EIGHT MILLION STORIES - DECEMBER

Monday, December 22, 2008

Check out December's On the Beat column in which I expose Christmas music for what it really is.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

TODAY'S TALE OF UNCHECKED EGO

dids
I Am King, the cologne.

Alternate titles for this post:

"Ew"
"Gross me out the door"
If I could have put that finger-down-the throat gesture and accompanying sound effect into words that would have been appropriate, too.

LUNCH TIME POLL

WOW

Thursday, December 18, 2008

I must direct you now to NYC funnyman Dave Hill's website for this story of an after-band-practice stabbing in Italy.

BTW - He's hosting New Pornographer A.C. Newman on his talk show style comedy show tonight (12/18) at the Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre. His show is called the Dave Hill Explosion and I can tell you from first hand experience that it's hilarious. Do it!

LUNCH TIME POLL

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

GOING TO SEE THIS GUY TONIGHT

Neil-Young


And, this guy:

jeff_tweedy_320

RECORDING/MIXING

Monday, December 15, 2008

Here's an update on our upcoming 7" recording. It's on the up and up. Really.

We recorded 3 songs at the very cool Cowboy Technical Services with Tim Hatfield at the helm. We walked out with some rough mixes that were almost usable right off the bat. Amazing. Not us, them. We have since re-done some vocals, added some guitar, re-amped some bass and now we're ready to mix. Alex Newport is on board to mix and we're really excited that he's boarded this crazy ship called Bel Air. I'm excited to act as cruise director of this crazy ship called Bel Air. I'm going to start calling Jeff Isaac because he is clearly the bartender on this crazy ship called Bel Air. Anyhoozers, you can check out Alex's sweet list of credits on his fancy wikipedia page. Not listed there is one of his latest - the new O'Death record - Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin. Go check it out - then come back and have a pina colada with me on the Lido Deck.

CHICKA CHICKA YEAH!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Bel Air just got a little review on The Deli NYC.

It's on the front page now.

CURRENT OBSESSION

Do you like beautiful and sad songs that make you want to go write in your diary and cry a little into your pillow? Do you enjoy lumberjack-style men? Have you heard of Richard Buckner? If you answered "yes" to the first two questions and "no" to the third then you should immediately get into the Buck (my current obsession). You can start with this cool youtube video:



If you answered "yes" to all three questions then I already know you will LOVE this video - and I commend you on your good taste. If you answered "no" to all three questions then I must ask what's wrong with you? If you answered "yes" to only one and three then, fair enough, we can't all love the lumberjack type, but I would like to commend you on your music tastes. Enjoy!

RADIOHEAD ON THE ROAD TO GRAMMY DOMINATION

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I'm not a big fan of the Grammys but this year I have someone to root for. Radiohead's In Rainbows snagged 7 nominations. Pretty cool!

They are up against the fabulous Robert Plant/Alison Krauss albumRaising Sand in the Album of the Year Category. It's not often that I'm a fan of two albums in that category. Even Pitchfork called this year's Grammy nominations "surprisingly relevant".

Here is the list of Radiohead related nominations:

* Album of the Year
* Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for the song "House of Cards"
* Best Rock Song for "House of Cards"
* Best Alternative Music Album (they're up against Evil Urges. Ha! As if!)
* Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package
* Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical (Nigel Godrich)
* Best Short Form Music Video - "House of Cards" directed by James Frost


And, Jonny Greenwood is up for:

* Best Score Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for There Will be Blood

The Grammys aren't until February 8th but you can check this out while you wait. It's the nominated video for "House of Cards":

GORGEOUS PRACTICE SPACE

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The soap is almost gone but somehow I don't think many people are using it...

b room

BEL AIR UPDATE

We're busy preparing for our recording session on Saturday at the famed Cowboy Technical Services studio. Here are the boys after a grueling practice sesh this week:

boys

We'll be recording 3 songs - 2 of which will soon be released on a vinyl 7". The third song will go towards our new album.

