Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger's Song (4-song live performance)

From 4AD Sessions, a 4-song live set of songs from the new Mark Lanegan Band album, Blues Funeral, which came out back in February. I've been a Lanegan fan since the early days with Screaming Trees, but especially since his first two solo albums. This is his best work since the early solo albums.

Following the release of Blues Funeral back in February, Mark Lanegan Band have recorded four songs for the thirteenth installment in the 4AD Sessions series.

Pull Studios in Manhattan's Hudson Square played understated host to a session that leans heavily on Mark's indelible voice and undeniable presence, as well as the intensity and precision of his band. Filmed during a break in rehearsals for a New York City show that was to herald the release of the album, the session captures a band fully sharpened and itching to hit the road (US dates begin May 10 and are listed below).

Tearing through four stand-out tracks from Blues Funeral, the performance ripples with a quiet fury that will be familiar to all those who’ve followed Mark over a career spanning more than two decades. Backed by a band as skilled as Mark is charismatic, the ambitious range of tracks such as ‘Harborview Hospital’ sit comfortably beside the barely concealed rage of ‘The Gravedigger’s Song’, reminding once again why Blues Funeral is such a rewarding listen.

Unlike other sessions in the series in which a firmly defined visual concept was central to capturing the performance, the intention here was to strip away any studio trickery in order to allow the band to stand-alone. That this simplified approach remains so powerful is testament to the inimitable quality of the music on show and Mark Lanegan's enduring allure.

Session directed by Robert Semmer - robertsemmer.com (full credits follow the tour dates).

Catch the Mark Lanegan Band on tour in the US this May:

May 10 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
May 11 – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – TLA
May 13 – Boston, MA – Paradise
May 15 – Toronto, ON – Mod Club
May 16 – Detroit, MI – Small’s
May 17 – Chicago, IL – The Metro
May 18 -- Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
May 20 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
May 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Gene Autry Museum - Heritage Courtyard
May 23 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
May 25 – George, WA - Sasquatch! Festival
May 26 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom

Track Listing:

1. The Gravedigger's Song
2. St. Louis Elegy
3. Riot In My House
4. Harborview Hospital