Bill Callahan shares live album ‘What a Night!’, recorded during his 2024 ICA Residency

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Following the release of last year’s live album Resuscitate! (reviewed here), Bill Callahan undertook a UK and European tour that included a 4-night residency at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts. Featuring recordings from that residency, on which he was accompanied by Jim White on drums, Bill has released a live digital album via Bandcamp as a “pay what you can” and titled “What a Night!”.

To mark the release, Bill Callahan’s label, Drag City, have shared a video performance of “Cowboy,” recorded during the residency on September 30th, 2024, that was directed by Simon Owens. The track featured on 2020’s “Gold Record,” reviewed here.

Talking about the album, Drag City shared:

Director Simon Owens was able to capture a taste of it with the performance of “Cowboy”—the live version completely unlike Bill’s studio version. Shot with multiple cameras, Bill changes the arrangement, structure, lyrical delivery, and whole tone of the original, whilst drummer Jim White adds further dimensions of texture, rhythm and theatre. Powerful, emotionally charged, and driven, Bill’s performance stares down the audience, almost possessed, hypnotic, certainly electric, and full of drama.

It sounds fantastic, too; the show audio is mixed by renowned producer/mixer Mark Nevers to boot.

Bill’s dates in the UK/EU, which kick off today – get your tickets now and see Bill like you’ve never before! (dates below).

Live at London’s ICA in 2024. Bill Callahan (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Jim White (drums). Recorded by Ken Eno, Cam Deas, Nicky Drain. Recording mixed by Mark Nevers.

What a Night! Tracklisting

1. Pigeons/Everyway
2. Coyotes
3. Cowboy
4. Bowevil
5. Drover
6. Partition
7. One Fine Morning
8. Riding for the Feeling
9. Jim Cain
10. Natural Information
11. Say Valley Maker
12. Rock Bottom Riser

Bill Callahan UK/EU Tour Dates

Jul 2 – Theatre, EartH, London, UK
Jul 3 – Trinity Centre Bristol, UK
Jul 5 – Arts Club Theatre Liverpool, UK
Jul 6 – Brudenell Social Club Leeds, UK
Jul 7 – Oran Mor Glasgow, UK
Jul 8 – Oran Mor Glasgow, UK
Jul 10 – Teatro Tivoli BBVA Lisbon, Portugal
Jul 11 – Casa Da Música Porto, Portugal
Jul 13 – Anfiteatro del Vittoriale Gardone Riviera, Italy
Jul 14 – Teatro Romano di Ostia Antica Ostia, Italy
Jul 16 – Zoom Frankfurt, Germany
Jul 17 – zakk Düsseldorf, Germany
Jul 18 – Passionskirche Kreuzberg Berlin, Germany
Jul 20 – National Concert Hall Dublin, Ireland