ON SECOND THOUGHT. . .

mens

TOTALLY WORTH YOUR TIME

WE'RE BACK!!

Sorry about the long absence. I had to take a break from the blogosphere. It's like how people take a month off of drinking once a year so that they can come back a refreshed and better-than-ever drunk. I promise to be a better-than-ever blogger. Consider it an early New Year's Resolution.

Here's some stuff that happened:

We got a write up from Tris McCall

My November On the Beat column

ANNOUNCEMENT

Monday, November 10, 2008

Bel Air is totally failing at NaBloPoMo.

MORE CMJ STUFF

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Check out a must see list of CMJ shows that a bunch of musician-type folks contributed to on Brooklyn Based! I put my two cents in towards the middle. Jay Reatard gets yet another mention at the bottom.

CMJ SHOW!!

color_11x17 copy
Poster by Christopher Darling

REVIEW

Hey there. Pole to Pole got a review over at Hear*Ya today. In the review, my new best friend, Woody, says that my "voice leaps out of the speakers, much like Jill Andrews of The Everybodyfields." Having not heard of The Everybodyfields, I went over to their website to check them out. Turns out our vocal styles aren't the only thing me and Jill have in common: we both have the same dress!

dress

bel-air1

SIDE PROJECTS

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Bel Air started as a side project. We were all in Breakup Breakdown when we started it. It later became our main project, obviously, but back then it was one of many (mostly fictional) side projects. In fact, Bel Air was the only real one. Here are some that didn’t quite make it to fruition:

Band Name: Meat and Potatoes
Members: Me and Jay
Concept: I’m not sure what we were supposed to sound like but I’m pretty sure I was the potatoes.

Band Name: Smokin’ and Bonin’
Members: Me and Jeff
Concept: I play trombone while Jeff smokes and does spoken word.

Band Name: Bonestar
Members: Jay, Jeff and James
Concept: The name harkens back to when we drank a lot of Lonestar beer in Texas. Apparently the word “bone” was pretty funny to us back then. I think this was riff rock that had breaks were everyone would stop and shout out the lyrics.

Band Name: Glock n’ Spiel
Members: Me and James
Concept: This was our Bone Thugs n’ Harmony style band.

Band Name: Science Bear
Members: James and Wyatt
Concept: This one came the closest to actually happening. It involved, among other things, pink shirts, white short shorts, hairy legs, a bear suit and one of those keyboards you operate with your feet. I don’t know about you but I would pay good money to see that live.

There were other ones but I can’t think of them! Last week the first fictional side project to come out of Bel Air was born. All I know is that it’s Jeff’s brainchild and it’s called Cetera and the Wagon.

CMJ

Hey Y'all,

My October On the Beat column is up on EightMillionStories.com! It's a bit of a CMJ preview. Enjoy!

Allie

PICS FROM THE ROAST

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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Loadin' Out


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Sound Checkin'

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Settin' up

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Eatin'


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Dancin'!

REMINDER Pt. 2

Monday, October 13, 2008

Don't run all of your stage power off one sketchy looking extension cord running out of a barn. Just about half an hour after we asked the sounds guy at the Yard "So, you never have a problem running everything on one outlet?", the power cut out a the very climax of our new song. Most people didn't notice because we just lost the PA so only my vocals cut out. The amps were still working, thankfully. We only had to wait a couple of minutes before we could continue with our last two songs. Not so lucky were Motel Motel who only got to play a short set after waiting for what seemed like forever for the power to come back and the Jones Street Boys who didn't get to play at all. This is only one of the many issues with the Pig Roast. It was kind of a disaster. Bel Air still managed to have fun but we also managed to get yelled at by Yard employees and get in a scuffle with one who told us to "check our attitude" as we were loading out. We are not unreasonable, confrontational, attitudinous people! It was just weird. Matt from Earfarm says it better than I can here and here. There is a slide show of pictures if you follow that first link.

