“My drummer Tommy Larkin and I were driving in the van across the United States as we do two or three times a year on our tours of clubs and I said, “Y’ know, we should produce Vic’s next record!” And he said he thought so too. We both were thinking that the way to get the feeling for Vic as a listener was to hear just Vic – no arrangements, no guest guitar solo guys, no “ironic” touches or anything else to cloud his voice or his poetry. His guitar playing is also the guitar playing on this recording because we think no help is needed.

Tommy and I have toured with Vic several times and he’s long been one of our favorites. So we’re both proud of this record and glad for the chance to make it our way. A lot of it was brand new stuff - a few hours old or becoming a song right there as he sang."

Vic Chesnutt has recorded with many different people for all kinds of labels, but he’s never made an album like his debut on Vapor Records. Chesnutt’s first two releases were produced by R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe, and from there he was featured in the PBS documentary Speed Racer and his songs were recorded for Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation. A wide range of artists including Garbage, Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M. and Live all covered Chesnutt originals. He has recorded with other groups like Widespread Panic and Lambchop and musicians as varied as Bill Frisell and Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. Chesnutt recently performed on Cowboy Junkie’s Trinity Revisited, with others and over a dozen different releases of his own.

Skitter On Take-Off allows Vic Chesnutt to create his most dramatic album yet, recording devastating songs like “Rips in the Fabric” and “Dick Cheney” live with no overdubs. This album becomes a unique addition to his history, and allows the singer-songwriter the chance to collaborate with an important influence. “I’m honored to work with Jonathan Richman. Over the years he’s taken me under his wing and mentored me in a very meaningful way, truly shaping me into the songwriter and performer I am today. And it is an ongoing process.” Chesnutt and Richman’s work together is one for the ages.

VIC CHESNUTT
SKITTER ON TAKE-OFF
1) Feast in the Time of Plague
2) Unpacking My Suitcase
3) Dimples
4) Rips in the Fabric
5) Society Sue
6) My New Life
7) Dick Cheney
8) Worst Friend
9) Sewing Machine

Vic Chesnutt (vocals, guitar)
Jonathan Richman (guitar, harmonium)
Tommy Larkin (drums)
Produced by Jonathan Richman & Tommy Larkin

2009 TOUR DATES
10/23 Ottawa, ON - Mavericks
10/24 Montreal, QC - Ukrainian Federation
10/25 Cambridge, MA - Somerville Theater
10/26 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
10/27 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/28 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
10/29 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
10/30 Washington, DC - Black Cat
10/31 Wilmington, NC - The Soapbox
11/1 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
11/2 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
11/4 Newport, KY - Southgate House
11/5 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
11/6 Detroit, MI - Detroit Institute of Arts
11/7 Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
11/19 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
11/20 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Centre
11/21 Saskatoon, SK - Amigos
11/22 Edmonton, AB - McDougall United Church
11/23 Calgary, AB - Knox United Church
11/25 Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar
11/26 Vancouver, BC - Red Room
11/27 Seattle, WA - Crocodile
11/28 Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
11/30 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
12/1 Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theatre
12/2 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress
12/4 Denton, TX - Hailey's
12/5 Austin, TX - Central Presbyterian Church