The Benefits of Home Recording Vol. 3: Hazes, Vapors, and Mispronunciations

Without much of a warning, I’ve decided to go ahead and release The Benefits of Home Recording Vol. 3: Hazes, Vapors, and Mispronunciations. Chronologically, this one’s a bit more all over the place than the previous volumes, though it picks up where Cave Paintings left off.

1. The Green Light (2006)
2. Sir: (2010)
3. Plea for the Girl by the River (2006)
4. Pigments (2010)
5. Look Backwards, Stupid (2006)
6. $10 (2008)
7. Lump (2008)
8. Weeping Uke (2008)
9. Bib on Your Brain (2009)
10. Going Out of Business (Sap/Slop) (2008)
11. Humming Along (2007)
12. White Flag (2007)
13. Large Yellow Barn (2006)
14. In the Future, You Will Not Wear Pants (2007)
15. A Castle Speaks to a Museum (A Dramatic Reading) (2008)
16. What I Learned at School (2006)
17. Marshmallows (For Elissa and Chris) (2007)
18. Squint (2008)
19. Silhouette, Baby (2009)
20. Science Song (2006)
21. Mountain Climber Returns (2006)
22. Sunset Song (2008)
23. Apartment Style Living (2008)
24. Graphs and Charts and Fingernails (2007)

Download the .zip!

Note: I’m currently gathering songs for the final release in the Benefits series. Upon its completion, I plan on collecting the series in a weird little box set of sorts. Y’know?

“Native” by Mystic Crystals w/ Brock Ginther on Langdon Street Café Benefit Compilation

The new compilation benefitting Montpelier’s beloved Langdon Street Café features the track “Native”, a collaborative remix of Beat Happening’s “Indian Summer” by Mystic Crystals and I. MC’s responsible for everything instrumental, and I’m the guy doing the vocals. Check it, and the rest of the compilation, out here.

From State and Main Records:
“Volume 1.5 Is Here! The Benefit For Langdon Street Cafe is now available! A glorious download-only collection of limited and exclusive tracks from Montpelier’s young record label. Get one at Buch Spieler Music in downtown Montpelier, The Langdon Street Cafe, and online at our bandcamp site.”

Videos from the Middle East Upstairs!

Royal Blood Headlines The Middle East Upstairs, Plays Culture Shock, Rides Gravitron

Royal Blood’s headlining show at Middle East Upstairs on April 6th was tons of fun.Thanks to Samantha “poopsoup” Simon, you can check out the final moments of our set on Vimeo:

Our friend (and future “Quite a Few Men” music video director) Keiko Makishima also shot the show, so expect some links to HD footage sometime next week.

Later, on the 15th, we loaded Brad Krieger’s pickup truck full of gear and drove down to SUNY Purchase’s campus for Culture Shock. Bands this year included The Feelies, A Place to Bury Strangers, Real Estate, and Algernon Cadwallader. We didn’t exactly get the turnout we had hoped for over at the side stage, but GUYS GUYS GUYS: we got to meet Sir R. Stevie Moore, ride the Gravitron, and hang with good folks.

What’s next? Well, we’re hopefully playing New Neighbor Record’s Label Showcase on May 29th, if work schedules allow it. Also, we’re planning a tour for late July/early August, so be sure to contact us if you want us to come to your town.

Makeshift Acoustic Set @ SUNY Purchase, Royal Blood to Headline Middle East Upstairs!

On March 7th, there was an 18 hour power outage at SUNY Purchase. This happened almost immediately after we finished paying for a rental van to come play our electric rock and roll instruments for that particular college. When we arrived, things were in a state of drunken lawlessness, which is the best state of lawlessness. Thanks to our awesome friends at Purchase and the freakishly generous/cool students there, Erik and I were able to borrow an acoustic bass and an acoustic guitar. Mike set his drums up [on a platform outlined by candles!], and then we played what was probably one of our most energetic sets.

So thanks again to Megan, Kathryn, Ray, and the rest of the Purchase folks for an incredibly fun night and some unbeatable hospitality. UNBEATABLE! I mean, check it out:

Photos: Cara Sapienza.

As for the other news, Royal Blood is headlining Middle East Upstairs on Wednesday, April 6th! Things will start around 9PM. Joining us will be Deezy & the Brobots and The Ghost Dinner Band. 18+, $10.

Poster for Royal Blood’s Upcoming Church Show

Thanks to the hyper-talented Alx Micallef, we have this:

Click for larger size

Cool, yeah? Again, that show’s on the 13th at Church. Doors open at 7PM, costs $7 to get in, and it’s 18+. Musical things will start a little bit after 8PM.