Fans of Christopher Owens take note: the former Girls frontman won't be playing any of his old band's songs on his current tour supporting his just-released debut solo album, Lysandre.
"I just don't want to play any Girls songs right now," says the singer-guitarist in a recent interview with Exclaim! "I played those songs for about four years and I was kind of over it to be honest."
Owens' recently expanded North American tour finds him backed by a seven-piece band, which includes all the musicians who played on his record in the studio, ensuring a faithful reimagining of the album's 11 songs.
But Lysandre clocks in at under half an hour, so Owens explains that he is playing a series of covers, including takes on Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan, to pad out his set.
"They're people that influenced me to start writing songs and play music in the first place and [influenced] the sound of this record," says Owens. "I don't want to play more brand new material because this whole record's brand new to the listener, so I feel covers are a good option.
"It will be something that I'm going to do. At least for the whole first run. Maybe when I start going back places I'll change the set up, but for now, if I haven't been anywhere, it will be the first show. It's a good show for people to see."
As for material from his old band, Owens says he isn't abandoning those songs completely. "I do want to go back to them, I just don't feel it's the right time for some reason."
Read our March 2013 Christopher Owens feature here.
For now, though, check out all Owens' upcoming dates below. He plays Toronto tonight (January 18), Montreal tomorrow and Vancouver on March 29.
Tour dates:
1/18 Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
1/19 Montreal, QC - Cabaret Du Mile-End
1/21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
1/22 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
1/25 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
1/26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
1/27 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
3/21 San Diego, CA - Irenic
3/22 Los Angeles, CA - Wilshire Ebell Theatre
3/23 San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
3/25 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
3/28 Seattle, WA - Neptune
3/29 Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
3/30 Portland, OR - Star Theater
3/31 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
"I just don't want to play any Girls songs right now," says the singer-guitarist in a recent interview with Exclaim! "I played those songs for about four years and I was kind of over it to be honest."
Owens' recently expanded North American tour finds him backed by a seven-piece band, which includes all the musicians who played on his record in the studio, ensuring a faithful reimagining of the album's 11 songs.
But Lysandre clocks in at under half an hour, so Owens explains that he is playing a series of covers, including takes on Cat Stevens, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan, to pad out his set.
"They're people that influenced me to start writing songs and play music in the first place and [influenced] the sound of this record," says Owens. "I don't want to play more brand new material because this whole record's brand new to the listener, so I feel covers are a good option.
"It will be something that I'm going to do. At least for the whole first run. Maybe when I start going back places I'll change the set up, but for now, if I haven't been anywhere, it will be the first show. It's a good show for people to see."
As for material from his old band, Owens says he isn't abandoning those songs completely. "I do want to go back to them, I just don't feel it's the right time for some reason."
Read our March 2013 Christopher Owens feature here.
For now, though, check out all Owens' upcoming dates below. He plays Toronto tonight (January 18), Montreal tomorrow and Vancouver on March 29.
Tour dates:
1/18 Toronto, ON - The Mod Club
1/19 Montreal, QC - Cabaret Du Mile-End
1/21 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
1/22 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
1/25 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
1/26 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
1/27 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
3/21 San Diego, CA - Irenic
3/22 Los Angeles, CA - Wilshire Ebell Theatre
3/23 San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
3/25 Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theatre
3/28 Seattle, WA - Neptune
3/29 Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Cabaret
3/30 Portland, OR - Star Theater
3/31 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall