Cass McCombs

Blending genres such as rock, folk, psychedelic, punk, and alt country, he has played in numerous bands in the Bay Area and Pacific Northwest during the 1990s, often in DIY spaces, before relocating to New York City. He moved to San Francisco in 2001, where he recorded his debut E.P., entitled Not the Way E.P., released on Monitor Records in Baltimore. McCombs then recorded a Peel Session for John Peel in 2003, and that year released his first LP A, also touring with Baltimore’s OXES as his backing band.[1] McCombs and his band spent much of 2003 and 2004 touring, performing everywhere from the All Tomorrow's Parties festival to house shows.[1] McCombs otherwise divided his time amongst the Pacific Northwest, England and Baltimore.[2]

In spring 2005 he released PREfection on Monitor Records and 4AD,[2] and in support of the album he toured with Modest Mouse.[1] Later that year, he moved to Southern California to begin work on his third full-length, Dropping the Writ, which was released on October 9, 2007, by Domino Records. It was named one of Amazon.com’s Best Albums of 2007.[3] Also in 2007 he toured with Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti.[1] He signed a multiple-album deal with Domino Records, who released his following four records including Catacombs (2009), which was voted one of the “50 Top Albums on the Year” by Pitchfork.[4] It was followed by Wit's End (2011),[5] Humor Risk (2011),[6] and Big Wheel and Others (2013).[1]

He toured with John Cale in 2012, and also performed at the benefit concert Occupy Sandy.[1] Other bands he has performed or toured with include Ariel Pink, Cat Power, Band of Horses, Andrew Bird, The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Peter Bjorn and John, Papercuts, The Shins, Iron and Wine, Deerhoof, The Walkmen, Jana Hunter, Thurston Moore, Joe Russo and The War On Drugs.

His single "Bradley Manning" premiered on the Democracy Now News Hour in 2012.[1] His songs have been featured in films including the surf film The Present (2009),[7] and Ralph Arlyck documentary Following Sean,[8] as well as notable skate videos featuring Jason Dill,[9] Jerry Hsu[10] Chima Ferguson and Dylan Rieder.[11] His song "Bobby, King of Boys Town" appeared in HBO show Girls (Season 2, Episode 9 - "On All Fours").[12]

In 2014 he did a co-headlining fall tour with the Meat Puppets.[13]

McCombs is a member of The Skiffle Players, who released their debut LP, Skifflin' on February 12, 2016.[14]

In June 2016, McCombs performed at the Primavera Sound and Field Day music festivals.[15]

McCombs ANTI- Records debut, Mangy Love was released on August 26, 2016.[16]

In 2020, Spurl Editions published McCombs' debut poetry collection Toy Fabels, with illustrations by McCombs.[17]

• Mystery Man - Interview w/ Vice Magazine
• Review of Tip of the Sphere by Pitchfork
• Review of PREfection by Pitchfork
• Video for 'Sacred Heart' from PREfection
• Transcript of interview on National Public Radio's World Cafe show
• Portland Mercury article by Zac Pennington

• CassMcCombs.com