Cass McCombs | Under the Radar Magazine Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Thursday, March 28th, 2024  

News

Cass McCombs and Preschool Teacher Mr. Greg Announce Children’s Music Album, Share New Song

Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children Due Out August 18 via Smithsonian Folkways; Listen to “Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk” Now

Jun 21, 2023

Singer/songwriter Cass McCombs and San Francisco preschool teacher Mr. Greg (aka Greg Gardner) have announced a new LP of original children’s music, Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs Sing and Play New Folk Songs for Children, and share a video for its lead single, “Wave a Flag for Harvey Milk.” More

Jenny Lewis Announces New Tour Dates and Shares Video for “Puppy and a Truck”

Tickets Go On Sale This Friday; Cass McCombs, Jenny O, and Hayden Pedigo to Open

Mar 06, 2023

Jenny Lewis has shared a new video for her 2021 single “Puppy and a Truck” and has also announced some new tour dates. Cass McCombs, Jenny O, and Hayden Pedigo to open select shows. More

Nov 16, 2022

Cass McCombs has announced a rescheduled North American tour for January 2023. Initially, the tour was set to begin this fall. Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 18) at 10 a.m. local time. More

Cass McCombs and Weak Signal Share New Song “Vacation From Thought”

Vacation From Thought b/w Give It Back 7-Inch Single Due Out November 11 via Wharf Cat

Oct 05, 2022

Cass McCombs and NYC band Weak Signal have announced the release of a 7-inch single, which will be out on November 11 via Wharf Cat. Today, they have shared the single’s A-side, “Vacation From Thought.” More

Stream Cass McCombs’ New Album and View Video For New Single “New Earth”

Heartmind Out Now via ANTI-, Read Our Review Of It Here

Aug 19, 2022

Cass McCombs has released a new album, Heartmind, out today via ANTI-. McCombs has also shared a video for a new single from the album, “New Earth.” The video was hand drawn and animated by Daniel Bermudez. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Jessie Ware, Julia Jacklin, Disq, Scout Gillett, and More

Plus Local Natives, Julien Chang, Cass McCombs, Art Moore, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jul 22, 2022

Welcome to the 28th Songs of the Week of 2022. It was a weak week for new tracks. Don’t get us wrong, we stand behind all the songs that made this week’s main list, there just wasn’t a plethora of other tracks to choose from. More

Jul 21, 2022

Air Waves (aka Nicole Schneit) has shared a new single, “Alien,” which features Cass McCombs. It is the latest release from Schneit’s forthcoming album, The Dance, which will be out on September 9 via Fire. More

Cass McCombs Shares Video for New Single “Karaoke”

Heartmind Due Out August 19 via ANTI-

Jul 19, 2022

Cass McCombs has shared a video for his new single, “Karaoke.” Co-produced by Ariel Rechtshaid, it is the latest release from his forthcoming album, Heartmind, which will be out on August 19 via ANTI-. More

11 Best Songs of the Week: Metric, Laura Veirs, Gaz Coombes, Katie Alice Greer, and More

Plus Spacemoth, Tim Burgess, Cass McCombs, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jun 10, 2022

Welcome to the 23rd Songs of the Week of 2022. We settled on a Top 11 this week, in a list more populated with veteran artists than newcomers, including two solo songs from artists who became stars as the frontmen of ’90s Britpop bands. More

Jun 08, 2022

Cass McCombs has announced the release of a new album, Heartmind, which will be out on August 19 via ANTI-. He has also announced a tour, and has shared a video for the new album single “Unproud Warrior,” which features Wynonna Judd and Charlie Burnham. More

Apr 26, 2022

Cass McCombs has shared a new single, “Belong to Heaven.” It is out now via ANTI-. More

13 Best Songs of the Week: Nilüfer Yanya, Destroyer, Oceanator, Kurt Vile, and More

Plus Sondre Lerche, Georgia Harmer, Widowspeak, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Feb 18, 2022

Welcome to the seventh Songs of the Week of 2022. We were very indecisive this week, there were too many songs we liked and had trouble narrowing it down to only 10. So this week we have an expanded Top 13. More

Oct 27, 2020

Cass McCombs is encouraging his U.S. fans to vote next Tuesday with the new track “Don’t (Just) Vote,” which features the eclectic guest cast of Angel Olsen, Bob Weir, and Noam Chomsky. It is a new version of his misunderstood 2011 song “Don’t Vote,” which, despite its title, was actually also a get out the vote song. More

Aug 11, 2020

Back in May, Cass McCombs released standalone single “The Wine of Lebanon” on Universal Audio’s new recording system, LUNA. The single was produced by Grammy winner Jacquire King (Tom Waits, Norah Jones) and McCombs explained that the single “is about ritual offerings to the departed and wine as allegory for life.” More

Cass McCombs Shares Video for New Song “The Wine of Lebanon”

Recorded on Universal Audio’s New LUNA Recording System

May 07, 2020

Cass McCombs has dropped a standalone single, “The Wine of Lebanon.” The song was recorded on Universal Audio’s new recording system, LUNA. An accompanying video shows McCombs and his band recording the song. More

Under the Radar Announces Issue 65 with Mitski and boygenius on the Covers

Issue 65 is Out Now and Also Includes Interviews with Sharon Van Etten, Deerhunter, Foals, and Kurt Vile; Plus a Tribute to Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit, and Much More

Mar 01, 2019

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, Issue 65, which is out now nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere) and available to buy directly from us here. The issue features Mitski on the front cover and boygenius (Julien Baker + Phoebe Bridgers + Lucy Dacus) on the back cover. More

Cass McCombs Shares Video for “Sleeping Volcanoes”

Tip of the Sphere Out Now via ANTI-

Feb 20, 2019

Cass McCombs released a new album, Tip of the Sphere, earlier this month via ANTI-. Now he has shared a video for the album’s “Sleeping Volcanoes.” In the strange video McCombs wears a medical mask on the streets of San Francisco and in the forests of Marin County, meanwhile “dancers destroy Tahiti Pehrson’s contemporary art piece, The Rising Body.” More

7 Best Songs of the Week: These New Puritans, Andrew Bird, The Mountain Goats, and More

Plus King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Cass McCombs, Interpol, Stella Donnelly, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Feb 01, 2019

After three strong weeks of Songs of the Week starting out 2019 right, this week we hit a bit of a lull. Whereas last week we had a supersized edition, with a Top 12 instead of our usual Top 10, this week we could only muster up enthusiasm for a Top 7. More

Jan 31, 2019

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Tip of the Sphere, on February 8 via ANTI-. Now he has shared another song from it, “Absentee,” via a video for the song. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Strand of Oaks, Telekinesis, Weyes Blood, Piroshka, and More

Plus The Drums, Cass McCombs, Tamaryn, James Blake, C Duncan, Glen Hansard, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Jan 18, 2019

Welcome to the second Songs of the Week of 2019. This week’s list includes tracks from freshly announced albums (Strand of Oaks, The Drums, Tamaryn, C Duncan, Glen Hansard), as well as by artists who have already made this list with previous songs from their upcoming albums (Telekinesis, Piroshka, Cass McCombs). More

Cass McCombs Shares New Song “The Great Pixley Train Robbery”

Tip of the Sphere Due Out February 8 via ANTI-

Jan 16, 2019

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Tip of the Sphere, on February 8 via ANTI-. Now he has shared another song from it, “The Great Pixley Train Robbery.” According to a press release the song is “based on a newspaper article McCombs uncovered from the 1800s.” More

Dec 11, 2018

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Tip of the Sphere, on February 8, 2019 via ANTI-. Previously he shared its first single, “Sleeping Volcanoes” (which was one of our Songs of the Week). Now he has shared another song from the album, “Estrella.” More

Marfa Myths 2019 Initial Lineup Announced: Deerhunter, Cass McCombs, and More

Plus Woodworker in Residence Cate Le Bon and Painter in Residence Connan Mockasin

Nov 14, 2018

Marfa Myths have announced their initial 2019 lineup. The festival goes down April 25 - 28 in Marfa, Texas and is put together by Mexican Summer and Ballroom Marfa. The lineup includes Deerhunter, Cass McCombs, Jess Williamson, and more. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Andrew Bird, Deerhunter, Carly Rae Jepsen, Cass McCombs, and More

Plus Tim Heidecker, Bill Ryder-Jones, Thundercat, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Nov 02, 2018

It was shaping up to be a weak week for Songs of the Week, but then our #1 track emerged today and we dug a little deeper through the week’s songs and put together a compelling Top 10. It’s an eclectic mix of political songs, catchy mainstream pop, a strange sci-fi spoken word track, and some unapologetic guitar indie rock. More

Oct 30, 2018

Cass McCombs has announced a new album, Tip of the Sphere, and shared its first single, “Sleeping Volcanoes.” He has also announced some tour dates. More

Listen: Madeline Kenney – “Medusa’s Outhouse” (Cass McCombs Cover)

Night Night at the First Landing Out Now via Company

Nov 21, 2017

Madeline Kenney released her debut album, Night Night at the First Landing, back in September via Company. Now she has shared a new cover of Cass McCombs’ “Medusa’s Outhouse,” which is not found on her debut album. More

Cass McCombs, Speedy Ortiz, Deerhoof, and More on Planned Parenthood Covers Album

Cover Your Ass Vol. 1 Due Out May 26; Also Features Hinds, TEEN, The Lemon Twigs, and Luke Temple

Apr 18, 2017

Another benefit for Planned Parenthood has been announced. Cover Your Ass Vol. 1 is due out May 26 via Lionfish Music. It features covers by Cass McCombs (Pointer Sisters), Speedy Ortiz (TV on the Radio), Deerhoof (Public Enemy), Hinds (Dead Ghosts), TEEN (David Bowie), The Lemon Twigs (Dido), Luke Temple (Scott Walker), Porches (Big Star), and more. More

Watch: Cass McCombs - “I’m a Shoe” Video

Mangy Love Out Now via ANTI-

Jan 20, 2017

Cass McCombs released his great new album, Mangy Love, back last August via ANTI- (his first for the label). Now he has shared a video for “I’m a Shoe.” Previous McCombs collaborator Rachael Pony Cassells directed the video, which features the singer wandering around the ghost town of Mare Island, Vallejo, California. Watch it below, followed by his upcoming tour dates. More

Dec 16, 2016

Cass McCombs released his great new album, Mangy Love, back in August via ANTI- (his first for the label). Today Ellen DeGeneres once again showed that’s she’s got pretty great taste in music for a daytime talk show host by having Cass McCombs on her show. More

Nov 22, 2016

Cass McCombs released his great new album, Mangy Love, back in August via ANTI- (his first for the label). Now he has shared a video for “Run Sister Run.” Befitting its title, it features a girl who runs, although it’s much deeper than that. More

Oct 07, 2016

Cass McCombs released his great new album, Mangy Love, back in August via ANTI- (his first for the label). Now he has shared a video for “Laughter Is the Best Medicine.” More

Under the Radar Examines Music and Politics with the 2016 Protest Issue

Special Issue Takes On Sexism and Feminism in the Music Industry, Tackles the Election, and Features Amanda Palmer on the Cover

Sep 09, 2016

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our 2016 Protest Issue (out September, October, and into November), which is out now both digitally and on newsstands. We’ve done a Protest Issue every U.S. Presidential election year since 2004 and as before this issue features articles examining the intersection of music and politics and photo shoots with musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Then in mid-October we will be launching our charity Protest Auction, in which we auction off all the protest signs in the issue, with all profits going to the American Cancer Society. More

Sep 07, 2016

Cass McCombs released his great new album, Mangy Love, a couple of weeks back via ANTI- (his first for the label). When the album was first announced he shared its funky first single, “Opposite House,” which features backing vocals from Angel Olsen. More

Stream the New Album by Cass McCombs – “Mangy Love”

Mangy Love Due Out August 26 via ANTI-

Aug 18, 2016

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Mangy Love, next Friday (August 26) via ANTI- (his first for the label). Previously he shared its first single, “Opposite House,” which features Angel Olsen, the driving and funky “Run Sister Run,” and the NSFW porn industry tackling video for “Medusa’s Outhouse.” Now you can stream the whole album via NPR First Listen. More

Aug 10, 2016

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Mangy Love, on August 26 via ANTI- (his first for the label). Previously he shared its first single, “Opposite House,” which features Angel Olsen, as well as the driving and funky “Run Sister Run.” Now McCombs has shared a video for “Medusa’s Outhouse.” Aaron Brown directed the clip, which is very NSFW as it centers on the porn industry. More

Listen: Cass McCombs - “Run Sister Run”

Mangy Love Due Out August 26 via ANTI-

Jun 28, 2016

Cass McCombs is releasing a new album, Mangy Love, on August 26 via ANTI- (his first for the label). Previously he shared its first single, “Opposite House,” which features Angel Olsen. More

May 24, 2016

Cass McCombs has announced a new album, Mangy Love, and shared its first single, “Opposite House,” which features Angel Olsen. Mangy Love is due out August 26 via ANTI-. Rob Schnapf and Dan Horne produced the album. McCombs has also announced some tour dates. More

Jan 04, 2016

2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has already gotten some vocal support from several indie-leaning musicians (Jeff Tweedy, Neil Young, Killer Mike, etc.) and this Tuesday and Wednesday at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn some musicians are banding together for a Sanders fundraiser. More

Watch: Cass McCombs - “I Cannot Lie” Video

A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, Etc. Out Today via Domino

Dec 11, 2015

Today Cass McCombs is releasing his rarities collection, A Folk Set Apart: Rarities, B-Sides & Space Junk, Etc., via Domino. In honor of that he has shared a video for “I Cannot Lie.” Malcolm Pullinger directed the video, which is cut to footage from the 2005 documentary Following Sean, about San Francisco in 1969 and originally directed by Ralph Arlyck. What it below. More

Listen: Under the Radar’s Weekly Playlist Featuring Real Estate, London Grammar, 2:54, and More

Plus New Tracks from Jessie Ware, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Songs: Ohio, Vashti Bunyan, Cass McCombs, Christopher Owens, The History of Apple Pie, How to Dress Well, and Others

Aug 29, 2014

Welcome to Under the Radar’s weekly playlist, where we compile the best and most exciting tracks to debut online in the last week (give or take). In this mix we’ve got new songs by Real Estate, London Grammar, 2:54, Jessie Ware, We Were Promised Jetpacks, Songs: Ohio, Vashti Bunyan, Cass McCombs, Christopher Owens, The History of Apple Pie, How to Dress Well, and more. Look no further, your Friday and weekend playlist is here. More

Feb 14, 2014

In case you were feeling too good about your day so far Cass McCombs has shared a brand new “music video” for his Big Wheel and Others track “Name Written In Water.” More

Jan 21, 2014

Cass McCombs has premiered a brand new music video for “Unearthed,” taken off his most recent double album Big Wheel and Others. More

Jan 13, 2014

On his recent double album Big Wheel and Others, musical artist Cass McCombs recruited cult actress and singer Karen Black to provide the vocals to the record’s included track “Brighter!” More

Watch: Cass McCombs – “Big Wheel” Video

Big Wheel and Others Is Out Now

Jan 06, 2014

Last year Cass McCombs released a double album, Big Wheel and Others. More

Stream Cults’ New Album, “Static”

Also New Works by Cass McCombs, The Dismemberment Plan, and Tim Hecker

Oct 07, 2013

Next week Cults’ Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion return with their latest collection of ‘60s girl-group inspired pop with their sophomore LP Static. More

Cass McCombs Announces Tour Dates

Tour Kicks Off September 27 In Big Sur

Sep 19, 2013

Next month Cass McCombs celebrates the release of his new album Big Wheel and Others with a tour. More

Listen: Cass McCombs - “Brighter!” (feat. Karen Black)

New Album Big Wheel and Others Out Oct. 15

Sep 18, 2013

Next month Cass McCombs will follow 2011’s double shot of Wit’s End and Humor Risk with Big Wheel and Others, a double album featuring 22 new songs. More

Aug 22, 2013

After releasing two albums in 2011, Wit’s End and Humor Risk, musical artist Cass McCombs has announced the release of his latest effort, Big Wheel and Others. More

Watch/Listen/Go: Cass McCombs Single, Video, and Tour Dates

This is What a Renaissance Man Looks Like

Mar 06, 2012

In support of last year’s double-hitter of albums—Wit’s End and Humor RiskCass McCombs has released a single and video. He’s also on tour. More

Feb 24, 2012

Domino and Ribbon Music have announced have announced a very unsusual but no less amazing Record Store Day exclusive called “Smuggler’s Way,” a literary and art zine created by bands on both labels. More

2012 Sasquatch Music Festival Lineup Announced

Featuring Jack White, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, and More

Feb 03, 2012

The 11th annual Sasquatch Music Festival has announced its official lineup of artists, including Jack White, Bon Iver, Tenacious D, The Shins, St. Vincent, Feist, The Roots, Beirut, and Beck. More

Cass McCombs Announces Tour Dates

Dates Kick Off Tonight in Vancouver

Dec 06, 2011

Like the gift that just keeps giving, Cass McCombs is heading out on tour in support of newest album, Humor Risk. We have the dates. More

Cass McCombs Announces Tour Dates

This November/December

Oct 07, 2011

In support of recently released album Humor Risk (out November 8), Cass McCombs is taking to the road this November for a brief jaunt. We have the dates. More

Aug 18, 2011

Just when we thought Cass McCombs was done for the year, today the earthy troubadour announced his second entry of 2011. We have the details. More

Cass McCombs Announces Summer Tour

Dates Kick Off July 7

Jun 02, 2011

Melancholy troubadour Cass McCombs is taking to the road July 7 for a series of dates in support of recently released album WIT’S END. We have the dates. More

Pitchfork Music Festival Begins to Unveil 2010’s Artists

Modest Mouse, St. Vincent, and Pavement Among First Group to be Announced

Feb 05, 2010

The details of this year’s Pitchfork Music Festival are beginning to materialize. The first handful of confirmed artists includes Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem, Pavement, and St. Vincent. More

Cass McCombs Announces Tour With The National

Headlining Dates With Papercuts and Girls

Aug 05, 2009

Cass McCombs is hitting the road again, opening for The National in addition to headlining dates with Papercuts and Girls. More



Interviews

Jun 05, 2019

Cass McCombs lives in Northern California. On this particular day, he is speaking from the inside of his car, parked on the streets of Oakland. Carrying a soft vibe, he mentions that he never really lives anywhere. More

Cass McCombs

Digging Beneath the Surface

Oct 27, 2016

The lyrics of Cass McCombs’ new album, Mangy Love, his eighth and ANTI- debut, may lean heavily on political and social issues but don’t let that fool you as election year fodder. It’s just a coincidence. More


Reviews

Aug 15, 2022

Following the acclaimed 2019 epic Tip of the Sphere, Cass McCombs returns here with a more succinct, though no less genre-bending effort across the eight tracks of Heartmind. More

Feb 13, 2019

Press downloads of Cass McCombs’ ninth album, Tip of the Sphere, were accompanied by a PDF note from McCombs explaining the recording of the album. More

Dec 22, 2015

This overdue compilation collects obscurities from Cass McCombs’ unruly songbook. It’s a motley patchwork, but one that never fails to fascinate, with a tracklist that skips from White Light/White Heat-style rave-ups to Beatles-esque grandeur to modern protest music. More

Oct 30, 2013

Cass McCombs returns with a double album, drifting around the genre map and proving his prolificacy can’t depend on any particular narrative, any overarching marketable story beyond, perhaps, the utilitarian version/vision of songcraft. With that in mind, let’s just slap him with the “enigmatic” tag and discuss a few of the more perfect constructions presented here. More

Nov 18, 2011

Prolific iconoclast-type Cass McCombs quickly reappears with his second album of the year. After Wit’s End (note the apostrophe placement), released in April, comes Humor Risk. Get it? Got it. More

Apr 29, 2011

If you judge a man by his music and stage presence, Cass McCombs may very well be one of the most depressed men to haunt your playlist. More