When Taryn Miller began recording Gumption, her debut full-length under the name Your Friend, she knew that the album would be greeted by a larger audience than had received her self-recorded EP; touring with Courtney Barnett and being signed to Domino will do that for you. Faced with the question of how to balance writing what she wanted to write while being aware of the kind of platform that comes with being signed to a major indie label, she asked an old teacher how she should proceed. “Art is just where you are now,” came the response. “Where are you right now?”
She figured it out, as Gumption’s unified blend of high-plains folk and sophisticated sound collage attest. But now that it’s time to take her record on the road for a trek that includes a stop at FLOODfest in Austin, she has to figure out how to get back to that space, and how to bring a band—and an audience—along with her. And that means not just cracking the challenge of recreating Gumption’s compositions live, but also learning how to allow herself to be as vulnerable on stage night after night as she is on record.
It’s a complicated process, and it’s captured in the mini documentary below, which we’re honored to be premiering today. You can watch Miller detail her process, then see her in action on the dates listed after the video.
Your Friend tour dates
March
9 – Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel *
10 – Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter *
11 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle – Backroom *
12 – Savannah, GA @ Savannah Stopover Festival *
13 – Orlando, FL @ Backbooth *
14 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder *
16 – Austin, TX @ Hype Hotel (DJ set) (4:30pm)
16 – Austin, TX @ Space 24 (Urban Outfitters x Domino SXSW Party) (3:00pm)
16 – Austin, TX @ Sidewinder (Ground Control Official SXSW Showcase) (11:30pm)
17 – Austin, TX @ End of An Ear (4:00pm)
18 – Austin, TX @ Cedar St. Courtyard (FLOOD x Domino SXSW Party) (2:00pm)
18 – Austin, TX @ Pen (Portals SXSW Showcase) (5:30pm)
19 – Dallas, TX @ Spillover Music Fest *
21 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake *
22 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court *
23 – Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Fest *
24 – Portland, OR @ Analog Café *
25 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project *
26 – Vancouver, BC @ The Cobalt *
28 – San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop *
29 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo *
31 – Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory – Constellation Room *
April
1 – San Diego, CA @ Che Café *
2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge *
3 – Albuquerque, NM @ The Co-Op *
5 – Omaha, NE @ Slowdown *
6 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry *
7 – Madison, WI @ UW Student Union *
8 – Grinnell, IA @ Grinnell College – Gardner Lounge *
9 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
10 – Detroit, MI @ Majestic Café *
11 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern *
12 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs *
13 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg *
14 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
15 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *
May
5 – Kansas City, MO @ Middle of the Map Festival
* with Alex G & Porches
