Chicago Natives: Ezra Furman & The Harpoons

Local to Chicago, Ezra Furman and his backing band, The Harpoons, have been around since about 2006.  They have a total of around four albums of material floating around, with two official releases under the Minty Fresh Records Label: Banging Down The Doors in 2007 and Inside The Human Body in 2006.  Furman races out of the gates with acoustic, high-charged rhythms on nearly every song.  He creates catchy choruses, using a passionate strain in his voice.  Although he likely regrets the comparison, there is certainly a taste of Dylan in his music, not unlike The Tallest Man On Earth or Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse.
It has comes to my attention recently that Furman plays solo shows for only $6 at Shubas in Chicago several times a month, so I plan to see him very soon.  Banging Down The Doors is filled with inventive lyrics and exciting song after exciting song (although it could benefit from a bit of variety).  Highlights on the album are "I wanna be Ignored", "How Long Diana?", and "My Soul has escaped from my body." ~Tony
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take off your sunglasses from 35east on Vimeo.

The SXSW Pool Sessions: Ezra Furman (1/2) from WBEZ on Vimeo.


The SXSW Pool Sessions: Ezra Furman (2/2) from WBEZ on Vimeo.
(also check out his Heroine (Velvet Underground) cover on the tube)