With a new album due out on April 23rd via Don Giovanni Records, Laura Stevenson and The Cans and fellow New York natives Field Mouse plot course for a nationwide trip through April and May.
Back in January Laura Stevenson and The Cans announced the release of their third full length album, Wheel. It’s the second album since signing with local New Jersey independent label Don Giovanni Records. The band, led by Stevenson, has been crafting a special blend of indie pop, folk, and punk since 2007. The first single off the new album, “Runner” sets the tone for Stevenson’s most intimate and personal release to date. The song demonstrates the Long Island resident’s strength in her lyricism and her powerful, unmistakable voice.
Growing up, Stevenson was introduced to music at a young age. Both of her mother’s parents were seasoned musicians. Her grandfather, Harry Simeone, was the composer and choral arranger responsible for songs such as “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Do You Hear What I Hear.” Margaret McCravy, her grandmother, was a singer from South Carolina who worked with her folk duo siblings, The McCravy Brothers and later with American jazz and swing musician Benny Goodman.
Stevenson got started as the keyboardist for the punk/ska group Bomb The Music Industry after meeting band’s leader Jeff Rosenstock. While with the group she started recruiting members for her own band, who would later be named “The Cans.” She would eventually get Michael Campbell, the bassist of the influential Long Island punk band Latterman, to join the group as well.
For Wheel, Stevenson teamed up with producer Kevin McMahon, whose previous credits include Swans, Titus Andronicus, and Real Estate. Stevenson also enlisted the help of Grammy award-winning violinist Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Antony and the Johnsons) as well as brass accompaniment composer Kelly Pratt (Arcade Fire, Beirut, David Bryne and St. Vincent). A second song from the album entitled “L-DOPA” was recently released and demonstrates what this trio is capable of creating.
On the road with with Laura Stevenson and The Cans are Brooklyn shoegaze dream pop band Field Mouse. Fronted by another strong female lead in Rachel Browne, the group channels many different influences from the ’90s alt/college rock scene. Their discography currently only features two 7″ singles from Small Plates Records and Lefse Records, but the four piece are planning the release of their first full length album for later this year. Recently the band shared “Tomorrow Is Yesterday” as a preview of their upcoming record.
Laura Stevenson and The Cans and Field Mouse begin their journey in Philadelphia on April 19th at Milkboy in Center City. After circling around the country they return back to the East coast to wrap things up with a homecoming show in New York City on May 24th at the Bowery Ballroom. Check out the full list of dates below and head over to Laura Stevenson’s website to get the details on purchasing tickets.
