New Pornographer Kathryn Calder released her solo debut album, Are You My Mother?, nearly a year ago, but she’s just now getting around to touring in support of it. It’s understandable—Calder’s been through some emotionally trying times of late. She wrote the album as a tribute to her terminally ill mother, Lynn (the songs were recorded in Lynn’s living room), who passed away shortly thereafter. Are You My Mother? is a fragile wisp of record, composed mainly of Calder’s pristine voice floating atop simple, sparse piano melodies. Songs like “Arrow” and “Slip Away” are delicate, sometimes even timid, but in such a setting, those qualities seem fitting. The album is a lovely and undeniably touching portrait of love and grief; hopefully presenting the music to an audience will provide solace and catharsis for Calder. With Karl Blau, Mal de Mer, Himalayan Bear. ERIN K. THOMPSON

Thu., May 19, 10 p.m., 2011