Thanks to Earfarm for having us! We look forward to the do-over!

REMINDER

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

From Earfarm (where we are band of the week in case you forgot :-)):

Nothing says harvest like the crackle of hot, crispy pig skin, especially when that skin is covering a 200-lb Berkshire hog, roasted whole over an open barbecue pit by Tom Mylan, Brooklyn’s favorite butcher.

Hosted by Brooklyn Based, Sweet Deliverance, Ear Farm and The Yard, the first annual Big Brooklyn Pig Roast and Harvest Hoedown is a prelude to the following day’s Harvest Festival at The Yard, and a celebration of all the best the season has to offer.

Snuggle up to someone special with a pint of Sixpoint and a plate of pork tacos, roast corn, fresh salsas, greens, warm apple crisp and cinnamon ice cream from Blue Marble. Then turn up your heels to the Americana twang and hillbilly swerve of The Jones Street Boys, Motel Motel, and Bel Air, as the lights sparkle on the Gowanus Canal.

Joshua Applestone of Fleisher’s Grass Fed and Organic Meats will be on hand to talk about why properly raised pigs are so delicious, and a member of the New Farmer Development Project, which the dinner will benefit, will speak about their work with farms. And Not Eating Out in New York blogger Cathy Erway is lending a hand with dessert.

Sixpoint beers $1 from 6-7. Five percent of proceeds benefit New Farmer Development Project. Tickets $32 in advance, available online at http://tinyurl.com/42yylc, or $40 at the door. (Free for kids 10 and under.)

PigRoast

I THOUGHT WYATT HAD A LOT OF RECORDS

Now that Wyatt and I are living in the same place my record collection has grown exponentially. We are also the joint owners of a storage space housing, among other things, a synthesizer, a Farfisa, a combo organ, and a Wurlitzer 112. After seeing this video I can't complain about the record collection.


The Archive from Sean Dunne on Vimeo.

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE

Looks like the rogues in our practice space are at it again. These signs were posted next to all of the garbage cans by the management probably because they were sick of the garbage bags leaking rotting beer juice. I'm glad someone decided to take it upon themselves to offer up a simple solution. Finish your beers, lightweights!

sign

BAND OF THE WEEK!

Monday, October 6, 2008

Hey Y'all! We're Band of the Week on Earfarm!

Check out our **exclusive** interview in which we talk up BBQ, talk down new Nashville country music and I get my second Dido comparison!

CHECK THIS OUT!!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

This is going to be good...

PigRoast

Thanks to Matt for forwarding the flier to us!

HEE HEE

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

In response to "We're playing a pig roast on Oct. 10th" from my last post, my mom wondered if we're playing the pig, the apple or the roaster.

I'm going to go with the pig.

I almost used another of my mom's jokes in my last 8MS article in response to the Janet Jackson costume. I almost said she "looked like ten pounds of mud in a five pound bag". I should have used that as, clearly, my mom is funny.

8MS

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Hey!

My new 8MS article for September is up:


eightmillionstories.com


Enjoy!

P.S. We're playing a pig roast on Oct. 10th.

NEW PICS

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Hey Y'all,

We had some new pics taken by our good friend Sheri Barclay. Here's one. This is pre-photoshop and uncensored. The version on our myspace page has the NYC skyline and bridge photoshopped out. Heehee.

Five
Bel Air

MORE REVIEWS OF POLE TO POLE!!

Friday, September 5, 2008

I thought I'd share some more reviews that have come in for our album Pole to Pole!

From Americana UK:

Breath of fresh air from Brooklyn

Primarily a trio of songwriters from Brooklyn, Bel Air present two poles of a countrified rock band and a more folky introspective aspect, at times depending on the writer and singer of the respective song. Whichever style comes out on top depends, I suppose, on one’s personal preference but at least they are evenly balanced with some quality writing and playing present throughout. Allison Langerak is the folk chanteuse. Cool, vulnerable and very listenable, she has a posse of songs that range from the good time vibe feeling of “Looking Up” (that belies the song’s message of a wearied resignation to the difficulties of accomplishing just about anything to the excellent “Sometimes” which could have graced a Sandy Denny album. In a similar vein is “Don’t Hold out for Me.” where Ms. Langerack sounds vulnerable and strained over a song reminiscent of The Continental Drifters or The Cowboy Junkies.

