Roo & the Howl is the musical project of Bekah Wagner, a Colorado-based singer and songwriter operating within the realms of folk, blues and pop. Previously featured as one of our Female Artists You Should Know, Wagner has released a cover of a song by J.Tillman/ex-Fleet Foxes drummer/Father John Misty—”Fun Times in Babylon.” The opening track of Father John Misty’s highly-acclaimed debut under that moniker, Fear Fun, it’s a wandering, blissful mash-up of ancient analogies and end of times imagery.
While Tillman’s take includes plenty of backing organ, plinking piano and even choral harmonies, Roo & the Howl strip the song down to just vocals and quietly strummed guitar. There’s no building drums or rhythm, just Wagner’s quiet alto. She scrapes the top of her range to hit the high notes, and that plaintive effort just adds to the song’s fragility. Roo & the Howl’s version turns the track into a dainty dirge and it floats along like smoke on the wind. Listen below and check out her only other released track “To the River” along with some tour dates below.
August 2013 Tour Dates:
8/16 – House Show – Denver, CO 8pm w/ Stephanie Dorman, Blake Brown
8/19 – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO 9pm w/ Kopecky Family Band, Said The Whale
8/21 – Honey Creek Live – Morning Sun, IA 730pm w/ Stephanie Dorman
8/22 – Elbo Room – Chicago, IL 9pm w/ Andy Wagner, Stephanie Dorman
8/23 – Daytrotter Studios – Rock Island, IL Live Recording Session
8/23 – Rozz-Tox – Rock Island, IL w/ Stephanie Dorman
8/24 – Black Dog – St. Paul, MN w/ Stephanie Dorman, Kevin Babbitt
8/25 – Frequency – Madison, WI 830pm w/ TT & the Night Owls, Stephanie Dorman
8/27 – Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA 6pm w/Field Division, Stephanie Dorman
8/28 – Plush – St Louis, MO 8pm w/ Indian Blanket, Stephanie Dorman
8/29 – recordBar – Kansas City, MO 10pm w/ Akkilles, La Guerre
8/30 – House Show – Colorado Springs, CO
