The Amboys

Procrastination Lets People Down

2010-06-13T18:14:00.000-07:00

I've found that when I can remember to--- I can be a good friend. But when you forget, or when you wait for something to happen, its just you and only you that looks the fool. You let people down and you don't even know it. But there was more behind that person. At start, You developed an awkward crush. You didn't say a word. She made out with a friend for awhile. You smiled and didn't say a word. And eventually you wrote this song....

Devil's Backbone (2010)

"I want a real live bathing beauty in a tub,
show her what its really like when you have fun.
With dark brown eyes that could cut through porcelain,
and skin so smooth like the bullet in a gun.

We could burn these bridges to the ground, find your love in the lost and found, spread these ashes all around. Cause even if you do or you don't, the back or in front, no they'll never, never understand you.

I want to take your picture and hang it on my wall,
staring back at me saying nothing at all.
How could you say anything anyway,
you're just a picture, trapped in glass behind the frame.

We could burn these bridges to the ground, find your love in the lost and found, spread these ashes all around. Cause even if you do or you don't, the back or in front, no they'll never, never understand you."

The Devils Backbone is a tough trail in Colorado. I feel it was fitting for the theme of the song. It has little to do with nature, and more to do with the nature of the beast. I saw a picture in a magazine once, it was black and white. It was of a young woman, slightly model emaciated look. She was sitting in a bathtub in her black bra and her mascara was smeared. It was striking. When I first saw the main character in this quick tale for the first time, I thought of the beauty in the tub.

We both were in similar situations. So burning our bridges together would have been fun. Feeling like that once strong love has been put in a box of lost and found items. And spreading these ashes of the bridges we had once built would be catharsis at its best. And ofcourse they'd never understand why.

As for the picture on the wall. It is symbolic of who she was, who she is. And trapped behind the glass, represents everything that could never be.

I cannot push off for tomorrow what must be taken care of today anymore.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Douchebag or: The Myth of Fingerprints

2010-06-09T02:58:00.000-07:00

Ok,

So as you can probably tell by now, I procrastinate pretty hardcore.

I've kept a bunch of blog drafts and never get around to finishing them, but goddammit I'm gonna show some Hal Jordan style willpower and demolish the DC universe as I finally get around to finishing and posting these damn things.

So I'm gonna just keep going where I left off.
I'm going to try and remember this all as well as I can.
I started this post in March.
Its not March anymore.

So when I was in high school I once heard Amanda Palmer say that there's this thing that like touching except you don't touch.

But I'll get to all that later.

So its been just over a month since record release and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only Amboy still reeling from it all. But then again, I was up until 7 AM rocking the heaviest power hour ever with The Bears of Blue River.

Its 5:30 PM and we're all slowly making our way toward Asbury Lanes; fully loaded with tee-pees, make-up, smoke machines, T-Shirts and most importantly our first legit full-length album "Everything Between The Moon & The Sun". And I honestly can't thank the ladies at the Lanes enough for keeping what I feel is Asbury Park's best venue up and running and really giving us free reign on this show. I mean what other place would let us drag in a giant fake horse in from the rain and use it as a stage piece?

Its about 7:30 and the gang is all here. The four boys and our running crew for the night Rob, Colin, Matt, and Sam. Lawrence is in the back running the projective magic machine and we have our first full sound-check for the night. Now if I could be a complete bastard steal these guys away from their respective projects, I would flat out because once we got things rolling and I heard the full live sound I'd been dreaming of for two years now.

And it was pretty well close to perfect.

(this is me finishing the post)

Its somewhere around half past 8 and Bears of Blue River are on. People are slowly piling in from all the wet outside and the night's picking up steam. My only real regret here is that there weren't more people around at this point to see how great these guys are, because they missed out on something pretty fierce.

Its somewhere around 9 and The Riverwinds are on and Colin is shredding life. I'm running ragged. Shaking hands, giving hugs, maybe selling CDs.

I'm drinking gin in a Mr Sparkle T-shirt.

Its around 10 now and we're running a bit late. Backstage Lawrence is prepping us all in Indian warpaint for some reason. Chris is opting for the Adam Ant look. I've chosen to come out in white-face. Or at least half of it is whiteface. The rest is sweat.

I'm so god-damned scared.

Out on the stage I hear Bryan start to announce us in Japanese. I thought he was kidding when he said he'd do it. He wasn't. I swallow down hard and we all rush the stage. With the opening notes of The Right Track, I'm off like a racehorse. Thundercats are go. At this point I'm pretty much running on Mountain Dew-fueled adrenaline. I'm not gonna lie and say that a big chunk of the middle isn't a blur, but trust me when I say I don't think I've ever been happier. Every track was just spot on and just fun to play. It was great to have these guys really fleshing out these songs so that the crowd could finally hear them the way we always meant them to. We closed out the set with This Very Thin Line and at some point Brent and Bryan find their way on stage to grind a bowling ball against the neck of my bass, adding a little bit extra to my normal Sonic Youth closing shenanigans.

We segue into a bit of Talking Heads' Road to Nowhere, something we liked to do a lot last year that we ended up retiring. I called people up to come dance on stage and in two seconds it was packed to capacity.

I'm pretty sure we almost broke the stage that night. But it was a pretty special kind of awesome to be able to bring it back and make it that epic.

From there it gets pretty blurry but you get the point. It was an awesome show and I managed not to let Bears of Blue River drink me under the table. I'm so grateful to everyone that helped us and to everyone that showed up to support us. We're gonna need a lot more of that love in the future as we try to get out on the road and be somebody so help us out, spread the word. Whore us a bit, we don't mind.

Now its almost 3am and I wanna pass out watching Charlie Murphy. So back to my opening statement:

Apparently there's this thing that's like touching
Except you don't touch
And I think that night we all got a little closer to it.

Manny
The Amboys

2010-02-16T23:52:00.000-08:00

Free Newds

2010-02-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

Click here for free newds of manny

Amboys announce their last show ever

2010-02-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

We'd be lucky to make it past 2012 with the rate that things have been moving.

Harvest Photos: By Dan Feeny

2010-01-28T15:24:00.001-08:00

Feeny

Harvest Show

2010-01-20T18:21:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night (Jan21,2010, two years before the end) at the Langosta Lounge in Asbury Park, we'll be performing Neil Young's 1972 classic "Harvest" in its complete entirety. Hopefully you can make it out. We'll have some exclusive, one night only t-shirt designs that are bound to go fast. See ya'll there.

Grrrrowlers

2010-01-09T12:56:00.001-08:00

I just got their record in the mail today. Wowsas wowsas wowsas. See you guys in New York on Valentines day. www.myspace.com/lbcgrowlers

The Growlers - Little Miss Jack from Uriel Santiago on Vimeo.

The Growlers (Acid Rain) from jack Coleman on Vimeo.

As for the slAmboys, we're gonna be practicing tomorrow for the big Harvest show on January 21st and then taking some promo shots in my basement.

Sangha, originally uploaded by RonnocRegrebneffe.

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Douchebag: 1st Entry

2010-01-06T21:02:00.000-08:00

A Künstlerroman ("artist's novel", German pronunciation: [ˈkʏnstlɐ.roˌmaːn]; plural -ane) is a specific sub-genre of Bildungsroman; it is a novel about an artist's growth to maturity. Such novels often depict the struggles of a sensitive youth against the values of a bourgeois society of his or her time.

I'll save us both the time by not explaining why that word amuses me.

I wish I could tell you that I've been really pouring over this entry these past few days and not dicking around watching netflix movies, I wish i could say that. It's been a good long while and there's been a whole lot of something going on these past few months, and with our record release but breaths away I figured it would probably be a good idea for us guys to actually use this blog. Do some promoting, prove we're not musical robots. The usual. And as the voice of Black America, I figured it was my responsibility to do my part here; so here we go.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times -

It was last Friday.

Picture it: Sicily, The Saint - The place that bore us and gave us more shows than we can count. We were booked to play at Rick Barry's Holiday Hangover. It had been awhile since we last played there and from what I'd been told it was supposedly a pretty big deal. I was still nursing a beat up body and a shiner from Monday's Gogol Bordello show, everyone else was hung over from a pretty heavy shit show week and Connor somehow found his way back from the most epic NYE party ever. but all in all we found a way to slap ourselves together after a two week break and get to work.

Now if you told me that someone out there figured out a way to sprinkle southern rock and shoegaze onto a voice smoother than warm horchata, I'd tell you to fuck off but All The Tired Horses pulled it off and the world is a bit better for it.

We were on second to a surprisingly packed room and save for a few soft sour moments here and there I think we did pretty ok. I totally meant to lose the strap and almost drop my bass. I did. Its called performance art. I'm a showman. I wear $100 jeans. I like to shave smooth. All and all a solid set from four guys who hadn't been in the same room, or state, together for the better part of two week. Its a bittersweet feeling having all these awesome b-sides and non-album tracks on our setlist, knowing that the closer we get to record release the less we'll be playing them. We've been busy boys.

We cleaned up pretty nice. soon enough Rick Barry and his men took the stage. I've seen Rick Barry play solo a few times and its always really good. Strong, deep lyrics that don't completely stray away from pop sensibilities; but I've never seen him with a full backing band and I must say I was really impressed with not only the individual talent of each member but with how tight they were as a band and how well they meshed together. There is nothing sloppy about Rick Barry and The Forget-Me-Nows and I respect that. These guys fucking practice. Plus for about five minutes I was pretty sure Uncle Joey was playing Keys and that's always a plus for any band.

Let me say with no insult or exaggeration that Mr Rick Barry has a phenomenal mustache. It takes time and energy and real dedication to groom something like that and I've said on more than one occasion that I wish that his mustache would read me bedtime stories or tell me about the one time it got smashed on blotter acid and hit on Kim Deal at Lollapalooza in the 90s while I drink warm horchata. One Day.

One Day.

I'd like the mustache to be voiced by Morgan Freeman.

But its not a deal breaker.

River City Extension.

These guys make me feel bad for playing music because I know nothing I do will be nearly as good as what they do. Imagine Arcade Fire relocated to the shores of Mexico. Time and time again I'm blown away by the sheer intensity of their live show. Their infectious rhythms. Everything. I like what these guys do. They don't have a heavy-handed agenda. I like that.

There was a moment during the show when they started playing this song, I forget the name but I distinctly remember it about going south for the winter. Now it started with Joe, the singer and acoustic guitarist, playing by himself a rhythm and chord progression that left hints of Crane Wife on my tongue. At this point I was ready to call shenanigans on this guy but suddenly the rest of the band just exploded into the moment and took the song someplace indescribable. And for the briefest moth flutter of a moment I saw everything. The big picture. And for that moment, everything was fuller and brighter than it had ever been. Needless to say I haven't felt that at a live show in a good long while and I doubt I will again any time soon.

The rest of the set didn't taper off from there. It got better. Even if you've never heard them before I defy to see them live and not find something primal rise in you.

I defy you not to move.

All in all it was the best night of music Asbury Park had seen in a good long while.

But the past seems like a distant place, and I'm pleased with that.

Its time for the future, to talk of new and better things. Our debut album "Everything Between The Moon & The Sun" is set for release in about 6 weeks and we're all really pumped for it. I wanna thank anyone and everyone who was ever remotely involved in this project. You're champions, gods among insects. Don't forget that. I also just wanna throw this out there; Guns and Roses' Chinese Democracy beat us to the shelves how did that happen? At least we got this thing knocked out before Ben Gibbard could put out another Postal Service album.

At least we beat Duke Nukem Forever.

One last thing about Rick Barry; we've sorted out the details, the mustache will be voiced by John Turturro. Stay tuned for further developments.

I'll leave you with this one last note; Sometimes the only thing you need in this world is an enigmatic cowboy who speaks in non-sequiturs and has a staring problem.

Do what it do, Do it big.
Manny
The Amboys

2010-01-05T16:46:00.000-08:00

Come join us on January 21,2010 at the Langosta Lounge as we commemorate Neil Young's 1972 classic album, Harvest. If your a fan of Neil or a fan of us, you will not want to miss this show.

a whole lotta something going on

2010-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

**Hey websters, a whole lot has happened since the wave gathering. manny ate psychedelics, chris proved to be the ugliest woman of 2009, kyle has been dancing with the dead 4-5 nights out of the week, and I, connor, just got back from a cross coast tortoise relocation project.

Now here we are in the new year. 2010, or as some would call it 2 years before the end. Until then, we'll be starting off the new year with tons of GIANT shows, like the one on February 2nd with Those Darlins! We'll also be gearing up for our record release party in celebration of our first CD "Everything Between the Moon & The Sun" You'll be able to find it on iTunes, at any of our shows, and through our upcoming mail order system.

I'd also like to take some time to thank a few people in the area. First off, Billy and Race, you guys have been doing a lot for us and we appreciate it more than you can possibly imagine. We'll always have you dudes in our mind when we're wiping our asses with endangered animal toilet paper. Thank you to Loura for finding time to take pictures of our shows. Thank you to River City Extension for being unbelievable and truly representing what live music is supposed to entail. Thank you to my family and friends who have been amazing at making it out to our shows since the beginning and showing nothing but support. Thank you to Dutch for being the best salesman in the world and sometimes caring about this band more than anyone else is. Thanks to everyone that sent me songs (James Black, Pat O'Brien) for my final project in public speaking. Thank you Matt and Mike for being my favorite friends from too far away. Thanks to Luke for making the most amazing music and throwing the most incredible party ever on New Years. If only everyone else could have one beard hair of your knowledge, this world would be a better place. I can't wait for the next album "Samsara 2, The End Of Days". Eric, you're doing some inspiring things. I can't wait for you to come home and get droned to shit. Lawrence, you're a world class travel mate and one of the best people I know. The Buick misses that Cuban tuckus. Thank you to Kyle for being a world class friend, Chris for writing the songs to get us all to this point, and Manny for always keeping me on my toes, whether its parking a car in an ice patch for teaching me more about po(o)p culture than I had ever wanted to know.

I know this year is going to lead to only bigger and better things, but if it doesn't, I'm happy to be here now. On behalf of The Amboys, thank you everyone and we cant wait to see you all very soon!

Recap of the Wave Gathering Festival by Gary Wien

2009-06-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

Fri at 9:30am

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Back in the day, I used to judge how good Dramarama shows were by how much my body hurt the next night. I think I'm going to start judging Wave Festivals that way as well. In this case, my body really, really hurt for two days after the festival, which meant I had a pretty good time! The Wave Festival has been a favorite of mine since it made its debut four years ago. Each year seems to get better and better. I remember thinking last year that the festival had arrived when people still hung out despite an afternoon of rain... well, this year people hung out in spite of rain throughout Saturday and Sunday. An impressive feat if you ask me.

The rain changed things a bit as networking seemed a bit less than in previous years and the focus on music seemed a little higher. The outdoor stage on Saturday was a new twist and would definitely have had bigger crowds with sunshine, but, if nothing else, the rain showed just how important the Wave Festival is to many of us who stood out in the rain for hours enjoying the music.

I spent much of the festival with my friend Lazlo of Blowupradio.com - while, we have different tastes in music, I think there were a few bands we both enjoyed seeing. I know he really liked catching The Amboys, one I think is one of the best bands in the area. It sounds like he also was glad to catch some of the artists performing at the Twisted Tree Cafe's open mic - many of whom were alumni of my Twisted Covers shows.

All in all, I think I probably saw roughly 50-60 artists including 20 I had never seen before. Of those, there were only two acts that I was really disappointed in; the rest were well worth my time. I guess my scouting report before the festival was spot on as I had an incredible three days. There was a lot of walking up and down Cookman Avenue and across to the Saint for me. I never made it to the boardwalk or the Lanes, but still managed to see shows in roughly 15 different venues. The multiple venues all within walking distance is one of my favorite things about this festival. I sort of agree with those who suggest the festival simply focus on the Cookman / Saint areas to make everything walkable. I think that makes for a very good experience, if you don't like an act just head to a different venue.

For me, the Wave is always a blend of artists I love from the local area, great touring artists I don't get a chance to see very often, plenty of artists I'm seeing for the first time, and simply getting a chance to hang out with musicians, music fans, and industry folk that rarely get a chance to see each other. It's something I look forward to each year.

