(source: Facebook)

Oakland singer-songwriter Doug Tiemann says that his project Blood & Dust’s songs are “inspired by the hard and beautiful parts of life.” It’s easy to find this uneasy but poignant juxtaposition on Tiemann’s debut full-length under that moniker, entitled The Crooked Road, an album that melds a familiar brand of stripped down folk with blues and Americana influences across eight heart-wrenching but beautiful tracks.

Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Robert Raymond at Faultline Studios, The Crooked Road finds Tiemann manning the guitar, harmonica, and piano, as well as vocal duties, along with Brandon Venable on bass and Jason Slota on drums. Standout songs include the title track (a slow-burning borderline rocker) and “It’s A Shame” (an elegant meditation on a tenuous relationship).

Blood & Dust will will be making the rounds on the local live circuit as a full three-piece, playing shows in several corners of the Bay this month. Listen to The Crooked Road below, and then get full details on all of Blood & Dust’s upcoming local gigs.

The Tough Brothers, Blood & Dust, The P’s and Q’s
El Rio
May 14, 2015
8pm, $5 (21+)

Napa’s Emerging Artist Showcase featuring Alec Lee, Caroline Sky, Blood & Dust
City Winery (Napa)
May 19, 2015
6pm, $10 (21+)

Blood & Dust, Kathleen Knighton
The Portal Restaurant (part of Eastlake Music Festival)
May 23, 2015
7:30pm, FREE (all ages)

Folktown Footstomp featuring The Bollands, Blood & Dust, Baby Teeth
Studio Grand (Oakland)
May 26, 2015
9pm, $10-15 sliding scale