For Immediate Release
27 September 2017
Contact: Jodi Joseph
Director of Communications
413.664.4481 x8113
jjoseph@massmoca.org
The Weepies
Completely acoustic and alone
NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS – Husband-wife duo The Weepies emerged from the Boston folk scene in the early 2000’s and has since built a deep catalog of hook-laden, irresistible folk-pop. NPR writes, “A synthesis of husky vocals and springy guitar makes any combination of words and melodies shine like gold.” They appear at MASS MoCA in a stripped-down setting, revealing their simple, beautiful writing and singing. Benjamin Jaffe of HoneyHoney opens with a new duo on Saturday, November 4, at 8pm.
When Deb Talan and Steve Tannen met in 2001, they were already fans of each other’s music; it didn’t take long for the melodies to take shape, the harmonies to slide into place, and for The Weepies to take off. The band’s self-released first album, Happiness, came out in 2003, followed by Say I Am You in 2005. Soon after recording their second album in the bedroom of their Pasadena cottage, Talan and Tannen were playing to sold-out shows in New York City, and signed by Nettwerk Records later that year. By February 2006, Say I Am You hit number one on the iTunes Store list of most-downloaded folk albums, with the single “World Spins Madly On” topping the list of most-downloaded folk songs. The Weepies have collaborated with many distinguished musicians and artists since then, notably playing and writing on Mandy Moore’s 2007 album Wild Hope. Their music has also been featured in television shows, films, and advertisements, including Sex and the City, Grey’s Anatomy, and a 2008 campaign ad for President Barack Obama. With over 17 million streams on Spotify, 20 million views on YouTube, and a million albums sold, the now-married duo has quietly become a folk powerhouse with a devoted fan base.
On The Weepies’ most recent release Sirens, the pair’s trenchant lyrics take on new meaning when Tannen sings, “I don’t need any trouble, but sometimes trouble needs me,” a prophetic statement written just weeks prior to Talan’s diagnosis of stage 3 breast cancer. Recorded in 2013 and 2014 during her cancer treatment, Sirens’ heart-wrenching lyrics and raw vocals span 16 songs. Running almost an hour long, it’s the duo’s most ambitious album to date.
After a sweeping bus tour to promote Sirens, the couple returns to their roots for an intimate acoustic tour of smaller venues. With their guitars, their three children, and an espresso machine in tow, they’ve zigzagged their way across the U.S. and Canada.
On November 4, The Weepies’ van will stop at MASS MoCA, and we’ll sway along as their gentle and poignant acoustic folk music drifts through the Hunter Center. Lickety Split, MASS MoCA’s in-house café, serves up fresh salads, homemade soup, and lip-smacking pub fare. The MASS MoCA bar is always well-stocked with local beer from Bright Ideas Brewing and Berkshire Mountain Distillery spirits. Concert tickets are $26 in advance, $20 for students, and $34 day of. Tickets for all events are available through the MASS MoCA box office located on Marshall Street in North Adams, open 11am to 5pm every day, except Tuesdays. Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 x1 during box office hours or purchased online at massmoca.org.
All events are held rain or shine.
Images
High-resolution images of MASS MoCA’s fall 2017 events are available through this link.
About MASS MoCA
MASS MoCA is one of the world’s liveliest (and largest) centers for making, displaying, and enjoying today’s most important art, music, dance, theater, film, and video. MASS MoCA nearly doubled its gallery space in spring 2017, with artist partnerships that include Laurie Anderson, the Louise Bourgeois Trust, Jenny Holzer, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and James Turrell.
Gallery admission is $20 for adults, $18 for veterans and seniors, $12 for students, $8 for children 6 to 16, and free for children 5 and under. Members are admitted free year-round. The Hall Art Foundation’s Anselm Kiefer exhibition is seasonal and currently on view. For additional information, call 413.662.2111 x1 or visit massmoca.org.
Hours
11am to 5pm, closed Tuesdays