Karl Blau’s show in Róisín Dubh on Saturday, February 19, promises to be an early contender for gig of the year. Introducing Karl Blau was one of 2016’s most listenable albums, a record where the Anacortes, Washington, native showed his gifts as an interpretative singer.
The album opens with Blau’s version of Tom T. Hall’s That’s How I Got to Memphis, the song that kickstarted the project when Blau asked producer Tucker Martine to cut the song as a seven-inch single.
“He was able to communicate the essence of the song in such a moving way that we started dreaming of making a whole record based around our excitement for that collaboration,” Martine said of the singer.
Martine and Blau worked for years on shaping the narrative of the record. “I feel like I am starring in this country-western movie, written and produced by Tucker, and it tells a story,” says Blau. “We’ve threaded a story through the record. My character is moving through this dark place, but there is always this light of hope.”
Introducing Karl Blau is something of a tongue-in-cheek title. He has, in fact, released around 40 records in 20 years and has toured and recorded with the excellent Laura Veirs. But this is the album that, deservedly, brought him to prominence.
Karl Blau has a voice that draws you in. Hear it in person in the Róisín. Doors 8pm. Tickets €15/€12.50.
