A. Savage Debuts “Thanksgiving Prayer”

Parquet Courts' frontman A. Savage, who recently signed to Rough Trade for his solo project, has shared a new single “Thanksgiving Prayer”

Parquet Courts’ frontman A. Savage, who recently signed to Rough Trade Records, for his solo project, has shared a new single/video, “Thanksgiving Prayer.” Along with the news, the multi-artist has announced a run of North American tour dates. “Thanksgiving Prayer,” produced by the legendary John Parrish (PJ Harvey, Sparklehorse) anchored by Savage’s poetic musings, observations that are accompanied on saxophone by Euan Hinshelwood. “Thanksgiving Day is every day I write a song like this,” Savage croons atop instrumentation from Magdalena McLean (violin), Jack Cooper (guitar), and Dylan Hadley (drums/percussion). “When I get down on all four paws and drag myself // by my own jaws toward a feeling.” This fall, A.Savage will embark on a North American tour, bringing his beloved performances to New York, Chicago, Washington, DC and more.

Of the single, Savage adds: “Well, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and every year on that day I write down some words having to do with gratitude. Some years are better than others, but the last one I celebrated these words just sort of came out of me. It was a pretty special holiday actually, because in fact we were recording this song, but I made everybody take a day off. [Producer] John Parish and his wife Michelle were kind enough to allow me to take over their kitchen to cook the meal for everyone. Dylan and I were the only Americans, so there was a bit of explaining to do. So it was the band, the studio staff and the Parish family, and it was an absolutely lovely day. I was in awe of the kindness and mercy, and that’s what the song is about; being in awe of humans. When I got back to my room I was on such a high so I started writing and this song is what was on the page the next morning, when we recorded it.”

The accompanying “Thanksgiving Prayer” video — directed by Tiff Pritchett —is a black-and-white homage to silent film, with Savage adorned in makeup and surrounded by his band and handmade decoration. Of the “Thanksgiving Prayer” video, Savage adds: “The video is directed by a brilliant young director Tiff Pritchett, and she had this idea to sort of do a silent film tribute. The scene from Renoir’s film Rules of the Game where Danse Macabre is played was referenced, as was Klaus Nomi.”

A. Savage 2023 Tour Dates

Sat. Sep. 30 – Newport, Essex, UK @ Murmuration Festival
Fri. Oct. 20 – Portland, ME @ SPACE
Sat. Oct. 21 – Boston, MA @ Crystal Ballroom
Sun. Oct. 22 – Portsmouth, NH @ Press Room
Tue. Oct. 24 – Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground
Wed. Oct. 25 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Eccentric Cafe
Fri. Oct. 27 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
Sat. Oct. 28 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Sun. Oct. 29 – Milwaukee, WI @ Colectivo
Mon. Oct. 30 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
Wed. Nov. 1 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
Thu. Nov. 2 – Louisville, KY @ Whirling Tiger
Fri. Nov. 3 – Nashville, TN @ Third Man
Sat. Nov. 4 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
Sun. Nov. 5 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
Tue. Nov. 7 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
Thu. Nov. 9 – Washington, DC @ Black Cat
Fri. Nov. 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian
Sat. Nov. 11 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom