Only ONE WEEK until you can buy both Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory at my Web site. The date is February 4th, next Monday. One friggin' week! I’m going to have to hatch something really interesting for next week’s blog, which will announce the first day of sales for these two labors of love. Mark it on your calendars!
This week, you get a peek of both novel and CD. You can now read the first chapter of Ghost Notes at my Web site. See where we pick up with Hote after he scrammed for Seattle at the end of Stuck Outside of Phoenix.
(By the way, if I read my letter from iUniverse correctly, that copy of Stuck for sale at Amazon is one of the last new copies available for sale--that isn’t for sale at my Web site. Get it while you can!)
Also this week, you get another sample track from Songs from Memory, which is called “Extraordinary,” which can be found at my MySpace Audio page.
“Extraordinary” is a very special song to me because it bridges the gap between the Refreshments and Songs from Memory. In fact, I called the record Songs from Memory because, back when I first picked up the guitar again, some of my material was so old it was a challenge to remember it. Once I got sold on the idea of a solo record, I wound up writing more songs, which booted some of the old stuff off the record. As it stands, only three of the ten tracks on Songs from Memory are from Refreshments days. The rest have been written since then.
What most people won’t remember about “Extraordinary” is that it was actually a Refreshments song for a brief time. We probably played it live 3 or 4 times, with me on lead vocals, when the band was in its final throes in 1998. I generally class it with later Refreshments songs like “Easy,” “Honky Tonk Union” and “Tell Your Momma,” songs you can hear Refreshments’ versions of at the Taste of AZ show.
Frankly, “Extraordinary” never sounded as complete as those other songs, and I’m partially glad that the Taste of AZ show gets cut off after about an hour; we very well may have played “Extraordinary” later that night.
But I never doubted that, with “Extraordinary,” I’d written a song worthy of being played and recorded. For whatever reason, it never congealed with the Refreshments.
That was always a difficult thing for me to deal with, writing songs that I loved but for some reason didn’t come together when the four of us played them. (There were many other songs of mine that didn't make it out of the practice room.) At one point, after playing someone very close to me several of my demos, the person said, “I could hear these songs on a Paul Simon record, but not on a Refreshments record.”
I found this frustrating—aren’t the Refreshments just a conglomeration of the best songs any of the four of us can write and perform together? That was how I saw it.
In retrospect, I think the Refreshments got defined too narrowly. To me we were, first and foremost, always and forever, a pop rock band, and in the broadest sense. Listen to “Down Together,” “Carefree,” “Mekong,” “Don’t Wanna Know” (I could go on and on). None of these songs mentions Mexico, or tequila, or anything relating to the Southwest (nothing wrong with any of those things, by the way). They’re just pop songs, and by that I mean, in terms of theme, they could’ve been written by anyone anywhere.
My new record, Songs from Memory, is also a collection of pop songs. I’ve heard from a few that it reminds them of the Refreshments. I always smile when I hear that. "Exactly," I want to say. "Pop music. That’s what the Refreshments did."
Anyway, enjoy “Extraordinary,” and enjoy the first chapter of Ghost Notes. Next week, I’ll upload “I Don’t Know Right Now,” which should provide plenty of motivation to buy now!
Slight correction from last week: the full band gig on Saturday, March 8, at Last Exit is now supporting Shurman, not Dead Hot Workshop. As always, we hope to add more confirmations this week, so keep an eye on my Web site for the most current information. I'll announce all updates here, too.
One more week!
Art
statcounter
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
More Dates Confirmed/Riverboat Captain
First of all, I've firmed up full band gigs in Phoenix (Sat., March 8, Last Exit supporting Dead Hot Workshop) and St. Louis (Sat., March 29, Lucas School House with John Austin). With any luck, we'll be adding more confirmations this week, so keep an eye on my website for up-to-the-minute gig updates at the events page. I'll announce them here, too.
Also, only TWO WEEKS until you can buy Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory at my website. The date is February 4th. This is the biggest release of my life. I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
Finally, you can now hear, along with "You," "Riverboat Captain" at my MySpace Audio page, both tracks from the forthcoming Songs from Memory.
"Riverboat" is a very special song for me. I credit it with making me a songwriter again.
