PUTTING work on his new album to one side, Mark Eitzel is playing a few solo shows in Europe. Only three are in England and lucky old York is his destination for Thursday evening at Fibbers.

Eitzel re-formed his cult San Franciscan band American Music Club in 2003, releasing their first album for a decade, Love Songs For Patriots, last October on Merge Records. AMC have been on their springtime European travels and will put down the foundations for their next record in the late summer in preparation for release next March or April.

Eitzel, an enigmatic, downbeat vocalist and guitarist, first formed AMC in 1983 in San Francisco, fusing together a love of rock, country, blues, folk, pop and punk, refracted through freeform jazz.

However, American Music Club's journey was tumultuous, and Eitzel confronted his demons on stage, culminating in the band's split in 1995. He carved out a solo career with albums such as the 60 Watt Silver Lining and The Invisible Man, and now that AMC are in full flow once more, he is accommodating solo and band work in his diary, writing stinging songs of love, life and politics.

Fibbers boss Tim Hornsby eulogises: "Eitzel is a hauntingly evocative singer and a truly powerful force in contemporary music. He has earned even greater notoriety for his brilliance as a composer, combining the energy of punk, the pastoral beauty of folk, and the melodrama of lounge music to build his darkly poetic body of songs."

Arrive early on Thursday evening to be sure to see Liverpool's rising singer-songwriter, Amy Smith, promoting her debut EP, The Landing Tapes. Tickets: £8 advance, £10 door.

Updated: 16:31 Thursday, May 26, 2005