Jeff Mensch supplies the majority of the remaining songs. Opener “Used to Believe” evokes The Jayhawks while “This City, pt. 2” harks back to Garcia’s Workingman’s Dead” (with a mention of Uncle John’s Band among other Dead allusions). The pedal steel here (played by Mike “Slo-Mo” Brenner who guests on several other songs) is excellent. Mensch also purveys a restrained folkier style as displayed on the song “Goodnight.”

The writing trio is completed by Wyatt Tuzo who provides an untitled instrumental and the closer, “Street fair” both featuring strong acoustic guitar figures. Brenner adorns the latter with some wistful
playing.

Overall a strong debut with some standout songs and one looks forward to hearing more from them.

From Twangville:

For years, it seemed as though it was the louder, more rocking bands that garnered the majority of attention and buzz from indie-kids and the music media in general (see: grunge, or the recent “garage-rock” revival with the Strokes, or even the alleged “reinvention” of rock by Radiohead, Beck and/or The White Stripes, etc…). With that said, in recent times we are seeing a shift in the wave of notoriety away from the many rearrangements of rock’s past to some of the quieter, sensitive and even brooding bands of today. Bands such as Iron & Wine, Swell Season, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver are some absolutely shining examples of acts that throw lyrics that read like classic literature, aching melodies, soft harmonies and relatively sparse arrangements and production into a pot and whip up some pretty amazing concoctions that seem to usher in a new form of Folk that most silver-haired folkies are likely not ready for.

Bel Air, from Brooklyn also bring much of the “Neo-Folk” vibe to the table with their debut CD, Pole to Pole and even expand the formula with a rootsy swagger. The album features lead vocals that seamlessly alternate between Jeffrey Mensch and Allie Langerak. Most of the cuts posses quiet and sometimes fragile arrangements of acoustic guitar and soft percussion. Even the occasional sax and violin creep gently in to lend the disc a sense of diversity that your typical Folk (neo, freak, or any other kind of “folk”) record may not have. Similar to Iron & Wine and the others I mentioned before, Bel Air isn’t looking to make a specific type of album as far as category or genre is concerned. Their influences range from Indie to Brit-Pop and those are all evident here.

With most albums that feature multiple lead singers, I tend to find myself leaning in a specific direction towards a favorite side (sorry Patterson, I seem to dig more of Cooley’s DBT stuff). In the case of Pole to Pole, I find myself favoring the tracks where the Mensch has lead duties, even though I tend to prefer the more rustic, almost Dido-like vocals of Langerak. Hopefully you get the notion that this is a solid and even disc, and it doesn’t suffer from the inconsistent, up and down nature of many discs that feature the dual vocal lead.

Tracks such as “Used to Believe” and “This City, Pt. 2″ both contain elements fo folk and pop and even veer into “Alt-Country” territory without feeling contrived or cliched. The production of Pole to Pole proves to be as valuable of an instrument as the acoustic guitar on the disc. The relatively clean, yet raw vibe of the disc truly does provide the listener with the feeling of listening in on a group of talented friends hanging out with some guitars, a stocked cooler and perhaps even a recording machine that just happens to be running in order to document the proceedings. By Kelly Dearmore


From Fire Drills:


Fire Drill:
Brooklyn just keeps overflowing with its musical talent and the debut from Bel Air continues the rush. Pole To Pole is rooted in the Americana sound which offers a combination of male/female lead vocals and multi-layered harmonies that balance the musically solid album. The record also features slide guitarist Mike Brenner (Marah, Magnolia Electric Company) on several tracks which rounds out its alt-country flavor while building on several members indie rock backgrounds. The cohesiveness of the group and strong collaboration of ideas ultimately creates an enjoyable debut which is perfect for any time of the day listening.

