Pitchfork

There comes a time in every young man's life when he must turn the page on his current dealings and move on to something new. And if you're Michael Nau, main man of Maryland folkies Page France, well, your big transitory moment gets its own news story/bad pun on Pitchforkmedia.com.

It seems Nau will be leaving the confines of his Page France project to focus full time on the Cotton Jones Basket Ride, another band he leads. Why, here's a statement from Nau himself, explaining the switch:

Part of my brain has been collaborating with Cotton Jones for the past three years. I had little time to entertain those desires. After a few years of Page France touring and recording, we felt it time to step back from it-- I felt mentally exhausted, and quickly became a difficult person to be around. We all took a deep breath, and some time. I love each and every person that was so patient with me throughout, and to those who still are. I don't know if there will be another Page France record, but I'm finally able to appreciate it, without such attachments.

I've spent the past few months writing and recording material for Cotton Jones. [Page France member] Whitney [McGraw] and I finished the songs for the Archery EP, and our good buddies at Quite Scientific are gonna put it out. The first LP is finished-- it should be released somewhere, by someone, sometime. We'll be doing some shows this month. It feels good to be looking forward to everything again.

Not so fast on the LP tip, there, Nau; looks as though that offering, titled Paranoid Cocoon, has been tabled for the time being so the Cotton Jones Basket Ride can work up a handful of EPs. The first one is already sold the hell out, so we'll focus on the newest one: The Archery, a six-track affair out now from Quite Scientific in an art book limited to 500 copies. And then there's a third, as-yet-untitled EP, due from Quite Scientific in 1,000 books sometime soon.

With Page France more or less kaput, Nau's got all the time in the world to focus on Cotton Jones, and so he shall. Nau's new-old thing will take to the road for much of the next couple months. Dates after the jump.

The Archery EP:

01 Chewing Gum
02 Silver Piano Man
03 Blues From a Nest
04 Lords of Columbia St.
05 Midnight Monday & A Telescope
06 I Don't Suppose

The Cotton Jones Basket Ride:

05-14 Hamden, CT - The Space
05-15 Brooklyn, NY - Union Hall
05-16 New York, NY - Pianos
05-18 Philadelphia, PA - The M Room
05-19 Arlington, VA - The Iota
05-20 Norfolk, VA - The Boot
05-21 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
05-22 Charlotte, NC - The Milestone
05-23 Charleston, SC - The Village Tavern
05-24 Athens, GA - Caledonia Lounge
05-26 Lexington, KY - The Dame
05-27 Nashville, TN - The End
05-28 Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House
05-30 Charlottesville, VA - Tea Bazaar
05-31 Fredericksburg, VA - The 3rd Floor
06-11 Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place
06-12 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Tavern
06-13 Bloomington, IN - Bear's Place
06-14 Champaign, IL - Mike N Molly's
06-15 St. Louis, MO - Bluebird
06-16 Lawrence, KS - The Replay Lounge
06-17 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
06-18 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
06-19 Minneapolis, MN - 7th St Entry
06-20 Iowa City, IA - The Picador
06-21 Dekalb, IL - The House Cafe
06-22 Madison, WI - Cafe Montmartre
06-23 Chicago, IL - Schubas
06-24 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
06-25 Detroit, MI - Alvin's
06-26 Toronto, Ontario - Silver Dollar
06-27 London, Ontario - London Music Club
06-28 Pittsburgh, PA - Brillobox