Corndawg avoids coming across as insulting with a preternatural grasp of honky-tonk, bluegrass, traditional, and outlaw country music. Lyrics like “with God as my witness/I don’t care where I go” and others that compare the virtues of Chevys and Fords both demonstrate Corndawg’s serious knowledge and appreciation of more contemporary (and possibly commercial) aspects of the genre. It keeps songs like “Life of a Bear” and his snarkier lyrics from sounding patronizing to fans of more established country musicians.

His lyrics can still sometimes be read as insulting (with regard to a woman’s bikini line: “I tried to cross the border/But I got pulled over/By the forest marshal on the forest line”), but ultimately, they’re too clever to not be funny. An a capella duet with up-and-coming female country singer Caitlin Rose on “Silver Panty Liners” should also boost his popularity with the female population; the song also manages to be stirring despite its subject matter. A versatile lyricist and singer, Corndawg restrains his stylistic yodel for slower numbers like the Tejano-influenced “Night Rider”, which discusses drunk drivers, or “Undercover Dad”, a track about potentially inappropriate relationships. His voice hits a quieter, smoother register that diversifies an album that would otherwise be defined by songs like “Red on the Head” (“like a dick on a dog”). Ultimately, Corndawg’s voice and sense of humor trump any uncomfortable subject matter.

Essential Tracks: “Shaved Like a Razor”, “When a Ford Man Turns to Chevy”

The 13 stop trek will take place entirely in March beginning in DC on the 2nd. Boston, New York, Philly, Toronto, and Chicago will all get some love before the tour finishes up at South by Southwest in Austin, TX. The question remaining is how do you separate guys like Taylor Goldsmith and John McCauley from their other bands, Dawes and Deer Tick respectively? The answer: you don’t. Dawes and Deer Tick will rotate through opening duties for Middle Brother, with select appearances by Jonny Corndawg (who also happens to appear on the supergroup’s eponymous debut). Sadly, the other Middle Brother, Matthew Vasquez, won’t be bringing his Delta Spirit brethren along. Let’s not get greedy, now.

For a preview of what a Middle Brother show looks like, check out the video below of the band performing “Me Me Me” at their second ever live performance, a benefit show for Invisible Children. We told you to check out the song just days ago, but now you can watch it, too. What, you still want more? Fine; click over to Partisan Records’ website for preview clips of their entire self-titled debut album, due out March 1st. Now be satisfied already. Savages….

Middle Brother 2011 Tour dates:
03/02 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
03/03 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
03/04 – Providence, RI @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
03/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
03/06 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
03/09 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
03/10 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall
03/11 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House
03/12 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
03/13 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
03/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
03/17 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
03/19 – Austin, TX @ SXSW

For the series’ second installment, Partisan Records will be featuring Rhode Island’s Deer Tick and their long-time tourmates, Jonny Corndawg. Deer Tick is offering up their fan-favorite ZZ Top cover, “Cheap Sunglasses”, while Corndawg will be serving up two tracks, “Chevy Beretta” and “Night Rider”, from his upcoming studio album. Check out Deer Tick’s live take of “Cheap Sunglasses” below, plus a behind the scenes look at “Night Rider”.

The split 7″ will drop November 9th, but you can’t just pick it up at your local independent record store; it will only be available on the bands’ respective tours and in the Partisan webstore. So, if you hope to buy the album in person, check out Deer Tick’s remaining tour dates below. For everyone else, you may just want to put in your pre-order now. The release is limited to 1,000 pressings, on two color variations of white and sky blue, at 500 pressings apiece.

