Elvis Perkins's acclaimed 2007 debut album Ash Wednesday dealt with the themes of loss and love. His sophomore effort, "Elvis Perkins in Dearland," paints moody folk and jazz-infused ballads with a Dixieland style.

"What's kind of great about this sophomore effort for me is that its both my second record and the band's first record," says Perkins. "So it sort of turns out all concept on its head and there's no chance for a sophomore slump.

Percussionist Nick Kinsey described the diversity of the CD.

"Hopefully it covers the whole range of emotion from dark to bright, sad to happy, life-death," says Kinsey.

The band performed at the Bowery Ballroom Wednesday night. Kinsey was looking forward to the gig.

"It's been good. We haven't played in New York since last summer where we played prospect park but we're really excited. We have tons of friends and family here," says Kinsey.

Perkins has endured almost unbearable tragedy during his life. When he was 16 years old, his father, the actor Anthony Perkins, died of complications from AIDS. His mother, the photographer Berry Barinson, was on an American Airlines flight that crashed into the World Trade Tower on September 11, 2001. All of this tragedy has certainly effected his music.

"Anything that anyone experiences or feels or sees or thinks or eats affects what they do," says Perkins. "You know I sort of leave that up to the doctors to discern what really has an effect on what."