NEM#221: David Nagler Goes Brazilian

Nakedly Examined Music Podcast

The New York-based singer/keyboardist/guitarist issued three albums and four EPs with Nova Social (initially called Stretch) from ’98-’14 while also serving as music director for Wesley Stace’s Cabinet of Wonders variety show. After four solo releases, he’s formed a new project setting his droll lyrics in a ’60s Brazilian setting called As For the Future.

We discuss “Koan for the Music Business” (and listen at the end to “Encyclopedia of Songs”) from this project’s 2024 eponymous album, “See the Devil” by David Nagler & The Legislation from Songs of Advice and Adversity (2020 EP), and “Drunk at the Prom” by Nova Social (co-written with Thom Soriano) from For Any Inconvenience (2011). Intro: “Theme in Yellow” (feat. Jeff Tweedy) from Carl Sandburg’s Chicago Poems (2016). More at davidnagler.com, facebook.com/asforthefuture, and carlsandburgchicagopoems.com.

Sponsors: Try out online therapy at betterhelp.com/nakedly and get 10% off your first month. Check out the Let Me Ask My Dad podcast, featuring Bon Jovi co-founder David Bryan.

Watch a lyric video for “See the Devil.” Hear all of “Theme in Yellow.” Here’s a fancier video for another song from that Carl Sandburg album, “Fog,” and one for “Chicago.” He recorded a version of the Gnarls Barkley song “Crazy” that has a nice video too. Here’s a video for the late Nova Social tune, “Turn to Crime.”

Watch David live supporting The Appointees album. Watch Nova Social performing “Drunk at the Prom” live. Watch David playing acoustic guitar and (separately) singing. Watch David backing Wesley’s crooning live, and doing a solo piano/vocal rendition of a Dead Kennedys song. Watch David conducting a choir for Jon Langford.

Listen to my Wesley Stace interview, which includes a song that David wrote the music for.

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