Remember to head out to the High Dive this Friday night to celebrate the release of Tea Cozies "Hot Probs". Here's what Seattle Weekly has to say about them and their album.
http://www.seattleweekly.com/events/tea-cozies-cd-release-the-ironclads-katharine-hepburns-voice-637235/
It’s natural to expect bouncy, upbeat pop music from a band with an adorable name like the Tea Cozies, and the band’s brand-new record Hot Probs—produced by local pop music savant Erik Blood—delivers just that. But while bright ditties like "Pretty Pages" and "Corner Store Girls" share a lot in common with the sweet, summery songs Michigan band Saturday Looks Good To Me does so well (“Underwater Heartbeat” comes to mind), the Tea Cozies aren’t all cotton candy and rainbows. Numbers like "Huffy Walrus" start out like a cleaned-up Bikini Kill demo, with screaming vocals and lots of distortion. But the band doesn’t sustain that hard edge; later on, the song breaks out into a chorus of “oh ah ohs,” a shtick that’s just about as pop as it gets. It’s a deliberate, exciting juxtaposition that proves the Tea Cozies’ three founding ladies (and their lone bass-playing gentleman) know exactly what they’re doing. - Sara Brickner
awww...I blush
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO SOME TEA COZIES
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Black Daisy vs. Swine Flu
This past weekend, while everyone around the world was dusting off their SARS masks and preparing to be ravaged by a new scary disease, I was inhaling the deadly fumes of Black Daisy. Will I survive this?
Those of you not familiar with Black Daisy, I would highly recommend check out their videos here. This isn't our first interaction, either. I had a nasty hand in the recording of this song.
Because I know you're wondering, yes there is a new Voltage Periscope song on the upcoming Black Daisy album. I also believe that some pretty funny footage from the sessions will make it's way to the interwebs shortly. Enjoy.
Those of you not familiar with Black Daisy, I would highly recommend check out their videos here. This isn't our first interaction, either. I had a nasty hand in the recording of this song.
Because I know you're wondering, yes there is a new Voltage Periscope song on the upcoming Black Daisy album. I also believe that some pretty funny footage from the sessions will make it's way to the interwebs shortly. Enjoy.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
MBV: Everything and More
I had the extreme pleasure to see My Bloody Valentine live for the first time last night. If I ever needed to validate their slot as my favorite band ever, I got every bit of proof necessary.
Being a nerd about MBV, I went down with fellow nerd Phil Pickens (www.thecolorawesome.com) at around 3 in the afternoon. Phil had the good fortune to run into Deb Googe on Sunday afternoon and had a drink with her at 6 Arms. Since he's got excellent band meeting karma, I was happy to follow him to the venue early for a chance to rub elbows with these magical people. Sadly, our early arrival yielded no meetings, unless you count a stuttering bartender at a sport's bar and a group of cute kids humming the oh so familiar bendy "flute" melody from "I Only Said."
Sufficiently tipsy, Phil and I (who were now joined by our friends Xin Wong and Scott Kennedy) wandered into WAMU Theater and quickly bought t-shirts and buttons. We were given earplugs with a kind "warning" about the band's levels while we entered the show room, which was nowhere near full at this time. While more and more people came in, Phil and I began to get more and more giddy about the show. As we had assumed, we knew a large portion of the early crowd, and more friends and like minded music nerds filed in continuously until Kurt Heasley's AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL acoustic set (really an unexpected highlight for me.)
Quick side note: Phil and I yelled out "Won't Make You Sleepy" (our favorite Lily's tune) after Kurt's second song, to which he replied "That's a good idea!" but when he began to play it, he broke a string and went back to "Plan A".
Kurt was done, everyone was excited, earplugs were in. My favorite four musicians wander on stage and began blowing me away from the first chords of, believe it or not, "I Only Said." Phil and I quickly realized that the earplugs weren't really necessary at that time. I thought to myself "They must say this for people who aren't in bands." But two songs in, I had to reinsert the earplugs which made the songs come more into focus, oddly enough. I did alternate throughout the set, one song without plugs, one with, but decided during "Soon" that it would just be a better idea for me to keep them in. In several small fits of joy, I would hug Phil or Brian (my baby) and pogo like an idiot to "Thorn" or "When You Sleep", while other times we would just marvel at the spot on performances of "Cigarette in Your Bed" and "To Here Knows When".
You'll read a million posts about last night's "You Made Me Realise" so I'll just add a quick note about my experience during the 18 minute maelstrom in the middle of that 3 minute song. It begins and even with my earplugs in I began to have aches in my eardrums. Then, slowly but surely, my chest began to vibrate. The more violent low end got, the more my chest shook. I looked around at the 50 people I could see around me, all of whom were clutching their chests or jamming their fingers in their ears. Then my nose started to tickle, which seemed odd to me. I noticed that when my nose tickled, it was almost impossible to breathe through it. Were my nostrils flapping open and shut??? If I lifted one leg off the ground, I would feel the sole of my shoe vibrating. My skin tingled all over and I started feeling slightly euphoric. Not an unfamiliar sensation, or an unpleasant one, I have to say.
Walking out of the venue (which proved to be difficult) the crowd communed in this shared experience and you could hear a chorus of "WOW"s and "FUCK"s. Everyone I stood with agreed that it was the most satisfying show we could have hoped for. Every expectation of mine was met and exceeded. My favorite band is still my favorite band.
After that, we headed to Bus Stop for "My Bloody Afterparty" where Phil and I played music for a bar full of awesome people, most of whom were at the show. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
Being a nerd about MBV, I went down with fellow nerd Phil Pickens (www.thecolorawesome.com) at around 3 in the afternoon. Phil had the good fortune to run into Deb Googe on Sunday afternoon and had a drink with her at 6 Arms. Since he's got excellent band meeting karma, I was happy to follow him to the venue early for a chance to rub elbows with these magical people. Sadly, our early arrival yielded no meetings, unless you count a stuttering bartender at a sport's bar and a group of cute kids humming the oh so familiar bendy "flute" melody from "I Only Said."
Sufficiently tipsy, Phil and I (who were now joined by our friends Xin Wong and Scott Kennedy) wandered into WAMU Theater and quickly bought t-shirts and buttons. We were given earplugs with a kind "warning" about the band's levels while we entered the show room, which was nowhere near full at this time. While more and more people came in, Phil and I began to get more and more giddy about the show. As we had assumed, we knew a large portion of the early crowd, and more friends and like minded music nerds filed in continuously until Kurt Heasley's AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL acoustic set (really an unexpected highlight for me.)
Quick side note: Phil and I yelled out "Won't Make You Sleepy" (our favorite Lily's tune) after Kurt's second song, to which he replied "That's a good idea!" but when he began to play it, he broke a string and went back to "Plan A".
Kurt was done, everyone was excited, earplugs were in. My favorite four musicians wander on stage and began blowing me away from the first chords of, believe it or not, "I Only Said." Phil and I quickly realized that the earplugs weren't really necessary at that time. I thought to myself "They must say this for people who aren't in bands." But two songs in, I had to reinsert the earplugs which made the songs come more into focus, oddly enough. I did alternate throughout the set, one song without plugs, one with, but decided during "Soon" that it would just be a better idea for me to keep them in. In several small fits of joy, I would hug Phil or Brian (my baby) and pogo like an idiot to "Thorn" or "When You Sleep", while other times we would just marvel at the spot on performances of "Cigarette in Your Bed" and "To Here Knows When".
You'll read a million posts about last night's "You Made Me Realise" so I'll just add a quick note about my experience during the 18 minute maelstrom in the middle of that 3 minute song. It begins and even with my earplugs in I began to have aches in my eardrums. Then, slowly but surely, my chest began to vibrate. The more violent low end got, the more my chest shook. I looked around at the 50 people I could see around me, all of whom were clutching their chests or jamming their fingers in their ears. Then my nose started to tickle, which seemed odd to me. I noticed that when my nose tickled, it was almost impossible to breathe through it. Were my nostrils flapping open and shut??? If I lifted one leg off the ground, I would feel the sole of my shoe vibrating. My skin tingled all over and I started feeling slightly euphoric. Not an unfamiliar sensation, or an unpleasant one, I have to say.
Walking out of the venue (which proved to be difficult) the crowd communed in this shared experience and you could hear a chorus of "WOW"s and "FUCK"s. Everyone I stood with agreed that it was the most satisfying show we could have hoped for. Every expectation of mine was met and exceeded. My favorite band is still my favorite band.
After that, we headed to Bus Stop for "My Bloody Afterparty" where Phil and I played music for a bar full of awesome people, most of whom were at the show. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Remixes
I just finished a remix of "The Bird in the Ice" by The Milling Gowns. I've posted it to my new REMIX page, along with the SloAsions mix of "Big Action" by Ursula and the Androids and "All That Anyone Asked" by The Pica Beats.
If you're wondering who or what SloAsions is/are, please stay tuned...
If you're wondering who or what SloAsions is/are, please stay tuned...
Thursday, April 16, 2009
New Stuff
I just posted a couple of things on the PRESS page. You can go straight to the source below.
http://www.earcandybeat.com/?q=node/75
http://thenewgay.net/2009/04/4309.html
More to come soon. I've been having a very busy and interesting time, musically speaking. I'm looking forward to telling you all about it.
xo
http://www.earcandybeat.com/?q=node/75
http://thenewgay.net/2009/04/4309.html
More to come soon. I've been having a very busy and interesting time, musically speaking. I'm looking forward to telling you all about it.
xo
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Easter with The Lights (or "it's not you, it's me!")
Thankful for a lack of religious and or familial obligations on Easter, I spent that rainy Sunday at Mysterious Red X with three of my old friends. After two rounds of coffee, a cookie, a trip to Uwajimaya's food court, and three (or four) trips to Shell for potato chips and beer, thirteen hours passed and an album was completed. Technically...