Highlights from Friday for me include the Highlines - a tremendous band out of Los Angeles that closed out the night at the Saint; catching Cara Salimando for the first time and Roland Eckstein, a local artist that I hadn't heard of before; Chris Ayer from New York City who blew everyone away with his set (and who reminded me of Sean Penn through my camera lense); Domenick Carino and Laura Warshauer at Synaxis; Howard Jennings and Joe Whyte at Old Man Rafferty's; and Keith Monacchio in front of an amazing crowd outside Market in the Middle with a mini Commons reunion.

Saturday's highlights include the outdoor stage where Christine Martucci, Matt O'Ree, Outside The Box, The Reveling, Val Emmich, and Red Wanting Blue all had great sets. The rain held off from Outside the Box until the last song or two by Red Wanting Blue, but then poured so much that they moved Status Green into a wall-to-wall packed Mattison Park.

Other highlights on Saturday included Lisa Bianco and Agency at Market In The Middle and Mike Errico and Ari Hest at Synaxis. Synaxis is a pretty big venue that can be disappointing with a sparse crowd, but there was a good crowd for both of these artists. Unfortunately, the sound for Alex Brumel and Janel Elizabeth (who followed Ari Hest) did not do justice to the duo. On Sunday when I heard the Writers In Progress show at The Showroom I realized that The Showroom would have been the perfect venue for them. The sound within that place was superb.

Sunday began with brunch at Market in the Middle and the sweet sounds of The Soul Project. From there I caught many of my favorite local artists - The Amboys, Tunnels to Holland, Arlan Feiles, Eryn Shewell Band, Jerzy Jung, and Tommy Fuller. I also caught Stacie Rose for the first time after spinning her tunes on the radio station for several years. And the biggest treat had to be seeing The Queen Killing Kings, a high-energy band from New Haven, CT that features two keyboards playing extremely fast pop/rock tunes.

I'll never forget watching Keith McCarthy's excitement as Outside The Box pulled out a classic rock cover that's rarely heard on stage; Jo Wymer fighting through an emotional song about the passing of her parents as the bus roared by with a bellowing "Asbury Park" yelled by the driver (ironically, that didn't screw her up but the sight of Cook Smith did!); Matt O'Ree apologizing for the rain from the outside stage by saying, "Sorry about the rain. It's probably our fault somehow, it always rains when we play outside."; Alice Leon stopping in the middle of her set to have everyone look outside where the sun had begun shining for the first time; Gordon Brown with a guitar in his hand again during the closing party set of Jerzy Jung; and the surprise sets that filled the TBA spots like Anthony Fiumano and Tommy Strazza playing at Synaxis or Arlan Feiles during the open mic at Twisted Tree Cafe. Sometimes the things not on the schedule were among the coolest things.

There were a lot of bands I wanted to see but couldn't for one reason or another. That's always the problem with festivals - just too much good stuff going on at the same time. Still, part of the fun is trying to see as much music as you possibly can. I'd say I saw just about as many artists as I was planning to see.

The one really disappointing thing for me was the closing party. It just didn't seem as fun at the Saint as it was in previous yeasr at the Stone Pony or Wonder Bar. It seemed too much like just another show night rather than the networking wind down / celebration that we've had in the past. Regardless, I'm hoping that the Wave continues to grow and get better each year, it's definitely well on its way to being a top notch festival and I'm already looking forward to next year!

Best bands you didn't see: Highlines & The Queen Killing Kings

Best singer-songwriters you probably missed: Cara Salimando & Roland Eckstein

Best original songs: "Alibi" by Red Wanting Blue & "I Don't Know" by Eryn Shewell Band

Best cover songs: The Amboys with a blistering take on "Road to Nowhere" by The Talking Heads & Joshua Van Ness with Springsteen's "Mary, Queen of Arkansas"

Best venue/band combinations: The Eryn Shewell Band at Mattison Park & Red Wanting Blue on the outdoor stage

Best outdoor show: Keith Monacchio outside Market in the Middle (the set and the crowd were what the Wave is all about imo)

Best new venue: The Showroom (without a doubt)

Favorite overall moments: Seeing Red Wanting Blue on the big outdoor stage & watching Gordon Brown back on stage with Jerzy Jung

And on the flip side...

