Last February, we released an EP of the audio from The Claudettes’ early-2017 video session in Johnny Iguana’s piano room. This was a special session, one of the band’s personal favorites. The intimate tracks on Pull Closer to Me: Live in the Piano Room capture mallets-and-brushes performances of Claudettes songs and classics by Pink Floyd, Ruby & the Romantics, T. Rex and the Sundays.
We’re pleased to announce that the set has been nominated by the Independent Music Awards for Live EP of the year! This is the 16th year of the IMAs, and a Yellow Dog Records release has been recognized in 10 of those years — including nods for The Claudettes’ previous two albums, Infernal Piano Plot… HATCHED! and NO HOTEL. Does that qualify them for a hat trick?
When Pull Closer to Me was released, we described it as “the gentle side” of this very dynamic band. We said that three of this EP’s songs would “come out in VERY different form” on their upcoming electric album. In just a matter of weeks, those electric versions are coming, along with nine other tracks that present “the wild side” of The Claudettes, as captured in throwback analog fashion by Grammy-winning Black Keys producer Mark Neill. Prepare yourself for a DANCE SCANDAL AT THE GYMNASIUM!, landing on March 23!