It’s not common to see a band play Bonnaroo, the Newport Folk Festival, The Bamboozle and the Vans Warped Tour. Sure, maybe The Decemberists are hitting ‘Roo and Newport and Lil’ Wayne is playing Bamboozle and ‘Roo, but there’s little over-lap for all four. That is unless you’re River City Extension, the New Jersey band who’s cross-over, folk pop-punky sound has garnered attention from not only these festivals, but artists of varying genres.
Case in point is Glenn Tilbrook of reunited 70’s British power-pop band Squeeze. So enamored by the band is Tilbrook, that he worked with them on a special version of the track “Letter to Lainie” from RCE’s label debut, …And The Unmistakable Man. Though not drastically different from the album cut, Tilbrook’s voice is unmistakable in the mix behind lead singer Joe Michelini. The bouncy track makes a strong case for a chorus sing-along over plucky pianos, loaded percussion, horns, banjos, claps and all the other sounds this 8-piece unit blends together to such enjoyable results.
You can listen to this exclusive track below. As fun as it sounds here, it’s even better live (even without Tilbrook), so be sure to check them out on the dates below, including some supporting spots for Alkaline Trio.
“Letter to Lainie (feat. Glenn Tilbrook)”
River City Extension 2011 Tour Dates:
06/09-10 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
06/11 – Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor
06/12 – Norfolk, VA @ The Jewish Mother
07/12 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lakes Fields *
07/13 – Mansfield, MA @ Comcast Center *
07/14 – Scranton, PA @ Toyota Pavilion At Montage Mountain *
07/15 – Mississauga, ON @ The Flats at Arrow Hall *
07/16 – Montreal, QC @ Parc Jean-Drapeau *
07/17 – Hartford, CT @ Comcast Theatre *
07/19 – Milwaukee, WI @ Marcus Amphitheatre *
07/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Blossom Music Center *
07/21 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center *
07/22 – Burgettstown, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion *
07/23 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum *
07/24 – Oceanport, NJ @ Monmouth Park Raceway *
07/30 – Newport, RI @ Newport Folk Festival
08/01 – Chicago, IL @ Metro #
08/02 – Chicago, IL @ Metro #
08/04 – Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo’s #
08/05 – Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues #
08/06 – Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall #
09/24 – Burlington, VT @ Nor’easter Festival
* = Vans Warped Tour
# = w/ Alkaline Trio, Smoking Pipes
Photography by Kelsey Hanrahan