In December 2003, I'd all but given up on music. It had been five years since the Refreshments had broken up, and I was content to write novels, plug them where I could, and ride off into the sunset. There are worse ways to get from A to B in this life.
But a funny thing happened. I found out that promoting a novel wasn't as easy as scheduling readings at bookstores and waiting for people to show up. In general, people needed a more compelling reason to leave their homes and their TVs and their Internet. (My Phoenix area readings were the exception.) People wanted more, and I had to figure out how to give it to them.
My acoustic guitar and bass were in the closet, so I broke them out, blew the dust off the cases, and started practicing again. I needed a gig, so I booked a happy hour show at Long Wong's in Tempe and cajoled a group of friends to kill an hour or two onstage at Wong's with me, play some old songs, ham it up, and promote Stuck Outside of Phoenix. This became the infamous "Friends of Betty" show in January of 2004, a couple of months before Wong's went kaput.
So, it's December and I'm rehearsing for the show. I'm playing "Carefree." I'm playing "Birds Sing." I'm playing a bunch of other songs I almost forgot I wrote, and I'm having a pretty good time.
Then, my wife and I rented Charade.
It's a movie made in the 60s starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, and it turned out to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It has all kinds of silly scenes in it, like Grant and Hepburn, in formal evening dress, playing that game where you try to pass an orange from your neck to your partner's without using your hands. I loved the dialog, and I got that excited feeling I get when I see a movie that really resonates with me.
And then it passed through my head:
We'll pass oranges with our necks just like Charade
And with our drinks we'll all make lemonade
Words and melody. Waiting for the movie to finish would've been intolerable, so we paused the tape and I ran upstairs, picked up my guitar. In 30 seconds I had:
And if you think it wasn't, well it was
And if you need a reason, it's because
I'm the riverboat captain
In another few hours I had the whole song, beginning to end. I was a songwriter again. Take a listen to the finished product here.
I guess it's a song about my life at the time, the riverboat captain some kind of take-charge image, but to me it will always be about that scene in Charade, Audrey and Cary balancing an orange between them, trying hard not to use their hands.
For the story of the recording of "Riverboat Captain," go here.
Also, only TWO WEEKS until you can buy Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory at my website. The date is February 4th. This is the biggest release of my life. I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
Finally, you can now hear, along with "You," "Riverboat Captain" at my MySpace Audio page, both tracks from the forthcoming Songs from Memory.
"Riverboat" is a very special song for me. I credit it with making me a songwriter again.
In December 2003, I'd all but given up on music. It had been five years since the Refreshments had broken up, and I was content to write novels, plug them where I could, and ride off into the sunset. There are worse ways to get from A to B in this life.
But a funny thing happened. I found out that promoting a novel wasn't as easy as scheduling readings at bookstores and waiting for people to show up. In general, people needed a more compelling reason to leave their homes and their TVs and their Internet. (My Phoenix area readings were the exception.) People wanted more, and I had to figure out how to give it to them.
My acoustic guitar and bass were in the closet, so I broke them out, blew the dust off the cases, and started practicing again. I needed a gig, so I booked a happy hour show at Long Wong's in Tempe and cajoled a group of friends to kill an hour or two onstage at Wong's with me, play some old songs, ham it up, and promote Stuck Outside of Phoenix. This became the infamous "Friends of Betty" show in January of 2004, a couple of months before Wong's went kaput.
So, it's December and I'm rehearsing for the show. I'm playing "Carefree." I'm playing "Birds Sing." I'm playing a bunch of other songs I almost forgot I wrote, and I'm having a pretty good time.
Then, my wife and I rented Charade.
It's a movie made in the 60s starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, and it turned out to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It has all kinds of silly scenes in it, like Grant and Hepburn, in formal evening dress, playing that game where you try to pass an orange from your neck to your partner's without using your hands. I loved the dialog, and I got that excited feeling I get when I see a movie that really resonates with me.
And then it passed through my head:
We'll pass oranges with our necks just like Charade
And with our drinks we'll all make lemonade
Words and melody. Waiting for the movie to finish would've been intolerable, so we paused the tape and I ran upstairs, picked up my guitar. In 30 seconds I had:
And if you think it wasn't, well it was
And if you need a reason, it's because
I'm the riverboat captain
In another few hours I had the whole song, beginning to end. I was a songwriter again. Take a listen to the finished product here.
I guess it's a song about my life at the time, the riverboat captain some kind of take-charge image, but to me it will always be about that scene in Charade, Audrey and Cary balancing an orange between them, trying hard not to use their hands.
For the story of the recording of "Riverboat Captain," go here.
Monday, January 14, 2008
First SFM Song Up/Taste of AZ
First of all, you can hear the first cut off Songs from Memory, which is called "You," at my MySpace Audio page. Let me know what you think. Both Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory go on sale at my website on February 4th. Mark it on your calendars!
Next week, it's "Riverboat Captain," the first song I wrote after a six-year hiatus, the first song we recorded for the album, and the theme song of Ghost Notes.
For some reason, Amazon is currently showing a 3 to 6 week wait for Stuck Outside of Phoenix. If you want a copy of Stuck before it goes out of print, I still have them for sale at my website. And I'll sign it, too!
As a few of you probably know, Kevin Guhl was kind enough to put his old Refreshments videos into digital form. What does that mean? It means we can all watch the 1998 Refreshments Taste of AZ show on YouTube!
This was great fun for me, and for others I'm sure, so thank you, Kevin.
A little explanation: the Taste of AZ took place in the parking lot of Sun Devil Stadium, just to the east of the Rio Salado River (this was before the water park), toward the end of the band's existence. I'm guessing this was in the last dozen--maybe last half-dozen--shows we played before breaking up in May of that year. We also flew to a couple of radio shows at the end--one in Charlotte, NC as I recall--and played a few shows in Tempe.
When I first watched this show (Kevin was kind enough to send me a DVD) on my computer, I was struck by how lax we seemed. I attributed this to the fact that we were probably aware that the band was winding down at this point. That bummed me out, so I decided not to watch the rest.
Fortunately, Netflix screwed up our account for a day, and Kel and I were without a DVD one night.
"I've got this Refreshments show this guy sent me," I said.
So we watched it on the big screen, and boy did my opinion change. This gig was after about two years of straight touring, and the tightness (the good kind) showed. It's nice to think we might've sounded like this more often than not on the road.
Other highlights:
Blush's "Mekong" solo. Sick.
"Broken Record" was always one of my favorite Refreshments songs.
Who wants to hear me clank backing vocals? Check out "Fonder." Nice face.
Nice little country ditty.
I love the muzak version of "Banditos." This was composed for KOTH episode 5, "Luann's Saga," and we kept playing it after that.
There's a definite turn-this-dump-over moment at the end of "Banditos." No other band I've ever been in could freak 'em out like that. That's when you felt like you were doing something special, making people forget their inhibitions for a few moments and really cutting loose.
That gig happened 10 years ago this month. Yikes!
Good times. Enjoy, everyone!
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
Next week, it's "Riverboat Captain," the first song I wrote after a six-year hiatus, the first song we recorded for the album, and the theme song of Ghost Notes.
For some reason, Amazon is currently showing a 3 to 6 week wait for Stuck Outside of Phoenix. If you want a copy of Stuck before it goes out of print, I still have them for sale at my website. And I'll sign it, too!
As a few of you probably know, Kevin Guhl was kind enough to put his old Refreshments videos into digital form. What does that mean? It means we can all watch the 1998 Refreshments Taste of AZ show on YouTube!
This was great fun for me, and for others I'm sure, so thank you, Kevin.
A little explanation: the Taste of AZ took place in the parking lot of Sun Devil Stadium, just to the east of the Rio Salado River (this was before the water park), toward the end of the band's existence. I'm guessing this was in the last dozen--maybe last half-dozen--shows we played before breaking up in May of that year. We also flew to a couple of radio shows at the end--one in Charlotte, NC as I recall--and played a few shows in Tempe.
When I first watched this show (Kevin was kind enough to send me a DVD) on my computer, I was struck by how lax we seemed. I attributed this to the fact that we were probably aware that the band was winding down at this point. That bummed me out, so I decided not to watch the rest.
Fortunately, Netflix screwed up our account for a day, and Kel and I were without a DVD one night.
"I've got this Refreshments show this guy sent me," I said.
