Cloud Cult Shares Their Tracks On Repeat For Our Monomania Playlist

Fresh off of a sold out West Coast tour Cloud Cult has announced additional dates for a special run of shows in the Southern US, including a show at The EARL in Atlanta tomorrow night, that sees the orchestral indie-rock band performing two back-to-back sets each night: an acoustic set followed directly by a full electric set.

Dubbed An Evening with Cloud Cult, the Minnesota band are continuing to tour in support of their highly innovative multi-media release The Seeker, which came out last year and was accompanied by their award-winning film of the same name, starring Josh Radnor and Alex McKenna. Cloud Cult’s 10^th full-length album has critics calling it their best work yet.

Led by Craig and Connie Minowa, and including the current lineup of Shannon Frid-Rubin (violin), Shawn Neary (bass/trombone), Sarah Perbix (keys/horns), Daniel Zamzow (cello/mandola), Jeremy Harvey (drums), as well as Scott West, Cloud Cult has become known as one of the more innovative bands in the US since their first official release Who Killed Puck? in 2001. The band’s legend has grown not only for their orchestral chamber pop inspired by the “big picture” issues of life, but also their live shows, which has included two live painters on stage, Connie Minowa and Scott West, as well as back screen video and performance artists. In 1999, lead singer Craig and Connie Minowa formed Earthology, a not-for-profit environmental organization that includes the Earthology Records branch, which focuses on helping to green the music industry. Not only has Cloud Cult left a mark over the years with their music, they’ve left a mark on the industry in the process.

With Cloud Cult set to play our hometown of Atlanta tomorrow night, January 24th at The EARL in East Atlanta (tickets here), Cloud Cult cellist Daniel Zamzow was nice enough to take over our Monomania playlist this week with the tracks he and the band currently have on repeat.

Check out Daniel’s picks and thoughts on each track below. Don’t miss the chance to catch Cloud Cult on tour now:

Matthew Wilder – “Break My Stride”

“You have to go with the video on this one. The track itself is masterfully dope, but the wardrobe and dance moves are the icing on this particular cake. We once found ourselves packed 10 deep in a minivan for three hours and ended up arranging and rehearsing a mashup of this tune with Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”. The poor driver.”

Amy León – “Burning In Birmingham”

“Our tour manager, A/V engineer guru recently clued us into this incredibly powerful song. The video is as heart-wrenchingly beautiful as the music. Definitely worth listening with headphones, if possible. We’re pretty new to Ms. León’s tunes and her poetry on last year’s Something Melancholy, but of what we’ve heard so far, it hits heart. Where it counts.”

The Murder Of Crows – “Let It Go”

<a href="http://gaelynnlea.bandcamp.com/album/imperfecta">Imperfecta by The Murder of Crows</a>“The Murder of Crows released Imperfecta in 2012, and it was around that time that we played with them in their hometown of Duluth, MN. The set they so stoically performed brought us all into such stillness and quiet attention— as if we were being serenaded by angels. We, and the always-friendly folk of Duluth, were lucky duckies that night. Shout out to Alan, his guitar tone, Gaelynn, and her violin fire.”

Tom Waits – “Telephone Call From Istanbul”

“Our merch designer / band teddy bear, Ryan Seitz, does a wicked cover of this tune. And we all know to leave the Tom Waits growly grunts to Scott West (one of our live painters). You either got it or you don’t. This recording though, with its minimal production, his signature sing-growl, the plinkplunky guitar, and distorted organ solo out- Tom Waits’ pure, unmatched brilliance in a nutshell. Tom, if you’re reading this, we want to hang out with you and get weird.”

Anderson Paak – “Heart Don’t Stand A Chance”

“Careful, this is a hot one, just recently exposed to our senses. When we’re crushing miles in the van between gigs, we like a good hefty dose of funky drummers, nasty bass, beat drops, optional sunglasses, and sexy lyrics (keeps us tingly and awake). Paak’s music and his sick band keep coming back through our stereo, into our ears, and out through our swingin hips and nodding heads. We salute you, you soul-filled ambassadors of the groove.” /- Cloud Cult cellist Daniel Zamzow

All tracks on Spotify added to our “Monomania” playlist (kept fresh with 30 songs at a time). Listen:

Cloud Cult on tour:

Nashville, TN: Mon, Jan 23, 2017 @ 8:00 PM Exit/In
Atlanta, GA: Tue, Jan 24, 2017 @ 8:00 PM The Earl
Birmingham, AL: Wed, Jan 25, 2017 @ 8:00 PM Saturn
Austin, TX: Fri, Jan 27, 2017 @ 8:00 PM Antone’s
Dallas, TX: Sat, Jan 28, 2017 @ 9:00 PM Club Dada
Lutsen, MN: Sat, Feb 11, 2017 @ 9:00 PM Papa Charlie’s