“For Ms. Veirs, marvels and cataclysms are intimate, something to sing about with an acoustic guitar and a breathy familiarity.”
—The New York Times

“Veirs leaves room for you to wander around, get your imagination involved.”
—NPR’s All Things Considered

Laura Veirs has earned great critical reviews with her first two CDs and her latest CD Saltbreakers was released on April 10 on Nonesuch Records. On her third CD, Veirs remains fascinated by the natural world, filling her work with images of the ocean and the stars. But she digs even deeper this time, incorporating the turbulence of her own life and the larger world into this collection of songs.

The continuing collaboration with producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists) allows for experimentation and inventiveness, which, according to Pitchfork, showcases Veirs’ “indulgence in flights of verbal fancy.” An example of this is the track “To The Country,” which was recorded in the Nashville cabin of Johnny Cash and June Carter and which features an eight-person Baptist choir. Veirs describes the experience as “transcendent.”

On Saltbreakers, Veirs is accompanied by her longtime studio and touring band, originally called the Tortured Souls, who now bear the same name as the album. Over the last three years, the band has traveled the world touring in support of Veirs’ previous Nonesuch albums Carbon Glacier and Year of Meteors. “The band has gotten really close,” says Veirs. “We’ve become a family.” The group includes Veirs on vocals and guitar, Karl Blau on bass, Steve Moore on piano, and Tucker Martine on drums. The title track of Saltbreakers also marks the debut of her fellow players as backing vocalists. Most of the album was recorded in Seattle.

For those who haven't heard Laura, check out:

Magnetized (2006)
Bedroom Eyes (2003)
John Henry Lives (2001)

Here are Veirs' upcoming tour dates:

May 9 - Magic Stick - Detroit, MI
May 10 - Little Brothers - Columbus, OH
May 11 - Beachland Tavern - Cleveland, OH
May 12 - El Mocambo - Toronto, ON
May 14 - La Sala Rossa - Montreal, QC
May 15 - Middle East Upstairs - Cambridge, MA
May 16 - The Gramercy Theatre - New York, NY
May 17 - Tin Angel - Philadelphia, PA
May 18 - Iota - Arlington, VA
May 19 - Gravity Lounge - Charlottesville, VA
May 20 - Grey Eagle - Asheville, NC
May 22 - The Basement - Nashville, TN
May 23 - The Earl - Atlanta, GA
May 24 - The Parish - New Orleans, LA
May 25 - Walter’s - Houston, TX
May 26 - The Mohawk - Austin, TX
May 27 - The Cavern - Dallas, TX
May 30 - Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
May 31 - Modified - Phoenix, AZ
June 1 - Casbah - San Diego, CA
June 2 - Largo - Los Angeles, CA
June 4 - The Rio Theatre - Santa Cruz, CA
June 5 - Café du Nord - San Francisco, CA
June 8 - Triple Door - Seattle, WA
June 9 - Aladdin Theater - Portland, OR

Links:

Laura Veirs Main Website (link)
Laura Veirs MySpace page (link)