Key Track: "Looking Up"

Band With Similar Fire: Whiskeytown

A WEEK FROM TODAY!!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

NationalFlier copy

SHOW!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

We are playing next week! I can't wait. Here are the details:

National Underground (Houston between Allen and Eldridge)
9pm
With Rosy Nolan, etc.

If you're not familiar with National Underground, it's a new-ish country rock venue opened by Gavin DeGraw and his brother. Woody Allen's band plays upstairs, members of Drive By Truckers, REM and the Allman Brothers have been known to hang out there and I hear they have a great cheeseburger.

WE'RE HUGE IN BELGIUM

We got another review of Pole to Pole this time in a Belgian alt-country site called Rootsville. The review is, naturally, in Dutch. I did a quick Google translation which yielded some pretty hilarious results. Here are some highlights:

"Indeed, again, because the five is the mustard clearly going to get among the Cowboy Junkies - but without the I - want - which melancholy, Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Whiskeytown, Neko Case ..... etc. Mike "Slo - Mo" Brenner (Magnolia Electric Company, Marah) damages a helping hand on dobro, pedal and rag stalk"

I foresee us never referring to a lap steel again without calling it a rag stalk. And, we'll probably start saying "damages" too. Like "Man, you really damaged that guitar line! Nice job!" or "That 3-part harmony is damaged, yo!" Oh yeah, and our next album is called "The Five is the Mustard".

Being of Dutch heritage, I have some secret weapons up my sleeve - my aunt, Cobie and my dad. Here is the much better translation that they did:

Allie Langerak, Jeffrey Mensch and L. Wyatt Tuzo are the founding members or the successful garage act "Breakup Breakdown" but were apparently up for a new challenge. It is not the first time in its history that their sites were set on alternative country music/Americana/roots genre and this triad from Brooklyn did not escape this generally rewarding musical diversion. In the meantime, Drew Kilpatrick, drums, a fourth ex - Breakup Breakdowner joined Bel Air and also Matt Hyams, bass, has swollen the ranks. Their debut album " Pole To Pole" came largely from "on the road' to a mobile studio (Philadelphia) and is, according to my humble opinion, not so much about breaking new ground. Indeed, the group of five, clearly reflective of, among others, the Cowboy Junkies - but without the I - wanna -die melancholy, Gram Parsons & Emmylou Harris, Whiskeytown, Neko case ..... etc. Mike "Slo-Mo" Brenner (Magnolia Electric Company, Marah) extended a helping hand on dobro, pedal & lap steel and although the songs clearly have a country music flavor, you cannot avoid the 60's British Invasion and 90's indie rock sounds (songs: "You Can't do Much" , "Street Fair" and "Don't Hold Out For Me") The duo Mensch/Langerak may pocket the majority of the songwriting royalties and that should be able to deliver a nice bonus. The opening track "Used to Believe" , "Riverside Drive" (Shea Hess - violin), "The Last Thing" and "Looking Up" (with Andrew Kilpatrick on drums & percussion) clearly recalls the glory days of country music/rock (SOMETHING HERE ABOUT CAN'T HELP BREAKING OUT IN A GRIN ???). The musical pearls, "Almost" and "This City, pt.2" belong with melancholy Country music; "Sometimes" and the bluesy lullaby "Goodnight" are undoubtedly the marquis of this superb album. Intimate arrangements and multi-layered male and female vocal harmonies. I dare say "dream country" of Bel Air! (SWA)

OH HEY!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Man, August has been a pretty lame month for posting. Sorry about that.