Worst scheduling: - Having "Writers in Progress" & "Songwriters By The Sea" both scheduled at the same time

Worst supplies: - Cheap paper wristbands that weren't supposed to come off for three days...

Behind the Song: Answer the Phone (please)

2009-03-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

It was a torrid breakup. I was sulking around the house, didn't know what to do with my time besides blog, write tunes and practice. After a practice at my house, Kyle was hanging listening to stories. I said I had to meet up for a birthday party down at Chevy's in Brick. I asked him if he wanted to come along. He obliged. Upon arriving he ended up knowing the birthday girl and most of her friends. Odd.

On the way home, the pain hit again. I had a brief respite during the dining. But now it all came racing back. I began writing in my mind.

Verse 1:
"Oh my heart wears long sleeve shirts, to hide it's scars"
- I thought the personification of a heart was funny. Like something you would see in the movie Better Off Dead. I was also wearing a lot of long sleeve shirts to cover my arm surgery scars.

"And I'm getting sick and tired of these late nights out here in the bars"
- I was getting sick of it, but I did not stop going every night. Ask Vicky or Tim. I'm sure the were getting sick of it.

"Cause like I said before, the whiskey, no it don't work"
-The whiskey don't work was a line from the first song I wrote after she left.

"and everyone staring at me, like I'm some kinda jerk"
- It wasn't until much later that I realized that jerk comment was very similar to a Who tune.

Chorus 1:
"Oh a teardrop dripping in my drink, I'm forced to think the thoughts that I don't want to think, I'm doing all the things I never wanted to do, but when I get home... I'm calling you."
- I always liked that idea of a man crying in his beer, and it seems that drinking only made me miss her more and think about it constantly. I never did call her that night. Or any other night. Maybe I should have.

Verse 2:
"No I don't need no fresh start, no new coat of paint"
-Weird train of thought. I though about a fresh start - meaning meeting someone new- didn't want that. But then I thought of the Benjamin Moore Primer Paint called Fresh Start. That's where the new coat of paint comes in. But if fits either way I think.

"Your saying things about me that I'm pretty sure- that I ain't"
- It was just an excuse to use the word ain't to rhyme with.

"Now the bartab keeps rolling, I'm buying drinks for all, of my friends, we're all sitting around wondering if your ever coming back... again"
- No one wondered. But the drinks kept coming... oddly enough, there were no drunk mistakes.

Chorus 2:
"They give me advice, the wisdom of words. Sometimes I think that wisdom is a curse. I'd rather be dumb and not know what to do, but when I get home... I'm calling you."
- It seemed that everyone had their two cents to through in. I wasn't looking for wisdom at this point.

Chorus 3:
"Now I'm driving down the Parkway tonight. I've got visions of you in my headlights. But chasing your ghost, just won't do.. So when I get home. I'm calling you."
- So this brings it back to writing the song while driving home that one night. I didn't call her when I got back. But I did write the tune when I got back.

The Mary Celeste EP

2009-02-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

Free Download of

Worrisome

The rest will be here sooner than you'd think.

At least I have Chicken

2008-11-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

So here's how I figure things work within the band

Chris is the "funny" one

Connor is the eye candy

Kyle is the quiet one

and I'm the black guy.

That being said, I'm Manny. I play bass and I enjoy a fine drink and white woman every now and again. I finally got admin status on this deal so chances are I'll be posting more often. Connor is gonna be home soon and hopefully we can get this medicine show back on the road. we're a little behind on the record but god willing, we'll be able to fix that.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm gonna watch anime and pretend to read Faulkner ~.~;;;;;

TC is a CD

2008-11-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

Luckily Best Buy has a cash back return policy and I was able to purchase a wire to upload my photos from my camera to my computer in the parking lot and then return it 15 minutes later.

After coasting down the 101 and getting black boogers from LA smog, we made it out of California and are now in Arizona. Our first mission out of LA was to hike down the Grand Canyon and camp out for a few nights. It was something I suggest everyone doing, but at the same time, I would not wish it upon my worst enemy. The 8 mile hike down literally had my legs involuntarily shaking like a jello mold. The first night was humbling. No one to hear you, no one to see you, no one to help you. It made all of us really treasure what was outside of the canyon. Everyone and everything from friends to family, enemies to acquaintance, pets to slurpees all have a new appreciation in my life.

