Ended up performing sans rhythm section last night in Minneapolis as Andy was injured at work. Show still went very well and I hope Andy feels better soon. Had a good time hanging out with Adam W. discussing music, writing and the related industries. Really looking forward to the show tonight at the Root Note, a great venue with great energy.
The drive to Minneapolis gave me sometime to listen to music as I continue to enjoy the latest releases from Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Micachu and Feist. Also, finished listening to a great Coast to Coast show from March 14, always food for thought.
Starting to get in some samples of the merchandise I've been designing through Zazzle and really enjoying the result.
Look forward to seeing many of you tonight.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
July 30th, 2009 - Acadia Cafe Tonight
I am really looking forward to playing with Andy B. and Matt U. tonight at the Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis. We have never gotten together to practice so there is a great spur of the moment improvisational feel to the show which makes it a lot of fun for me as I play the songs so much the same way on my own. We open the show at 9:00pm.
Haven't been listening to much music the last couple of days. Mostly NPR and Coast to Coast. Listening to a great Coast to Coast program about the spiritual experiences of extreme atheletes like mountain climbers and base jumpers that is really interesting.
As I mentioned yesterday I am trying to sell a bunch of gear I am not using on Craigslist and what not. I have gotten some pretty amusing spam scam messages that say things like "Hi,
I have instructed my assistant to send out your payment as soon you provide your full name,phone number and address. I can only pay via money order as am on business trip." Hilarious. I guess it is like telemarketing though, send it to a million people and a certain percentage will fall for it.
I have about 15-16 songs written for a new album, but I am really wanting to let the songs develop over a longer period of time, I have recorded some multiple times and doing performances of the songs with different groups has definitely helped the process. Enjoy the Process. While the new album will not be recorded or released any time soon, demos of about 10 of the songs are up at my online music archive site.
Also, if you haven't gotten a chance to check out my collaboration with local MC Hyphon, it is now available for free streaming and download. It was fun for me to work with music and musicians that are outside of my comfort zone so to speak.
I also have a track that my good friend Michelle Lynn and I collaborated on that will be on the new album she is working on. Until that comes out it is definitely worth taking a couple of minutes to check out her previous albums.
Objective Subject is another project I am really excited about. It is a collaboration album with my good friend Adam Ptacek. We always worked well together in Rearview Mirror and it has been great working on another project with him. The album is slowly but surely coming together. Haven't released any tracks yet but until we do you can check out some old collaborations we did together and also some of Adam's solo work.
Haven't been listening to much music the last couple of days. Mostly NPR and Coast to Coast. Listening to a great Coast to Coast program about the spiritual experiences of extreme atheletes like mountain climbers and base jumpers that is really interesting.
As I mentioned yesterday I am trying to sell a bunch of gear I am not using on Craigslist and what not. I have gotten some pretty amusing spam scam messages that say things like "Hi,
I have instructed my assistant to send out your payment as soon you provide your full name,phone number and address. I can only pay via money order as am on business trip." Hilarious. I guess it is like telemarketing though, send it to a million people and a certain percentage will fall for it.
I have about 15-16 songs written for a new album, but I am really wanting to let the songs develop over a longer period of time, I have recorded some multiple times and doing performances of the songs with different groups has definitely helped the process. Enjoy the Process. While the new album will not be recorded or released any time soon, demos of about 10 of the songs are up at my online music archive site.
Also, if you haven't gotten a chance to check out my collaboration with local MC Hyphon, it is now available for free streaming and download. It was fun for me to work with music and musicians that are outside of my comfort zone so to speak.
I also have a track that my good friend Michelle Lynn and I collaborated on that will be on the new album she is working on. Until that comes out it is definitely worth taking a couple of minutes to check out her previous albums.
Objective Subject is another project I am really excited about. It is a collaboration album with my good friend Adam Ptacek. We always worked well together in Rearview Mirror and it has been great working on another project with him. The album is slowly but surely coming together. Haven't released any tracks yet but until we do you can check out some old collaborations we did together and also some of Adam's solo work.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
July 29th, 2009 - The Return
Was in meetings yesterday so I didn't get a blog up. Got a couple of shows coming up tomorrow and Friday that I am really looking forward to. Tomorrow I am playing with Andy and Matt U. at the Acadia in Minneapolis, we hit the stage at 9:00 for a 45minute set. Friday night I am doing a show at the Root Note in LaCrosse playing solo with solo and duo sets from Joe Dawson and Casey Virock & Jeff Sherin. Should be a fun show, all ages, music starts at about 8:00-8:30. For more info on both of these shows click here.
I have almost finished uploading and organizing a archive of music I have recorded over the past 12 years. Most of the listenable cuts are available to listen to for free by clicking here. Definitely worth checking out when you have sometime.
Also, if you haven't heard it yet, my good friend Hyphon created a great track out of some music I recorded last year. Check it out now by clicking here.
In other news I am going through a musical gear purge and getting rid of everything I am not currently using. Not sure why I seem to do something like this on a semi-annual basis, but hey, my loss is your gain. Got a bunch of stuff up on La Crosse and Minneapolis Craiglist.
I have almost finished uploading and organizing a archive of music I have recorded over the past 12 years. Most of the listenable cuts are available to listen to for free by clicking here. Definitely worth checking out when you have sometime.
Also, if you haven't heard it yet, my good friend Hyphon created a great track out of some music I recorded last year. Check it out now by clicking here.
In other news I am going through a musical gear purge and getting rid of everything I am not currently using. Not sure why I seem to do something like this on a semi-annual basis, but hey, my loss is your gain. Got a bunch of stuff up on La Crosse and Minneapolis Craiglist.
Monday, July 27, 2009
July 27th, 2009 - Edit Path
Today's featured free music download is an experimental cut off 2002's "Completions Constructions & Works in Progress : Part 1". Monday has arrived, once again signaling the end of a productive weekend. Had fun playin with Joe, Jeff, Casey, and Adam at the St. Paul Eagles Club. I am still struggling with being able to hear myself as well as I would like at the louder rock shows which directly correlates to my enjoyment of the show. I sing fairly quietly and singing louder to hear myself often results in bizarre African throat singing.
This weekend I listened to the new Portugal The Man record "The Satanic Satanist", pretty good record, a little more major key than their previous effort "Censored Colors", and to be honest listening to the new album just made me want to hear the previous record. Also listened to more Grizzly Bear, Department of Eagles, Micachu, Chordettes, Gentleman Reg, etc...
Getting an old Airline/Montgomery Ward 1x12 combo shipped to me today. Hoping it survives shipping in good shape and is a good pairing with my favorite amp. The Lectrolab 1x10 combo.
Couple of shows coming up this week should be fun. Thursday night at Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis with Andy and Matt U. and then a quieter percussion free show Friday night at The Root Note in LaCrosse, WI with Casey Virock, Joe Dawson and Jeff Sherin.
Finished up designing some new merchandise this weekend, got some buttons on order for my bandmates and am anxious to see how some of the designs look when they get shipped to me this week.
Friday, July 24, 2009
July 24th, 2009 - Capture What Eludes You
Today's featured free download is a demo of "Capture What Eludes You". This song is really about how in life we are all searching for a purpose, something to make us want to get up in the morning and how often our fear of the unknown or trying something new prevents us from capturing what eludes us. If you have ever felt that way it is probably worth checking out.
I have got 3 shows coming up in the next week so you should easily be able to catch one. I am playing tonight in Minneapolis at the St. Paul Eagles Club with the full five-piece electric group, next Thursday in Minneapolis at the Acadia Cafe with the 3-piece electric group and next Friday acoustic/electric with friends Casey, Jeff S. and Joe at the Root Note in LaCrosse, WI. Check out Facebook for more info.
Casey and Jeff who play in the amazing Porcupine and also help me peform my music just did an interview you can check out online here.
Below is the albums I listened to yesterday:
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
It took me awhile to get into this record, like a long while, but it was definitely worth the effort, may be true for you as well. Especially the opening track "Peacebone".
Blind Melon - Nico
My best friends and bandmates in Rearview Mirror (Jason & Adam) got me into this group finally a few years ago and I have become a big fan. This album is a collection of unreleased b-sides and what not.
The Dismemberment Plan - Change
This a really cool group that is no longer playing together. They released a number of albums and this is my favorite by far. Be warned though, if you get it you will be listening to it daily for the next six months.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
July 23rd, 2009 - Jiggy
Today's featured free music download "Jiggy" reaches deep into the archives and offers up a track that was recorded over 10 years. Gives you a good insight into what I was working on in Highschool. Listen and discuss.
Music I listened to yesterday =
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
This is a great album which gets better with every listen. Featuring Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear. This album was released last year and definitely worth a listen.
Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild (soundtrack)
Pearl Jam's singer provides a musical soundtrack filled with short "Who" inspired tracks that do a great job of supporting a great movie. Definitely worth checking out the music and the film if you have not yet done so.
Frank Sinatra - Classic Sinatra
Oh to have Sinatra's sweet crooning abilities for even one day would be fascinating. This greatest hits style collection travels through the world of Sinatra. Always a great listen after lunch.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
July 22nd, 2009 - Why oh Why Acoustic
Today's featured free download is an acoustic version of "Why oh Why" which was recorded during the pre-production stages of the Vision Question album. Check it.
Below are the albums I listened to yesterday.
St. Vincent - Actor
This is the second album from Annie Clark, a former member of the Polyphonic Spree who has discovered that she can make magical music on her own. I have really been enjoying this album and think it is definitely worth checking out.
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
If you like Radiohead you like Thom Yorke and I do like Radiohead. I also really enjoy his first solo album that was released a couple of years ago. Definitely worth spending sometime with this album.
Throw Me The Statue - Moonbeams Throw me the Statue is the solo recording project of Scott Reitherman. This album was released a couple of years ago on Secretly Canadian. While the album has way to many songs in my opinion, that does not detract from the fact that many are very enjoyable.
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