So we watched it on the big screen, and boy did my opinion change. This gig was after about two years of straight touring, and the tightness (the good kind) showed. It's nice to think we might've sounded like this more often than not on the road.
Other highlights:
Blush's "Mekong" solo. Sick.
"Broken Record" was always one of my favorite Refreshments songs.
Who wants to hear me clank backing vocals? Check out "Fonder." Nice face.
Nice little country ditty.
I love the muzak version of "Banditos." This was composed for KOTH episode 5, "Luann's Saga," and we kept playing it after that.
There's a definite turn-this-dump-over moment at the end of "Banditos." No other band I've ever been in could freak 'em out like that. That's when you felt like you were doing something special, making people forget their inhibitions for a few moments and really cutting loose.
That gig happened 10 years ago this month. Yikes!
Good times. Enjoy, everyone!
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
Sunday, January 6, 2008
What's New for 2008
What’s new? What isn’t new!
First of all, I’ve updated my website. There you will find art work for both Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory, and at the events page there's a list of confirmed--or very close to it--events. Phoenix, Tucson, Denver, OKC, and Atlanta metro are all on the docket, and there’s plenty more in the process of becoming so, including a full-on rock show in Phoenix and a weeklong tour up the middle of the country in late March. I expect newly confirmed dates every week in Jan., so check back. I’ll announce them all here.
You’ll notice that each event varies a bit. I plan on mixing it up as much as possible in 2008 between readings, acoustic shows, full band gigs, every combination thereof, and anything else I can get away with. I’m always looking for a new way to keep it fresh. We'll see what works, and laugh off what doesn't.
Also coming on the website, the first chapter of Ghost Notes and some song samples from Songs from Memory. Not today, but they’re coming. I’ll let you know here. The early reviews are good on both.
Starting next week, in anticipation of its February 4th release, I’m going to start adding tracks from Songs from Memory to my MySpace Audio page. Expect the first track, “You,” next week.
Also this week, I’m going to update my MySpace and MySpace Audio pages. It’s been awhile. If you’re on MySpace and haven’t linked to both of my pages, this is a great place to get updates about things like new layin’ down the blogs. Friend me, baby!
Also, I’ve started a new blog for those interested in self-publishing and other independent creative ventures. Why a new blog? Click on the link and find out.
Finally, Stuck Outside of Phoenix is going out of print at the end of the month! Only a few more weeks to get this first edition before it becomes part of my past. Get yours now!
Next week, we’ll talk more about the types of events planned for the year, and hopefully I’ll have some more confirmations for you.
Oh yeah. Look for all LDL blogs to be published on Monday as opposed to Sunday from now on.
Art
First of all, I’ve updated my website. There you will find art work for both Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory, and at the events page there's a list of confirmed--or very close to it--events. Phoenix, Tucson, Denver, OKC, and Atlanta metro are all on the docket, and there’s plenty more in the process of becoming so, including a full-on rock show in Phoenix and a weeklong tour up the middle of the country in late March. I expect newly confirmed dates every week in Jan., so check back. I’ll announce them all here.
You’ll notice that each event varies a bit. I plan on mixing it up as much as possible in 2008 between readings, acoustic shows, full band gigs, every combination thereof, and anything else I can get away with. I’m always looking for a new way to keep it fresh. We'll see what works, and laugh off what doesn't.
Also coming on the website, the first chapter of Ghost Notes and some song samples from Songs from Memory. Not today, but they’re coming. I’ll let you know here. The early reviews are good on both.
Starting next week, in anticipation of its February 4th release, I’m going to start adding tracks from Songs from Memory to my MySpace Audio page. Expect the first track, “You,” next week.
Also this week, I’m going to update my MySpace and MySpace Audio pages. It’s been awhile. If you’re on MySpace and haven’t linked to both of my pages, this is a great place to get updates about things like new layin’ down the blogs. Friend me, baby!
Also, I’ve started a new blog for those interested in self-publishing and other independent creative ventures. Why a new blog? Click on the link and find out.
Finally, Stuck Outside of Phoenix is going out of print at the end of the month! Only a few more weeks to get this first edition before it becomes part of my past. Get yours now!
Next week, we’ll talk more about the types of events planned for the year, and hopefully I’ll have some more confirmations for you.
Oh yeah. Look for all LDL blogs to be published on Monday as opposed to Sunday from now on.
Art
Sunday, December 30, 2007
SOOP OOP and New Blog
I lied. New blog a week early.
This blog has been prompted by a special occasion. Christmas, you ask? No. How about New Year’s? Sorry.
This blog has been prompted by my decision to take Stuck Outside of Phoenix out of print.
After four and a half years, it’s time for me to put the kibosh on this little number. Why, you ask? Why bring an end to a book that has meant so much to me, led to many positive reviews and is the launching pad of my publishing life?
The short answer is that I want to get Stuck, which I published through a company called iUniverse, on my own imprint, which is Defunct Press, at some later date.
If you’d like more details on this decision, you can get the whole story later this week at my new blog focusing on the business side of self-publishing, DIY, and surviving as an independent artist, a blog which is as yet unnamed. I hope to get the first blog up this Friday, and I will publish a link to it here when I do.
Life as an independent artist is a topic I care deeply about, I have lots of experience in, and I have opinions that differ greatly from current conventional wisdom. So, if you’re an writer, artist or musician who’s looking to move forward on the rocky road to creative independence, please swing by the new blog.
When it has a name. It doesn’t yet.
And for those of you who have come to appreciate your weekly Layin’ Down the Law blog, what does this new blog mean to you? It means you shouldn’t worry. The Layin’ Down the Law blog will continue unabated as the place where I wax on about Ghost Notes, Songs from Memory, all the fun stuff I have planned for 2008, and my zany past in the Refreshments and elsewhere. You’ll get it all--just minus the publishing talk. I like to think of this blog as my artist blog and the other as my business blog. Two distinct audiences, two blogs.
But back to Stuck.
So, what if you want a copy of Stuck? It still should be available at places like Amazon for a month of so. And you’ll be able to order it at my website while supplies last. I hope to re-release Stuck through Defunct Press at a later date, but it will be a new edition. If you want one of these first edition copies, you should probably get one now.
Next week, new year, new blog. Thanks for reading in 2007. I hope to keep you reading for a long time to come.
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
This blog has been prompted by a special occasion. Christmas, you ask? No. How about New Year’s? Sorry.
This blog has been prompted by my decision to take Stuck Outside of Phoenix out of print.
After four and a half years, it’s time for me to put the kibosh on this little number. Why, you ask? Why bring an end to a book that has meant so much to me, led to many positive reviews and is the launching pad of my publishing life?
The short answer is that I want to get Stuck, which I published through a company called iUniverse, on my own imprint, which is Defunct Press, at some later date.
If you’d like more details on this decision, you can get the whole story later this week at my new blog focusing on the business side of self-publishing, DIY, and surviving as an independent artist, a blog which is as yet unnamed. I hope to get the first blog up this Friday, and I will publish a link to it here when I do.
Life as an independent artist is a topic I care deeply about, I have lots of experience in, and I have opinions that differ greatly from current conventional wisdom. So, if you’re an writer, artist or musician who’s looking to move forward on the rocky road to creative independence, please swing by the new blog.
When it has a name. It doesn’t yet.
And for those of you who have come to appreciate your weekly Layin’ Down the Law blog, what does this new blog mean to you? It means you shouldn’t worry. The Layin’ Down the Law blog will continue unabated as the place where I wax on about Ghost Notes, Songs from Memory, all the fun stuff I have planned for 2008, and my zany past in the Refreshments and elsewhere. You’ll get it all--just minus the publishing talk. I like to think of this blog as my artist blog and the other as my business blog. Two distinct audiences, two blogs.
But back to Stuck.
So, what if you want a copy of Stuck? It still should be available at places like Amazon for a month of so. And you’ll be able to order it at my website while supplies last. I hope to re-release Stuck through Defunct Press at a later date, but it will be a new edition. If you want one of these first edition copies, you should probably get one now.
Next week, new year, new blog. Thanks for reading in 2007. I hope to keep you reading for a long time to come.
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Chicagoland/Coming up in 2008
Okay. Back to the blog.
Blog, blog, bloggity blog-blog.
