Last Thursday, Kevin Morby was in New York to play The Bell House Summer Series at Industry City. A (mostly) solo set, Kevin played a mix of old favorites, covers, and new songs he’s been working on. He also experimented with a solo version of “Harlem River”, after some coaxing from the audience. It was the first time he’d ever played the song live using the loop pedal. The results, which you can find below, were pretty fantastic. We also captured two new songs, also posted below.

Produced by City Farm Presents, the Bell House Summer Series brings four months of concerts and comedy to the courtyard at Industry City. The outdoor space can accommodate a sizable crowd and features brews and lawn games along with the entertainment. Other artists previously announced to perform include Guided By Voices (August 16), Kevin Devine and The Goddamn Band (August 23), and Luna (August 24). Today, !!! (Chk, Chk, Chk) joined the lineup. Their concert is scheduled for Saturday, September 22 and tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 20.

As for Kevin’s show, we couldn’t have asked for better night. The weather was optimal and the sound was excellent. At the beginning of his set, he was joined by sax player Cochemea Gastelum. After Cochemea departed and Kevin settled in, he explained that he was nervous when he first came out, but that those feelings had subsided. He played a mix of songs from of all of his albums, including his latest, City Music, which was released a year ago this week. For covers, he played Townes Van Zandt’s “When She Don’t Need Me” and Silver Jews’ “Long Long Gone”. Cut Worms, who is touring up a storm, opened, but unfortunately we arrived after his set.

Kevin, who last performed in New York with his full band in April, is currently out on a solo tour that is taking him to a number of small towns in the Northeast. He will actually be coming back through New York on Friday, June 22 to perform Bruce Springsteen covers at an Atlas Obscura event produced in conjunction with Sotheby’s Fine Books & Manuscripts Department. In addition to Kevin’s performance, attendees will be able to view Bruce Springsteen’s handwritten working draft of “Born To Run”, which is currently on auction. In July, Kevin heads back to Europe for a number of dates before returning in the fall to play Desert Daze in October, and a tribute to The Band’s last concert, The Last Waltz, at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester in November. You can find all his upcoming dates below.

Kevin Morby Tour Dates
Tuesday, June 19  3S Artspace, Portsmouth, NH
Wednesday, June 20  Port City Music Hall, Portland, ME
Friday, June 22  The Woolworth Tower Residences, New York, NY (Bruce Springsteen and ‘Born to Run,’ with Sotheby’s)
Friday, June 29  Friendly Gathering, Waitsfield, VT
Thursday, July 5  Shitty Barn, Spring Green, WI
Sunday, July 8  West Fest, Between Damen & Wood, Chicago, IL
Sunday, July 8  Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL

Friday, July 13  Mad Cool Festival, Madrid, Spain
Monday, July 16  Paradiso Noord, Nieuw-Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
Tuesday, July 17  Boomtown, Ghent, Belgium
Thursday, July 19   Bukta Open Air Festival, Tromso, Norway
Saturday, July 21   Rock Herd, Herk-De-Stad, 05, Belgium
Sunday, July 22  Biarritz en Eye, Biarritz, 97, France
Tuesday, July 24   TRIP @ Garden Triennale, Milan, Italy
Saturday, July 28   Heimspiel Knyphausen, Eltville, HE, Germany
Thursday, August 9  Haldern Pop, Haldern, 07, Germany
Saturday, August 11  Way Out West, Gothenburg, Vastra, Gotaland County, Sweden
Sunday, August 12  Flow Festival, Helsinki, Finland
Monday, August 13  Landmark, Bergen, 07, Norway
Friday, August 17  Paredes de Coura, Paredes de Coura, Portugal
Sunday, August 19   Green Man Festival, Wales, United Kingdom
Monday, August 20   Gorilla, Manchester, United Kingdom
Tuesday, August 21   Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, United Kingdom
Wednesday, August 22   Hackney Arts Centre, London, England
Thursday, August 23   Haunt, Brighton, England
Saturday, August 25   Openair Festival, Zurich, Switzerland

Friday, September 14   Grandoozy, Denver, CO
Thursday, October 11   Nightlife LIVE at California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Friday, October 12  Desert Daze at Moreno Beach, Perris, CA
Saturday, November 17   The Complete Last Waltz at Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY