Visqueen is back with Message to Garcia, the band’s first album since 2004′s Sunset on Dateland. Since then, lead singer Rachel Flotard started Local 638 Records, helped pal Neko Case out with some backing vocals and added new bass player Cristina Bautista to the Visqueen mix (filling the big shoes of Kim Warnick and Barrett Jones).
Local 638 is named after the New York City steamfitter’s union Flotard’s father belonged to, who passed away between the two albums after battling cancer. Message to Garcia–”So Long” in particular–is a remembrance of her father. Neko Case returned the creative favor by singing back up on the album, which also includes collaborators Jon Rauhouse, The Fastbacks and The Long Winters.
While the band is playing a few gigs in their home town of Seattle, a national tour is expected in 2010. In the meantime, Flotard plans on some one-off dates before heading to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Download track: Visqueen – “Hand Me Down“
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