Strand Of Oaks Announce Us Tour Dates. Strand of Oaks is Timothy Showalter, an Indiana Mennonite turned Pennsylvania Hebrew Dayschool teacher who even drives the school bus for extra cash (and has sing-alongs with the pupils as they ease on down the road). While escaping a relationship gone worse, Showalter returned home one day to a house burned down, leaving all of his earthly possessions charred in flames. Spending nights in downtown hotels and on park benches with a borrowed guitar, he began to face the proverbial demons. Like any good roller coaster ride there came an upside, as inspiration grew like weeds within the rubble; songs led to shows, which led to tours of the US and UK with Jason Anderson and Kimya Dawson. Leave Ruin, Showalter's 2009 release on La Sociιtι Expιditionnaire, took shape shortly thereafter while touring and collaborating with Lewis & Clarke's Lou Rogai (who stepped in as producer, arranger and musician on Leave Ruin.)
Taking cues from such luminaries as Neil Young (On the Beach era) and a burgeoning Springsteen, Showalter extends his musical gesture and searches to find modesty in the midst of confusion, addressing insecurities and settling existential debt with a simple and beautiful delivery. The personification of a Midwestern Grandfather's advice, his songs smack with hard truth and poignant severity, from child-like naivete to heart worn wisdom... sparse guitar, hammond, rhodes and wooden instruments support an atmosphere that is tender and raw, at times uncomfortable, shockingly candid, and unforgettable.
Strand of Oaks will dazzle audiences on this tour covering the mid-west and east coast with fellow crooner White Pines. Late last year, Hear Ya recorded a live session with Strand of Oaks which includes a previously unreleased song and a cover of "Used Cars" off Bruce Springsteen's classic album, Nebraska. Check that out here
All dates with White Pines
02/16/10 - North Manchester, IN - The Firehouse
02/17/10 - Ypsilanti, MI - The Elbow Room w/ Chris Bathgate
02/18/10 - Grand Rapids, MI - The DAAC
02/19/10 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon w/ Juniper Tar, Common Loon
02/20/10 - Milwuakee, WI - Cactus Club w/ Daredevil Christopher Wright, Conrad Plymouth
02/21/10 - Chicago, IL - Halfway Lounge w/ Mako Sica
02/24/10 - Bloomington, IN - The Bishop w/ Vollmar, Mayor of Rocky, Ripple
02/25/10 - Akron, OH - The Manitee
02/26/10 - Columbus, OH - Skylab w/ The Black Swans
02/27/10 - Millheim, PA - Elk Creek Tavern w/ Chicken Tractor
02/28/10 - Frostburg, MD - House Show
03/01/10 - Baltimore, MD - The Wind Up Space
03/02/10 - Kutztown, PA - Eckhaus Gallery w/ Bad Temple
03/03/10 - Brooklyn, NY - Zebulon
03/04/10 - Stroudsburg, PA - Main St. Jukebox
03/05/10 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fire w/ Hezekiah Jones
