We’ll be performing Sunday, Dec. 4 at Zanzabar with some very special guests. R. Ring is the duo of The Breeders‘ Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery of Ampline, and The Black Swans, from Columbus, have a great record out now called Don’t Blame The Stars. Doors are at 7:30 p.m. and the cover is $6. For more information, call (502) 635-ZBAR.

We will perform on WFPK’s Live Lunch beginning at noon on April 29. The free show is first-come, first seated, or you can stream it live on the station’s website.

We will be heading south the weekend of May 13-14 to perform at Secret Stages Festival in Birmingham, Ala. Tickets are on sale next week. Arise, Great Warrior is also available now in the United Kingdom through Code 7. Don’t forget: Ben and Natalie’s Valentine’s Soiree happens Sunday, Feb. 13, in Louisville at Derby City Espresso. Doors at 8 p.m., and $5 donation goes to No Kill Louisville.

We’re excited to announce that we’ll be performing an official showcase at the 25th Annual SXSW Music & Film Festival, March 16-20 in Austin. Details are still forthcoming on the time and venue.

Our new album – and our first on vinyl – is available for pre-order now at Karate Body’s webstore. Arise, Great Warrior lands in stores in the North America and United Kingdom and digitally from Removador Recordings & Solutions on Feb. 8.

“Crazy For The Feeling” is the Track of the Day over at We Listen For You.
Pre-order for Arise, Great Warrior starts in two days!

Happy New Year everybody. Beginning at midnight one week from today, you can pre-order our new LP, “Arise, Great Warrior” over at Karate Body. The first 300 copies come hand-numbered, and every record includes a card for free download of the album. Those digitally inclined can purchase from Removador Feb. 8.

New album, “Arise, Great Warrior,” coming Feb. 8 on LP/CD/MP3

Natalie Felker looks the listener straight in the eye, via her piano and supple voice, and talks you into accepting the dagger — because you know full well that it’s two-sided, and that she’ll accept the other blade. As husband Ben’s guitars start up a sharp squall, you hear why it’s worth the cost: One listen to the bright voices coming in all around to surround you in a reassuring embrace and you’re ready to pick up the dare, the challenge.

The Fervor formed around this pair — her voice and keys, his guitar and harmony. Right from the start, Natalie was capable of facing up to piano-based alternative divas, but with the skill and resolve to wrest the inspiration from the affectation. She could be the flirt who always said upfront something more honest than your carefully crafted thoughts. Or she could drop her voice low and quiet, be your confidant and your gospel-chord-pounding witness to raw self-confrontation.

In sharpening its focus, the group added drummer Mat Herron and set out on a slew of live shows in 2007 to support of its first album, “Bleeder.” Michael Campbell was found to play bass, and they again criss-crossed the eastern United States. As they developed their live show, the group began to realize their power as a collective. Meanwhile Natalie continued to craft strong new songs for a band moving toward bringing light to mysteries of personality and intimacy, but without any pretense of a definitive answer and far removed from any calming platitudes.

In December, the group flew to San Francisco, where the ensuing sessions confirmed their rebirth. Under producer Charles Gonzalez, the band holed up at Mission Bells (Jackie Greene, Mother Hips) and Radical Sound (Rogue Wave). Between these two facilities, The Fervor found classic gear and physical ambiance to realize the album they had been hearing, one focused on performance, and not perfection. The West coast style had infiltrated the camp and greeted them like a long lost friend.

They returned home to Louisville, where friend and engineer Kevin Ratterman (My Morning Jacket, California Guitar Trio, Wax Fang) mixed and maintained the focus: on the power of what The Fervor can do together in a room. From these sessions has emerged “Arise, Great Warrior,” (out Feb. 8, 2011 via Removador/Karate Body). It’s a record that is gut-punching in impact, but life-affirming in its lasting spark and hopeful mysteries.

“Crazy For The Feeling,” the first single, is now available at digital retailers worldwide and at Removador Recordings & Solutions. The song, and an additional track “Let’s Get Loaded,” appear on Removador’s new digital sampler.

“Crazy For The Feeling” digital single available now at Removador Recordings & Solutions and all digital retailers. Stream it at Karate Body’s Soundcloud.

We are pleased to announce we will appear at this year’s Forecastle Festival. The Fervor plays Sunday, July 11 at 6 p.m. Go here for details. You can catch Natalie Felker performing with The Ravenna Colt on the same stage at 8 p.m.

We’re hitting the road for a 4-day stint with our ol’ pals Wussy this April. Here-is-a-what’s-a-happening:

Wednesday, April 14 – The Smiling Moose, Pittsburgh, PA

Wussy, The Fervor, The Red Western, Joel Walter
$5 • 9pm

Thursday, April 15 – The Fire, Philadelphia, PA

The Fervor/ Wussy / Making Tents / Meddlesome, Meddlesome, Meddlesome Bells /Boutros
$7 • 9p

Friday, April 16 – Cake Shop, Manhattan, NY

The Fervor / Wussy / Mystery of Two / Little Big
$8 • 8pm