We last saw charmingly gothy alternative chamber pop outfit Sloppy Jane in the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection just this February, when they opened the last area show ever for blues punk duo Deap Vally at Underground Arts on the band’s farewell tour. Sloppy Jane’s live lineup is forever in flux (from 2014-2015 the band featured Phoebe Bridgers on bass), revolving around frontperson, songwriter, and live conductor Haley Dahl, but their stop at Underground Arts featured seven musicians performing a set that finds itself at a weirdly perfect intersection of Broadway theater and avant-garde performance art.
I chatted with Haley Dahl in February, prior to the Underground Arts date, and she told me about a recent project that she was especially excited about: “I was lucky enough to write an original song for the soundtrack of A24’s new horror film, I Saw the TV Glow, directed by Jane Schoenbrun. I also got to perform the song as myself in the movie… The movie is a masterpiece, and I think the song I wrote for it is my favorite song I’ve ever written and I’m really looking forward to having it in the world.” The film had recently premiered at Sundance and was preparing to premiere internationally at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film is set for its US theatrical release this Friday, May 3rd, followed by the May 10th release of the soundtrack, which, in addition to Sloppy Jane, also features PHILTHY phriends Florist, Bartees Strange, King Woman, Jay Som, and The Weather Station (who played an amazing set opening for Belle & Sebastian Friday at Union Transfer).
Sloppy Jane is currently playing [what would seem to be] the very last dates behind Madison — their 2021 sophomore LP, which was recorded entirely in a cave and released on Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records – and will be opening three dates of CSS’s 20th Anniversary Tour, the final of which will be at The Foundry this coming Monday, May 6th. During our February chat, Dahl characterized her dates with Deap Vally as, “the tail end of the Madison album cycle,” so this just might be your very, very, very last chance to see this particular tour… I would highly recommend getting tickets ASAP. While you’re at it, check out the official music video for Madison’s title track, in addition to single “Judy’s Bedroom,” and read my recent chat with Haley Dahl.
*Get your tickets here.