Check out some of our recent press about Pole to Pole:

"BEL AIR - Pole to Pole - Offering up 12 tracks worth of pleasingly mellow’n’melodic laid-back and reflective soft rock, this album gets off to a nicely soothing start with the gently lulling opening song “Need to Believe.”[sic] The basic sound is folksy country suffused with a touchingly substantial amount of regret and melancholy, the vocals are warm and affecting, the arrangements spare, tight and harmonic, and the songwriting clear, sharp and thoughtful. The bouncy acoustic guitars and sweet harmonica playing add a little extra tasty’n’tuneful flavor to the already enticing and engaging mix, thereby ensuring that listening to this album overall rates as a very pleasant and satisfying experience. " - Jersey Beat


"Brooklyn’s sorta-Americana group Bel Air have released their debut album, “Pole to Pole,” a collection of songs created and first performed in the studio. The band sounds vaguely like Cowboy Junkies, but without the I-wanna-die melancholy. “This City” is country the way the Grateful Dead did country, only without the jams, while “Used to Believe” is more reminiscent of Gram Parsons. “Sometimes” is a sad country lament, but “Goodnight” is a perfect send off—a bluesy lullaby. No pretentious fake Southern accent, no forlorn honky tonk twang, nothing but an honest reflection on the miseries of urban life—“This city is killing me,” the chorus wails, and it’s easy to understand why. There’s a few guest shots by Mike “Slomo” Brenner (Magnolia Electric Company, Marah) on slide guitar, but other than that it’s all Bel Air. The roots-rocky record has 5 songs sung by Jeffrey Mensch and 5 by Allison Langerak. The latter are sweeter to listen to, as Allison’s vocals are fantastic, but the former are often better written songs. All in all, it’s a very solid release." - Berkeley Place

EIGHT MILLION STORIES

Monday, August 18, 2008

Hey there! My newest On the Beat column is up on EightMillionStories.com. If you enjoy reading about frat boys and beer pong you should check it out.

On the Beat - August

TP

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Last week's lunch time poll was a success. 100% chose "Over". Apparently my roommate and grandmother, neither of whom took part in the survey, are the only ones who go "Under". Not that there's anything wrong with it! The way you put you toilet paper on is nobody's business but you own. It's fine if that's who you are.

COWBOY JACK KELLY VS. BATMAN

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Who's tougher? Batman doesn't dance and sing but he does wear a cape.

SHOW REVIEW

Last week Wyatt and I went to the old Knitting Factory to see Joan of Arc. Wyatt is a huge Joan of Arc fan. I, on the other hand, am not a fan - huge or otherwise. They tend to be a little on the pretentious side for me. But, I had been listening to their new album on Rhapsody and was able to get through it without hating it. Progress. Rounding out the bill was Katie Eastburn and Ponytail so I was in for a night of art school rock. Luckily, the Knitting Factory has the best deal on cheap drinks that you can find in Manhattan - 1 can of PBR and 1 well shot for $7. All of their other drinks are typically overpriced so it's nice to be thrown that bone. Good pour, too.

We watched a little of Katie's set. She plays keyboard and, when she's not using a drum machine, does some percussion one-man-band style with her feet. It was pretty cool but the songs weren't ones that you could immediately grab on to.

Then Ponytail took the stage. They look like they're about 17. They definitely didn't dress up for the show and were all sporting those art school haircuts which are just never flattering. I was dubious. Once they started though I couldn't help but love them. Maybe it was the well tequila, or maybe I just like watching 17 year olds rocking out in adidas track shorts. Or, just maybe, they are really good. Judging from the attention they've been getting lately, I'm guessing it's the last option. You don't get a write up in the New York Times for nothing.

Their energetic set flew by. They reminded me of Deerhoof with a more improvisatory vocal style. Very cool.

The bald spots starting filtering in towards the end of the set getting ready for Joan of Arc. I wonder if Ponytail has any reverance for them. I wonder if they are fans.

Joan of Arc was great and I have a new found appreciation for them. Their stage presence wasn't the least bit pretentious. It was endearing and playful. I am definitely a fan now that I've seen them live. I guess that's why bands tour, huh?

