(PR) Peter Himmelman’s tenth studio album is titled The Pigeons Couldn’t Sleep. “The pigeons are different things to different people,” says the acclaimed veteran singer-songwriter. “Old ghosts, bad politics, broken expectations, wars of all shapes and sizes . . . It’s a restless world out there; nobody can sleep — even the birds feel the vibrations.” The first recording on the artist’s new Thirty Tigers/RED-distributed label Himmasongs Recordings will come bundled with a free value-added DVD, a feature-length documentary, Rock God. The 65-minute film begins in the ‘70s with footage of Himmelman’s notorious Minnesota new wave band, Sussman Lawrence (whose members all had hair to die for), and traces his development musically, culturally and religiously (Himmelman is an observant Jew). The journey is punctuated by revelations and laughs as Himmelman and band tour on the heels of his last album, 2005’s Imperfect World. The film is for anyone attempting to carry a dream into reality. . . and also for those who let it go along the way.
List price for the combined CD and DVD package is a lean $16.98. Street date is set for August 21, 2007.
The Pigeons Couldn’t Sleep’s 13 tracks range from blistering and bluesy house-shakers to ballads of tender urgency. The album begins with a haunted slide-guitar passage by Himmelman (whose guitar prowess shouldn’t be underestimated) and ends with the gospel tinged “If We Could Hold Each Other’s Hunger,” about the power of empathy. In between, Himmelman proffers such powerful songs as “Gratitude,” “War of Words” and “The Ship of Last Hope.”
The songs on this self-produced album started as sketches, which Himmelman developed until they were “finished paintings.” He was joined by Willie Aron (Victoria Williams, Balancing Act) on vocals; Brett Simons (Fiona Apple, Liz Phair), bass; Jeff Babko (“Jimmy Kimmel Live”, James Taylor), keyboards; George Shelby (Brian Setzer), saxophones; Jimmy Englund (Hindu Rodeo), drums, Lee Jaffee (Bob Marley, Peter Tosh), harmonica, and Israeli musician Daniel K. Man on piano and Hammond B3.
The DVD companion, Rock God, was directed, edited, and filmed by Keith Wolf and co-produced by Himmelman and filmmaker Jim Hershleder. Hershleder, along with renown commercial director Peter Kagan, shot the archival footage 20 years ago. Himmelman wants you to know this about Rock God: “It’s not a video biography. It’s not ‘Behind the Music.’ It’s an uplifting film that will make you laugh your ass off -and even move you.” The DVD will appear in initial pressings of the CD and may not be included in subsequent pressings. So fans are encouraged to purchase the package soon after release date.
