The music that Kyle Field makes as Little Wings has always suggested an alternate version of surf-folk where the communal feel-good vibes of, say, Jack Johnson are replaced with a nagging loneliness. It makes sense: when you’re up there on your board, you’re standing on the surface of the sea’s vast power, and you’re all alone.
As metaphors go, it’s powerful stuff. And it’s the sound that Field mines in “By Now,” taken from this year’s Explains. The video, which we’re premiering today, is taken from Sammy Harkham and Patrick Brice’s short film Hang Loose, in which Field plays a wandering surfer who returns to his hometown. “By Now” largely skips the homecoming in favor of long shots of Field on the water. Even the shots of him partying at a karaoke bar are rendered lonely and despondent by virtue of Field’s barrel-scraping baritone. (Sad karaoke bars being something of a trend in music videos this year.)
Take a look for yourself below, then keep scrolling to see Field’s upcoming North American tour dates.
Little Wings tour dates
September
5 – Portland, ME — Space Gallery #
6 – Portsmouth, NH — 3S Arts Space #%
7 – New Haven, CT — Lyric Hall #
8 – Bennington, VT — Down Cafe at Bennington College #
9 – Providence, RI — Columbus Theatre #
10 – Brooklyn, NY — Rough Trade #
12 – Baltimore, MD — The Crown #
13 – Lancaster, PA — Culton’s Organic Farm #
14 – Harrisburg, PA — Stage On Herr #
15 – Philadelphia, PA — Johnny Brenda’s #
16 – Lynchburg, VA — Speakertree Records #
17 – Durham, NC — Pinhook #
18 – Asheville, NC — Mothlight #
October
15 – Seaview, WA — Sou’wester Lodge
16 – Astoria, OR — Shively Hall
17 – San Juan Island, WA — Cattle Point Barn Show
19 – Anacortes, WA — Anacortes Music Channel
20 – Victoria, BC — Copper Owl
21 – Vancouver, BC — Media Club
22 – Bellingham, WA — The Shakedown
23 – Seattle, WA — Sunset Tavern
24 – Portland, OR — Mississippi Studios *
# = w/ Weyes Blood
% = w/ Wovenhand
* = w/ Helvetica, Sam Coomes
