Giving

Humble Tripe is the musical project of Shawn Luby. A competitive classical guitar player in his youth, Luby received national recognition as one of the country's leading string players, only to walk away in pursuit of a career in clinical laboratory science. After an almost decade-long hiatus as a performer, Luby found his way back to music as a singer-songwriter with the formation of Humble Tripe, and the release of their 2010 debut album, Counting Stars. National tours followed, landing Humble Tripe on stage with the likes of Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Ben Sollee, Mount Moriah (Merge Records) and Katharine Whalen (Squirrel Nut Zippers). Humble Tripe returns this fall with a stunning sophomore album entitled simply, The Giving. Combining modern Americana, folk, and rock with the delicacy and movement found in their classical roots, The Giving showcases a dramatic leap forward in the maturity and richness of Humble Tripe. With this album, I wanted to take the time to grow the songs, to create a depth to the arrangements that reflected my classical upbringing while allowing me to expand myself as a songwriter, singer and musician' says Luby. The Giving features many of the same players as Humble Tripe's debut, including Melissa York (Amy Ray, the Butchies, Team Dresch) and Berklee school of music graduate, Stud Green. The release also marks the introduction of York as producer. The union of York's punk, hip-hop aesthetic with Luby's classical spirt pushes the boundaries of folk-Americana resulting in a haunting landscape of beautiful swells, dramatic tension and space. With vocal performances simultaneously evoking that of Neil Young and Mazzy Star, Luby's latest collection reflects a journey from songwriter to symphony, from delicate to dynamic, resting on tender storytelling shoulders, all the while delivering a graceful offering: The Giving.