LUNCH TIME POLL 2

  

Dollar Store Deals Part 2

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Some of you may remember Dollar Store deals Part 1, where we were introduced to such great items as the mighty Staunion permanent marker. Well, I was doing a bit of shopping yesterday and came across a bin of these:

I guess someone decided that these were NOT, in fact, a safer baseball.
I cant comment on just HOW safe they may or may not have been, but they were sure crappy.

SIGHTING!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Wyatt ran into Adam Duritz yesterday at the Apple store downtown and DIDN'T give him a CD! But, honestly, what was he going to say "My girlfriend had a crush on you when she was in grad school"??? Wyatt's not a fan of the old Countin' Crows.

duritz

ON THE BEAT

Hey-o!

My newest On the Beat column is now up on EightMillionStories.com! Check it out! This month's report is on TV's SCARY switch from analog to digital in early February, 2009 and it's effect on the music industry in NYC and rest of the US.


Here's the link!

TOP FIVE

Thursday, July 17, 2008

I'm making a late game substitution in my Top Five Voices list.

I need to add Joe Strummer in there. I can't figure out who to bump, though.

JOE STRUMMER - NYC

MYSPACE DEMOS #6

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

cassette

This is a little thing that Drew, Wyatt and I came up with to play in between songs at Breakup Breakdown shows. We needed something to play so that Jeff could tune and, I think, James could put on the acoustic guitar? Anyway - we didn't want dead air so we played this...once. At the last BUBD show. So, it's in keeping with my original mission to put up things that will never see the light of day otherwise. It was recorded on my iRiver so it's a little blown out but you can get the idea.


BLOGGER!!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

I forgot how annoying this blog template is in cutting off all of my pictures. If you click on them you can see the full versions.

Here are a couple more from the release party. These were taken by the handsome and charming Raphael Rodriguez.

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jeff

melodica

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THANK YOU!!

A HUGE "thank you" goes out to all of the people who came out to our CD Release party on Friday night. You are beautiful. And, thanks also to everyone who worked on Pole to Pole. It was great to celebrate with you.

Here are some cool pictures. These were taken by the lovely Jamie MacKenzie:

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CD Release10

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2 MORE DAYS!!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

I can't believe it but it says it's going to be sunny and clear on Friday! I guess our weather curse has been lifted. Not lifted, however, is our booking curse. Our Americana night in August at Rehab was cancelled today.

CDRelease party poster copy

CURRENT FAVORITE BASEBALL NAMES

Monday, July 7, 2008

A top five list:

5. Evan Longoria (Rays)
4. Ebby "Nuke" LaLoosh (Bulls)
3. Milton Bradley (Rangers)
2. Coco Crisp (Red Sox)
1. Boof Bonser (Twins)

I cheated on one of those. This is my way of ignoring A-Rod's digression into Kabbalaism. Anyhoozers... 4 days until the CD release party.

HAIR OF THE DOG

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Jeff will not be around this weekend so I will be assisted in my DJ duties by Wyatt. We'll be hitting some stuff outside the straight up country genre so it might be a little eclectic. In a good way, of course.


Happy hour flier copy

A TV SHOW BEL AIR CAN GET BEHIND

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

At least me and Jeff. Get this - it's a soap opera about Hockey.


T MINUS 9 DAYS

CDRelease party poster copy

THIS IS NOT CUTE ANYMORE

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

I've been asking myself lately- "Why do I have 22 keys on the key chain that I carry around everyday??"

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I've always had a janitor style key ring and it was funny for a while but when you start to acquire back problems due to the weight it gets a little less funny.

Let the purging begin!

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In the above section of the ring is a key to an EX-boyfriend's EX-car, two keys to the house that my parents sold a year ago and a key to an old Chevy Cavalier that hasn't been around since the Clinton administration. That's only a slight exaggeration. Begone with you!

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In this section are two work keys and I have no idea what the rest are. Old practice space keys maybe?


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No clue about any of these. In the garbage they go!


