related info

21c Presents Akron/Family with Special Guests Jeffrey Lewis and Slaraffenland

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Doors: 8pm
Atrium Gallery
$12 advance, available now at 21c Front Desk
& EarX-tacy (Cash only)
$13 advance online, via PayPal (includes $1 convenience fee, tickets purchased via PayPal will be available the day of the show at Will Call)
$15 day of show, at the door


Wrapping up their lengthy US and Canadian tour of their May release album Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free, the Akron/Family comes to 21c with guests Jeffrey Lewis and Slaraffenland.

Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free marks their first album recorded as a trio; Seth Olinsky, Miles Seaton and Dana Janssen became a three piece in 2007 after original member Ryan Vanderhoof left the band that fall. This is the first time Akron/Family have self-produced an album, as well as their first recording since parting ways with their original label, Young God Records.

With limited outside assistance, this trio has made a focused, powerful and unified work on Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free. The recent album maintains the communal spirit of the big band that won audiences over throughout the world, but it showcases Akron/Family at its core – three musicians, equals, creating music from deep within. Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free is something undeniably special and immensely powerful.

Joining Akron/Family for the last part of the tour will be Jeffrey Lewis and Slaraffenland. Lewis, regarded as part of the "antifolk" movement where complex and intricate lyrics combine a nihilistic world-view with a hope message and sharp wit. Lewis also is a comic book artist and has toured with Beth Orton, Frank Black, Devendra Banhart. Slaraffenland, natives of Denmark, mix musical styles of post-rock, experimental rock, alternative, noise, and free-form jazz. Their fourth studio album, due out September 7th, will be We're on Your Side.