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.