Michael Mason’s 3d album, Experimental Empire, will be out on CD January 5th, a dozen original eco-Americana songs of tragedy and delight. It features a stellar lineup: Alice Carolyn, Catherine & Eddie Murphy, and Ellen Whyte on backup vocals, Tony Furtado on banjo, slide guitar and more, Tucker Jackson on pedal steel, Jacob Jolliff on mandolin, Jon Neufeld on guitars, Luke Price on fiddle, Albert Reda on bass. The release party will have all of the singers and most of the band performing the album, featuring future hits, “High, Why Lonesome?”, “Luna Protector”, and “Lock Up the Oligarchs”.