The Move
I now live in St. Charles, IL. I’ve lived here for a week, and my wife and I are settling in. The predominant reason for the relocation is Kel’s work, but there are many fringe benefits for me living just outside of Chicago.
1) I have family and friends here.
2) Major markets are close together in the Midwest, which means I can do more events to support my upcoming novel release, Ghost Notes, and solo project, Songs from Memory.
3) Anyone who knows me longer than fifteen minutes knows of my passion for one sports team. This passion extends to no other sport, and to no other team within the sport. Can you guess the team?
The Release
I have fourteen boxes filled with Ghost Notes in my closet, and 1,000 Songs from Memory CDs arriving on Christmas Eve. You should all be considering taking one into your homes in 2008. It’s a big commitment, I know, but these little fellas come from a good home, are toilet trained, and can be enjoyed for years.
Again, the official release date for both projects is March 4, but you can get them at my web site starting February 4. That's only a month and a half away!
I have a handful of events booked or virtually booked for 2008, but the centerpieces have yet to congeal, so I’m holding off on any event announcements until January. What kinds of events, you ask? Any and all of the following:
Readings
Solo Acoustic Shows
Full Band Concerts
Honest-to-Goodness Rock Tours
I’m busily booking and rehearsing for all of the above. Don't be surprised if your city is on my schedule in 2008.
Future Blogs
Barring any riveting announcements, I will refrain from blogging in December as I do the holidays, finish moving in, continue booking events, and update my web presence. You guys will all be shopping, or doing family stuff, or getting pasted on New Year’s Eve, and you won’t have much time for little ol’ me anyway. So, barring something mega-cool that I just can’t wait to tell you, you won’t hear from me again until January, when the big train of Laying Down the Law will get rolling again. You can bet 2008 will bring you what you’re accustomed to: at least a blog a week from yours truly. (I take great pride in the fact that this blog makes 52 for 2007...I’m weird like that.)
For those of you who can’t wait for something new, all I have to offer is the cover design and advance praise for Ghost Notes.
Ghost Notes
Scroll down for the praise. That’s right, Laurie Notaro.
So until January, everyone have a very happy and safe holiday and New Year’s Eve, and get ready for Betty!
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
Blog, blog, bloggity blog-blog.
The Move
I now live in St. Charles, IL. I’ve lived here for a week, and my wife and I are settling in. The predominant reason for the relocation is Kel’s work, but there are many fringe benefits for me living just outside of Chicago.
1) I have family and friends here.
2) Major markets are close together in the Midwest, which means I can do more events to support my upcoming novel release, Ghost Notes, and solo project, Songs from Memory.
3) Anyone who knows me longer than fifteen minutes knows of my passion for one sports team. This passion extends to no other sport, and to no other team within the sport. Can you guess the team?
The Release
I have fourteen boxes filled with Ghost Notes in my closet, and 1,000 Songs from Memory CDs arriving on Christmas Eve. You should all be considering taking one into your homes in 2008. It’s a big commitment, I know, but these little fellas come from a good home, are toilet trained, and can be enjoyed for years.
Again, the official release date for both projects is March 4, but you can get them at my web site starting February 4. That's only a month and a half away!
I have a handful of events booked or virtually booked for 2008, but the centerpieces have yet to congeal, so I’m holding off on any event announcements until January. What kinds of events, you ask? Any and all of the following:
Readings
Solo Acoustic Shows
Full Band Concerts
Honest-to-Goodness Rock Tours
I’m busily booking and rehearsing for all of the above. Don't be surprised if your city is on my schedule in 2008.
Future Blogs
Barring any riveting announcements, I will refrain from blogging in December as I do the holidays, finish moving in, continue booking events, and update my web presence. You guys will all be shopping, or doing family stuff, or getting pasted on New Year’s Eve, and you won’t have much time for little ol’ me anyway. So, barring something mega-cool that I just can’t wait to tell you, you won’t hear from me again until January, when the big train of Laying Down the Law will get rolling again. You can bet 2008 will bring you what you’re accustomed to: at least a blog a week from yours truly. (I take great pride in the fact that this blog makes 52 for 2007...I’m weird like that.)
For those of you who can’t wait for something new, all I have to offer is the cover design and advance praise for Ghost Notes.