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Ahh! So much better. I got rid of 11 out of 22 keys. It feels like total freedom.

SPELLING BEE

I hate it when people spell "rock" R-A-W-K. Grrrr... Man, that really fries my cheese.

Case in point - this review of My Morning Jacket's latest release "Evil Urges":

The well-mannered fellows we fell in love with on My Morning Jacket's early efforts probably don't mix with the would-be rawkers who appear on Evil Urges. Although he shares the mic for the first time in the band's history, Jim James' stratospheric falsetto even sounds foreign -- first with a Prince-ly libido on the aptly named "Highly Suspicious" and then adding to the macho, wanking two-fer of "Aluminum Park" and "Remnants." Those who miss the sleepy days should advance to "Look At You" or the nerdly horndog verse of "Librarian."
- Nate Cavalieri

CHECK THIS OUT

Friday, June 20, 2008

Today marks the debut of the new column that I am writing for Eight Million Stories. The column is called On the Beat and it is about any and all aspects of the NYC music scene. It will run on the 3rd Friday of every month. Check out my first installment!

EIGHT MILLION STORIES!

MYSPACE DEMOS #5

Thursday, June 12, 2008

cassette


Last week Jeff, Wyatt and I got together to demo out some of our new songs. This is one of those demos - sort of. I didn't like the version of it that I recorded that night so I recorded it again on my iRiver. It's called "Say You Knew Me When" and I'm including it here because it probably won't end up being a Bel Air song. It's a little on the too-personal side for a band song. The first time I played it for Jeff he said that it sounded like a "crazy person song" and I will never let him live it down!! NEVER! The lyrics are, in places, a bit trite but, what can I say? I had a some pretty stereotypical teenage years. Imagine this three chord wonder with some melodic lines over the instrumental parts. I was trying to go for a low-key Neutral Milk Hotel thing here.

ONE MONTH TILL SHOWTIME

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Just a quick reminder that Bel Air's CD release party is exactly ONE MONTH from today!

Please put this in you calendar, blackberry, rolodex now!

FRIDAY JULY 11th at SPIKE HILL 9pm with AMITY FRONT. Free CDs to all that attend!

I'm putting the poster in here even though I know blogger is going to be annoying and crop it. Click on it to see the full version.

CDRelease party poster copy

WEATHER

188x170SITP


Last night my good pal Mark and I went to see Hamlet at the Delacourte Theater in Central Park.

You know the part when the Players show up and then Hamlet does that "What's Hecuba to Him or He to Hecuba" monologue? Well, that part usually does not include a tornado. I don't think that's what old Bill had in mind when he penned that scene. Nevertheless, that's what happened last night. First, the wind started. And, it was LOUD. Then leaves and branches started swirling into the theater, through the audience and onto the stage. People started getting up. Lots of people were leaving. All the while Hamlet is dutifully doing his monologue, so into it, playing off of nature. You could tell he was loving the drama of it all. Mark and I started worrying about the lights that were hung directly behind us. Are they secure enough for a tornado or are we soon to be decapitated? Then, as soon as Hamlet finished his monologue and the next scene started we here "Actors. Actors please leave the stage for safety" over the PA. Everyone was instructed to leave the theater.

Mark and I decided to wait it out a little to see if they would continue the show after the storm. We waited a few minutes and then decided that if we were going to wait we might as well have some wine. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as we paid for our wine they announced that the show was cancelled for the evening. It put me in the mind of the time that I went to see Big Top PeeWee with my best friend, Midge. We bought popcorn, coke, and twizzlers and then, because we were the only ones in the theater, they cancelled the movie. They waited until we AFTER we had stocked up on concessions to tell us that there would be no movie. It's exactly that kind of sketchy practice that drove the Panorama Theater right out of business.

So anyhooz, we saw all of the build up and none of the blood. Were going to try to get tickets for tonight's show so that we can see the end. What does this have to do with Bel Air? Absolutely nothing.