Circles Around The Sun INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD 4-LP & 2-LP Vinyl Reissues Available Oct. 21
Circles Around The Sun are back on the road this fall. The Los Angeles-based instrumental supergroup will perform music from its growing catalog at the upcoming shows, including its latest single, “Language.” Fans can also expect to hear live versions of songs from CATS 2015 debut, Interludes for the Dead.
On October 21, Rhino will release two limited-edition vinyl versions of CATS’ debut. The original double-LP for INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD will be reissued in a limited run of 5,000 copies on 140-gram Pacific-blue vinyl for $39.98. The color is a tribute to the band’s late founder Neal Casal, who loved the ocean and took the photo of the Pacific Ocean featured inside the album’s gatefold sleeve.
The second release is INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD: EXPANDED EDITION. This 4-LP set includes, for the first time on vinyl, the complete track listing featured on the double-CD version of the 2015 album. The new set will be limited to 3,000 copies pressed on 180-gram vinyl for $99.98. The final side of the set includes a special etching of Casal.
In addition, this new collection features the vinyl debut of the band’s covers of two Grateful Dead classics, “Mountains Of The Moon” and “Ship Of Fools.” Until now, both tracks were only available digitally. The songs debuted in August 2020, on the one-year anniversary of Casal’s passing. They were a tribute to Casal by his CATS bandmates – keyboardist Adam MacDougall, bassist Dan Horne, and drummer Mark Levy. Both feature Casal’s previously recorded performances, which were updated with new music by the surviving band members.
INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD began when Casal enlisted MacDougall, Horne, and Levy to record soundscapes and grooves inspired by the Grateful Dead for the band’s 2015 Fare Thee Well shows. All of the music was written collectively during a marathon two-day recording session, with nothing prepared beforehand or added afterward. When the music was revealed during the set breaks of Fare Thee Well, it was clear the one-off project had a future of its own. The quartet agreed to continue together and returned in 2018 with CATS’ second album, Let It Wander.
Tragically, Casal passed away in August 2019. In the wake of this loss, the Neal Casal Music Foundation (NCMF) was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2020 to honor Neal's memory. Along with preserving his artistic legacy, the NCMF provides musical instruments and lessons to students in New Jersey and New York state schools where Neal was born and raised, as well as donating to mental health organizations that support musicians in need. The NCMF’s most recent initiative is the Neal Casal Fellowship. Announced on the third anniversary of Casal’s passing, the fellowship program is in collaboration with Backline, a non-profit organization focused on providing customized mental health and wellness resources to the music industry and their families. The Neal Casal Fellow will support Backline's long-term clinical strategy, working alongside Backline's Clinical Director and key partners to build programming to support the real-time needs of the music industry.
Per Casal’s wishes, Circles Around The Sun has continued to record and tour. The group recently added guitarist John Lee Shannon as a permanent member. It’s a fitting choice as Shannon was among Casal’s favorite young guitar players. In addition to the upcoming tour, CATS is expected to release a new studio album in early 2023.
See tour date and tracklistings below. Pre-order is available here.
CIRCLES AROUND THE SUN Tour Dates:
Sep 8 Austin, TX - Mohawk
Sep 9 Dallas, TX - Deep Ellum Art Co.
Sep 10 Houston, TX - Last Concert Cafe
Sep 12 Albuquerque, NM - The Historic Lobo Theater
Sep 13 Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
Sep 14 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
Sep 15 Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
Sep 16 Templeton, CA - Whale Rock Festival
Sep 17 Templeton, CA - Whale Rock Festival
Sep 18 Santa Cruz, CA - Mountain Sol Fest
Sep 21 Spokane, WA - Lucky You Lounge
Sep 22 Bellingham, WA - Wild Buffalo
Sep 23 Seattle, WA - Nectar Lounge
Sep 24 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
Sep 25 Eugene, OR - Sessions Music Hall
Sep 30 Eureka Springs, AR - Hillberry Music Festival
Oct 27 Pensacola, FL - Vinyl Music Hall
Oct 28 Live Oak, FL - Suwannee Hulaween
INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD
2-LP Track Listing
LP1: Side One
“Hallucinate A Solution”
LP1: Side Two
“Gilbert’s Groove”
“Farewell Franklins” (2nd Cycle)
LP2: Side One
“Kasey’s Bones”
LP2: Side Two
“Space Wheel”
INTERLUDES FOR THE DEAD: EXPANDED EDITION
4-LP Track Listing
LP1: Side One
“Hallucinate A Solution”
LP1: Side Two
“Gilbert’s Groove”
“Ginger Says”
LP2: Side One
“Kasey’s Bones”
LP2: Side Two
“Space Wheel”
LP3: Side One
“Farewell Franklin’s”
LP3: Side Two
“Saturday’s Children”
“Scarlotta’s Magnolias”
LP4: Side One
“Hat And Cane”
“Mountains Of The Moon”
“Ship Of Fools”
LP4: Side Two
Neal Casal Etching
