This is a new demo of an old song. 1.5 years old, I’d say. I’m not sure what will happen with this. I’m not the hugest fan of the structure of itself, or the rhythm guitar stuff. It could use some stretching, mushing, etc.
Ideas?
Also, Goat Gouda!
1. Spot, the loyal sheep dog
2. One of many barn cats
Becomes Mobile
1. Your Song
2. Baby Bird
3. Be Kind To Your Conscience
4. All I Really Want (with Dreaming Kids)
5. Loud & Hard
6. Ready To Leave
7. I Like To Sleep
8. I Do (Instrumental
Does anybody who knows this page exists want a cd? Maybe I’d send you one. I just packaged one for a girl from Carbondale, Illinois. It was fun. If you admittedly never listen to cds, just take it from yousendit. I’ll repost that link in seven days when the site takes it off.
P.S. If I gave you one it probably wouldn’t look like this, but maybe it’d be something equally nice. I’ll probably blow it once in a while though.
1. Caravan in the driveway
2. Inside caravan
1. Escaped cattle
2. My Bedroom
So, there are some current things going on in music that I think are really great. This is not always the case, yeah?
Favorite Recent Release: Portishead, 3rd
Their first album in ten years. This is a band that I admittedly don’t really care/know about outside of this release, but perhaps that makes me less biased- its so good! A fitting soundtrack for a visit to some kind of sex dungeon. Heres the 3rd track from the album: Nylon Smile
Favorite Purchase (Ever?): Mount Eerie, Black Wooden Ceiling Opening
Phil Elverum is so, so good about distributing his releases. Here’s what I got in the mail a few weeks ago: A white vinyl 10″, a CD version of the album (with like 10 extra tracks), a giant poster, and a smaller poster. It was 14 dollars with shipping! AAAH! I had been meaning to buy something from him, and boy am I glad that I did. Oh, and the album is totally radical.
Favorite Video: Justice, DVNO
Holy shit!
Enough with that tourism baloney for now. I’d like to talk about music, which I don’t think I’ve done yet.
First of all, since I’ve been home, my life has been mostly consumed by good friends/ collaborators Vampires, seen here being insane people:
Anyway, after a few rotations, wobbly shows, and extended space jams, we have finally worked out a really solid lineup with which we will construct a really good set and hopefully play a lot, be enjoyed by all, etc etc. So its them plus me and Dev. Very excited about this.
Here’s a picture of Eric writing a song:
Friend Music Updates!
So, it turns out everyone I know is a musician.
My dear friend Kyle Gilbride is the real deal. He put 2 new songs up while I was away, both of which have seriously F’d me up. They are my favorite songs he has recorded; simple, strong, short. My fav is “I’ll Grow”- hooboy. Here he is being an indie folk heart throb.
Rachel Browne, I have been told, is now shredding the electric guitar and has a band assembled, which was totally the next important step for her, aside from graduating the shit out of SUNY Purchase. Also note: Rachel gets hundreds of hits a day on her Myspace. Also, she is working on a full length album with Serious Music Guy Dan Romer. Imminent fame? Could be. Here she is being a 90s babe.
Old pals Gordon Kenny and Matthew “Beans” Aidala are still playing as Double Wonderful, a band that has now had, like, 5 versions of itself in the last 2 years. It was actually the first band that I sung for! Anywhoo, right now, the lineup is Gordo, Matt, and new guitarist Brendan Parker. Most notably, they have managed to befriend DIY Music Superhero/Bearded Old Man R. Stevie Moore.
Then theres John. John has made 2 full albums, officially putting to shame everyone else I know. As for new stuff, he says he has 8 new songs or so on his 16 track up in upstate New York, but no computer to import them onto, so I might have to take it upon myself go and liberate those songs. Check out “When I Lie” on his myspace, it is the coolest song ever.
Finally, I’ll mention Columbia University’s premiere banjo-related act, The Kitchen Cabinet. These guys are friends with Al Green and the Hot New Indie Name Bogarding Sensation Vampire Weekend. Ashraya, lead singer, friend, and sister of my band mate Dev, HAD A CANDLE LIT DINNER WITH AL GREEN. Just check her blog for proof. I really like “That Night”, but it is probably an oldie by now- these guys play a lot.
(not pictured: Al Green, Vampire Weekend)
I have come to these conclusions about Rome:
1. Every man, not excluding priests and law-enforcers, takes it as their birth rite to shamelessly oogle
2. Public transportation, unlike in Ireland, is the chariot of the penniless and the insane
3. Much like Ireland, dancing at a bar/club/anywhere is NOT cool
4. If the city was to be summed up with one color, I’d choose a filthy off-white
5. Art, a surprising amount of which is worth looking at, is crammed into every conceivable space
6. Amount of sidewalk dog shit: Rome > Dublin
7. Amount of graffiti: Rome > Dublin
As was inevitable, this blog stopped being updated. I’m going to backtrack and post a bunch of stuff about the rest of my trip, if only to have it written and logged somewhere. After that, I’m thinking I’ll use this page more broadly- music, videos, etc.
First things first.
I went to Rome. Having grown up in a family whose appreciation for/involvement with food goes far beyond Sloppy Joe Tuesdays, being in Rome felt closer to home than I had been in months. Admittedly, I limited myself to fairly cheap street food, but staying within those parameters was no trouble at all. Everything I ate was good, thanks in large part to my personal tour guide/old friend Jennie.
Anyway, I’d say 60% of my visit involved eating things. I logged everything I ate, either in photograph or writing. I’ll be presenting dad with these on Father’s Day. I thought that was a pretty darn good idea, the only problem being that most of my memories of the city involve salted cured meat or espresso. Maybe thats not a problem, actually.
Here are some of the things I ate:
Sorry, that “involvement with food” part was cryptic and lofty sounding. My dad is a chef! Also, this. Go Dad!
