A longtime favorite of ours, Americana/alt-country/punk-tinged singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore made a name for himself taking the more punk, DIY route of playing dives and clubs across the country over the years, organically building a following for his powerful, heartfelt tunes. While we’d jump at any chance to see him live, Whitmore’s show tonight, Sept. 2 at City Winery, promises to be an especially unique outing, the venue’s wonderful acoustics and intimate setting especially primed for William’s style. Joined by Josiah, tickets for the show are still available here, so secure your spot and read on for more!
WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE
For over 15 years, Iowa alt-folk singer-songwriter William Elliott Whitmore has been churning out some of the most underrated, heartfelt, and powerful releases in the underground scene. Raised on a farm, Whitmore found a love for hardcore, alternative, and underground music, while simultaneously immersed in Americana and roots music, developing an incredibly unique, crossover, earnest, and timeless sound, which helped him build early DIY buzz. Building a fanbase organically from touring and good old fashioned word of mouth, and aligning himself with the punk community, Whitmore has gradually grown to become a more broadly known and well-respected performer, his latest LP, last year’s Radium Death, serving as his most cohesive, complex, and defining effort to date. A master showman, Whitmore soars in a a live context, his old soul voice and traditionalist meets punk style electrifying audiences of all walks of life. City Winery seems especially suited to his sensibilities, and this will undoubtedly be an unforgettable chance to see the beloved performer in action.
JOSIAH
Originally hailing from nearby Morristown, TN, Josiah Leming and his backing band The Bonnevilles released their debut EP Cold Blood earlier this year, with a full-length forthcoming on Vagrant Records. After making a go at touring with a different sound, Leming, a longtime fan of post-punk and Britpop, discovered a love of American roots music, something he had taken for granted in his East Tennessee upbringing, and taught himself how to finger pick, eventually writing and self-recording a stripped down batch of songs in Las Vegas, before rounding up a band and testing the waters of performing his new material in Los Angeles. Fusing his former influences with his more poetic, Americana-infused new sound, Josiah has found a knack for crafting personal, timeless, and stripped down songs with a ton of emotional weight and relatability. He’s a great match for Whitmore, a definite artist you should know.
William Elliott Whitmore and Josiah will perform tonight, Sept. 2 at City Winery. The show is all ages, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 6 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $10-18.