The Fiery Furnaces like Obama. They like Obama so much that, in an attempt to build awareness and support for the President’s health care reform initiative, the bro-and-sis team are converting upcoming shows into mini-rallies, a plan made clear by two posts on their MySpace.

Why not have some information at your merch table, letting people know how they can support health care reform? Why not put someone on your guest list who can talk to people about how they can support health care reform? Why not mention that sort of thing from the stage, in the midst of one of your charming in-between-song monologues?

They’re also touring:

08.16.09 Richmond, VA – The National *
08.17.09 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle *
08.18.09 Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre *
08.19.09 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge *
08.20.09 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse *
08.21.09 Birmingham, AL – Bottletree *
08.22.09 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
08.23.09 Orlando, FL – The Social *
08.25.09 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle *
08.26.09 Charlottesville, VA – Fry’s Spring Beach Club *

* with White Rabbits

Weird when bands are starting covering their own work. But this is a Fiery Furnaces news post. The bro-and-sis duo is releasing a two-part recording of I’m Going Away:  half of the set has Matthew Friedberger singing a solo version of the record and the other half has his little sister Eleanor serving up her own renditions. Their website, like Clarissa, explains it all:

Matthew and Eleanor are taking time out from watching season two of Mad Men to record separate, complete, cover, tribute, albums, of, to, I’m Going Away. Only the words will remain the same. Though in Eleanor’s case, the singer remains the same. The song, never. Or mostly never. In other words: complete cover-album versions of the Fiery Furnaces by the Fiery Furnaces. Or The Fiery Furnaces. By the two of them, separately. To be released in two parts, together. Six songs by one with six by the other. And then another six by six. The first batch comes out sometime in New York City–meaning September.

(Insert pithy comment here)

We’re going to say The Fiery Furnaces are some of Brooklyn’s indie-rock veterans. They are done recording their eighth record and are ready to release their newest studio album, I’m Going Away, on Thrill Jockey Records in July.
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