As the August 25th, 2023 release of Hiss Golden Messenger’s new album Jump For Joy draws near, the band has released the new track “20 Years And A Nickel.” The track is seen as a kind of prologue to the narrative of the album, which draws from a life’s experiences in music so far.
Jump for Joy is a “semi-autobiographical work about the life and musical journey of bandleader,” songwriter and vocalist M.C. Taylor. Taylor created the character Michael Crow to represent himself through his various experiences while following the path of a life in music. While the album was written from the perspective of personal experience, many of the themes are universally relatable.
Taylor says:
If the 14 songs on Jump for Joy might be heard as the Book of Michael Crow, a temporal travelogue, of sorts, that traces the ecstasy and sorrow of a life lived alongside music through a character very similar to me, then perhaps ’20 Years and a Nickel’ is the prologue. Not only is it the first song, but it also lays out two opposing perspectives that I am lately trying to hold in my hands, and brain, simultaneously. Namely, after twenty years and a nickel—my longhand for 25 years, although I guess I’ve been writing songs even longer than that—I’m a little bit of an expert on the form AND I have no idea how to write a song. Is there such a thing as a simple song? Maybe. But they don’t come easy.
Jump for Joy was produced by M.C. Taylor with Chris Boerner (guitar), Alex Bingham (bass), Nick Falk (drums) and Sam Fribush (keys).
HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER FALL TOUR DATES
August 5 – Kaslo Bay Park, BC – Kaslo Jazz Etc. Fest
August 30 – Portsmouth, NH – Prescott Park Arts Festival
September 15 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
September 16 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom+
September 17 – Saxapahaw, NC – Haw River Ballroom
September 27 – Melbourne, VIC – The Corner Hotel
September 28 – Sydney, NSW – The Great Club
September 29 – Hunter Valley, NSW – Dashville Skyline Festival
September 30 – Hunter Valley, NSW – Dashville Skyline Festival
October 19 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall at Capital Ale House*
October 20 – Washington, D.C. – 9:30 Club*
October 21 – New York, NY – Webster Hall*
October 22 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall*
October 25 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair*
October 26 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair*
October 27 – Holyoke, MA – Race Street Live*
October 28 – Montreal, QC – Bar Le Ritz PDB*
October 29 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre*
November 1 – Detroit, MI – El Club*
November 2 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall Ballroom*
November 3 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line*
November 4 – Chicago, IL – Metro*
November 5 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Indy*
November 7 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn#
November 9 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl#
November 10 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West#
November 11 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel#
November 28 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Nightclub#
November 29 – Austin, TX – Antone’s Nightclub#
November 30 – Oklahoma City, OK – Beer City Music Hall#
December 1 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room#
December 2 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre#
December 4 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Commonwealth Room#
December 5 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory#
December 7 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre^
December 8 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre^
December 9 – Portland, OR – Revolution Hall^
December 10 – Eugene, OR – W.O.W. Hall^
December 11 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s^
December 13 – Petaluma, CA – Mystic Theatre^
December 14 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore^
December 15 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour^
December 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room^
December 30 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
December 31 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Pour House
March 1–8, 2024 – Miami, FL – Cayamo Cruise
+ with special guest William Tyler & The Impossible Truth
* with special guest Sylvie
# with special guest Adeem The Artist
^ with special guest The Lostines
