These Wicked Things
These Wicked Things is the fourth release from the determinedly eclectic Boston-based band Beat Circus and the final installment in singer/multi-instrumentalist/composer Brian Carpenter’s “Weird American Gothic” trilogy. The record bridges a number of disparate genres including experimental music, cowpunk, post-punk, Mexican folk music, mariachi music, and “spaghetti western” and giallo film scores. The cover and booklet include a 18-page graphic novelette by renowned Croatian artist Danijel Zezelj, best known for his live paintings, multimedia, and collaborations with DC Comics/Vertigo.
These Wicked Things began after Carpenter was commissioned by the Berkeley Repertory Theater in Berkeley, California to compose music and lyrics for Dominic Orlando’s play The Barbary Coast in 2014. Based on the true crime book by Herbert Asbury (Gangs of New York), The Barbary Coast detailed the violent rise of San Francisco in the late 1800s. The play centers around Joaquin Murieta, a Mexican who went on a revenge spree after his wife Rosita was killed by gold miners. Two versions of “Rosita” and some incidental music from the play are included.
After recording These Wicked Things with Beat Circus at the legendary Q Division Studios in Boston, Carpenter flew out to Tucson, Arizona to mix the record with esteemed producer Craig Schumacher (Calexico, Neko Case, Giant Sand.) Carpenter worked with Schumacher previously on his singer/songwriter outing The Far End of the World (2015, Accurate.) Special guests on These Wicked Things include trumpeter Jacob Valenzuela of Calexico, bass saxophonist Dana Colley of Morphine, and guitarist Stephen Ulrich of the NYC guitar noir trio Big Lazy.
Brian Carpenter formed Beat Circus in 2002 shortly after his arrival in Boston and since then, he’s been the ensemble’s guiding light and sole constant member. He has recorded or performed with Swans, Kronos Quartet, Colin Stetson, Marc Ribot, and Roswell Rudd, and collaborated with producers Martin Bisi (Dreamland, 2008), Sean Slade and Bryce Goggin (Boy From Black Mountain, 2009). Returning on These Wicked Things are drummer Gavin McCarthy (Karate, Thalia Zedek Band), bassist Paul Dilley (Ward Hayden & The Outliers), and guitarist Andrew Stern (Brian Carpenter & The Confessions). Relative newcomers include violinist Abigale Reisman (Tredici Bacci), violist Emily Bookwalter (Ghost Train Orchestra), and multi-instrumentalist Alec Spiegelman (Cuddle Magic), all three of whom worked with Carpenter on The Barbary Coastin San Francisco.
These Wicked Things is the band’s first release in ten years, following Boy From Black Mountain (Cuneiform Records, 2009), Dreamland (Cuneiform, 2008), and Ringleaders Revolt (innova, 2004). During this period, Carpenter released four critically-acclaimed albums with Ghost Train Orchestra in Brooklyn, NY, and a debut album with Brian Carpenter & The Confessions.
Album release tour:
Fri 03/22 The Apohadion Theater, PORTLAND ME
w/Greg Jamison, Viking Moses
Sat 3/23 Once Ballroom, SOMERVILLE MA
w/Count Zero, Jaggery, Emperor Norton’s Stationary Marching Band, Kee Avil
Fri 3/29 Kung Fu Necktie, PHILADELPHIA PA
w/The Rectors, Gringo Motel
Sat 3/30 Wind Up Space, BALTIMORE MD
w/Quattracenta, HOLY FINGERS, Kamyar Arsani
Sun 3/31 Brillobox, PITTSBURGH PA
w/Emily Rodgers Band, Poor Richard
Mon 4/1 The Summit, COLUMBUS OH
w/Suffering, Praying Hands
Tue 4/2 Blockhouse Bar, BLOOMINGTON IN
Wed 4/3 Empty Bottle, CHICAGO IL
w/The Claudettes, The Lonesome Organist
Thu 4/4 The Happy Dog, CLEVELAND OH
w/Arms & Armour, The Village Bicycle
Fri 4/5 Outer Limits, DETROIT MI
w/Duende, The Gaslights, The Whiskey Charmers
Sat 4/6 The Baby G, TORONTO ON
w/Friendly Rich, Clara Engel, Kee Avil
Sun 4/7 L’Escogriffe Bar Spectacle, MONTREAL
w/Brakhage, Kee Avil
Thu 4/11 The Parlour, PROVIDENCE RI
w/Alec K. Redfearn
Thu 4/25 National Sawdust, BROOKLYN NY
w/Tredici Bacci
