Marcello Mastroainni, Tippi Hedren, Jerzy Kosinski, Liv Ullmann, Bernard Hermann, Neil Young, Elizabeth Fraser, Robert Altman, Kim Novak, Stanley Kubrick, Joni Mitchell, Shuggie Otis, Molly Ringwald, Alan Moore, Madeline Kahn, Chris Bell, Shakira, Jurrassic 5, Peter Sellers, sushi, sunsets, personal demons
A critically acclaimed solo artist, Jon Auer is also the singer/songwriter/co-founder of The Posies and a current member of musical legends Big Star. On his most recent solo release, SONGS FROM THE YEAR OF OUR DEMISE, Auer displays his undeniable knack for combining the highly melodic with the emotionally and psychologically complex, arguably mining more intimate and cinematic territories than in any years previous and in the process creating the best reviewed work of his career. NPR picked SONGS… as one of the best releases in 2006 and in the three-plus years since Auer has toured everywhere from Australia to Zurich and many points between. His one man troubadour-style show is the perfect way to experience his compositions and stories at their most revealing and rewarding.
Auer’s remarkable career started in the late '80s in Bellingham, Washington where he formed legendary alternative pop band The Posies at the age of 17. Their first record FAILURE was recorded and mixed by a teenage Jon in his father's home studio after school and on weekends. Two years later The Posies signed a deal with DGC/Geffen and ultimately recorded three records for them, including DEAR 23 (featuring the Jon-composed single “Golden Blunders”, later covered by former Beatle Ringo Starr) and the landmark FROSTING ON THE BEATER, which includes Jon's classic singles "Dream all Day", "Flavor of the Month", and “Definite Door” as well as his dark and epic "Coming Right Along" which was featured in the film of THE BASKETBALL DIARIES and praised by Jim Carroll himself. A key player in The Posies songwriting force, Jon also wrote “Going, Going, Gone” for the 3 million-plus selling REALITY BITES soundtrack. The Posies are still together, recording for the Ryko label, and to date have released six studio albums, an e.p., two live albums, a 4-CD box set, and a "Best Of" collection.
In and around all other activities, Auer nurtured a sizable international production and mixing career including many releases for Indie giant Sub Pop and working with Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo on You Am I’s Australian no. 1 record HI FI WAY. Auer’s most recent productions include THE REAL FEEL, the soon-to-be-released disc from Pavement’s Spiral Stairs for the Matador label.
The Posies' success also led to Jon becoming a part of the reformed Big Star with original members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens. The current lineup played its first show in 1993 and now 16 years later is still touring and even recorded a new album (IN SPACE) whose lead track "Lady Sweet" was written and sung by Jon. In addition, Auer spent time in Nashville collaborating with Ben Folds on the latest (yes, he of “Star Trek” fame) William Shatner record, HAS BEEN, with Folds also serving as producer. Along with THE PERFECT SIZE EP and a mini-album of covers, “6 & ½”, Auer is still supporting his well received full-length solo CD SONGS FROM THE YEAR OF OUR DEMISE and working steadily towards his next release.
About SONGS FROM THE YEAR OF OUR DEMISE:
“Startling (and liberating), a brilliant inversion of pop routine” – UNCUT (4 of 5 stars)
"The most arresting songwriting of Auer's career…this is Jon Auer at his best."- UNDER THE RADAR (8 of 10 stars)
"Each song carries a strong, distinct melody, as if someone built an entire Brill Building in Auer’s head...Auer rides his juxtaposition of soaring form and searing content into pop transcendence.”
– POP MATTERS (8 of 10 stars)
“One of the best albums of the year…August, melodic and heart wrenching” – AMPLIFIER
“Lead off track "Six Feet Under"…is among the catchiest and most emotionally exposed songs Auer has ever recorded.” - MAGNET
"Better even than his contributions to last year’s Posies and Big Star albums, Demise displays the sort of pop classicism that Auer excels at.... pain framed by such unerring, uplifting melodies that you almost hope, selfishly, that heartbreak will visit him each time he sits down to write." - HARP
"A confessional and delicately nuanced solo album." – THE VILLAGE VOICE
"The Posies released Every Kind Of Light last year, but its excellence has already been surpassed by Auer's solo full-length debut.... He's emerged with what could be his sharpest, most memorable work since Frosting On The Beater." – THE ONION
"The melodies are so damn spot-on that I keep coming back again and again.... Cloudy-day pop that's hard to top." - TINY MIX TAPES
"Auer's first proper solo LP after a long career is a total surprise.... A conceptual, soulful record - but with a prickly, smarting underside. What you do get is something akin to a watershed LP....a counter-spell you can’t escape… This could be 2006's sleeper LP, this thicket of thorns lurking beneath a beauteous rose"
- THE BIG TAKEOVER (No. 2 on Jack Rabid's Top 40 picks)
80 point average at METACRITIC:
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/auerjon/songsfromtheyearofourdemise?q=JOn%20Auer
About JON AUER live:
“… Auer began the evening by pulling from an impressive catalog of songs from his Posies and Big Star days, as well as a handful of stellar tracks from his newer solo album. He was warm and epic, comfortable; using the venue's gorgeous forum for a handful of just-right, unplugged, solo-singer-songwriter-in-the-stagelight moments. It was mouth-agape, beaming from the front row, pull up your knees to your chest and your sleeves over your hands, 'please don't let it stop' kind of good -- a beautiful precursor for his headlining set Saturday night. He took over his own lyrically adept selection of songs like a true pro, delivering with just the right amount of witty banter, slashing us in half with his well-crafted ache…”
- THREE IMAGINARY GIRLS
http://www.threeimaginarygirls.com/
"Although Jon Auer takes the stage as a solo performer and plays for over an hour-and-a-half, this is easily one of the most dynamic shows this reviewer has seen for a while, the mark of a truly talented and diverse artist. Opening with a divine track from his most recent release THE YEAR OF OUR DEMISE, ‘Cemetery Song’ begins Auer’s beautifully-designed set list. It’s clear right from the start that the tonality of his voice is even more fluid, smooth and rounded than on the recorded tracks.
Throughout the night he shares with us the stories behind a lot of his work - such as ‘Angelita’, which is his love song for his wife Michelle (Auer’s explanation was a tongue-in-cheek “Bitch, there’s already a song called ‘Michelle’”). He shares a touching story about Josephine, his estranged grandmother, and ‘Bottom of the Bottle’, written about his alcoholic friend, in which he pulls off a stunning a cappella breakdown.
Always offering something new at each moment of the performance, Jon disappears to return with a milk crate, which he locates in the middle of the Troubadour for an unplugged number. Jon Auer’s history as a key member of The Posies and Big Star is no secret and he keeps fans happy with a couple of tracks from both bands, closing his four-song encore with The Posies’ ‘Coming Right Along’. Tonight on display is a musician who has an intricate relationship with composition, performance, guitar playing, vocal talent and all elements of music - just plain brilliant to watch."
- TIME OFF.COM.AU
Full JON AUER LIVE IN SYDNEY FASTERLOUDER.COM. AU review here: http://web1.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/8008/Jon-Auer--The-Vanguard-Sydney-210207.htm
Thank you again so much for the fantastic show, it was a pleasure meeting you. All in all an all around pleasant evening for sure. Will definately catch the next Seattle show. Thanks for giving Bremerton a little art and substance for a night. I'm sure they needed it.
Thanx for the add,Jon - I'm a fan from way back..."Flavor of the Month" & "Coming Right Along" - man, those two songs got me through 1993...can't wait to dig into the new stuff...-Eddie O./G.S.F. ps.how about Cleveland?
Jon - still reeling from the Bell House show last Friday. My first Posies show, and it was worth the wait, and then some. Great to meet you too, and thanks for the kind words on "Burn and Shine." Heard Don sang with you guys at Blender --sorry I missed that! Crap. Come back and play NY again soon...
Hey Jon, just wanted to say again how amazingly beautiful those NY shows were and how good it was to see you again. Also, after Saturday night, Tequila Thom is officially retired. Lol.
just want to say thank you for the awesome 3 shows which we visited last week. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed every single minute!!! It´s allways a blast to see you guys...it doesn´t matter where and when. I hope to see you play again in Europe pretty soon...
