M. Ward - 'To Go Home'

I have not always loved M. Ward. I'm not really even sure when the first time I heard him happened to be, but I do remember that it was one of the rare instances in my young life where my father showed me something that I had not previously enjoyed. He brought home the second record Ward made (following the sparsely released 'Duet for Guitars #2') called 'End of Amnesia' to show me since he really enjoyed it and wanted to go see him at a club in San Francisco. I acquiesced, since I liked what I heard though it never really penetrated my listening habits. By this time the 'Transfiguration of Vincent' record had been released and was purchased as well. It was a while before we got 'Duet for Guitars #2'. We bought tickets to see Ward on his current tour, which I unfortunately had to miss due to a skateboarding mishap in which I shattered my ankle into 18 pieces.

Fortunately, Ward came back to San Francisco before I moved up to Portland for college and my father and I were lucky enough to be in attendance. He played mostly material from the 'Transfiguration' record as well as a few choice covers. The performace was enough to motivate an unhealthy addiction to M. Ward's music as in a live setting, the man is not only a stunning guitarist, he is one of the most wonderful sounding acts I have come across. I have been able to see him every time he has come through and the count resides at about 5 or 6 times.

Unrelated to the live tour de force that is M. Ward, he is also a tremendous studio musician and at the end of this month, he stands to release one of my favorite records of the year entitled 'Post-war'. Out August 29th on Merge, Ward has created a record that is as warm as it is engaging. I've decided to post the wonderful track, 'To Go Home'. The song calls great question to all of the depressing drivel being produced by the independent music community by singing about something that is as foreign to the indie community as proper shampoo usage: the joy of being alive. Enjoy.

To Go Home by M. Ward

09.01.2006 Seattle WA Nuemo's
09.02.2006 Vancouver BC Plaza Club
09.05.2006 Minneapolis MN Varsity Theatre
09.06.2006 Omaha NE Scottish Rites Hall
09.07.2006 Milwaukee WI Pabst Theatre
09.08.2006 Chicago IL Metro
09.09.2006 Columbus OH Little Brothers
09.11.2006 Toronto The Mod Club
09.12.2006 Montreal QC La Sala Rossa
09.14.2006 New York NY Webster Hall
09.15.2006 Alexandria VA The Birchmere
09.16.2006 Philadelphia PA Theatre of Living Arts
09.17.2006 Somerville MA Somerville Theatre
09.18.2006 Charlottesville VA Satellite Ballroom w/ Portastatic
09.19.2006 Carrboro NC Cat's Cradle w/ Lambchop & Portastatic
09.20.2006 Nashville TN Belcourt Theatre w/ Portastatic
09.22.2006 Denton TX Hailey's w/ Portastatic
09.23.2006 Austin TX The Parish w/ Portastatic
09.25.2006 Tucson AZ Rialto Theatre
09.26.2006 Tempe AZ The Clubhouse
09.27.2006 San Diego CA San Diego Woman's Club
09.28.2006 Los Angeles CA Henry Fonda
09.29.2006 San Francisco CA The Fillmore
09.30.2006 Portland OR Aladdin Theatre