Didn't screw up too badly Thursday night (I may or may not have forgotten a line or two in Clampdown, but other than that it went pretty well). Surprisingly, there were no cover overlaps.
For those who were wondering, the covers we chose were:
Strawberry Fields Forever (The Beatles)
New Year's Day (U2)
Morning Glory (Oasis)
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)
Intervention (Arcade Fire)
Clampdown (The Clash)
We had a fun time doing Intervention and Bittersweet Symphony. Nico from Televandals and Wendy (who did strings on all our records and is currently in Common Thrill) joined us onstage and did a fantastic job. Motion Sick and Thick As Thieves were amazing, too. Motion Sick covered Tom Petty's "Listen To Her Heart" (a staple of Aloud's late-night driving marathons), and Thick As Thieves did Oasis' "Go Let It Out" (yet another late-night driving staple). I like those guys. I'd really like to play more shows with them in the future.
Off to Great Barrington, Massachusetts today. Let's see what adventure Bard College at Simon's Rock has in store for Aloud...
Henry
For those who were wondering, the covers we chose were:
Strawberry Fields Forever (The Beatles)
New Year's Day (U2)
Morning Glory (Oasis)
Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve)
Intervention (Arcade Fire)
Clampdown (The Clash)
We had a fun time doing Intervention and Bittersweet Symphony. Nico from Televandals and Wendy (who did strings on all our records and is currently in Common Thrill) joined us onstage and did a fantastic job. Motion Sick and Thick As Thieves were amazing, too. Motion Sick covered Tom Petty's "Listen To Her Heart" (a staple of Aloud's late-night driving marathons), and Thick As Thieves did Oasis' "Go Let It Out" (yet another late-night driving staple). I like those guys. I'd really like to play more shows with them in the future.
Off to Great Barrington, Massachusetts today. Let's see what adventure Bard College at Simon's Rock has in store for Aloud...
Henry
Thursday, January 29, 2009
There's been a lot of press coverage for Influenza tonight, which is awesome, but now I'm even more nervous about forgetting the words to songs. Hopefully by the time we play, everyone will be properly soused and singing along anyway. SCORE.
I cannot describe how horrendous last night's weather was. It was mostly rain, but the rain melted a good portion of the snow and ice that had built up over the last several weeks (meaning traversing through ankle-high ice cold water for yours truly), or trying to make it through slippery half-melted ice without falling on my ass (which means I'm linking to this for the umpteenth time in the history of the Aloud blog).
Needless to say, I'm very happy we're heading southbound on next month's tour.
Henry
Currently watching:
The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season
I cannot describe how horrendous last night's weather was. It was mostly rain, but the rain melted a good portion of the snow and ice that had built up over the last several weeks (meaning traversing through ankle-high ice cold water for yours truly), or trying to make it through slippery half-melted ice without falling on my ass (which means I'm linking to this for the umpteenth time in the history of the Aloud blog).
Needless to say, I'm very happy we're heading southbound on next month's tour.
Henry
Currently watching:The Simpsons - The Complete Ninth Season
Friday, January 23, 2009
Another long day yesterday, though admittedly not as long as Wednesday. Between rehearsing for the Influenza show and the tour (not to mention other band-related poppycock one has to deal with), I've been running on fumes of late. Looking to update the old Aloud-mobile in the next couple of weeks to something a little more spacious. We've had the old gal for nearly 5 years, and after 100,000 miles and countless leg cramps it's time to put her out to pasture. We took a trip to Providence with Annie to take a look at a van, but as nice as it was, it was not to be. Goddamn thing looked like a space ship.
I'm falling asleep at the keyboard here.. so.. I will leave you with another YouTube treasure.
Henry
Currently watching:
Family Guy, Volume 3
I'm falling asleep at the keyboard here.. so.. I will leave you with another YouTube treasure.
Henry
Currently watching:Family Guy, Volume 3
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Heading for the 90s, living in the 80s
Let's talk about music, kids.
I've been listening to this band Ex Norwegian a hell of a lot. Miami isn't exactly known for its burgeoning indie rock scene, but I'm very impressed by them (though I suppose technically they're from Miami Beach). We may be playing with them in Miami next month, and they're heading out on their own tour in March. Check them out at www.exnorwegian.com, and pre-order their album Standby. A+
After careful consideration, I have to vote in the "No" column for the new U2 single Get On Your Boots. I was listening to WBCN last night, and the DJ said the new U2 song has caused a spike in requests for old U2 (make of that what you will). If you haven't heard it yet, you can take a listen here: goyb.u2.com. It's certainly different enough from the last few records they've put out, which I can appreciate, but it sounds more like a bad U2 b-side than an album track, let alone a single. Lyrics are pretty lazy, too. Let's hope for their sake this was just an oversight and the rest of the album won't suck come March. C-
But if you think that's bad...
I've made no secret that despite it being the decade of my birth, I hate the 80s. I know it's a hell of a blanket statement to make, because it's not 100% true, but the whole romanticized version of the 80s people cling to drives me nuts. Synths generally make me gag. VH1 I Love The 80s (etc) makes fire shoot from my eye sockets. Thank goodness bands like The Clash and U2 (before they started ripping off The Escape Club) were around then. Bands that want to bring the 80s back sadden and confuse me.
I bring this up because Keane, whose first record I enjoyed and second record I ignored, but assume it's good, has gone so far into the Land of the Flock of Seagulls that it'd make the Killers blush. It's not even just the music. Even their logo is... ugh... What's next, pastels and blazers with enormous shoulder pads?
I mean, seriously, look at this: http://www.myspace.com/keane
Does it not look like 1984 just vomit all over their MySpace page? Take a listen to Spiraling, if you dare. F-
Ah well... Here's "Something Unreal" by Ex Norwegian.
Henry
I've been listening to this band Ex Norwegian a hell of a lot. Miami isn't exactly known for its burgeoning indie rock scene, but I'm very impressed by them (though I suppose technically they're from Miami Beach). We may be playing with them in Miami next month, and they're heading out on their own tour in March. Check them out at www.exnorwegian.com, and pre-order their album Standby. A+
After careful consideration, I have to vote in the "No" column for the new U2 single Get On Your Boots. I was listening to WBCN last night, and the DJ said the new U2 song has caused a spike in requests for old U2 (make of that what you will). If you haven't heard it yet, you can take a listen here: goyb.u2.com. It's certainly different enough from the last few records they've put out, which I can appreciate, but it sounds more like a bad U2 b-side than an album track, let alone a single. Lyrics are pretty lazy, too. Let's hope for their sake this was just an oversight and the rest of the album won't suck come March. C-
But if you think that's bad...
I've made no secret that despite it being the decade of my birth, I hate the 80s. I know it's a hell of a blanket statement to make, because it's not 100% true, but the whole romanticized version of the 80s people cling to drives me nuts. Synths generally make me gag. VH1 I Love The 80s (etc) makes fire shoot from my eye sockets. Thank goodness bands like The Clash and U2 (before they started ripping off The Escape Club) were around then. Bands that want to bring the 80s back sadden and confuse me.
I bring this up because Keane, whose first record I enjoyed and second record I ignored, but assume it's good, has gone so far into the Land of the Flock of Seagulls that it'd make the Killers blush. It's not even just the music. Even their logo is... ugh... What's next, pastels and blazers with enormous shoulder pads?
I mean, seriously, look at this: http://www.myspace.com/keane
Does it not look like 1984 just vomit all over their MySpace page? Take a listen to Spiraling, if you dare. F-
Ah well... Here's "Something Unreal" by Ex Norwegian.
Henry
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I hope we've learned our lesson.
Let's hope the next eight years are a little better, eh?
Henry
Currently watching:
The Presidential Inauguration
Let's hope the next eight years are a little better, eh?
Henry
Currently watching:The Presidential Inauguration
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dig Out Your Soul in the Streets
Had breakfast with Jen: coffee, bacon, and buttered toast (is there anything better than bacon?... NO).
Lord Don't Slow Me Down is on the tube, not really watching it so much as having it play in the background. I just saw this short documentary Oasis posted on their MySpace. It was pretty interesting. Before the release of Dig Out Your Soul, they gave out sheet music to NYC street/subway musicians and they would premiere the new tunes by having these folks play their interpretations out in public. Check it out below.
Before I go, I want to give our good friend Liz Acle a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Liz was the girl on the cover of Leave Your Light On (and briefly reprised her role as That Chick Banging On The Door in the Can You Hear Me Now? video). Liz is actually a producer and in between her globe-trotting, she runs a human rights non-profit called One Global Pulse. Czech that out, willya?
Alright, back to the coffee. Nom nom nom.
Henry
Currently watching:
Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Lord Don't Slow Me Down is on the tube, not really watching it so much as having it play in the background. I just saw this short documentary Oasis posted on their MySpace. It was pretty interesting. Before the release of Dig Out Your Soul, they gave out sheet music to NYC street/subway musicians and they would premiere the new tunes by having these folks play their interpretations out in public. Check it out below.
Before I go, I want to give our good friend Liz Acle a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Liz was the girl on the cover of Leave Your Light On (and briefly reprised her role as That Chick Banging On The Door in the Can You Hear Me Now? video). Liz is actually a producer and in between her globe-trotting, she runs a human rights non-profit called One Global Pulse. Czech that out, willya?
Alright, back to the coffee. Nom nom nom.
Henry
Currently watching:Lord Don't Slow Me Down
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Where does he get those wonderful toys?
I had to head down to the RMV this morning (aka the DMV everywhere else in the country). Today's experience was vastly improved from yesterday's. About the only major complaint for today is the discrepancy with their projected wait time (8 minutes) versus "actual" wait time (25 min.), but what can ya do. The teller woman was actually very nice today, and joked that next time I should smile for my picture. I'll consider it.
Apparently this has been floating around for months, but I just found this today. Someone decided to create a title screen and cut scenes for what an NES (but really, SNES) version of The Dark Knight would look like. I can only imagine how horrible the gameplay could've been (as horrible as the PlayStation 2 version of Batman Begins?.. probably not).
Take a look, it'll take you back.
Henry
Currently watching:
The Dark Knight
Apparently this has been floating around for months, but I just found this today. Someone decided to create a title screen and cut scenes for what an NES (but really, SNES) version of The Dark Knight would look like. I can only imagine how horrible the gameplay could've been (as horrible as the PlayStation 2 version of Batman Begins?.. probably not).
Take a look, it'll take you back.
Henry
Currently watching:The Dark Knight
Monday, January 12, 2009
We got the wheels, petrol is cheap
I found out a few days ago a gig in Miami is looking like a very real possibility next month. Jen and I haven't played there since 2000 (or 2001, if you count our friend Nick's backyard), so there's a mix of excitement and dread. Miami can be an unkind mistress when it comes to our music (ah, memories). It'll be good to catch up with some old friends.
However, if it all does go horribly awry, at least I know my grandma will insist on making kickass food. I'm convinced the woman is a wizard. How else would she have survived three heart attacks, a bypass operation, a car accident, no less than three falls, and working at the Post Office for some 30 years? The fucking dark arts, that's how.
The toggle switch on my Les Paul is screwy, which I'm not too happy about. I should love guitar maintenance, but really I don't (or perhaps it's something I love hating?). I'll tell you what I actually hate, though: the prospect of dropping another $80 to fix the damn thing.
Bah.. more coffee.
Henry
Currently listening to:
Pop
by U2
However, if it all does go horribly awry, at least I know my grandma will insist on making kickass food. I'm convinced the woman is a wizard. How else would she have survived three heart attacks, a bypass operation, a car accident, no less than three falls, and working at the Post Office for some 30 years? The fucking dark arts, that's how.
