Amidst the pending long haul up to Ithaca for Big Day In and their forthcoming new album, Young Widows guitarist Evan Patterson spares a few moments to share a few answers with IU's Bubba Crumrine.


IU: I heard you guys spent much of the summer laying down new tracks.  Can you give us the lowdown on the new material and upcoming release?

Evan: You heard correct.  We have recorded our new album and it's the most pleased I have ever been.  Our old friend Kevin Ratterman worked with us on the recording here in Louisville. The studio experience was extremely relaxed, yet focused.  It really allowed us to do more experimenting and get the best takes possible.  A total of 17 songs were recorded in the session, but 9 will be on the album.  I'm waiting to announce the title and release date, but there will be a single coming out before the album that I am personally going to screen print here at my shop. 

IU: How will the new album differ sonically that Old Wounds and Settle Down City?

Evan: The new album is more focused on mood and less on just being a rock band.  Vocally it is a huge accomplishment for me and the songs have dipped more into untouched territory.  It's definitely the darkest and heaviest album I have written.  


IU: You and Nick have been involved with the DIY scene in Louisville for quite some time. Most folks are familiar with your work in Breather Resist but it goes back much farther than that, correct?

Evan: The National Acrobat was a band I did ages 16 -18 and we did some really enjoyable tours will I was in High School, played a ton of local and regional shows, got to play CBGB's when I was 17 and it flat out altered my life.  Breather Resist toured the DIY circuit to it's fullest and still some of my favorite memories are shows in garages and basements in the middle of america.  We started Young Widows after touring ourselves to death and being frustrated about our differences with artistic direction. 

A couple years ago my brother, a couple friends, and I were setting up local shows at a VFW style hall on a regular basis.  Eventually we decide to start putting on a monthly event called Last Saturday Show Series.  We had the honor to have events with Shellac, Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Envy, A Minor Forest, Shipping News, Municipal Waste, and many more.  Eventually turn outs went sour.  I still set up shows for time to time for friends, but nothing with high risk of me losing money/sleep over.  

I don't think about ourselves as being involved in a DIY scene.  It's just what you do as a musician to survive.  Setting around waiting for someone to notice you or take you on tour or book your local shows or whatever lazy self absorbed non-action it might be... you have to work your ass off and then some and then expect nothing in return.  This isn't a career or a job, this is a piece of mind.  Without art we are animals. 

IU: Any final words for those coming out to Big Day In?

Evan: Looking forward to it.