One Foot in the Lawnmower

PAs Preview

2007-11-26T19:49:00.000-08:00

We'll be hitting PA's Lounge for the first time on December 7th, with Shoney Lamar and those acoustic/esoteric mountaineers the Moss Mountain Project. Probably our last gig before we all break for "holidays". Incidentally, that show will occur on Pearl Harbor Day. What that means vis-a-vis this particular gig is unclear, but I feel it deserves mention.

Im listening to "Wrecking Ball" by Emmylou Harris at this moment, which is a sombre listen, containing a gorgeous, affecting rendition of Lucinda WIlliams' "Sweet Old World," the most beautiful song about suicide that I have ever heard.

What else is circulating through my head lately? glad you asked....

1) The Narrow Road to Oku, by my homeboys The Octagon. Peep them on myspace and tell me the songs dont imprint themselves right on your brain. Maybe Im particularly susceptible to the Guided By Voices influence after having spent all the nights of my 10th grade year falling asleep to a 5 disc changer full of Bob Pollard, courtesy of my nocturnal roommate, the Octagon vocalist/songsmith Zack Mexico.

2) the Gospel Collection by George Jones. Heard "I'll Fly Away" on Pandora at work and was intrigued. sampled a couple more tunes when I got home and was sold on the disc. Appeals to the dad-rockist in me. Jones' vocal is strong but vulnerable, and the arrangements are clean and warm. Listened to this on the bus down to Greenwich the other day. Felt oddly appropriate.

3) Petty--"Pack up the Plantation" -- Everyone knows Tom Petty has written a hell of a lot of great songs. Not everybody realizes QUITE how many. When you weigh his modern AOR classlcs with somewhat lesser known live material like this record, it starts to become obvious--the dude is a serious heavyweight. The arrangement of "The Waiting" on this record is a mini-masterpiece-- an archetypal pop-rock song.

of sloth and balls

2007-11-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

hey hey my old computer was GANKED last week, but that has far less to do with my infrequent blogging than basic sloth. But I'm re-inspired to pick up the pen and the pick lately, so hopefully a flurry of witty postings and tasty guitar work are in the offing for you, our faithful, humble, potentially confused supporter and/or bored-to-tears workplace internet-cruiser.

So our band's practice habits have slackened lately, but Ben has compensated nicely with a burst of creative energy. He architected some new tunes which the band has filled out in characteristic form-- a slab of goth-americana, a side of old fashioned swamp stomp, and some Crouch-flavored lyrical gravy about running to god/running away from god/god knows what.

We "debuted" a couple tunes at last week's Midway gig, (which was nothing to write home about, or to write a blog about, btw) but we're hoping that the energy of Friday's TT's show will really fuel these. Its interesting how the vibe of live playing really changes songs vs. how they feel in rehearsal or recorded settings.

Also will be interesting to see how we accomodate my new insrument, this sikk and deadly baritone guitar:

Thing looks gorgeous and sounds like two gigantic, mountainous testicles (in a good way), but is unweildy. Its introduction to the fray presents challenges, but they're good challenges.

Anyway, look for us (definately) and it (potentially) at TTs this Friday back with our friends The Gulf. Meantime, no big other news...just working out some new shows and keeping the recording pipe-dream alive.

Method Man, The Red Elvises, and Me. Recapping our last gig.

2007-10-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Im listening to Method Man's "Tical" Album, which I've always loved, but its occurring to me that this is record is archetypal of a yet-to-be-classified period in rap, the early 90s. In terms of pop-cultural and commercial impact, as well as diversity of output, you could probably compare it to the "classic rock" era. "classic rap"? "golden age" rap? You make the call.

None of this has anything to do with our band, but, logical segue be-damned, I turn from the commerical rap of my youth to the non-commercial indie/roots/goth-americana amalgamation of my present, 30 seconds of which are peepable below:

That expensively-produced, MTV-ready clip was "shot" a couple weeks ago as we we warmed the stage for The Red Elvises. We played well, but we were not fully prepared for the Elvises. When I walked in on them naked backstage, I knew we were in for something notable, but holy shit. Between the colossal bass balalaika, the chanteuse, the thunderous drum solo, the threadbare leopard-print getups, and the packed house of red elvisites, this was a rare spectacle, and a great time. Rather disappointingly, we failed to get any pics of our brush w/ the Elvises, but here's a tasty pic of Elvises Igor and Elena:

Are you ready for drum solo? elena, Igor and co brought the fun the other night

Summertime Recap part I: Casting Pods, Alex's Worst Week Ever and the Bizarro Oak Ridge Boys

2007-10-17T20:28:00.001-07:00

So where were we?

Couple of small shows and a couple of big shows since last I blogged, with a podcast, a little recording, the worst week of Alex's life, the best week of Alex's life, and some frisky Russians in between. Thats a lot of action, so all apologies for being slow to report and preview the news. I'll make it up to you starting now--in the form of a two-part ramblin recap.

Lets rip it out like a stank bandaid.

The recording process is progressing at a borderline imperceptible clip. Glacial speed. But that doesnt meant its not happening. Somewhat arbitrarily, we've settled on "Jersey Devil" for our first foray into self-recorded musical indulgence, and tracking is complete, but progress has been glacial as we scrounge for cash and time and devote ourselves to the more enjoyable business of creating and playing out. So look out for a record....just probably not before Chinese Democracy hits shelves.

But take heart, friends, as we did receive remarkably terrific hospitality from our new friends Andy Guthrie and Jen Kelley over at Bandinbostonpodcast.com. We envy these folks for their ability to crank out both delicious cheese plates and tasty recordings, and they turned out a terrific flophouse session with us. We were honored to pass thru their increasingly famous livingroom, and plesed with the results--a warts n' all snapshot of our band (and aren't the warts sometimes the best parts after all?). So please download and enjoy!

Jen n Andy, and a couple of my musical entourage have belatedly turned me on to the world of podcasting and distributing our music across the rich podsafe music network--so hopefully as the recording process transpires this can be a part of the band's future.

Meantime, there's been a lot happening in the band's present! Shows to play, nuptuals to be nuptualed, new instruments to adopt. We followed the flophouse w/ our longest and boldest show yet over at our favorite out-of-the-way dive, the Midway Cafe. Closing out our strongest bill to date, we collected remnants of what was left of a stage destroyed by the Moss Mountain Project and the Wrong Reasons, and rattled out 90 minutes. As if the bill weren't enough inspiration, Ben always gets particularly jazzed by this spot. I attribute this to its clientele, the exact types of conflicted, colorful, boozy folk that inhabit his songs. He connects to the place.

Needless to say he opened up the throttle on those baritone pipes for the "the Pilgrim," 3 minutes of stompin, slidin doom folk, with some gospeltastic, bizarrOak Ridge Boys harmonizing in between. It was a choice way to open this long night of hollerin', a gig that served as a defacto "band-iversary" celebration and catapulted us into our fall slate....highlights of which I'll review and preview next time around.

The Pilgrim Lands at the Yacht Club

2007-08-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to report that last night's gig at the nondescript Bulfinch Yacht Club went much better than my fantasy football draft. The crowd was small, but the energy was right-on, and this sideman was lovin' it.

First up, most sincere props to a few people who really elevated the vibe:

1) our visiting mandolin collaborator 'Bassy Diamond Phillips. On zero notice, this master of all things fretted lent his Berklee-trained chops to a spirited "Leif Hillman" and a solid "Picher OK."

2) our diehard fans Chris and Kayla, who, to the great benefit of our humble outfit, continue to duke it out for the coveted "perfect attendance" award

3) our new friends Los Hijos Unicos. These uber-nice dudes played a wholly enjoyable alt-country set prior to ours, and astutely picked up on our earnest entreaty to join us onstage for the last tune, "Cold Water." Admittedly, I was intoxicated by that time, but I really don't think that disqualifies me from declaring that the sing-along, to use the pro-wrestling slang, really pushed that song through the moon.

Now, aside from our terrific, impromptu collabs, the show was marked by the auspicious debut of the incendiary new tune, "The Pilgrim," which really shoud emerge as a set staple. Crouch/Kissel (or is it Kissel/Crouch) once again tag-teamed on the musical architecture, which is wholly and entirely BA, and Munday and I supplied the stomp--inspired, gotta admit, by the Rev. Payton.

Sadly, the aforementioned Fantasy Football draft precluded me from peeping the early act, but all reports were that she played great, and the Unicos were right up our alley with their slightly screwy americana stylings. We'd be down to share another bill with them and hope to get to down the road....as for the time being, the real priority is putting together our record and getting something out there by the fall. We'll keep you posted.

Of Folk Fests and out of market gigs

2007-07-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Couple weeks since wrapping our early-summer slate o' gigs, and a couple days past a great evening of music at the Green River Fest. Saw the incomparable Buddy Guy and his stellar band, a downrigt pastoral set from Neko Case, and a gritty, stompin set of hillbilly surf rock (if such a thing exists) from Southern Culture on the Skids.

Also, particuarly impressed with the festival crowd...a knowledgable lot as it turned out, thought they could've done a better job managing the porta-potties (thats for another post). I tell you what...as I marvelled at the sheer badassity of Guy's right hand man/guitar protegee, Munday and I were accosted by a vertically challenged concertgoer who it turned out had run a club on the 60s electric blues circuit---the same one that birthed the legend of Guy, Alberts King and Collins, Otis Rush, and so on. She seemed quite enamored of Guy--"he was soo hot then"--but also well versed in blues, better versed than I in fact. Guy had the crowd in his palm--he really was a charming showman--and he poured it on when necessary. Blues may not be the most inventive of forms these days, but it sure does endure. Old rockers become punchlines, old blues guys become treasures...and Guy is a treasure.

Meantime, having wrapped a musically successful and financially disastrous slate of gigs down in New York and up here in JP, Resurectionists have returned to the cavern to record and chart our course for the next few months. On tap is a potential retun to NYC and a rollickin' nite at the Bullfinch Yacht Club in August, and a terrific bill over at Midway Cafe in September. Details to follow shortly...and we'll need a good hometown turnout so please get the lead out. we wont let you down.

Material-wise, we continue to press onward and upward. I've busted out the slide for the latest tune, "the Pilgrim" and Kissel and Crouch continue to explore uncharted vocal terrain via their prolific songwriting partnership. Its a doozy.

Soulful in my vintage Danny Ainge Reeboks.

All Asia w/ Junior League -- recapping the bash

2007-06-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

At this moment, I'm listening to Lucinda Williams' "West," which is a sombre listen. This album received decidedly mixed reviews (as opposed to the uniformly glowing acclaim lavished upon virtually all her other releases). This response, I think, is to her benefit, because it means it struck people in wildly different ways, which is a good sign. It also, to me, reflects that many critics seemed to just really want to finally dislike a lucinda williams record, because it is just as good--maybe better--than, say, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," which was one of the most astonishingly acclaimed discs ever. But enough of this tangent. I meant to mention Lucinda's current presence in my right eardrum just to provide context, because her forlorn tunes might temper my recap of last nights bash, but hopefully only slightly.

Suffice it to say that last night's gig at the deceptively named All Asia bar was a touch surreal but also a good step forward for us as we get ready for our first steps out o' beantown/genetown. With the low-stage, chattery crowd, pretense-free vibe, drunkey-drunks, and do-it-yerself logistics (yeh, that was ben and i taking care of biz at the door and Munday on the soundboard), it felt more like a house-party than any show we've played yet. Im honestly surprised the beer wasn't served in red plastic cups. The laid-back booziness of the place suited our new friend Lissy Rosemont and her crew Junior League to a T (and im not just saying that...these guys are a feel-good unit. they play elegant, eclectic roots-rock, the kind of music that warms up a room instantaneously).

Our new friends Junior League, w/ goblet and stately portraits.

Junior League is a model of efficiency ladely--they just laid down a full album, they're playing everywhere, they're doing press and merch and the whole nine (all while tryng to hold down day-jobs). All these efforts showed in their set. Lissy plays a decent banjo, but her best asset as a performer is her congenial manner on the stage--comfy, warm, inviting. She laid down the perfect vibe for the altogether pretense-free All Asia. Best shit I've heard at that bar before, and we're glad to have been in their whirlwind for the nite.

