Shannon and The Clamsrelease Bean Fields, the second single off their upcoming album, The Moon Is In The Wrong Place. The track honours singer-bassist Shannon Shaw’s fiancé, Joe Haener who passed away in a tragic car accident at his family’s farm in Aurora, Oregon.
Bean Fields is an emotional high point of the album and a celebration of life. Haener’s farm, specifically the sprawling bean fields he planted, was the site of the tragedy, but they also symbolize his lasting impact on those around him. Its sentimental value simultaneously makes it a beautiful, communal meeting ground for friends and family to drink wine, look up at the stars, and feel his presence. Chirping crickets and a welcoming “woo-hoo” immerse the listener into three minutes of triumphant bliss about living life to the fullest in the name of those that you’ve lost. The band draws listeners into the song with an accompanying jubilant, storybook-like music video directed by Vanessa Pla and animated by Amber McCall. Bean Fields has premiered today via American Songwriter, who spoke exclusively with the band and director about the song. Listen to Bean Fields here and watch the music video here. Pre-order The Moon Is In The Wrong Place here.
The album debuts in May on longtime collaborator Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys’, acclaimed label Easy Eye Sound. The Moon Is In The Wrong Place opens with The Vow, a horn-laced number that Shaw wrote with the intention of surprising Haener on their wedding day. The track is a brief glimpse of possibility and hope for what might’ve been, one that is quickly torn to shreds. It’s followed by The Hourglass, a product of the band’s jam sessions. Intense and unsettling, its hypnotic, lurching groove and cascading organ runs have a touch of off-kilter Krautrock in them; it also offers a look at the volcano of emotion churning inside Shaw’s body.
Blanchard also steps up to the mic for lead vocal duties on several tracks that address his experience with loss and grief, including the strutting, fuzzed-out Big Wheel and the Northern soul-styled lament, What You’re Missing. Sprott makes a rare appearance as lead singer, describing an otherworldly encounter in the trippy tune, UFO.
There are many moments of staggering beauty on The Moon Is In The Wrong Place. Real Or Magic is lush and dreamy, written about a vision where Haener appeared to Shaw bathed in light, and for a moment it felt like none of the horror had been real. In Oh So Close, Yet So Far, Shaw feels him in the breeze, the stars, and the trees, understanding that now she shares him with everyone. So Lucky grew out of a mantra Shaw was repeating in the weeks after Haener’s death, and the lush arrangement shimmers with sadness and gratitude in equal measure as she recounts her favorite little details.
Ultimately, Shaw finds something like acceptance. In the album-closing Life Is Unfair, she spells it out: “Life is unfair, yet beautiful. I see it now.” Existence is both bitter and sweet, sunshine and rain, dark and light, life and death. It’s a little bit of everything. Sometimes the moon is in the wrong place. Knowing that has made her and The Clams stronger.
Shannon and The Clams will be touring throughout 2024 to support The Moon Is In The Wrong Place, with stops in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Tickets went on sale last month and can be purchased on the band’s website here.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
March 13 – March 16 – Austin, TX @ SXSW
April 5 – April 8 – Hot Springs, AR @ Ecliptic Festival
May 23 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
May 24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall
May 25 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall
May 26 – Montréal, QC @ Les Foufounes Électriques
May 28 – Boston, MA @ The Sinclair
May 30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
May 31 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
June 1 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
June 4 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
June 5 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
June 6 – Atlanta, GA @ Terminal West
June 7 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
June 8 – Pelham, TN @ The Caverns *
June 10 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
June 11 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
June 12 – Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre
June 13 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
October 3 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern Theatre
October 4 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park
October 5 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
October 7 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater
October 8 – Denver, CO @ The Gothic Theatre
October 10 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
October 11 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club Ballroom
October 15 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
October 16 – Seattle, WA @ The Neptune Theatre
October 19 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
