News

Will Oldham Is In A New Band, The Babblers

4:33 p.m. · December 1, 2010 · by Julian Hattem

Everyone's favorite loony bald guy with a beard, Will Oldham, gave the crowd at the Discoteca in Chattanooga, Tenn., a treat last night when he debuted his new, never-before-mentioned band, the Babblers. The six-some took to stage wearing camouflage onesies and sunglasses; Oldham (otherwise known as Bonnie 'Prince' Billy) split vocal duties with Angela Babbler (known as the minimalist folkie Angel Olsen to her friends).

The group has been around "not very long," Oldham said to the Chattanooga blog Chattarati, but he's not really sure exactly how long. Because of course he's not. Also, The Babblers don't have a Myspace or anything, so all we have to look at is a YouTube clip, above, via Pitchfork. No title, but the song is probably called "It Doesn't Really Matter Who You Are," because those are the only words.

A few songs may or may not be available in the next few weeks. "We don’t have anything right now," Oldham said, "but we are hoping to record these songs soon in either Little Rock, Ark., or Chicago, Ill., soon. We’d like to release them." So maybe that will happen.


Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & the Cairo Gang are currently on tour. Presumably The Babblers will show up. Dates:

12.01 Athens, GA: 40 Watt Club
12.02 Columbia, SC: The White Mule
12.03 Charlotte, NC: The Neighborhood Theater
12.04 Durham, NC: Reynolds Industries Theater
12.05 Richmond, VA: The National
12.08 New York, NY: Town Hall