The toggle switch on my Les Paul is screwy, which I'm not too happy about. I should love guitar maintenance, but really I don't (or perhaps it's something I love hating?). I'll tell you what I actually hate, though: the prospect of dropping another $80 to fix the damn thing.
Bah.. more coffee.
Henry
Currently listening to:Pop
by U2
Saturday, January 10, 2009
It's snowing outside my window as I write. A storm every three days it feels like. No bother. We had a great afternoon at rehearsal. We've been learning these six covers will be playing for the Influenza show. For those of you who don't know, Influenza is a new monthly night happening in Boston. Three bands play half original, half covers of songs they deem most influential. Ever wondered who made Jen and Henry pick up a guitar? You'll find out on the 29th.
Like I said, it was a great rehearsal. It's been so much fun learning these songs I love so much. It's something Henry and I used to do back in high school all the time (besides writing songs), so I suppose it's a bit nostalgic as well. Mainly though it's just a lot of fun.
Cheers,
Jen
Currently listening to:
Magical Mystery Tour
by The Beatles
Like I said, it was a great rehearsal. It's been so much fun learning these songs I love so much. It's something Henry and I used to do back in high school all the time (besides writing songs), so I suppose it's a bit nostalgic as well. Mainly though it's just a lot of fun.
Cheers,
Jen
Currently listening to: Magical Mystery Tour
by The Beatles
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
It wasn't really the pronunciation that bothered me.
Finished up season 3 of Arrested Development last night. That show was so absolutely brilliant, and I thought they ended it well, too. I'd talk about it, but I'd rather not spoil it for anyone who's never seen it before. If you've never seen it before, you should probably get on that. I'd call it the most successful execution in the States of something in the vein of The Office (the original UK version, not the one on NBC). Let's hope the movie doesn't suck.
Our first rehearsal for Influenza is tonight. No spoilers here, but I'm excited about the covers we chose. With one exception, we've never played any of them before. I hope we can pull them off, but I guess we'll find out tonight, eh?
The weather is atrocious. "Wintery mix", they call it. Been inside all day, trying not to go mad by talking to my imaginary friend Col. Schvatz.
Henry
Currently watching:
Arrested Development - Season Three
Our first rehearsal for Influenza is tonight. No spoilers here, but I'm excited about the covers we chose. With one exception, we've never played any of them before. I hope we can pull them off, but I guess we'll find out tonight, eh?
The weather is atrocious. "Wintery mix", they call it. Been inside all day, trying not to go mad by talking to my imaginary friend Col. Schvatz.
Henry
Currently watching:Arrested Development - Season Three
Monday, January 5, 2009
Where's Randy Quaid when you need him?
Anyone else reading the news about this Hamas/Israel business? Bunch of fucking idiots. Both sides, just idiots with guns and rocket launchers. No one's really doing anything about anything, just a lot of shooting and a lot of sanctimonious posturing. It's like the UN with guns.
So the question is: what's it going to take to get these two sides to kiss and make up? I swear to god, they're worse than a 3rd grader pulling the hair of the girl sitting in front of him because he likes her. You know it's true. Olmert and Mashaal should get it over and done with and tongue kiss in public. Do we need a three-day war against alien invasion to make this happen?
It's like dad always said: "Nothing brings humanity together like eradicating a malevolent alien race bent on killing Bill Pullman."
Henry
Currently listening to:
Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane
So the question is: what's it going to take to get these two sides to kiss and make up? I swear to god, they're worse than a 3rd grader pulling the hair of the girl sitting in front of him because he likes her. You know it's true. Olmert and Mashaal should get it over and done with and tongue kiss in public. Do we need a three-day war against alien invasion to make this happen?
It's like dad always said: "Nothing brings humanity together like eradicating a malevolent alien race bent on killing Bill Pullman."
Henry
Currently listening to:Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Haven't been able to get to sleep, either because I'm hungry or this nagging feeling that clowns may, in fact, eat me. My eyes are burning. Burning! Been staring at a computer most of the day.
When I wasn't destroying what's left of my retinas, Jen and I were working on a new tune yesterday afternoon. We've got about 6 more song ideas kicking around. Not totally sure what to do with them, but we'll figure that all out down the road. We're keeping it fun. There's been so much going on that it's tough not to get stressed out.
I got a message from Jen S. today that Plus1TV.com redesigned their site for the new year. I like what they're doing over there. Sort of reminds me of MTV. You know, when it was actually good.
More later. Right now, time for a sandwich.
Or sleep.
Henry
Currently watching:
King of the Hill - The Complete Fourth Season
When I wasn't destroying what's left of my retinas, Jen and I were working on a new tune yesterday afternoon. We've got about 6 more song ideas kicking around. Not totally sure what to do with them, but we'll figure that all out down the road. We're keeping it fun. There's been so much going on that it's tough not to get stressed out.
I got a message from Jen S. today that Plus1TV.com redesigned their site for the new year. I like what they're doing over there. Sort of reminds me of MTV. You know, when it was actually good.
More later. Right now, time for a sandwich.
Or sleep.
Henry
Currently watching:King of the Hill - The Complete Fourth Season
Thursday, January 1, 2009
For All My Fellow Musician, Writers & Other Creative Folk
Why do we do it? I think Orwell's written the final word on it...
"Putting aside the need to earn a living, I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They exist in different degrees in every writer, and in any one writer the proportions will vary from time to time, according to the atmosphere in which he is living. They are:
"Putting aside the need to earn a living, I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They exist in different degrees in every writer, and in any one writer the proportions will vary from time to time, according to the atmosphere in which he is living. They are:
(i) Sheer egoism. Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on the grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc., etc. It is humbug to pretend this is not a motive, and a strong one. Writers share this characteristic with scientists, artists, politicians, lawyers, soldiers, successful businessmen — in short, with the whole top crust of humanity. The great mass of human beings are not acutely selfish. After the age of about thirty they almost abandon the sense of being individuals at all — and live chiefly for others, or are simply smothered under drudgery. But there is also the minority of gifted, willful people who are determined to live their own lives to the end, and writers belong in this class. Serious writers, I should say, are on the whole more vain and self-centered than journalists, though less interested in money.
(ii) Aesthetic enthusiasm. Perception of beauty in the external world, or, on the other hand, in words and their right arrangement. Pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story. Desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ought not to be missed. The aesthetic motive is very feeble in a lot of writers, but even a pamphleteer or writer of textbooks will have pet words and phrases which appeal to him for non-utilitarian reasons; or he may feel strongly about typography, width of margins, etc. Above the level of a railway guide, no book is quite free from aesthetic considerations.
(iii) Historical impulse. Desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity.
(iv) Political purpose. — Using the word 'political' in the widest possible sense. Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other peoples' idea of the kind of society that they should strive after. Once again, no book is genuinely free from political bias. The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude."
Happy new year!
Jen
Currently reading:
Why I Write (Penguin Great Ideas)
By George Orwell
Money can't buy you back the love that you had then
They say the way you spend New Year's is a portend for the rest of the year. Bearing this in mind, I stayed in and will hopefully enjoy a snow and vomit-free 2009. Instead, I shared a pizza with Jen, housed a bottle of wine, and watched some movies. (No lie, with the wind chill it's -13ºF out there. Ain't no way I'm walking outside that door.) Anyone else catch Dick Clark making out with his wife at midnight?
Anyway, I'm glad that 2008 is over and done with. I'd be a liar if I didn't say 2008 ran me ragged till the bitter, bitter end. I shouldn't complain, though; a hell of a lot of good came our way as well.
Hope you all had (or are having) a great time tonight. Here's to 2009. Happy new year, kids.
Henry
Anyway, I'm glad that 2008 is over and done with. I'd be a liar if I didn't say 2008 ran me ragged till the bitter, bitter end. I shouldn't complain, though; a hell of a lot of good came our way as well.
Hope you all had (or are having) a great time tonight. Here's to 2009. Happy new year, kids.
Henry
 | Currently listening: The Reminder By Feist Release date: 2007-05-01 |
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