After playing live together since 2008, Sasha Dobson, Norah Jones and Catherine Popper have at last taken their collaboration into the studio.
No Fools, No Fun – their debut album – will be released on July 15 by Blue Note Records.
The trio, known as Puss n Boots after flirtations with such monikers as Fangbanger, Dixie Fried and Shitstorm, will support the album with an East Coast run that kicks off on June 22 with an appearance at the Clearwater Festival in Croton-On-Hudson, NY.
They will return to The Bell House in Brooklyn, one of their favorite hometown haunts, on July 15, play the 9:30 Club in Washington DC on July 17 and perform at the Newport Folk Festival (July 26-27).
Recorded at Studio G in Brooklyn with engineer/mixer Joel Hamilton, No Fools, No Fun includes five original songs – two each from Dobson and Popper and one from Jones – and seven spirited cover tunes, all culled from Puss n Boots’ live repertoire.
The 12-song collection takes its name from the lyrics of “Bull Rider,” a Rodney Crowell song made famous by Johnny Cash. “Bull Rider” is one of three album tracks that Puss n Boots recorded live in June of 2013 at The Bell House. Over the years, they have also performed at the Bridge School Benefit, played stadiums with the Beastie Boys on the “Get Out The Vote” tour and joined Wilco onstage at Madison Square Garden, singing background vocals on “Jesus, Etc.,” a song that Puss n Boots interprets on No Fools, No Fun.
“We had talked about recording for a long time. A listen to the live recordings of one of the Bell House shows gave us a kick in the pants,” says Catherine Popper. “The record is a snapshot of what we do, warts and all.”
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
The album will be available for pre-order beginning June 17. Fans who pre-order No Fools, No Fun on iTunes and Amazon.com will instantly receive a download of “Down By The River.” Puss n Boots’ take on the classic Neil Young track will be released as a digital single on June 17.
“‘Down By The River’ is one of my all time favorite Neil Young recordings and I've always had this fantasy of playing it and rocking the guitar solo,” recalls Norah Jones. “I never really thought I'd have the guts to do it, but that's sort of what this band has always been about, trying new things. We always egg each other on, whether it was Sasha playing drums, or Cat singing an original song for the first time on stage.”
“We have always thrived on our live performance. We rage onstage,” says Sasha Dobson. “It’s exciting to think the positive energy that’s created from this band could reach beyond a small club in Brooklyn.”
Puss n Boots – Upcoming Tour Dates
6/22 – Croton-On-Hudson, NY @ Clearwater Festival
7/12 – Greenfield, MA @ Green River Festival
7/15 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House
7/17 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
7/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of Living Arts
7/22 – Hamden, CT @ The Ballroom at The Outer Space
Acoustic Nation is written by Laura B. Whitmore, a music industry marketing veteran, music journalist and editor, who has contributed to Parade.com, Guitar World, and others. She has interviewed hundreds of musicians and hosts the She Rocks Podcast. As the founder of the Women’s International Music Network, she advocates for women in the music industry and produces the annual She Rocks Awards. She is the Senior Vice President of Marketing for Positive Grid, making the world safe for guitar exploration everywhere! A guitarist and singer/songwriter, Laura is currently co-writing an album of pop songs that empower and energize girls.
