Thursday, October 8, 2009
How can a new act stand out from the crowd?
From the Guardian Music blog. Not exactly encouraging reading. Except for the concept of focusing on your actual friends and fans. Not trolling for numbers, but connecting directly with people who truly like you/your work. Nurture those relationships. See what happens.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
My First Guitar
When I was about 12 my aunt and uncle planned a move from upstate New York to Davenport, Iowa. Because they were taking two cars they wanted a way to communicate and they wanted it cheap. This was before the advent of cellular telephones (I said I was 12, right?) and aunt and uncle weren’t interested in investing in the latest fad: CB radio (d’y’all remember that old song about the CON-voy? Put the hammer down! 10-4, y’all!).
But they knew I had a pair of semi-decent walkie-talkies, so they offered to trade for them and in exchange they’d give me an old acoustic guitar my uncle possessed. I don’t mean he haunted it. I mean he owned it…never mind. I remember not thinking too long about agreeing to the trade. I’d get to learn to play the guitar.
Deep down, I think I always wanted to play the guitar. I know I used to daydream as an even younger kid that I was part of a traveling group of friends and family, putting on rock-n-roll shows and moving on. There were plenty of precedents on the TV at the time: The Monkees, The Partridge Family, Josie and the Pussycats. I liked the idea of making music, hogging some limelight and generally having a good time with friends and strangers.
Anyway, of course I said I’d make the swap and that summer when I returned from the annual visit to my grandparents’ place in New Jersey, having offered up my walkie-talkies, I brought back to Phoenix an old beat-up Gibson acoustic guitar, with nylon strings. My mom took me to a music store where we showed it to the guitar tech. The idea was to put steel strings on the thing, which meant dropping the truss rod back down the neck. The tech gave the guitar the once over and asked its provenance. I told him how I swapped my $15 walkie-talkies for it. He said, as he surveyed it, that I got the better end of the deal, as the guitar was an old LG-1, probably from the late 1940s, and even though it was paint-spattered and a bit worn in places, it was worth around $1,000, give or take.
I’ve been playing it for more than 30 years now. It’s seen its share of clubs, street-side busking and plenty of traveling. It’s soaked up sweat and beer and the occasional rain shower. It’s sat neglected in the back of the closet or hidden under the bed, out of sight of curious youngsters. I pulled it out after a few years of a song-writing drought and, lo! it still worked! Now it’s hanging on my study wall in easy reach for a late-night strum. It’s got a mellower tone than my other guitars, and it’s even more worn and beat up than when I got it. But it’s still a fine guitar. Catch you on the flip-flop!
But they knew I had a pair of semi-decent walkie-talkies, so they offered to trade for them and in exchange they’d give me an old acoustic guitar my uncle possessed. I don’t mean he haunted it. I mean he owned it…never mind. I remember not thinking too long about agreeing to the trade. I’d get to learn to play the guitar.
Deep down, I think I always wanted to play the guitar. I know I used to daydream as an even younger kid that I was part of a traveling group of friends and family, putting on rock-n-roll shows and moving on. There were plenty of precedents on the TV at the time: The Monkees, The Partridge Family, Josie and the Pussycats. I liked the idea of making music, hogging some limelight and generally having a good time with friends and strangers.
Anyway, of course I said I’d make the swap and that summer when I returned from the annual visit to my grandparents’ place in New Jersey, having offered up my walkie-talkies, I brought back to Phoenix an old beat-up Gibson acoustic guitar, with nylon strings. My mom took me to a music store where we showed it to the guitar tech. The idea was to put steel strings on the thing, which meant dropping the truss rod back down the neck. The tech gave the guitar the once over and asked its provenance. I told him how I swapped my $15 walkie-talkies for it. He said, as he surveyed it, that I got the better end of the deal, as the guitar was an old LG-1, probably from the late 1940s, and even though it was paint-spattered and a bit worn in places, it was worth around $1,000, give or take.
