Califone to Turn Rock Clubs Into Arthouse Theaters This Fall

Photo by Chris Strong

Mixed media at a rock show is nothing new; Cloud Cult shows feature onstage painters, String Cheese Incident sets have included Cirque du Soleil-type action and countless bands bring the big screens for mid-performance film clips. But the not-rock media tends to supplement the music, not the other way around.

Chicago's ethereal roots rock act Califone wants to rethink that one.

For Califone's upcoming fall tour, the band's performance will actually serve as the soundtrack to a film, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, that was written and directed by frontman Tim Rutili.

That's not to say that the music will be John Williams soundtrack fare. Far from it, in fact: the score, also called All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, will be released as Oct. 6 on Dead Oceans as Califone's 10th album of, unless Rutili has really gone all J. Williams on us, beautiful and shadowy dream rock.

The movie half of the project tells the spooky tale of a fortune teller named Zel who's housemates include a whole ensemble cast of ghosts. The crowded house's lost souls include a priest, a bride, a mute child and the careers of the members of Crowded House. Kidding!

But seriously, this thing sounds creepy in the best way possible.

Dates:

October
10/11 - Chicago, Ill. @ Museum of Contemporary Art*
13 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Andy Warhol Museum*
14 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Ballrom*
15 - Buffalo, N.Y. @ Mohawk Place
16 - Ithaca, N.Y. @ Cornell Cinema*
17 - Montreal, Q.C. @ Ukranian Federation*
18 - Winooski, Vt. @ The Monkey House
20 - Northampton, Mass. @ Iron Horse Music Hall*
21 - Portland, Maine @ Space*
22 - Cambridge, Mass. @ Brattle Theater*
23 - New York, N.Y. @ 92Y Tribeca*
24 - Philadelphia, Pa. @ World Cafe Live
25 - Washington, D.C. @ Rock and Roll Hotel
26 - Charlottesville, Va. @ The Southern*
27 - Atlanta, Ga. @ The Earl
28 - Birmingham, Ala. @ WorkPlay Theatre*
29 - Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement
30 - Bloomington, Ind. @ Bear's Place*
* denotes performance with film screening

Related links:
News: Califone Announces New Album Details
Review: Califone: Roots and Crowns
Califone on MySpace