After leading the frenetically inventive band Soul Coughing throughout the '90s, Mike Doughty embarked on a solo career. Though doing so meant making a huge shift from eclectic big-band alt-rock to sparse acoustic sets, Doughty found remarkable success during a long cross-country tour in which he headlined large clubs and even opened for Dave Matthews Band. Click the link above to hear Doughty perform live in concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
Since going solo, Doughty has released three full-length albums and a handful of EPs. His latest disc, Sad Man, Happy Man, is the singer's first full-band album since leaving Soul Coughing. One of his most stripped-down records, Sad Man, Happy Man keeps the attention squarely on Doughty's voice and acoustic guitar, accented by little more than a handful of bass and cello flourishes. Doughty carefully lines his lyrics with candid emotion and wit, and occasionally sings in a sort of freeform jazz-rap style.
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