I’ve been playing it for more than 30 years now. It’s seen its share of clubs, street-side busking and plenty of traveling. It’s soaked up sweat and beer and the occasional rain shower. It’s sat neglected in the back of the closet or hidden under the bed, out of sight of curious youngsters. I pulled it out after a few years of a song-writing drought and, lo! it still worked! Now it’s hanging on my study wall in easy reach for a late-night strum. It’s got a mellower tone than my other guitars, and it’s even more worn and beat up than when I got it. But it’s still a fine guitar. Catch you on the flip-flop!
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Death Of Music Criticism, Or How Crowd-Sourcing Killed Indie Rock
Christopher R. Weingarten regales on criticism, new music and why you can't follow the crowd (first found on this excellent blog).
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Late Joys Perform "Black and White" for EXSE
Live Appearance on the 2009 Edition of the Televised Festival
Three Late Joys on the goggle-box! This acoustic take features Robi, Shane and Patrick.
Three Late Joys on the goggle-box! This acoustic take features Robi, Shane and Patrick.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
The Late Joys Announce, "Everybody's Going Away"
Nine-Month Gestation and Voila! Music!
Says Didi, looking at the album cover art: "Look! Everybody's flying up into the sky!"
"They're going away," says Dad.
"They're having a party!"
"Because they have balloons?"
"Yes!!!"
"Everybody's going up into the sky! But not that guy on the ground. Maybe he's you. How come they're not going to let go of the balloons and they'll float down and the balloons will float up? You said some are coming back someday..."
I think Didi might understand the song better than the guy who wrote it...
"They're going away," says Dad.
"They're having a party!"
"Because they have balloons?"
"Yes!!!"
"Everybody's going up into the sky! But not that guy on the ground. Maybe he's you. How come they're not going to let go of the balloons and they'll float down and the balloons will float up? You said some are coming back someday..."
I think Didi might understand the song better than the guy who wrote it...
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Everybody's Going Away: EP's Away!
Our latest three-song EP is out and available for download via Bandcamp (for you tactiles who wish to hold a CD in your hands we plan to have some versions available via CDBaby soon).
Download the songs here.
And let us know what you think about the tunes. Leave a comment below, we'd love to hear from you!
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Late Joys Seek Vocalist
The Late Joys, an Austin quartet (guitar, bass, drums, trumpet), are looking for a vocalist/instrumentalist to add harmonies and some musical texture to our Brit-Pop flavored, mostly uptempo, energetic, original rock music (with the occasional choice covers). Guitarists and/or keyboardists who sing are highly encouraged to contact us, but we're interested in anyone who can sing and play -- if you have an instrument, we can find a way to use it.
You can listen to and learn about The Late Joys on the band's official site or on MySpace if you are so inclined.
We rehearse as a band once a week (usu. Thursday nights); newcomers get extra sessions as we get you up to speed.
Although we'll consider anyone who can sing (and play some sort of musical instrument), we think we're more interested in a female vocalist. In the past we've sung with an alto/contralto and that seems to work a treat for our harmonic needs.
Professional attitude and punctuality improve your chances.
So does having your own reliable mode of transportation.
No drugs, please, at least not while you're rehearsing/performing with the band.
If you know someone who might fill the bill, please let us know (uh, and let him/her know, too!). If you think you're our match, great!
Please contact Robi (robi@latejoys.com) for more details.
You can listen to and learn about The Late Joys on the band's official site or on MySpace if you are so inclined.
We rehearse as a band once a week (usu. Thursday nights); newcomers get extra sessions as we get you up to speed.
Although we'll consider anyone who can sing (and play some sort of musical instrument), we think we're more interested in a female vocalist. In the past we've sung with an alto/contralto and that seems to work a treat for our harmonic needs.
Professional attitude and punctuality improve your chances.
So does having your own reliable mode of transportation.
No drugs, please, at least not while you're rehearsing/performing with the band.
If you know someone who might fill the bill, please let us know (uh, and let him/her know, too!). If you think you're our match, great!
Please contact Robi (robi@latejoys.com) for more details.
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