Jeff Lewis @ Bar 19, Durham, Monday 22nd October

Portions for Foxes are teaming up with the Durham University Alt. Society next week for an evening with Jeffrey Lewis. This guy is the king of nerd-cool who makes his own comic strips and pencilled artwork for his many releases. The most recent being and album made up entirely of covers of songs by the UK anarchist punk band Crass. The current release is appropriately titled 12 Crass Songs and comes with a fold out comic strip documenting the moments in his life that shaped his need to record it.

Already intrigued? Well so are we!

Whilst Lewis is well known for producing homemade tapes of his music and taking a very D.I.Y approach to touring he also holds a masters degree. This seems a perfect combination for the anti-folk artist-a well educated politically minded musician with a punk rock sensibility.

He recently played dates in the UK with Daniel Johnston. Lewis shares a similar sense of sincerity to the troubled artist. His songs are real, raw and blunt, whilst being quirky and humour-laden. This exciting show should attract a enigmatic crowd to Durham’s Bar 19 , and it will span across age groups. This is one to take your dad to, or your younger brother who never got over Elliot Smith.

“All my favorite songwriters are American – Jad Fair, Jonathan Richman and Jeffrey Lewis.” -Eddie Argos/Art Brut

“The best lyricist working in the US today.” -Jarvis Cocker/Pulp

“A more polished effort from the Big Apple’s best-kept secret. NYC’s never exactly lacked eccentric singer-songwriters, but all, from Lou Reed up to Adam Green, would struggle to out-boho Jeffrey Lewis… The likes of “Time Machine” exhibit Velvets-style fuzz, while the speedfreak ramblings of “Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror” show just what makes this comic-book obsessive so unique… Stick with it young fellow – we’re with you all the way.”
NME (8/10)

Picture Links:

Rooftop
Illustrations
Illustrations 2

Links:

Portions for Foxes

Durham Alt.Soc

Jeff Lewis Myspace

Official Site