Not yet titled, though several hilarious options were tossed around, there's a new album by The Lights that's basically done and ready to be mastered. Alas, I don't feel like I'm done with it yet. I'm being an overprotective mother. "It's cold outside and this album ain't got no gloves on!" I can't help but be like this when I think the songs are so amazing. So I'm going to sneak off into the studio over the next couple of weeks and try to complete it to my satisfaction. I'll let you know what comes up once I get started.
Go listen to their live performance from April 11th on KEXP's Audioasis by clicking here and selecting Saturday April 11th @ 8pm. It's a pretty amazing performance, and they play all new songs from the album of which I speak.
Not yet titled, though several hilarious options were tossed around, there's a new album by The Lights that's basically done and ready to be mastered. Alas, I don't feel like I'm done with it yet. I'm being an overprotective mother. "It's cold outside and this album ain't got no gloves on!" I can't help but be like this when I think the songs are so amazing. So I'm going to sneak off into the studio over the next couple of weeks and try to complete it to my satisfaction. I'll let you know what comes up once I get started.
Go listen to their live performance from April 11th on KEXP's Audioasis by clicking here and selecting Saturday April 11th @ 8pm. It's a pretty amazing performance, and they play all new songs from the album of which I speak.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Travis DeVries' album "Death to God" Coming Soon
Though the release date is yet to be official, Travis DeVries' debut solo album "Death to God" is starting to get some airplay on KEXP. I am assured by my friend at Noise on Noise Records that it will be released this spring.
Some may find it funny that once Travis and I decided to make solo albums, we also decided to have the rest of The Turn-ons perform on them, but can you really blame us? You can hear me, Corey, Will, and the magnificent return of Sharon Oshima on "Death to God" filling out Travis's strongest song writing to date. Travis told me he's got a band together in NYC and the show dates are starting to pop up on his Myspace page (you want to go to there).
This album took a really long time to finish, mainly because of the wealth of material Travis presented for consideration. Travis's sometimes overwhelming desire for perfection added a few weeks to the process, but always for the greater good. In the end, I think we put together a beautiful and haunting piece of music that's going to demand recognition.
Some may find it funny that once Travis and I decided to make solo albums, we also decided to have the rest of The Turn-ons perform on them, but can you really blame us? You can hear me, Corey, Will, and the magnificent return of Sharon Oshima on "Death to God" filling out Travis's strongest song writing to date. Travis told me he's got a band together in NYC and the show dates are starting to pop up on his Myspace page (you want to go to there).
This album took a really long time to finish, mainly because of the wealth of material Travis presented for consideration. Travis's sometimes overwhelming desire for perfection added a few weeks to the process, but always for the greater good. In the end, I think we put together a beautiful and haunting piece of music that's going to demand recognition.
Friday, April 3, 2009
OUTRAGED!!!
I just read of the tragic suicide of Eric Mohat, a 17 year old Ohio high school student who was bullied daily in front of teachers who did nothing.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/story?id=7228335&page=1
I’m heartbroken and furious!
If there are any gay teenagers in similar situations who happen to read this, HIGH SCHOOL ENDS AND YOU CAN LIVE YOUR LIFE AWAY FROM THOSE ASSHOLES! DON’T LOSE YOURSELF TO THIS BULLSHIT! YOU AREN’T AND HAVE NEVER BEEN ALONE!
Porno Music
Right after “The Way We Live” was mastered, I started writing new songs for another album. I was, for some reason, inspired to write about some of my favorite figures in 70’s pornography and for a while considered making the album entirely about porno. This proved to be more difficult than I had expected, but in the spirit of a challenge, I did a lot of research.
In my viewings of good, bad, straight, gay, boring, and nasty porno from it’s “Golden Age”, I found a little film called “Gladys’ All Girl Rock Group” on a compilation of no budget Super 8 flicks all involving rock music called Rock-O-Rama. The content was nostalgic at best, but not really inspiring by any sense of the word, but there amid the silly dialogue and forced eroticism was this brilliant piece of music.
Gladys' All Girl Rock Group (click here to listen)
Amazing! I haven’t been able to find out who this is, but I keep searching. Anyone have any ideas? I can’t get over how much it sounds like a 70’s Boards of Canada.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
...and we finished.
Just got home from MRX where Coulter and I put the finishing touches on his up-coming album “Sent to Coventry” which should be available this spring.
My favorite Chameleon Labs 7720 was back in action, which brought joy to our ears. Up next, a CD makes a trip to Florida and gets fondled by Kramer. This will be my 4th project that he has mastered for me and I can’t wait to hear it. I think I might be able to get Coulter to let me post a song here for yall to listen to. I’ll get back to you on that.
Tomorrow is a preproduction meeting with Altspeak to determine what’s going on with his next album. Stay tuned for more info.
xo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