“Cheap Sunglasses”

“Night Rider”

Deer Tick 2010 Tour Dates:
11/06 – Providence, RI @ AS 220 (matinee show)
11/06 – Providence, RI @ AS220 (late show)
11/10 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
11/11 – Boston, MA @ Royale
11/12 – Newport, RI @ Newport Blues Café
11/13 – Newport, RI @ Newport Blues Café

Jonny Corndawg 2010 Tour Dates:
11/09 – Asheville, NC @ Lexington Avenue Brewery
11/10 – Boone, NC @ The Boone Saloon
11/11 – Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s
11/12 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House
11/13 – Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
11/15 – St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
11/17 – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
11/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
11/19 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
11/20 – Louisvlle, KY @ Zanzabar
11/21 – Nashville, TN @ The End

Clipse & Cool Kids 2009 Tour Dates:

Old will meet new next month when the critically acclaimed Virginia hip-hop group known as Clipse will hit the road with Chicago’s The Cool Kids. Lasting throughout the month of August, the tour consists of 13 dates, including two in Clipse’s home state. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com. In other news, The Cool Kids still have yet to release their debut full-length.

08/12 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
08/15 – Las Vegas, NV @ LAX
08/16 – Pomona, CA @ House of Blues
08/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
08/18 – San Diego, CA @ Canes
08/23 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews
08/25 – Grand Rabids, MI @ Intersection
08/26 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
08/27 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Place
08/28 – Boston, MA @ Paradise
08/31 – Richmond, VA @ National
09/01 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
09/03 – Oxford, OH @ Brick Street Bar

Sea Wolf 2009 Tour Dates:

Alex Brown Church and the rest of Sea Wolf will hit the road this September in support of their new album, White Water, White Bloom. The tour runs through late October and will include Port O’Brien and Sara Lov as support. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

09/14 – Santa Barbara, CA @ Soho Bar & Music Club *
09/15 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar *
09/16 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House *
09/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour *
09/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Bimbo’s 365 Club ^#
09/21 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios ^#
09/22 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club ^#
09/23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern ^#
09/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue ^#
09/26 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive ^#
09/28 – Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown ^#
09/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry ^#
09/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet ^#
10/01 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern ^#
10/02 – St. Louis, MO @ The Billiken Club ^#
10/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio ^#
10/04 – Newport, KY @ Southgate House ^#
10/07 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts ^#
10/09 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s ^#
10/13 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club ^#
10/14 – New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge ^#
10/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall ^#
10/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Talking Head Club ^#
10/19 – Washington, DC @ DC9 ^#
10/21 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight Bar & Club ^#
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl ^#
10/24 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In ^#
10/27 – Dallas, TX @ The Cavern ^#
10/28 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr. ^#
10/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts ^#

* = w/ Afternoons
^ = w/ Port O’Brien
# = w/ Sara Lov

Deer Tick 2009 Tour Dates:

In support of its recently release new album, Born on Flag Day, Deer Tick has unveiled a lengthy late summer, early fall tour that will see the Providence outfit comb the U.S.’s many venues and music festivals. Among particular highlights are appearances at this weekend’s George Wein’s Folk Festival in the band’s home state of Rhode Island and the Monolith Festival in Morrison, Colorado. Select tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

08/01 – Great Barrington, MA @ Bella Terra Festival
08/02 – Newport, RI @ George Wein’s Folk Festival
08/07 – Brooklyn, NY @ Prospect Park Bandshell *
09/03 – Uncasville, CT @ The Wolf Den
09/06 – Ithaca, NY @ Stewart Park #!
09/07 – New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise ^
09/08 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe ^
09/09 – Bloomington, IN @ Video Saloon ^
09/10 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge ^
09/11 – Iowa City, IA @ The Mill ^
09/12 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre ^
09/13 – Morrison, CO @ Monolith Festival
09/15 – Centralia, WA @ Olympic Club
09/16 – Portland, OR @ Kennedy School
09/17 – Gearhart, OR @ Sand Trap
09/18 – Portland, OR @ Musicfest NW
09/19 – McMinnville, OR @ Hotel Oregon
09/23 – Bend, OR @ Old St. Francis School
09/24 – Seattle, WA @ High Dive
09/25 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
09/26 – Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge
09/27 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield
10/03 – Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits
10/10 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival
10/11 – Joshua Tree, CA @ Joshua Tree Roots Music Festival
11/05 – Wallingford, CT @ The Space
11/07 – Northampton, MA @ Iron House
11/08 – Boston, MA @ Church

* = w/ Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
# = w/ The Hold Steady
! = w/ The Felice Brothers
^ = w/ Jonny Corndawg