Greatings. I just wanted to touch base - it’s been a few weeks since the last news posting.
We’re especially excited to announce our newest team member, the LA-based, live sketch comedy show, Fries On The Side. FOTS is starting its 5th season this summer and I’m stoked to be working with them. Unlike traditional sketch comedy, Fries is a brutal mash-up of sketch and improv, with a casting call just 2 hours before show time, the actors must learn their lines and be ready for showtime with barely any rehearsal. The results are typically hilarious, and oftentimes genius. And there’s always a guest host and band. Former hosts include: Alan Ruck, Tommy Davidson, Christopher Titus and more! Here’s some live video from a prior show:
Great CMJ chart news with Clock Hands Strangle’s Redshift/Blueshift coming in in the top 100 for multiple weeks in a row. That’s exciting news for the Florida-based quintet.
I’m going to have some new announcements and roster additions this month as well, but I don’t want to speak too early. Expect plenty of awesome indie rock to come out of this office in the early parts of 2008, including releases from the Baskervilles, Mighty Purple, Pez Wilson and more!
That’s right - The Houstons’ debut album was released on CD January 1st and to celebrate the release they landed at #142 on CMJ’s Top 200 chart! Sure, they didn’t actually do anything to get there other than work their asses off to release an amazing album, which is getting rave reviews. BlogCritics.org just reviewed STILL yesterday and here’s a recap of what they had to say:
“…The result of this group effort is a mix of summery, introspective and mainly lo-fi indie-pop. Singer Justin Faircloth has a voice that sounds like a slightly gravely Rob Crow (of Pinback). Subjects touch on everything from reconciliation and death - check out the Isaac Brock-ish “Carry On” and “Acrobat” - to turmoil and acceptance.
The heart of the CD is the middle portion, the peak being epic energetic tracks like “Providence” and “Promise of Gold,” which has shades of Pavement. Other tracks have keys or warm organ textures and gently crafted string sections, including “Frozen Ride.” The intensely personal “Magnolia” is another standout...”
Hey y’alls! Just like Britney’s sister, I’m pregnant - but by pregnant I mean filled with love and happiness, not a baby. Merry Holidays to everyone out there. 2007 was a great year and 2008 is gon’ be betterer.
Rob Schrab’s “Twigger’s Holiday” review just ran in Harp magazine (along with a Shalini review) and I wanted to post it. The DVD came out in August, but it’s a great holiday gift for fans of Rob Schrab. Think “Sarah Silverman Program,” “Monster House,” “Heat Vision and Jack.”
You may have noticed that the old “pixel guy in a chair” logo has been replaced with Muigi and the Ghost. It’s modeled after the outfits I used to wear during my white wrapper (with a mustache) career in the ’80s while doing ’shrooms and convinced I was being chased by ghosts, so if you think it looks like anyone else then you’re mistaken.
Special thanks to the lead game designer Shark Guts for re-imagining my graphic/branding intentions with these lovely, quirky designs.
Here’s one Feisty video from Mr. Bob Wiseman, Canada’s own troubadour exemplar. CMJ took a peek at Bob Wiseman’s new video for “Who Am I” which stars the lovely, Leslie Feist and decided that they wanted first dibs on it, so it’s premiering at CMJ all this week before being publicly distributed. So, head on over to CMJ and see what all the fuss is about. The song is from Bob’s Theme And Variations album on Blocks Recording Club. Click here or on the picture to see the whole video!
Motion Turns It On is this week’s Amplifier Magazine “Amplified” band! Which means that they’re being highlighted over at AmplifierMagazine.com with a feature article and a stream of MTIO’s debut EP, Rima. Former “Amplified” artists include: The National, The Kooks, Maritime and more!
Bob Wiseman recently completed a European tour with (fellow Canadian) Feist and during their down time, Bob was working on a music video for his song, “Who Am I” which stars the lovely and talented Leslie Feist. The video is going to premier exclusively through CMJ very soon and will be available worldwide shortly after the premier. I’ll send out an announcement when the official debut date is um… official. Hopefully by next week.
These are exciting times and Bob is an exciting bard of a man.
Here is a trailer to the documentary that I’m producing entitled, The Secret Altar. It’s about the Milestone Club in Charlotte, NC, a dive bar/venue first opened in 1969. It’s been through various states of ownership and now is run by Neal M.F. Harper.
Since the White Stripes are talking some well deserved time off (but, not from releasing merchandise), it’s our pleasure to announce The Feist Stripes. OK - it’s just Bouncing Bobby Wiseman with new (guest) drummer, Feist. Check out this video from Bob Wiseman’s last European show opening for Feist. He’ll be in the Europe for a little while longer.
