Dean Owens shares his new single & video, She Was a Raven, featuring members of Calexico and announces upcoming tour dates with his band, The Sinners.
Recorded over two years, last year we got to enjoy Dean Owens Sinners Shrine, which he recorded with members of desert noir Latin rockers Calexico. That music captured the very essence and spirit of the wide-open vistas of the American Southwest in splendid technicolour, and the turquoise-coloured vinyl that followed was a very touch.
You may recall the gorgeous chilled Latin vibes of Land of the Hummingbird…and that chorus line “In the land of the hummingbird, She was a raven”. She Was A Raven is the title of Dean’s new single (available on streaming services now). It was recorded at the same time as Sinner’s Shrine with a stripped-back band of Dean, Joey Burns, John Convertino and Jacob Valenzuela.
The song is essentially a reimagining, and the transformation is quite something with its rockier feel, more forceful drums, bass and frenzied trumpet; it all locks in beautifully. In Dean’s words, “This is an alternative take on Land Of The Hummingbird and was all Joey’s idea. He wanted to try a completely different approach to the song, with a slight 60’s feel.”
The track is also the first single from his upcoming double CD release – El Tiradito (The Curse of Sinner’s Shrine) which is out on Fri, 13 May (more on below). Watch the accompanying video below, once more featuring the talented work of Ruth Barrie of @WaltzerFilms.
The “B side” of She Was A Raven is the desert noir/spaghetti western-soaked instrumental Weeping Skulls, as Dean goes full Morricone! It’s also available to stream now.
El Tiradito (The Curse of Sinner’s Shrine)
El Tiradito (The Curse Of Sinner’s Shrine) is out on Fri, 13 May, via Continental Song City, Netherlands.
CD1 is (in response to popular demand) a collection of all the (long since sold out) Desert Trilogy EP tracks on 1 CD + a couple of bonus tracks.
CD2 is an instrumental, recorded during lockdown with Calexico’s John Convertino, Martin Wenk and Tom Hagerman, inspired by the story behind El Tiradito (the local name for the eponymous Sinner’s Shrine in Tucson) – a violent and tragic tale of illicit passion and bloody revenge! (Very much in Sergio Leone/Morricone territory of spaghetti westerns)
Live Dates: Dean Owens and The Sinners
Dean has several upcoming dates (all as Dean Owens & The Sinners), including Glasgow (this Thurs, 9th March), Ramblin Roots Revue (High Wycombe) and Netherlands tour (18-25 Apr).
THU 9 MARCH – Cottiers, Glasgow, UK
SAT 15 APRIL – Ramblin’ Roots Revue 2023, High Wycombe, UK
TUE 18 APRIL – Vestzaktheater ‘het Zwijnshoofd’ (crossroads Radio), Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands
WED 19 APRIL – Cafe Roots, Berghem, Netherlands
THU 20 APRIL – Het Huis Verloren, Hoorn, Netherlands
FRI 21 APRIL – Trouble Tree Concerts Folk Club, Koudekerk aan den Rijn, Netherlands
SUN 23 APRIL – Cobblestone Club, Oldenzaal, Netherlands
MON 24 APRIL – Muziekgebouw Eindhoven, Eindhoven, Netherlands
TUE 25 APRIL – Theater Het Kielzog, Hoogezand, Netherlands
All details and ticket links can be found at www.deanowens.com/live