Iron & Wine Talks Major Label Deal, Announces U.S. Tour with Expanded Live Band

BY Jason SchneiderPublished Jan 19, 2011

Although Sam Beam, the principal component of Iron & Wine, has forged his reputation through his catalogue of heartbreakingly fragile modern folk songs, his upcoming full-length Kiss Each Other Clean marks a definite career turning point. Apart from being his first release on Warner Bros. after a long association with Sub Pop, the album is sonically Beam's most eclectic yet, combining elements of classic pop, R&B and reggae.

In a recent interview with Exclaim!, Beam spoke about his recent deal with Warner, saying it "was more serendipitous because we made the record and then they came knocking. I like their roster, and I like the idea of a label that's open to 'career artists.' Doug Martsch [Built to Spill], the Flaming Lips, Jack White -- all of those people seem to have a lot of artistic freedom, which is something I hope they grant me. It seemed like good company."

Along with the new album, Beam is taking Iron & Wine out on a newly announced U.S. tour this spring, following a six-week European trek next month. In an effort to faithfully reproduce Kiss Each Other Clean live, Beam has enlisted a seven-piece lineup, including members of Califone, Calexico and TV on the Radio.

"I like having a big band because it gives you more options," Beam says. "They can always not play and I can do the quiet stuff, but when we want to do the big arrangements, we can."

So far, no Canadian dates have been announced, but you can view all the U.S. stops below.

Kiss Each Other Clean is due out Tuesday (January 25) via Warner in North America and 4AD overseas.  

Tour dates:

3/4 Chicago, IL - Riveria Theater
4/14 Detroit, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
4/15 Buffalo, NY - The Town Ballroom
4/16 North Adams, MA - Mass MoCA
4/17 Burlington, VT - Higer Ground
4/18 Portland, ME - State Theatre
4/19 Boston, MA - House of Blues
4/21 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
4/22 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
4/23 Savannah, GA - Trustees Theater
4/25 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
4/26 Charlotte, NC - Amos' Southend
4/27 Richmond, VA - The National
4/28 Pittsburgh, PA - Carnegie Music Hall
4/29 Cleveland, OH - House of Blues

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