Be home in a month.

OL FAITHFUL!

Behind the Music: Can't Live Here

2008-11-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

"She said she could live here, she could live there,
she could live just about anywhere. Said theres just one thing she can’t do...
I can’t live here with you."

It seems like much longer, but about half a year ago I wrote this little tune about a lady that ran away from me. Just weeks, days before she took her curtain call she would beg me to find her a place to live. She wanted to move out, she wanted me there. So I thought.

I wanted to write a simple country tune. Something like Hank Williams would write. No so much "Your Cheating Heart," but something just as clever.

We would drive down the road and she would point out places she could live. Dumpsters, storage units, garbage cans, even cardboard boxes. I thought it would be an homage to the one who could live anywhere, apparently, to not be able to live with me.

"She said she could live in a box in Central Park,
with her little dog Hammy, she taught not to bark... <- Hammy is our future French Bulldog At all the tourist and the passerbys, Hamurabi
wondering why this girl likes to live outside.
She’d always been cooped up like a chicken in a pen,
after the last guy, she swore off men. <- I was the last guy
She said she’d be happier on her own,
wherever she brings her cat she calls her home. <- Her Chad-man is all she needs.

She said she could live here, she could live there,
she could live just about anywhere.
Said theres just one thing she can’t do...
I can’t live here with you.

She said she could live under a tree in the Northwest,
a big old pine, the kind she liked best.
She’d spend her nights out underneath the stars,
not wondering if I’m out at some seedy bar. <- I spent a lot of time at the bars
She’d have all the space to stretch her legs,
running in the hills, swimming in the lakes.
Spend her days just happy as a clam,
never thinking twice about where I am. < - She seemed not to give a crap.

She said she could live here, she could live there,
she could live just about anywhere.
Said theres just one thing she can’t do...
I can’t live here with you.

She said she could live in her car,
see the country, near or far.
Get out on that open road,
turn the heat up high if it gets too cold.
City after city, mile after mile,
Seeing the real world, in her own style.
I’m sitting, singing, wondering where you are,
probably out somewhere in your car.

She said she could live here, she could live there,
she could live just about anywhere.
Said theres just one thing she can’t do...
I can’t live here with you."

Show us your horns!

2008-11-11T15:07:00.000-08:00

That says it all doesn't it. After two full days at Dude Ranch Studio (Wannamassa NJ) listening to the monotonous click track we finally captured the drum tracks needed to begin this recording adventure. After some computer aided handiwork by producer/engineer Ian Larkin, the drum tracks are officially done. And when Connor comes back home, he will be beaten with a metronome.

Manny went quick to his bass and re-recorded most of the tracks. Its strange how easily they blend, yet the are as distinct as any melody itself. Two days and the bass was done! Ten tracks full of bass, rough guitar and drums.

Ten tracks that will be accompanied by two acoustic tracks will become our first official release. Slated to be on the album are:

Kid in the City

The Right Track
These Roads
Too Far (On a broken heart)
This Very Thin Line
Answer the Phone, Please
Drunk Mistake
L.S.F.
Can't Live Here
Vikky
4am
My Last Rodeo

I went back in and recorded some guitar tracks. I believe laying these tracks down will help us get a better idea as to where the album is headed.

Well, we once again went back to the Craigslist. We were in search of a horn trio and someone to tickle those ivories for us. We had a great response back and we hope to work with the fellas we talked to. Check back in soon!

Chris Smith Gone Solo

2008-10-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

Chris will be doing his solo thang at the Brighton Bar supporting The Last Perfect Thing and Joe Harvard's Instaband. Be sure to check it out on October 29th at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch.

It's A Big Country. It's A Long Time.

2008-10-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Conrad here, It has been a month away from home and from the band. We arrived in Seattle last night and have officially seen the Pacific Ocean. It's doing great. Check out the crypttrip blog to see some pictures that my buddy Eric has been taking of Luke and I. Once I get a wire to upload my own pictures I'll be posting them as soon as possible. Manny, Chris, and Kyle have been working in the studio putting the finishing touches on the new CD that should be out this January.

This blog is going to be updated often, so be sure to bookmark it.