FIELD GUIDE ANNOUNCE FIELD GUIDE (TAPE REDUX) + SHARES FIRST REIMAGINED SINGLE “IN LOVE NOW”
BIRTHDAY CAKE RECORDS
Field Guide, aka Dylan MacDonald, released a self-titled album in 2022 reflecting on life challenges and the processing of emotions. Through 12 songs, the album creates an identity around subtle acoustic guitar parts, laid-back drum grooves, textured and moody sonic layers, and warm-blanket vocal melodies. Following its release, Field Guide captivated a listening audience of 600K+ monthly listeners on Spotify, with over 25 million streams, tour support slots from artists JP Saxe, SMYL, Bahamas, Leif Vollebekk, and praise from outlets such as MOJO, NPR, Under the Radar and more.
While performing the songs of the self-titled album on the road in a solo capacity, MacDonald found the structures mutating into something collectively new, different and exciting. At the completion of the tour, he quickly fleshed out the reimagined, stripped-down, captured-in-the-wild feeling of those new arrangements and the result is Field Guide (Tape Redux).
“Over the past year or so, I’ve been touring in support of a bunch of rad artists all over Canada, the U.S., and in Europe,” MacDonald says. “I’ve been playing solo every night, which at first felt like more of a necessity than anything but over time has become something that I very much love. The songs have grown and taken on a new life, I wanted to capture them again in this moment.”
Some tracks on Field Guide (Tape Redux) such as “Remember When” and “You Could Be Free” have recognizable riffs to the original versions but are more intimate and direct, without additional trappings beyond vocals and guitar. “In Love Now” uses a sparse arrangement of drum machine, fingerpicked electric bass, and MacDonald’s nimble and soulful falsetto to achieve a bright and positive interpretation.
Of “In Love Now” MacDonald wrote, “During the deep pandemic times I think that a lot of people found themselves catching up on a lot of overdue interior work which was both a really good thing but also quite overwhelming. This song came out of the desire for balance — wanting to continue to work through things but also yearning to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.”
“Without much of a plan I went over to my pal Kris Ulrich’s place and two days later we had a record that I am incredibly proud of,” MacDonald explains on recording Field Guide (Tape Redux). “We recorded everything live with no overdubs to Kris’ recently purchased Tascam 388 tape machine. The process was fast and inspiring. I grabbed whatever instruments were within arms’ reach: a classical guitar, viola bass, my Roland Rhythm Ace drum machine, everything felt very off the cuff. Some new melodies surfaced, new arrangements, feels and harmonic structure. Kris ran everything through a spring reverb and a delay pedal and performed live effects as I played the songs in the room. I wasn’t on headphones, so I didn’t know what he was doing until playback – it was always vibey and cool.”
In support of both the self-titled album and Field Guide (Tape Redux), Field Guide will be touring North America beginning later this month. All dates are announced and on sale HERE and listed below.
North American Tour Dates
2/24 – Regina SK – The Artesian
2/25 – Calgary AB – King Eddy
2/26 – Red Deer AB – Bo’s Bar and Stage
2/28 – Penticton BC – Dream Cafe
3/1 – Vancouver BC – The Fox Cabaret
3/3 – Edmonton AB – The Aviary
3/4 – Saskatoon SK – Amigos Cantina
3/8 – Hamilton ON – Mills Hardware
3/9 – Guelph ON – Brothers Brewing Company
3/10 – St Catharines ON – Warehouse Concert Hall
3/11 – Toronto, ON – TD Music Hall
3/12 – London ON – London Music Hall – Rum Runners
3/15 – Cambridge ON – Farm League Brewing
3/16 – Peterborough, ON – The Red Dog
3/17 – Ottawa ON – Club Saw
3/18 – Kingston ON – The Grad Club
3/24 – Winnipeg, MB – West End Cultural Centre
4/13 – Minneapolis MN – 7th St Entry
4/14 – Madison WI – High Noon Saloon
4/15 – Chicago IL – Schubas
4/16 – Detroit MI – Sanctuary
4/18 – Pittsburgh PA – Club Cafe
4/20 – Boston MA – Middle East Upstairs
4/21 – New York NY – Elsewhere
4/22 – Philadelphia PA – The Foundry
4/23 – Washington DC – Pearl Street Warehouse
4/26 – Nashville TN – The Basement
4/27 – Atlanta GA – Aisle 5
4/29 – Austin TX – Mohawk
4/30 – Dallas TX – Cambridge Room
5/2 – Phoenix AZ – Valley Bar
5/3 – San Diego – Voodoo Room
5/4 – Los Angeles – Lodge Room
5/6 – San Francisco CA – Bottom Of The Hill
5/9 – Seattle WA – Tractor Tavern
5/9 – Portland OR – The Jack London Revue
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Background Photo Credit: K Kwan
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