Seven Handle Circus, a six-piece folk rock band from Atlanta, are thrilled to release their debut album Shadows on the Wall available now on iTunes,
The band’s debut album as a whole embraces the idea of uncertainty about what it means to enter adulthood without a place to land or a real sense of where you belong. Nothing is the way you expected it to be, a theme that resonates throughout the songs.
From “Shadows,” a rollicking Americana number inspired by the writing of Plato, to the layered folk of “Never Gonna Last,” the album grapples with how to survive in today’s tumultuous world.
The songwriting dapples in literary references: buoyant folk rock anthem “And We Danced” calls up Catcher In the Rye while the gliding ballad “Prelude” invokes Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poem “Ode To the West Wind.” The album’s closer, which Shawn calls a “morning love song,” was inspired by (and named for) Philip Larkin’s “Aubade.”
The band recently stopped by People to perform their single “And We Danced.”
“Shadows On the Wall alludes to Plato’s Cave,” singer/songwriter Shawn Spencer says. “After a journey you end up in the same place you were when you started, but instead of watching the illusions of the shadows on the wall you are now casting them. I think that’s where we are now. But we aren’t going to sit still for long because there’s a lot more music to be made.”
The acoustic sounds on the album resonate with sincerity and evocative emotion, each note played with passion and intent, something producer Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra helped them to capture.
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
“Seven Handle Circus showcases mature songwriting beyond their years,” says Tom Drummond. “They combine impressive bluegrass chops with old school pop sensibilities.”
The band will be hitting the road in support of the upcoming album. For the latest dates and to purchase tickets, visit www.sevenhandlecircus.com.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Oct 24 Macon, GA @ Macon Octoberfest
Oct 25 Jackson, MS @ One Block East
Oct 30 Marietta, GA @ LIFE College
Oct 31 Auburn, AL @ Bourbon Street
Nov 02 Atlanta, GA @ GRACE Awards Gala at The Foundry at Puritan Mill
Nov 06 Chattanooga, TN @ Rhythm & Brews
Nov 07 Ashville, NC @ New Mountain
Nov 08 Charleston, SC @ Lowcountry Hoedown
Nov 13 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant with Better Than Ezra
Nov 20 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater with Better Than Ezra
Nov 21 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues with Better Than Ezra
Nov 22 Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom with Better Than Ezra
Nov 23 Birmingham, AL @ Iron City with Better Than Ezra
Acoustic Nation is written by Laura B. Whitmore, a music industry marketing veteran, music journalist and editor, who has contributed to Parade.com, Guitar World, and others. She has interviewed hundreds of musicians and hosts the She Rocks Podcast. As the founder of the Women’s International Music Network, she advocates for women in the music industry and produces the annual She Rocks Awards. She is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, making the world safe for guitar exploration everywhere! A guitarist and singer/songwriter, Laura is currently co-writing an album of pop songs that empower and energize girls.