We worked out our shiznit too...the new tune "cold water", boueyed by Lissy's accompaniment, went over great, and the show turned a major corner with Kissell's redonkulous vocal on "oh mary." Like a man enveloped by the combination of god and whiskey that seems to invade all our lyrics, Kissell absolutely stole that song and shit got quiet in that room in a hurry, including on my end, as i was borderline CRIPPLED by kissels vocal intensity.

But enough about me...and enough about us. we're as pumped to have shared a stage w/ Jr. League much as we were pumped to play w/ the rev. peyton last week. Here's hoping the momentum continues down in NY. And again, if yer reading this, thanks and come out and take part in our musical shennaniganery. rock.

Alliance afoot in undisclosed chinatown location

2007-06-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Worked thru some material w/ our friends The Gulf last evening in their deeply mysterious Chinatown lair. The aim was to develop some potential collabs on our upcoming New York/New Jersey weekend. Luckily, some Johnny Cash-flavored rockabilly and a warm n fuzzy Tom Waits stomp materialized out of the evening; and, this being the Gulf and all, the sound was predictably lush, atmospheric, and tight. The lesson: we're fortunate as hell to get to collaborate with musicians of this caliber and we hope they'll continue letting us linger around.

If you just cant get enough of my blathering about these dudes, you can check this article, which I wrote ages ago (seemingly) during my short stint with Insite Magazine. Pleased am I to now be actually collaborating w/ them.

The Gulf, w/ steeds (inexplicably)

Meantime, we're a-gearing up for All Asia this saturday, which should be a blast. I dont know what specifically has to happen for bands to officially go from "[name of guy in band]'s new band" status to "up and coming" status-- I suppose its a combination of musical cohesion and a fanbase that consists, at least somewhat, of people who dont know the band personally. Well, musically at least, we're hitting that turning point and the shows are starting to reflect it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a civic obligation (jury duty in malden) to attend to....

The Big Damn Band Kills. Everyone stands idly. Abbey Lounge 6/14

2007-06-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Im sure I speak for the bandmates when I say I'm glad to have shared a bill w/ the Big Damn family band and would love to catch em again at one of their 250 (!!!!!!!!!) shows/year (really), preferably an outdoor festival. They play absolutely righteous, furious dixie stomp; they roll across the country in a van and have no permanent residence; they meticulously groom and shine their hair (her) and beard (him); their cousin was on cops.

Yes, the Rev. Payton's Big Damn Band absolutely stole last nite's Abbey Lounge show, and we're glad to have warmed the stage for em, but you'd never know about it, because everyone was friggin listless. The Abbey is notrious for this kinda thing, but this was ridiculous. Payton & Co. KILLED it with their brand of bellowin', high-leg-stompin', washboard shufflin, dobro-poundin' delta fury and all people could muster was the official dance of the Abbey Lounge--the tepid "head-nod" manuver. I was as criminally stationary as everyone else, but I had something of an excuse, having been sick as all hell (not to mention being a pathetic dancer). I s'pose the other Abbey denizens fell pray to the dreary culture of the Abbey on an "off" night--and by "off" I mean any night where the place isnt packed, the bill doens't consist of unadulterated blues-based barroom rawk, and not everyone is pissed-drunk. Just seems like, for a "famous" music spot, the culture of that room can be awfully spiritless.

The reverend Payton's Big Damn Band stomped and bellowed their way through the Abbey with us last nite. Although everyone had ants in their pants, no one actually danced.

But thats ok. Relative lack of energy didnt prevent the abbey foray from being a good kickoff to our upcoming flurry of shows. We grow increasingly comfortable w/ our material and continue to move forward with our brand of americana-laced guitar rawk. and even if we appeared (according to kayla) too introverted (even sad?!!?) onstage, we played well, and we continue to move in a positive direction.

To that end, crouch is attempting to control his brand new fretless acoustic bass, I've got my sights set on a baritone axe, and kissell's broke-ass is toying with his old harmonica, so shit will continue to evolve. And if you're reading this right now, that means someone is interested, and we're grateful. We'll see you sometime this summer. Dont be afraid to shake a leg if you feel it.

2007-04-18T17:54:00.000-07:00