Ghost Notes
Scroll down for the praise. That’s right, Laurie Notaro.
So until January, everyone have a very happy and safe holiday and New Year’s Eve, and get ready for Betty!
For those about to Proust, we salute you.
Art
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Refreshments Grab Bag
First of all, this will be my last blog for a few weeks. My wife and I are moving across the country to the Chicagoland area, and getting a blog down once a week becomes impractical during a move. You can bet I’ll chime in sometime in December to tell you about all the cool stuff coming down the chute relating to Ghost Notes and Songs from Memory. Again, both book and CD have instore release dates of March 4, 2008, but you can count on pre-release sales to start at my Web site, www.artedwards.com, a month earlier, on February 4, 2008.
To continue from last week, here's the Refreshments' one and only appearance in Rolling Stone. Click on it to see a bigger version.
This appearance was the result of the band inexplicably coming in at number two on the Rolling Stone Readers' Poll conducted the month previous. (You can see that current month's readers' poll on the left of the image.) This surprise showing happened because the poll that month was conducted only in the Rocky Mountain states, and Denver and Phoenix were our two biggest markets. (Thanks again, Phoenix and Denver.) Anyway, Rolling Stone felt it was big enough news to send a photographer out, and we spent an entire day in Santa Barbara taking pictures. I've always liked this shot.
Here's a bigger version of the content from the scan above.
For the record, I never rode nude on the bus, but I was and continue to be a free-spirit.
Here's a shot from later in our careers, 1997, is my guess.
This is taken at the Cajun House (I remembered, Brian) in Scottsdale, and seems to be a typical Scottsdale show--a lot of people looking at you and you looking back. From this, you get a good idea of the characters we played onstage: Brian in his Vegas lounge jacket, Roger in Hawaiian get-up, and Bud ready to work on your car. Absolutely no thought went into these concepts. We were all hams and wanted to be noticed; the rest developed naturally.
And finally:
This was one of the many extras put together by Doug and Kathleen Kramer for our mailing list. Even though the Internet was up and running, our only direct communication with our fans was through these mailings. Kathleen sent out other things, too, like cards announcing tour dates and reminders of new records coming out. It was one of the best aspects of being a fan of the band, I think, getting these things in your mailbox here and there. Doug and Kathleen handled all of it. Thanks Doug and Kathleen!
Again, many thanks to Brian J. Henderson for the photos.
And thanks, everyone else, for reading. Fun, huh? We’ll chat more in December!
Art
To continue from last week, here's the Refreshments' one and only appearance in Rolling Stone. Click on it to see a bigger version.
This appearance was the result of the band inexplicably coming in at number two on the Rolling Stone Readers' Poll conducted the month previous. (You can see that current month's readers' poll on the left of the image.) This surprise showing happened because the poll that month was conducted only in the Rocky Mountain states, and Denver and Phoenix were our two biggest markets. (Thanks again, Phoenix and Denver.) Anyway, Rolling Stone felt it was big enough news to send a photographer out, and we spent an entire day in Santa Barbara taking pictures. I've always liked this shot.
Here's a bigger version of the content from the scan above.
For the record, I never rode nude on the bus, but I was and continue to be a free-spirit.
Here's a shot from later in our careers, 1997, is my guess.
This is taken at the Cajun House (I remembered, Brian) in Scottsdale, and seems to be a typical Scottsdale show--a lot of people looking at you and you looking back. From this, you get a good idea of the characters we played onstage: Brian in his Vegas lounge jacket, Roger in Hawaiian get-up, and Bud ready to work on your car. Absolutely no thought went into these concepts. We were all hams and wanted to be noticed; the rest developed naturally.
And finally:
This was one of the many extras put together by Doug and Kathleen Kramer for our mailing list. Even though the Internet was up and running, our only direct communication with our fans was through these mailings. Kathleen sent out other things, too, like cards announcing tour dates and reminders of new records coming out. It was one of the best aspects of being a fan of the band, I think, getting these things in your mailbox here and there. Doug and Kathleen handled all of it. Thanks Doug and Kathleen!
Again, many thanks to Brian J. Henderson for the photos.
And thanks, everyone else, for reading. Fun, huh? We’ll chat more in December!
Art
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