Shawn Rosenblatt, aka Netherfriends

As the mastermind behind psychedelic indie-pop project Netherfriends, Shawn Rosenblatt has gotten a fair bit of attention over the past couple of years for his 50 Songs, 50 States project. In 2010, he toured through each state, writing and recording a new song in each.

That project has since wrapped, with the first handful of songs released as the “Angry East Coast” EP. I reviewed it last year for a magazine that doesn’t exist anymore and described like this:

The topic Rosenblatt seems most eager to address here is the 50-state project itself. The titles are presumably the places in which the songs were written. On “Washington, DC” he sings, “I can relate to everyone I meet in each state I play,” while Rosenblatt had lady troubles on the brain in Rehoboth Beach, DE – “She is trying to make me a better person/ I will travel the country, sleep on many couches.” While he's gone he knows “she will finish with school and meet a lot of bros.” While the lyrics might be a little surface-y, it’s the sonic layers wrapping them up that add depth. Hard-to-peg washes of sound fill the gaps, while Rosenblatt steers clear of verse/chorus/verse templates. Hopefully the other 46 recording session went just as well.

Now a dozen more tracks from the project are available on the new album “Middle America,” and Netherfriends are gearing up for an Alaska tour this month with Fairbanks band Feeding Frenzy.

July 12, noon UAF Wood Center, Fairbanks
July 13, 9 p.m. UAF Pub, Fairbanks
July 14, 3 p.m. AYP, Fairbanks
July 14, 10 p.m. The Marlin, Fairbanks
July 15, 9 p.m. (possible house show)
July 17, 8 p.m. (possible secret show)
July 18, 8 p.m. Denali Fairview Inn, Talkeetna
July 20, midnight The Rendezvous, Kodiak
July 21, TBA Wedding, Kodiak
July 22, TBA Kodiak
July 24, TBA Homer
July 25, 8 p.m. House Show TBA, Girdwood
July 26, 8 p.m. Silver Tip Cafe, Girdwood
July 27, 8 p.m.The Avenue Bar, Anchorage
July 28, 5 p.m. Anchorage Market & Festival
July 28, 8 p.m. S Lounge, Anchorage