It seems like an unusual pairing, the echoing folk-pop of Netherfriends and the underground thump of Jams Dean, but they have show in the single they recorded together that it can mix nicely. Now these two are hitting the road together, mostly to fend off boredom but also to expose certain cities to what Chicago has to offer. Netherfriends (aka Shawn Rosenblatt) released his latest ep this year and has been touring frequently ever since. I can’t tell if his love for the road is passion or craziness, but it is clear that he has infected emcee Jams Dean with it. Jams (aka Blake Gardner) has been touching the blogs (and the girls) with his old school rhymes and his love from the ladies of Chicago. On December 11th many things will happen including the launch of the Netherfriends/Jams Dean tour. Jams will be releasing a full-length lp, The Criterion Collection, filled with all of his latest tracks for free download. He will also be releasing a split tour cassette with Netherfriends that will feature remixes of each others work, and that cassette will also be accompanied by a handwritten zine these two have put together. Jams will also be released a zine he created called "Rap Songs I Wrote" by Jams Dean that will feature the lyrics to the song on The Criterion Collection. It’s a big day for both Shawn and Blake. Below is Jams’ lyrics to his soon to be famous "Chicago Girls" track over the top of The XX song "Heart Skipped A Beat"
The tour launches on December 11th here in Chicago at Weirder Park with Jams Dean and Netherfriends ($5 donation at the door). You can also catch Netherfriends for free on Dec. 3rd at Loophole (618 S. Michigan 2 floor) with Truman & His Trophy & Carbon Tigers! (photo by Jake Moreland)