Tipped as his most personal album to date, Cass McCombs is set to release Interior Live Oak on August 15th via Domino Records. Named after a tree species native to Northern California, the album announcement arrives alongside the unveiling of his latest single and accompanying video, Peace, a straightforward rocker featuring Cass’s signature serpentine riffs and a melancholic yet hopeful lyrical farewell: “Peace is what we say when we say goodbye.”
While Interior Live Oak is said to showcase the vast range he has cultivated over two decades of experimentation, it distils his vision into a more economical and direct form. It finds McCombs reunited with Bay Area early collaborators like Jason Quever (Papercuts) and Chris Cohen (read our review of Cohen’s excellent 2024 album, Paint a Room), with additional recording in New York City bringing contributions from Matt Sweeney and Mike Bones. The album is described as the resolve of someone who has navigated life’s extremes, offering a hopeful perspective that seeks moments of beauty amidst temporal anxieties.
Cass McCombs will embark on a European tour in support of Interior Live Oak in August, including headline shows, festival appearances, and support slots with Father John Misty, before returning for select US dates (dates below).
Pre-Order Interior Live Oak: https://cassmccombs.ffm.to/interiorliveoak
Interior Live Oak Track Listing
1. Priestess
2. Peace
3. Missionary Bell
4. Miss Mabee
5. Home At Last
6. I’m Not Ashamed
7. Who Removed The Cellar Door?
8. A Girl Named Dogie
9. Asphodel
10. I Never Dream About Trains
11. Van Wyck Expressway
12. Lola Montez Danced The Spider Dance
13. Juvenile
14. Diamonds In The Mine
15. Strawberry Moon
16. Interior Live Oak
Cass McCombs Tour Dates
Tickets for the UK and California headline shows will be available on Wednesday, June 18th here (New dates are shown in bold).
Wed. Aug. 13 – Porto, PT @ Paredes de Coura
Sat. Aug. 17 – Crickhowell, UK @ Green Man Festival ^
Tue. Aug. 19 – Bristol, UK @Lantern Hall ^
Wed. Aug. 20 – London, UK @Bush Hall ^
Thu. Aug. 21 – Manchester, UK @ YES ^
Sat. Aug. 23 – Galway, IE @ Leisureland * %
Sun. Aug. 24 – Dublin, IE @ Wider Than Pictures Festival * %
Mon. Aug. 25 – Belfast, IE @ Ulster Hall * %
Tue. Aug. 26 – Cork, IE @ City Hall * %
Thu. Aug. 28 – Glasgow, SCT @ Barrowland * %
Fri. Aug. 29 – Glasgow, SCT @ Barrowland * %
Wed. Sept. 10 – San Diego, CA @The Casbah ^
Thu. Sept. 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Shrine Expo Hall & ^
Fri. Sept. 12 – Riverside, CA @Farmhouse ^
* with Father John Misty
& with MJ Lenderman, Nap Eyes
% Solo
^ Full Band Performance