd one in the 5th row. The last two are from Josh Ritter's set when Dan, Gary, Sally, and Steve joined him in performing the song "Jersey Girl," though you can only see Sally here. (Thanks, Reinhard!)
April 2006 Setlist Updates
A partial setlist for Hem's April 26 show at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA is now at the 2006 tour archive. Also, I edited Detroit's April 20 setlist to definitively give the title of the new song "He Came To Meet Me" since that title has been confirmed as accurate. It's never to late to add info to the tour archive, so if you have any setlist or other info from or about a show, click on the contact button!
May 4, 2006
April 29 Boston Show
More photos from Hem's April 29 show at the Avalon in Boston are now available through the 2006 tour archive or by clicking on the preview to the left. The new photos start with the 3rd one in the 3rd row. The last few are from Josh Ritter's set when Dan, Gary, Sally, and Steve joined him in performing the song "Jersey Girl." (Thanks, Rich!)
If you prefer your pictures animated, you're in luck! Two videos from this show are also now at the archive. There's a wide look of Hem performing Hollow and a closer view of Reservoir. They're both partial clips of the full songs, and I had to compress my video a little bit, but they're still nice little tastes of a live show.
May 2, 2006
WNYC Radio Show
Hem's performance and interview on yesterday's edition of the WNYC program Soundcheck is now available online here. The band plays 2 songs in studio and talks a bit too. There's a permanent link to this spot at the interview archive.
April 29 Boston Show
Photos from Hem's April 29 show at the Avalon in Boston are now available through the 2006 tour archive or by clicking on the preview to the left. I assure you that the show was prettier than my pictures would perhaps lead you to believe. Still more media from this show is on the way!
To go along with the pictures, check out a review of the show in the May 1 edition of the Boston Globe. An excerpt: The New York ensemble Hem opened the show with a set of contemporary Americana played to pristine perfection. I'd have to agree with that.
May 1, 2006
WNYC Radio Show Today
Hem will be a guest today on the New York based WNYC program Soundcheck. The shows airs from 2:00-3:00pm EST on 93.9 FM and 820 AM in the NYC area, or you can listen to the station online (links on the left of all their web pages). The segment should be archived at WNYC's website shortly after it airs, and I'll post a link to it here in the news.
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