Another find on Youtube. A later release for TGVM that was over 2 years in the making. For Jonathon was a double cd featuring the music by such artists as The Album Leaf, Unwed Sailor, Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco, Movere Workshop), Tarental, Her Space Holiday, and many more. All songs were written for a film Chris Bennett shot of a friend who was dying of cancer. What came of this was 18 different soundtracks to a film, each different and interesting because of the complex subject matter they were writing the music for. Here is The Album Leaf’s take on the film.
From the collaborative project that was released by TGVM in 2002. Still one of my favorite songs and the film footage is beautiful, some of which brings up some good memories being in Finland with Chris (the filmmaker) for our Johns wedding. Some of the footage on the water is from an early boat ride we took to Estonia for the day. The whole project came about because I had just started a record label and was working on an Early Day Miners / Unwed Sailor split and Chris had just put together this footage of super 8mm film from his travels of Europe. The members of Early Day Miners and Unwed Sailor spent a weekend in a studio writing the music to flow seamlessly with the film footage. What came of it was a 27 minute piece entitled STATELESS. It was only done twice live in fullness, one a release party with Damien Jurado in Bloomington and then a festival in Europe. It was amazing to see live, with the footage projected on screens. Released January 2002. 2500 were pressed. You can find all the videos on You Tube, this is just my favorite clip, its the last song. (You tube makes it a little darker than it really is)
Found these old photos while going through files. Good Times indeed.
From top to bottom: Early Day Miners, Nashville TN winter 2003; The Weight, Atlanta GA winter 2004, Downtown East Point GA, winter 2004.
I received 3 new prints in the mail today from one of my favorite artists/screenprinters, Jay Ryan. Included in this bunch was this one that has already become a favorite and in line to be framed. This digital image does not do it justice. The printing is stellar, along with the illustration.
One of my favorite artist, Shepard Fairey, was interviewed again because of his involvement in the Obama campaign. I still remember the summer that his “Andre The Giant Has a Posse” stickers that flooded the punk/hardcore community.
This is one of many great articles about Obama and how he used (and will continue) to use new technology during his presidency. Anyone who followed the election already knows the Obama campaign was awesome, especially from a branding and web 2.0 perspective. From his use of what some believe are “outsider artists” such as Shepard Fairey to his use of social networking and bookmarking sites like Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and Youtube, the Obama campaign “out branded”, “out techied”, “out communicated”, and “out fundraised” his rival hands down.
In the end some say this is one of many things that helped him get to where he is now. He took some basic business principles, such as make a recognizable brand, and then applied web 2.0 technologies. Through this he was not only able to get people excited, he was also able to collect over 13 million email addresses which is a huge when running for president. When the GOP reconvened last month one of their first orders of business was to look at Obama’s campaign and figure out what their party didn’t do right in terms of using technology.
One of things that amazed me the most, was about 6 hours after making his speech in Chicago, if you were on the Obama email or txt list you received a message announcing the launch of change.gov. This website was specifically set up for the American people, to watch his transition into office and a way for him to continue communicating directly to the public, bypassing mainstream media. This was up and running hours after he won. I know organizations that cant put websites up in 10 months, and this was up within hours. So as the page turns, and Obama takes the White House tomorrow it will be interesting to see what avenues he uses for communicating to us, the American Public.
So it got me to thinking. What are those records in my life? My wife and I have had similar conversations over the years. Music has always played a big role in both of our lives, and it seems like certain songs/records/shows could be put together and be a soundtrack of our lives. So I took a trip down memory lane today. Here are some of my loves at first listen that forever shaped me. What were yours?
KISS-DESTROYER-In either third or fourth grade my next door neighbors daughter, who was also my babysitter, was on her way to college and somehow I ended up with this record, along with a few other KISS records. I remember listening to this full blast over and over in my basement.
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS- The song I LOVE ROCK-N-ROLL I first heard at a birthday party somewhere in third or fourth grade. Within weeks I had convinced my parents to buy the LP at K-MART one afternoon. I remember dancing around my house singing “I love rock-n-roll, put another dime in the jukebox baby” all that night and taking it to school for show and tell.
V/A NYC HARDCORE–THE WAY IT WAS–I found this in 7th grade as I was making the transition from metal to hardcore and punk. We were living in suburbia, but had a record store at the mall where a guy Duncan (at the time played in this band Modern Vending) would order records. They were always in this small section tucked away in the back. This record spawned my first mail order purchase, a Gorilla Biscuits 7″. I wish I still had these original pressings, but thanks to technology I can always find a song or two if need be.
DAG NASTY–CAN I SAY and WIGOUT AT DENKOS–Two more finds in middle school that changed my life. I listened to these non-stop from 7th grade onto high school. In 8th grade they toured and played Spuds Zero in Lafayette Indiana (college town about 2 hours away from where I lived.) Somehow my best friend at the time was able to convince his mom to drive us up, and she was able convince my parents this was a great idea! This was my first experience in a more DIY show setting. I remember the show being pretty much like this video and Dag Nasty didn’t go on till after midnight.
AVAIL–SATIATE–Album of my senior year in high-school and the summer that followed. I was booking shows in Indianapolis and was even lucky enough to do a show for them that summer. Their van was having problems so they stayed at our house an extra day. Guys are still going at it. Good dudes. POOR.UGLY.HAPPY
FUGAZI-ALL–From my freshman year in high school till now, Fugazi has alway been found in my life soundtrack. I have had the chance to see them at small venues, outside, and then larger theaters with each time being an equally powerful musical experience.
HONORABLE MENTIONS THAT HAVE WEAVED IN MY LIFE– Jawbreaker-Unfun, Crimpshrine-Duct Tape Soup, The Avett Brothers-All, Gorilla Biscuits-Start Today, Circle Jerks-Wonderful (first show ever) The Grateful Dead-American Beauty, Fuel-Monuments of Excess, Zero Boys-Viscous Circle, Toxic Reason-Bullets For You, Tortoise-Live at Second Story, 7 Seconds-New Wind, Born Against-Nine Patriotic Hymns, and the list will go on and on as I slowly become an old man.
Encouraging article for all the freelancers out there. Perfect timing for me. I am in the process of revamping my portfolio and about to throw myself in the ring. Wish me the best and if you know anyone looking for a designer–I am available.
