Spain

Spain, an alternative rock outfit led by bassist and songwriter Josh Haden, produces understated yet intensely resonant music that summons visions of late nights and emotional fractures, shaped by vintage jazz and mid-century “bachelor pad” textures and delivered without ironic distance. Haden’s background reflects deep musical roots: his father, the celebrated jazz bassist and composer Charlie Haden, and his sisters—violinist Petra Haden, who fronted that dog and has recorded with the Foo Fighters, Mike Watt, the Decemberists, and Iggy & the Stooges; vocalist Rachel Haden, another that dog alum who has backed Beck, the Rentals, and Weezer; and cellist Tanya Haden, whose sessions include Silversun Pickups and Sea Wolf—form a family of notable pedigree. The group’s first lineup placed Haden on vocals and bass with Ken Boudakian on guitar and keyboards, Merlo Podlewski on guitar, and Evan Hartzell on drums. This configuration released its debut, The Blue Moods of Spain, on Reckless Records in 1995; the album contained the song “Spiritual,” which Johnny Cash later covered on Unchained. Spain issued their follow-up, She Haunts My Dreams, in 1999; while the band built a devoted European audience, its singular approach found limited traction in the United States. After I Believe appeared in 2001, Spain paused its activities, and the 2003 compilation Spirituals: The Best of Spain gathered highlights from the three prior albums. Haden subsequently worked alone, releasing Devoted in 2007, but after touring that project he reassembled Spain with Randy Kirk on guitars and keys and Matt Mayhall on drums. By 2012 the lineup had become a quartet with guitarist Daniel Brummel, and Spain delivered The Soul of Spain on the European label Glitterhouse. Acoustic guitarist Dylan McKenzie expanded the band to five members, and its live-in-studio session for Santa Monica’s KCRW-FM, featuring Haden’s three sisters as guests, was issued as the EP The Morning Becomes Eclectic Session. In 2013 Spain began recording its next album with producer Gus Seyffert, resulting in Sargent Place on Glitterhouse in 2014. Haden introduced yet another Spain configuration on the blues-infused Carolina in 2016; the album featured Haden on vocals, bass, and acoustic guitar, Danny Frankel on drums and percussion, Petra Haden on violin and vocals, and Kenny Lyon on various guitars, banjo, and keyboards, with Lyon and Josh Haden sharing production duties.