During our most recent pledge drive there was one song that kept popping up on playlists – Aloe Blacc’s “I Need a Dollar.” While the lyrics definitely suited the situation, it was the excellent vibe that made us all want to hear it over and over again.
The song is one of the highlights off his latest full length, “Good Things,” which bathes some current concerns about the state of the world in the sound of vintage soul.
The album is out today on local label Stones Throw and is chock full of soulful jazzy tunes, including a surprising cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.”
You don’t normally think of the Velvet Underground as a soul band but he convinces you that their songs can work in a soul idiom.
The Orange County native – who happens to be the first-generation American offspring of Panamanian parents — just released a slew of tour dates for November, finishing up with a hometown show at the Echoplex in LA on December 3. See below!
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Aloe Blacc US Tour dates:
3 Nov, Wed: SF @ Rickshaw Shop (All Ages)
4 Nov, Thu: Portland @ Mississippi Studios (21+)
5 Nov, Fri: Seattle @ Nectar Lounge (21+)
6 Nov, Sat: Vancouver @ Fortune Sound Club (19+)
8 Nov, Mon: Bozeman @ Zebra Cocktail Lounge (21+)
9 Nov, Tue: Salt Lake City @ Urban Lounge (21+)
10 Nov, Wed: Denver @ City Hall (18+)
12 Nov, Fri: Chicago @ Schubas Tavern (21+)
13 Nov, Sat: Gambier @ The Horn Gallery (All Ages)
14 Nov, Sun: Cleveland Heights @ Grog Shop (All Ages)
15 Nov, Mon: Toronto @ Wrongbar (19+)
16 Nov, Tue: Montreal @ Le Belmont
18 Nov, Thu: NYC @ LPR
22 Nov, Mon: DC @ DC9 (18+)
23 Nov, Tue: Atlanta @ Masquerade (Hell Stage)
24 Nov, Wed: Orlando @ Backbooth (All Ages)
30 Nov, Tue: Phoenix @ Rhythm Room (All Ages)
1 Dec, Wed: San Diego @ Casbah (21+)
3 Dec, Thu: LA @ Echoplex (18+)