A nondescript overcast day in Des Moines turned out to be something else entirely for our inaugural ReadyMade Concert Series. We took over the second floor lounge, set up an old project as a backdrop, and let Mason Jennings make it a much, much brighter day for everyone. Mason Jennings playing Sunlight. On tour in support of his latest effort Blood of Man, Mason Jennings and his band dropped by the RM offices to sing some ditties and color outside the lines. (Literally, they were a half hour late to sound check due to the impromptu art session during the interview—check out the video at the bottom of the post for the full story.) After playing three tracks from the album, he and his mates headed to our conference room to talk shop. Artists at work. Blood of Man can be classified as a DIY record, as in Mason wrote the lyrics, played every instrument, and recorded it all with GarageBand in a cabin in his native Minnesota. A bit of a departure from his previous releases, this record has electric guitars, darker stories, and haunting cadences throughout. But haunting in a good way, a way that stirs emotions and envelopes you in the sounds and words and tone. The 2009 tour comes to end next week, and while the band did seem a tad road-weary, they chatted and bantered and drew and sang and laughed like we were all old friends. We'd like them just because they are extremely nice guys, and the fact that Mason and his band put out amazing music night after night makes us like them even more. Check out Mason's final dates of the year here, and if you're in the greater Des Moines area, head to People's Court at 9:15 tonight to catch him live. Believe us, it's not something you'd want to miss. Yes, those are two swords and long-johns. Mason Jennings / Sunlight [youtube t_Dmd4h46w8] Mason Jennings / The Field [youtube 7iwD-7-tEes] Mason Jennings / Tourist [youtube Feonvn2GyHQ] Mason Jennings / Interview Part 1: The Low Down [youtube l8V1TaELeO8] Mason Jennings / Interview Part 2: Art Session [youtube gne-Flw0Sg8]

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