DON MCCLOSKEY is an eclectic singer-songwriter, performing artist and producer hailing from Philadelphia, PA. His fourth album, The Chaos and the Beauty (Lemon Hill Records), celebrated its release in April 2022 to unanimous critical praise. McCloskey joined with Producer Devin Greenwood (Norah Jones, Sufjan Stevens, Half Waif) to record the album at his studio, The Honey Jar, in Brooklyn. It was recorded with vocalists and musicians cutting to analog tape in order to preserve and celebrate the human element in the digital age. It features nine original songs and is a lush, retro-contemporary cocktail of psych-rock, Americana soul and pop that calls to mind the music of his youth (Peter Gabriel’s So and Paul Simon’s Graceland).  

The lead single, “First in Flight,” is a quintessential example of McCloskey’s ability to seamlessly combine elements of disparate musical traditions into a singular voice and infectious pop structure. The song was prominently featured in the Season 2 finale of the Apple TV Series Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet. It has been streamed over two million times, found a home on AAA and rock radio and was selected by Spotify to be included on their editorial playlists.

McCloskey and his 8-piece band have made some serious waves with their appearances on NPR’s Live Sessions, Philadelphia’s top-rated morning radio show, WMMR’s Preston and Steve and WXPN’s Free at Noon. Their high-energy show has been on a string of sold-out performances including their album release at Ardmore Music Hall, MMRBQ, XPoNential Music Festival and shows at Radio City Music Hall, The Met Philadelphia and The Mann in support of the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Podcast.

McCloskey’s collaboration with the creators of Sunny goes back decades. When he invited his friends in the cast to sit in at his show in Los Angeles at the Troubadour, it inadvertently turned into the stage performance of the Nightman Cometh. The cast toured the show with McCloskey opening including a sold-out performance at the Beacon Theater in NY and at the Tower Theater in Philly. The unlikely story is detailed in an article in GQ.

McCloskey cut his song-writing and performance teeth as an integral member of NYC’s Anti-folk scene that gave birth to acts like Beck and Regina Spektor. His standing-room-only shows at the Lower East Side’s Sidewalk Café became a regular event after the release of his debut LP, Bombs Over Bristol (2003). McCloskey is a master at infusing the traditional folk idiom with elements of psychedelic rock, electronica, hip-hop, and 80s pop. When the record caught the attention of Philly icon G. Love, he invited Don to open up for him on the Midwest and East Coast legs of his tour. Soon he was playing to capacity crowds of 1500+ as a solo acoustic act, winning over fans show after show. The video for, “Mr. Novocaine,” off of Bombs went on to win several awards on the independent film circuit including Best Music Video at the Slamdance and USA Film Festivals.

During a tour break, McCloskey began recording his second record, Northern Liberties. Gone was the bombast and kaleidoscopic bells and whistles of Bombs Over Bristol and in its place a lean, gritty, acoustic-punk, singer-songwriter album. Teaming up with legendary skate-punk drummer, Chuck Treece (McRad, Bad Brains) and co-producer and bass player, Tom Spiker, Northern Liberties produced a collection of songs that quickly became fan favorites and staples of the live show. “This Just In” a rollicking snapshot of Bush-era America received significant mainstream rock radio play.

During this time, McCloskey, a lifelong Phillies fan, penned the fan anthem, “Unstoppable.” Teaming back up with Treece and Spiker under the name Guerrilladelphia, the song went on to play across all radio formats in Philadelphia and before every home game of the 2009 World Series at Citizens Bank Park.

With a batch of 10 new songs ready for recording, McCloskey set his sights for a new record. Corporal Spirits was recorded live with a ten-piece band over the course of two and half days with producer Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man). Tracks like “Into the Unknown”, “Kill the Lights” and “Cold World” became instant fan favorites and staples of the live show. The album set the scene for McCloskey’s greatest work yet, his current fourth album, The Chaos and The Beauty.

The Chaos and the Beauty is available now on McCloskey’s independent imprint, Lemon Hill Records.  

“Every now and then there’s a singer that has versatile talent, intriguing music, a good voice and magic. Don is a magician.” — Americana Highways