Sam Beam is back! And while he still has the bushy troubadour beard that I love, his folky sound has gotten a makeover on his new album, Kiss Each Other Clean. It has a strong 70’s influence, with lots of horns, interesting percussion and even some synths.
Iron & Wine used to be Sam and his acoustic guitar. And it think it takes a lot of bravery to be a singer standing alone on a stage with an instrument, but I think it takes even more to lead a group of musicians with your vision and that’s what he is doing now.
He seemed to really enjoy the role of bandleader in his live performance on KCRW. I think Jason said there were 11 people in the studio, including Swell Season’s Marketa Irgolva and Rosie Thomas on back up vocals.
He reworked one of Iron & Wine’s best tracks “Boy With a Coin,” while thrilling us with new song like “Me and Lazarus,” “Half Moon,” and “Tree by the River.”
Hear the full performance in our archives.
RR
Iron & Wine Live on KCRW Set List
Tree by the River
Summer in Savannah
Half Moon
>interview
My Lady’s House
He Lays in the Reins
Boy With a Coin
Me and Lazarus
Naked as We Came