I finished a demo yesterday, which is exciting for me as it’s been two years since Iowa Anvil came out. It’s also just in time for my tour which starts today. There are seven songs: two of them have appeared on Ball of Wax compilations (“Conditions” on Volume 2, “Here Comes the Revolution” on Volume 4). Among the rest, two are pretty much done, one is halfway there, and two are just demos. Here’s the track listing:
1. Conditions
2. Price
3. Bastards
4. Cheap Wine
5. Bet (the Jesus song)
6. Rust
7. Here Comes the Revolution (Andrea Maxand)
Here’s what it looks like:
I’ve only made 50 of these, burned on CDR, individually stamped and numbered. They’ll be available at shows for $4, or for free if I like ya!
A week ago yesterday, Ball of Wax Volume 4 was released, featuring 16 songs by local artists all of whom covered each other. I covered Andrea Maxand’s “Here Comes the Revolution,” and Smile Brigade covered my song “Devices.” Rosyvelt is on it too (featuring your’s truly moonlighting as a rock drummer), as is Seth Howard, and a bunch of our local faves. It’s a great comp, and it’s cheap — click here to see it on the J-Shirt Records homepage with links to buy it via PayPal. It’s $4! And that includes shipping! As always, many thanks to Levi Fuller for putting it all together.
In other news, in two weeks I’m going on a short Northwest tour. Check out the schedule, and come see me if you’ll be in Portland, OR, Kennewick, WA, Pullman, WA, Spokane, WA, or Missoula, MT.
I sometimes get asked when my next record is coming out. It’s true I’m taking a long time at it, to the extent that I don’t want to make predictions. And yet, a lot of music-related activity is going on. Two weekends ago I visited Portland to help out on Daniel G. Harmann’s next album, which is pretty far along already and sounding very good. The next day I helped engineer on Brent Amaker and the Rodeo’s upcoming recordings. The Rodeo’s Tim Harmon (of Troop 237 fame) is employing a “one-mic” technique for these songs, using vintage equipment, so we got to pretend we were at Sun in the 50s. I got to hit some “record” and “rewind” buttons. And then three days later Rosyvelt came over to the basement to continue work on our upcoming first album. Then, on Saturday, I figured out what was causing a parasitic humming noise in my studio (a ground loop), and made some progress on an Andrea Maxand cover I’m doing for Ball of Wax. And then in the last couple of days I recorded a drum track that may or may not make it into the song Dan and I were working on the other weekend.
So you can see why things are taking a while.
I have time for dumb things too: I created a photos page since we have a lot of them now.
Happy New Year, first of all. Second, I’m hating the rain today. Really hating it. But third, I have a new favorite band/recording project: Troop 237. Check it out: myspace.com/troop237.
I saw Rose Melberg tonight! I even met her and shook her hand. For those not in the know Rose was in the Softies, and is one of my very favorite songwriters and singers. Top 5 favorite. Rose is in the middle of her first tour in a long time, and tonight she was in Olympia. It sounds like she’ll be recording a new record sometime next year — check out this site for more. She played a bunch of new songs and a few old ones. If you’re in Portland tomorrow or Anacortes Tuesday you shouldn’t miss her.
I should mention you can now order Ball of Wax Volume 2 on the J-Shirt site for $3 plus $1 shipping. That’s a ridiculously cheap price for 19 songs in a handmade, screenprinted sleeve (care of Levi Fuller). Ridiculous! Order several!
Hello, I have an announcement about the graze t-shirts. I’ve ordered more of them, and I’ve added a size, and also decided to do away with some sizes. Specifically, I’m doing away with the women’s shirts because: 1. it’s way, waaay too complicated to deal with that many sizes at shows. It’s ridiculous. It really is. And 2. as far as I’m concerned, t-shirts are t-shirts. It’s true that I don’t have breasts, technically, but in fairness, I also don’t not not have breasts. Sizes will now be: Men’s S, M, L, XL, XXL. I also still have some women’s shirts, in the following sizes and colors. Olive: S, M/OS, L. Brown: S, M/OS. Buy them before they’re bought’en!
Here’s a poster that Jeffrey designed for our show Wednesday at the crocodile:
It’s pretty. By the way, you should go. To the show I mean.
I have shows coming up, and they’re the only ones I have scheduled, which means they’re the last shows for a while. So, you should come out to see them — the graze home page has the details.