You Think You're Happy

Just finishing a long weekend of shows in Michigan. It ruled!!! Thanks and love to Gardens, Bad Indians, Vulture Circles, Tyvek, Wet Hair, Ribbons, Dead Luke, Rippers, Ship Shape, Kelly Jean, Terrible Twos, Johnny Ill Band and everyone else who we played with, for or around in the last 72 hours. Summer isn't done yet!!!

And So You're Happy

Two shows in New York this coming week. Both promise to be fun and potentially awakening. Please come out and say hello!

That's What You're Happy For

Two new records are in the works, almost ready for the world, as it were...

A new 7" on the most righteous M'Lady's Records. "Cops Don't Care" b/w "Heat Isn't The Word". Some on green wax. Amazing cover art pictured above by Hisham Bharoocha.


And a 12" on Troubleman. 500 copies, white vinyl. Four songs recorded in the depth of winter, heavy snowed-in/blissed-out vibe. "Fall On Your Face", "Automatic", "Winter Everywhere" and "Hold Back The Rapture". Cover art by Dorothy Stucki, who you may remember from this infamous interview.

Drop us an email at citycenternyc@gmail.com if you're interested in getting ahold of either of these releases. Not sure when we'll have copies, but it should be by the end of summer.

Born D(e)ad

My friend Don in 1992.
We recently finished this song for a compilation of Brooklyn bands (which we just barely count as at this point) coming out later this year on State Capital Records. Not really sure who else is on it, but there should be some information soon. I know it's us, Silk Flowers (yay) and 15 others (yikes!) so it will be expansive at the very least.

This song is basically completely Ryan's baby. He wrote the music, lyrics and basic structure of it and I just kinda helped arrange it and work on harmonies. I guess, saying that, I'll let him write about anything less technical if he chooses to. We recorded two versions of the song, one which will end up on the comp, and this version, which doesn't have drums (the other does) and got a little more lost under layers of sounds.

City Center "Dinosaur Games" (First Version)

Summer Mix #2

Here's a mix of 45s I got on tour. Some girl group stuff, some Motown/fake Motown, some other random soul stuff. Telling you now it's not all good, but somehow works in a randomizer way.

summer mix #2
45s I found on tour
1.The Fascinations "I'm In Love"
A Curtis Mayfield protegee situation. Totally stellar raw summer vibes.
2.Martha Reeves & The Vandellas "Your Love Makes It All Worthwhile"
3.Cindy Cole "He's Sure The Boy I Love"
A cover version of the Phil Spector production which I think is maybe superior to the original?? Not sure what else Cindy Cole did, but this is radical. Followed by...
4.Gerald Faulk & The Return Of The Flames "Express Yourself"
A cover version by an unknown which is GROSSLY INFERIOR to the original. hahahahaha... This doesn't fully suck or anything. He hits the high notes with some real finesse, but man, what a tepid, lukewarm rendition of one of the more amped soul classics.
5.The Marvelettes "My Baby Must Be A Magician"
6.The Majorettes "White Levi's"
7.Skeeter Davis "I Can't Stay Mad At You"
One of my favorite girl group/60's pop vocal songs ever. Morrissey references the last line somewhere on some Smiths song, I can't remember which one right now. "You got me where you want me..." So amazingly subtle and such a jam.
8.The Teen Queens "Just Goofed"
9.Darrell Banks "Somebody (Somewhere) Needs You"
Yeah, totally, man. Somewhere, right? I mean someone has to... uh...
10.Dee Dee Sharp "(It's Wonderful) The Love I Feel For You"
11.The Young Sisters "Casanova Brown"
12.The Sylte Sisters "Cinderella Jones"
13.The Sensations "Let Me In"
14.Above & Beyond "We Love You Muhammad Ali"
15.Little Richard "Slippin' And Slindin'"

Total Time: 39min 7sec
DOWNLOAD THIS MIX HERE.

Kids Stuff

Wiccannns!!

We checked out the Gories show this weekend. Pretty stellar. After the show my friend Matt Smith said "Nothing has changed at all from when I saw them 22 years ago". That's what I want to hear. Zero progress is all progress!

Just finished our side of a split tape. More info on that very soon, but here's one of the main jams from the session, which was informed by supreme summer feelings and the endless details of walking around at night, feeling the intricate nature of how stacked on top of itself the entire world is.

City Center "Spring St."

Meadow Vs. Field / Mystery Vs. Function

Here's a mix of new sounds, hopefully the first of a few if I can keep up with my own mind this summer. A lot of this stuff is music I found out or thought more about on tour. I'm getting my record player back this week and next week I wanna do a mix of all the 45s I got on the road. For now, I hope you enjoy this ill-fitting collection and are having good summer days.


summer mix #1
1.Sheriff & The Revels "Shombolar"
This is the best rock and roll song ever recorded. In lyfe, ever, probably forever.
2.The Avons "Push A Little Harder"
3.Unknown Artist "You Can't Get Her Out Of Your Mind"
4.Unknown Artist Unknown Song
No idea where these two weird anonymous girl-group jams came from or who does them. I think Brett sent them to me at some point, but any info would be cool.
5.Cinderella "Baby Baby I Still Love You"
6.Outrageous Cherry "Our Love Will Change The World"
7.Mitch Hedberg "Sesame Seeds"
"What do Sesame Seeds grow into? I don't know, we never give 'em a chance!"
8.DJ Jubilee "Back That Azz Up"
9.Monsta With Da Fade "Hammer Time"
10.Sess 4-5 "Gettin' That Gwop"
11.T.I. "Whatever You Want"
12.Madonna "Like A Prayer"
13.Outkast "SpottieOttieDopaliscious" (Instrumental)
Along with the Avons song, the Cinderella song and some other jams not on this mix, I spent a lot of time with this song on the last tour, freaking out at it's super-dubby vibe and completely unbreakable horn-line. I found an instrumental version online which just highlights these elements. This song makes me think "Jesus Christ, people make music and it sounds like this."
14.Kria Brekkan Unknown Song (live at church in Greenpoint last winter)
15.Grouper "Heart Current"
From the recently re-issued "Cover The Windows and Walls" CD. The best!
16.MIJ "Never Be Free"
Total Time: 51min 7sec
Download the mix here.

spy-hopping

At the end of tour I made a zine of some of the drawings I did in the van and also some of the stuff I picked up here and there. There aren't a ton left, but if you wanted one, drop me a line at westsideaudio@gmail.com or just paypal me $5 at that address and tell me the best place to send it. It's kinda funny, vaguely fucked up and generally exciting.

Life Is Beginning

In a remarkably fruitful time as far as new ideas and inspirations. Having a space in a strange new basement will do that, I think. Taking a break from mixing a song for a new comp, I made this jam, for the high-wire days we're all living now, with or without knowing it.

City Center "Boy Of The Year"

June's Children

We back in biznass! Playing a show in Detroit tonight at the Lager House with Aran Ruth and the Beduoins. It's a free show and will rule. Also, here is a long-ass 10 minute two part jam we made up last night. See you soon!

City Center "Dead Wealth"/"Extrovert"

Lyrical

The lyrics for the record are up on a separate blog over heah. I'll try to get all the lyrics to other releases and eventually songs from this blog up there, too, if at all applicable. Listening to Dave Pajo's Misfit's covers record on IQ's recommendation. It's really great! Kinda makes me wonder why all bands weren't just Misfits rip-offs or counterparts.

Can't Shake These Shapeless Memories

I'm sitting in a coffee shop in downtown Portland and they're playing the Cap'n Jazz record. If you know me even a little bit, you should know this makes me so happy and nostalgic in a way that never feels backward-looking. Some fucked up Midwest emo-ism that never really leaves you. The super-long tour is now done, and following this weekend I'll be back in Michigan to work on new City Center stuff for a while. Our record has been in the process of being released in a very vague way that I'm not really clear on. I'm pretty sure LPs were in stores a few weeks ago and CDs will be available soon. Also pretty sure LPs are all gone, but maybe Forced Exposure or Other Music still has some. There's regularly some on eBay for $20 before shipping, too. (Holy shit, whoever bought that CC/Grouper 7" for $50 on eBay should have hollared over here first! I could probably sell you one of the 3-4 copies I kept for myself if you were gonna flash a fundo around!!! WTF??) I think there'll be a second press if people keep needing it, but who knows. We have copies of the CD available so just get in touch if you want one. I also started working on a separate blog link with lyrics and technical info, since Type wasn't into crowding the layout with all the words. That'll be up soon, and I'll have a permalink if you're interested.


The internet is a weird place. There've been a lot of reviews and weird misinformation about the record already and it's barely available. To clear up some of the major mis-reportings: Ryan does play on the record and we did collaborate on it completely. I just started recording it by myself. Also, I've seen Avi sited as a vocalist on some sites, which is wrong. I used a sample of Avi speaking on "Bleed Blood", and it was so distinct I put it in the credits. Guess it's not too distinct, tho, because he can't even pick it out. The only other person besides myself who sings is Mary Pearson, who does some vocals on "You Are A Force". I won't speak to the opinions of reviewers mostly cause I don't give a fuck, but regarding the Dusted review which insinuated the only possible explanation for our record was that I started smoking weed; I never touch the stuff. No judgment (or even opinion) about anyone who's into it, just personally I smoked pot like seven times in high school and it made me feel so bad I never went back. I just hate the thought of some pent-up reviewer putting the idea in anyone's head that our creative process is to get super blazed and jack off over samplers or records that came out in 2004. But like Kanye say: "When they hate, let em hate, and watch the money pile up!!!" Here's a bonus video of Igor recording this week. Thanks for reading! I love you!

Filth Flarn Filth

Last Things First Things

In Anacortes, WA on the last day of tour. To give you an idea of what's been happening and what kind of shape I'm in;
In Vancouver, BC after we loaded in people scattered. I walked back to the venue, a small gallery called Little Mountain to try to take a nap before the show. I had Brett's pillow in my hand and walked up to the guy who had let everyone in.
"I'm gonna lay down here for a little while if that's cool with you."
"Uh, like on this bench outside?"
"No, probably on the couch thing in there. You can keep working on stuff, I just slept in a tent last night didn't get any rest at all."
"Oh, ok... well, I guess that's cool. I'm gonna be leaving at 7, so you'll have to get out of here by then."
"No problem." and I pass out on some C-shaped couch. Fast-forward several hours to after the show...
"Hey man, this all makes a lot more sense now!"
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't know you were in the band, I thought you were just some homeless dude who needed a place to sleep! You seemed harmless enough, so I thought why not??!"


What's the difference between a Lamborghini and a boner? This guy doesn't have a Lamborghini!


Tuscon was made to rule by these sweethearts, meeting up with Steven (on break from a tour that makes this one look like a daytrip to the beach) and some intense pineapple-basil juice. Good vibes everywhere.

At the thrift store in LA. They also had several No Age shirts on the racks. VC told me I should have scooped them up for eBay, but I could only think about all the Insane Clown Posse t-shirts that invariably litter Detroit thrift stores, probably also potentially eBay gold.


Caroline from the Finches had a kind-of wedding/commitment/love ceremony on the day we were in Oakland, so me, Brian, Vice and George Chen rolled up for a minute before the show. It was cool to show up unannounced to Caroline's wedding thing at her parent's house having only ever spent time with her on tour in different cities. Total surprise style! Total surprise to some of the guests, too, who were overheard to say "Who are those guys? They just showed up and started eating!" You can't see in the picture, but Vice's shirt actually hangs past his knees. It's about 4 1/2 feet long.


Finally checked out the glorious Maggie Mudd's vegan ice cream shop in SF. Missed Scoops in LA, but there will come a day, I know...


Baby goats!!!


I'm feeling like this blog in tour/travel mode is quickly becoming some mid 90's Cometbus-esque food scavenging journal. I have a week of recording in Olympia and Portland and then a summer of jamming in Michigan and NYC with Ryan. I'm really excited about everything to come, and I want to do a lot more with this blog when I'm not on tour. I'm super exhausted from the past 7 weeks of running around but much more inspired and thinking about new things than I am tired.

PRE-ORDERS BE SHIPPED

Guess what spectacular thing I did this morning, my babies? I mailed out all the pre-orders!! That shit is on its way to you, so be on the lookout! Thanks again to everyone who decided to pre-order the record from us, and sorry that we sold out so quickly! The LP is still available at various record stores and online vendors, so check those out if you're still searchin!

In other news, we got all the CDs now too, so you can order those from us as well. The CDs are $13 ppd to the US & Canada, and $17 ppd to the rest of the world. Those orders will get filled as they come in. If you're interested, just click the button below:

SHIPPING

U.S. & CANADA $13.00ELSEWHERE $17.00

Ahahaha look at this dog he is chillin the most! Some guy was driving him around in that thing!

I need a Tylenol.

Faceless

Writing from the lobby of the Flamingo Hotel in Tuscon, Arizona. Still on tour and completely cracked out as fuck. I've been having a hard time keeping up on anything interweb-related because the driving/unloading/jamming/packing up/driving schedule has been more rigorous the past few weeks. Large patches of experiences and photographic evidence are missing from the blogosphere, but then it's important to remember that blogs aren't lives and teeth aren't bytes. I have been getting large swaths of inspiration everywhere along the way.

Hung out with Jae and Shawn in Iowa City and experienced the now legendary/fabled vegan waffle with tofu scramble cooked into the batter. Even under a harsh cold and endless coughing, I recognized it's unthinkable deliciousness.




In New Orleans we played at Quintron & Ms. Pussycat's joint The Spellcaster's Lodge. Fucking amazing good vibes and crazy intensity. I hadn't been thru New Orleans for years, and certainly not post-Katrina. It's unlike anywhere, in so many different directions and all of them amazing. The next day most of the crew went by Nothin But Fire Records and loaded up on Bounce and N.O. Hip Hop mixtapes, and I've been listening to almost nothing but ever since. It's fucking bonkers. The whole time in Louisiana. I still don't have words for it. Just total inspiration.


In Lafayette I figured out how to overdub with my hand-held digital recorder and made this weird little song in Rachel's living room.
City Center "Isn't Always"

Texas was a blast, as usual, and even not in deep South By Southwest damage, Austin was still kinda nutty. Hung out with my beloved Esme, and we woke up super early to meet a borderline still-drunk/almost-hungover Sarah who gave me a haircut and sent me off to Denton to dive into the depths of exhaustion even further. Since then I've been in the van drawing pictures, thinking about bedrooms and looking inward to total acceptance and the summer of lyfe that we're moving towards.

There's a ton of City Center stuff coming up this summer and fall. More than I really even imagined. All 100 of the LP's we had to sell are now spoken for, but we'll have info up soon for how to order CDs. Apart from that there's about 99 new announcements of excitement on the horizon, but they'll all have to wait until I get back to Michigan and maybe even after the Gories reunion show. In the meantime, here's a few other songs. This one I've been working on for a while and who knows what it's for/about...

City Center "Skeletons Join Hands"

And in cleaning up my hard-drive, I found this abandoned jam from this time last year, obviously deep into the slums of Brooklyn humidity listening to too much shoegaze and feeling lonely as fuck... enjoy!
City Center "Faceless Friends"

Interview

Me & Bradford interview Dorothy Stucki from Plastic Aztecs. Atlanta, GA 2am at the diner. May 12, 2009.

BIKE RIDES

Just got back from my brief reunion with the hive-dwelling-chain-gang-cross-country-revue, and it was so awesome to see everybody again! Fred and I jammed out a couple more City Center shows, consumed way too much delicious Mexican food, fucked up sound systems, burped and then laughed at the burps, and tried to share a little love with the world. Thanks to everyone who came out to the shows! There may even be a video of one soon...!!

During our show in Grand Rapids, we managed to blow out the PA about three times (sorry!), plus step on the power cord and shut everything off at least once. At first it was frustrating, and we tried to rage through it, but then in a really awesome/surreal way, it flipped the whole vibe, and warm mellowness overcame us and the room and maybe even the whole street for a second. Check it:

rage: http://www.mediafire.com/?antnc0mtmej
no wait: http://www.mediafire.com/?wm20wmt0jdo

Totally unrelated, listening to more of Ian's new jams totally rocked my mind. One of his new lines is "I see progress in paint peeling, I see progress in leaky ceilings." Love that shit! It reminds me of the opening line to the book One-Dimensional Man:

A comfortable, smooth, reasonable, democratic unfreedom prevails in advanced industrial civilization, a token of technical progress.

Certainly a heavy thought. Progress vs. progress? Freedom vs. unfreedom? Shit son. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Chain and the Gang and the Hive Dwellers are on the road for another month, and you should go fucking see them!