John Vanderslice and Bishop Allen clap across U.S. :: Music News :: Articles

John Vanderslice released an incredible song (and several more since, for those counting at home) in 2001 called "You Were My Fiji." Carried by heartbreaking lyrics of lost love and consistent handclaps, it was the strange highlight of his album Time Travel is Lonely, two songs of which you can download from his website.

Brooklyn indie-pop group Bishop Allen also likes handclaps, and put them to use on The Broken String, the band's latest platter of rewarding tunes. In fact, the handclaps are part of a theme of sorts on the record, one that involves intricate instrumental minutiae all over, featuring banjos, xylophones and much more.

What's the moral of the story here? Handclaps rule. Also, Vanderlice and Bishop Allen are hitting the road together starting in mid-September.

Get the clap:

September
17 - Orlando, Fla. @ The Social
18 - St. Augustine, Fla. @ Cafe Eleven
19 - Tallahassee, Fla. @ Club Down Under
20 - Atlanta, Ga. @ The EARL
21 - Durham, N.C. @ Duke Coffeehouse
22 - Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel
24 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ Johnny Brenda's
26 - New York, N.Y. @ Bowery Ballroom
27 - Cambridge, Mass. @ The Middle East
28 - Cambridge, Mass. @ The Middle East
29 - Buffalo, N.Y. @ Buffalo Icon

October
2 - Ann Arbor, Mich. @ Blind Pig
3 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Grog Shop
4 - Athens, Ohio @ Baker Theater
5 - Bloomington, Ind. @ John Waldron Art Center
6 - Chicago, Ill. @ Empty Bottle
8 - Minneapolis, Minn. @ 7th St. Entry
9 - Omaha, Neb. @ The Waiting Room
11 - Denver, Colo. @ Hi Dive
12 - Provo, Utah @ Velour
13 - Salt Lake City, Utah @ Kilby Court
15 - Vancouver, Wash. @ Red Room
17 - Seattle, Wash. @ Neumo's
18 - Portland, Ore. @ Doug Fir
20 - San Francisco, Calif. @ The Independent