In this new era of their music, Lawrence Rothman just wants to be real. On Wednesday, the musician released their single “Poster Child,” co-written with Jason Isbell, and announced their upcoming album, The Plow That Broke the Plains on April 26.
“The Plow That Broke the Plains is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was,” Rothman said in a press statement about the LP.
On “Poster Child,” Rothman stays true to that goal as they look back on their life’s tribulations, including the time they were shot at outside of a club in 2005 for their gender expression. “I was dressed in makeup and a style of clothes that I guess some random audience members did not like,” Rothman said. “I was jumped and shot at after the gig. It had a profound effect on my identity and who and what I would take a bullet for.”
“From that point forward, I found myself wanting to lift up others who struggle with gender identity,” Rothman added.
For the song, Rothman picked up their first instrument, the guitar, and sat down for a session with Isbell. On Instagram, they reflected on working with Isbell on the track, calling him a “fucking next-level songwriter.”
“The day we wrote together felt like I was back jammin’ after school in my parents’ basement,” Rothman wrote on Instagram. “Song creating became fun again.”
Along with “Poster Child,” Rothman released the album’s title track and announced the track listing for The Plow That Broke the Plains, which includes songs with Amanda Shires and S.G. Goodman. The album will capture the singer’s battles with body dysmorphia, anorexia, and addiction, according to a press release.
They’ll mark the release of the album on a spring tour, with shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Nashville.
The Plow That Broke the Plains track list
1. Yesterday Tomorrow
2. LAX (feat. Amanda Shires)
3. Poster Child
4. The Plow That Broke The Plains
5. Kerosene
6. Twin Flames
7. Dreams Die Hard
8. Never A Right Time
9. R. Blood (feat. SG Goodman)
10. Don’t Hang Up On Me
11. Drugstore Bummin
12. Doesn’t Work Like That
13. No Vacancy
The Plow That Broke the Plains tour dates:
April 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Lodge Room
April 26 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium at the Catalyst
April 27 – San Francisco, CA @ The Lost Church
April 28 – Folsom, CA @ Folsom Hotel
April 29 – Reno, NV @ Holland Project
May 1 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
May 2 – Portland, OR @ Show Bar
May 2 – Willamina, OR @ Wildwood Hotel
May 8 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer
May 9 – San Diego @ Soda Bar
May 10 – Phoenix, AZ @ Dirty Drummer
May 11 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
May 12 – Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy and Harriets
May 18 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement
