The General: "launch The Strategics!"

In preparation for a trip to Vancouver this weekend, I was clearing some flash cards for the digital camera when I stumbled across some lovely pictures of my band and I, circa Summer 2005 or so:

Above is myself, lookin' like a junkie

Colin as himself, the stooge

...and sexy Nate

For those who don't know, I've been playing in a band for three years with these good friends of mine. Since we started in the winter of my Sophomore year, Nate, Colin, and myself have been jammin' on tunes, writing our own and improvising and retiring to Halo...and then Halo 2. Except for some spiffy recording equipment and software obtained by Nate last year, some solo projects, and the acquisition of another lead guitarist, Brett, jammin' has gone pretty consistently the same way through to now, the summer after my Senior year, and I wouldn't change a thing. Except maybe the number of gigs we've scored; only once, out of Nate's garage, have we ever performed. I'm sure we'll all be playing for years to come, though. So here's to those good times. Below are some recent takes, as in last Spring (on Nate's spiffy recording equipment, no less) of songs that are mostly at least a year old, some more than.

the strategics - sans culottes
the strategics - ole' yeller
the strategics - baby jane
the strategics - space song

...and just for kicks:

the strategics - "squishy thing"

laughter for growing pains

Flight of the Conchords. A folk-rap-rock-badass duo from New Zealand. These are some links to YouTube shorts of their standup and music videos, since you have to see their expressions and their body language. It's hilarity. These guys are very professional.


Flight of the Conchords - Rymenoceros vs. Hiphopopotamus
Flight of the Conchords - The Humans Are Dead
Flight of the Conchords - Business Time
Flight of the Conchords - She's So Hot...Boom!
Flight of the Conchords - Brett, You've Got It Goin' On

I'm playing with the idea of closing shop here at KolF, in favor of launching a new-and-improved music blog. I've moved over to gmail, and I'd like to blog more frequently under my new address. If I were to launch a new blog, it'd probably be a lot more flexible in terms of what goes onto it. Articles, videos, anything even remotely related to the ever-evolving world of music would fly. I think I'd change a lot of formatting things with it, too. Wider margins, and a sidebar that is, quite frankly, more useful and relevant to the blog itself. Lemme know what you guys (current authors and/or readers) think. I'll definately post a link in here, should I get the new project up-and-running. I leave for college in several weeks, and I find myself perpetually trying to squeeze the most out of my remaining time with loving friends of mine. Hence this newer project is still somewhat on the horizon. For now, let's continue to play and avoid commitment.

Good to be home

While it hardly seems as though an entire month has passed since I've been home, I can hardly complain. It's nice to catch up with friends and make progress on impending college paperwork. Oh yeah, for those of you who don't know, I've been in Europe with 7 other friends for about a month and a half. We returned safely last week.

So though time seems barely to have progressed back at home (my niche back at home, and daily routine, are all too easily shrugged into again, like worn jeans), I have only to check my newsletters at Arts-and-Crafts, Strictly Kosher records, and Suicide Squeeze to see that others have been busy. The Most Serene Republic has a new album out in October, Population, while Minus the Bear prepares their Summer tour, in promotion of the new LP Planet of Ice, which is due out in record stores August 21st. Visit both bands' home sites for more info.

Minus the Bear - Dr L'Ling
Minus the Bear - Throwin' Shapes
The Most Serene Republic - Sherry and Her Butterfly Net

Blue Scholars and The Silversun Pickups both had phenomenal performances last Friday at this year's Capitol Hill Block Party. Anyone with pictures from either day? The people who turned up were eccentric and amusing as ever. I was asked to 'help' make love in public by a sweet girl, twenty something and be-dreaded. It was good times, and reminded me why I love this sweet, eccentric, twenty something town.

Daft Punk were in town yesterday. The experience sure looked like a lot of fun, but out of my current budget range. Check it out.

Upcoming events? Eddy Izzard turns up in town on August 11th and 12th, Hemp Fest is August 18th and 19th, and I leave for college on the 21st or so. It's go-time!

All...Musicians Action?

It wasn't until I went to SF that I truly realized how much freedom a musician can truly have. At night every coffee shop was filled with people with acoustic guitars and a single mike. Some brought amps, but without fail when one walked past the door to a coffee shop one could hear live music playing. While Seattle still holds the title for best all ages action, I must say that I was blown away by the respect with which musicians were treated. Even the worst musicians were allowed to continue to play for their half-hour set, and customers all clapped at the end for the worst or cheered for the best. It was very inspiring to find the welcome people who walked off the street asking to play were greeted with.

San Francisco seems to be a very strong city for a budding musician to gain a foothold and begin to gain live experience. Even the hotel we were staying in had musicians who could come in and play at any time of the day they wished--though they usually came in between 7pm-1am. I believe that it's due largely to the climate in the city, where people can sit outside and play music for money all year long, and that soon progressed to them being welcome in coffee shops, but truly I'm only guessing. Either way, rock on San Francisco!

C. W. Stoneking, Australian blues extraordinaire.

Right out of a Mississippi swamp and into the damp and fetid corners of my heart.

Handyman Blues & Cabbage Greens.

ONE OF US! ONE OF US!

So these of some "new american" folk bands that i think youll like. haha still no real links. but the content is well worth the copy and paste.

pufferfish- http://hypem.com/search/pufferfish/1/ ; www.pufferfish.eatmymusic.com ; http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=21353829

wild sweet orange- http://hypem.com/search/wild%20sweet%20orange/1/ ; http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=20662975

if you like these guys there is a great podcast from KEXP: MTM #37 hosted by greg vandy, who also has a fantastic american roots and blues radio show. im not entirely sure how i would get either one of those on this but they can be found at www.kexp.org.

Ode To An Astronaut

Some songs...Inspire.

They inspire thought, imagination, emotion, all of those things that we prize so strongly, and find so difficult to actually feel.

Here's a little sample of what makes me think, imagine, and, sometimes, cry.















Song courtesy of the Long Winters, off of the Ultimatum EP
Picture courtesy of D-Lib Magazine