Neko Case news

photo: Shore Fire Media

While recording her new album 'Hell-On' -- and with the finish line in sight -- Neko Case received a surreal 3am call informing her that her house was burning and would likely be completely destroyed. The fire had started in the barn, where she kept an assortment of belongings, from artwork to old pianos. A friend had managed to get the dogs to safety. After the flames jumped to the house, her home was engulfed, too.

A few hours later, she went into a studio in Stockholm and laid down the vocals for the galloping, resilient "Bad Luck," singing lines she had written long ago that were now more apropos than ever: "It's not as bad as I thought it would be / but it's still pretty bad luck."

Neko Case has released "Bad Luck," the latest single from her new album 'Hell-On,' out June 1 on Anti-. Listen to it below.

YouTube /Spotify / Apple Music / Amazon: https://ffm.to/badluckneko

Case is now stoic about the fire. "If somebody burned your house down on purpose, you'd feel so violated. But when nature burns your house down, you can't take it personally." The month before the blaze, Hurricane Harvey had slammed into Texas and flooded Houston. Her home burned just as Puerto Rico was plunged into a nightmare by Hurricane Maria and wildfires incinerated California. "In the big picture, my house burning was so unimportant," she says. "So many people lost so much more: lives and lives and lives."

Produced by Neko Case, 'Hell-On' was partially co-produced by Bjorn Yttling of Peter Bjorn & John in Stockholm, Sweden where she mixed the 12 track album with Lasse Mårtén. It features performances by Beth Ditto, Mark Lanegan, k.d. Lang, AC Newman, Eric Bachmann, Kelly Hogan, Doug Gillard, Laura Veirs, Joey Burns and more.
 
Case goes more in-depth:

I am a music producer, songwriter, and musician. I just finished a record called 'Hell-On' with a cast of talented musicians, techs, label folks and friends.

What I want you to know about me isn't too much, nor do I want to over talk it. What you take away on your own, as a listener is most important. I worked really hard and I was present for every second of this project. Producing a record is a huge task and there were times I was deep in the weeds, but that is normal for a record that takes a year plus. The weeds aren't so bad. There were a lot of break-through moments, belly-laughs, sleepless nights and grubby, shiny jeans. In the end it was all worth it and I am so proud of how it turned out, and I am so grateful to have worked with such dedicated, giving artists to make it happen.

There were a few challenges during the making of this record from small (scheduling difficulties, and occasional miscommunication) to large (my house burning down while I was overseas.) But none of them are the story of this recording, the songs are the story. They are my best self. They are everything I've worked for since I was a kid, whether I knew it or not.

I write songs from a feeling of solidarity with folks who feel alone or isolated, I think I'm trying to comfort people in this way. It's not a forceful way rather "No commitment necessary;" take it if you want it, take it as you can.

My style is odd, I don't know what genre this is. I don't have a pretty voice or a trained voice, and I am constantly disappointed that I don't have a "tough" voice, no matter how hard I practice, but it's mine, and for all its loud, heavy-handed, nasal, vibrato-less qualities I accept it. The closest sound I have found to compare it to is Bulgarian Folk singing. My Eastern ancestors could have been proud of me a century ago? I could have been a droning "caller of wasps" perhaps? I just invented that job, I like the sound of it.

The songs are who I believe myself to be and that will change, but for now that's how it is and I'm very satisfied with that.

Neko Case will hit the road this summer, including dates with Ray LaMontagne and at Sasquatch Festival. 

Watch a Teaser Video Here: https://youtu.be/T1qzgDlDlNg
Listen to "Bad Luck": https://ffm.to/badluckneko 

Tour Dates:

May 27 -- Gorge Amphitheatre, WA @ Sasquatch Festival
May 28 -- Boise, ID @ Summerfield At Memorial Stadium*
May 30 -- Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheatre*
June 1 -- Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre*
June 2 -- San Diego, CA @ Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre*
June 3 -- Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre*
June 5 -- Phoenix, CA @ Comerica Theatre*
June 8 -- Irving, TX @ The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory*
June 9 -- Austin, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheatre*
June 10 -- Sugarland, TX @ Smart Financial Centre*
June 12 -- Rogers, AR @ Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion*
June 13 -- Southaven, MS @ Bankplus Amphitheatre at Snowden Grove*
June 15 -- Indianapolis, IN @ Farm Bureau Lawn at White River Amphitheatre*
June 16 -- Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island*
June 17 -- Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheatre*
June 19 -- Charlotte, NC @ Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre*
June 20 -- Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion*
June 22 -- Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier at Penn's Landing*
June 23 -- Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
June 24 -- Boston, MA @ Blue Hills Bank Pavilion*
June 26 -- Wallingford, CT @ Oakdale Theatre*
June 28 -- Bangor, ME @ Darling's Waterfront Pavilion*
June 29 -- North Adams, MA @ MASS MOCA*
June 30 -- Cleveland, OH @ Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica*
July 1 -- Detroit, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre*
July 3 -- Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall*
July 4 -- Cooperstown, NY @ Brewery Ommegang*
July 6 -- Madison, WI @ Breese Stevens Field*
July 7 -- St. Louis, MO @ Peabody Opera House*
July 8 -- Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre*
July 10 -- Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre*
October 29 -- Stockholm, SWE @ Nalen
October 30 -- Copenhagen, DEN @ Bremen Theatre
November 1 -- Berlin, GER @ Bi Nuu
November 2 -- Cologne, GER @ Stadtgarten Cologne
November 4 -- Brussels, BEL @ Rotonde - Botanique
November 6 -- Dublin, IRE @ Vicar Street
November 7 -- Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
November 8 -- London, UK @ Barbican
*w/ Ray LaMontagne

Track list:

Hell-On
Last Lion Of Albion
Halls of Sarah
Bad Luck
Curse of the I-5 Corridor
Gumball Blue
Dirty Diamond
Oracle Of The Maritime
Winnie
Sleep All Summer
My Uncle's Navy
Pitch Or Honey