Kevin Morby creates PBJ in the studio
Kevin Morby is extending the summer shelf life of his latest Dead Oceans album, Little Wide Open, with a track that isn’t just a song—it’s a full-blown itinerary. The newest addition is “PBJ,” a track that comes with its own set of road trip instructions and, most wonderfully, a nationwide menu.
The genesis of the song is equally delightfully absurd. Morby explains that the title comes from a phrase a friend once used to describe driving with the windows down while blasting the air conditioning: “Peanut Butter Jelly.” Although Morby admits he hasn’t encountered the phrase anywhere else, he happily adopted it and turned it into a hit single.
Musically, “PBJ” is a showcase of collaboration. It features Aaron Dessner on bass and guitar, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon contributing guitar, Andrew Barr on drums, and Morby handling the vocals and additional guitar work.
The theme of the song naturally spills into a tangible, culinary adventure. Morby is taking the title literally, teaming up with beloved food and drink establishments across the country for a series of peanut butter and jelly-inspired collaborations.
The tour kicks off in Los Angeles, where spots like Bub and Grandma’s are hosting an in-store performance, and Culture Espresso and Rockaway Beach Bakery are serving up custom PBJ creations like cookies and croissants.
The culinary journey continues, bringing the flavor to other cities. In Memphis, Global Cafe is serving a PBJ drink with a charitable angle, benefiting Second Chance Kitchen. Durham sees the PBJ sandwich on the menu at Ideal’s Sandwich and Grocery, while Kansas City’s Heirloom Bakery offers multiple PBJ creations, including an ice cream sandwich, and the local Mr. D’s Donut Shop is, naturally, doing a PBJ donut.
These creative collaborations expand across the map, demonstrating how a simple, quirky phrase can become a fun, interactive experience. Morby is ensuring the momentum continues by bringing the story of Little Wide Open to the Los Angeles Grammy Museum on September 22 for an interview and performance alongside his music and life partner, Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee.
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