December 28, 2008
December 24, 2008
Thomas' definitive list of the absolute best music to come out this year
ALBUMS
The Music Tapes - Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes - Merge
Dear Nora - Three States: Rarities '97 - '07 - Magic Marker Records
Why? - Alopecia - anticon.
Sissy Wish - Beauties Never Die - Sony/BMG
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow and Blue - Warp
PAS/CAL - I Was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke & Laura - Le Grand Magistry
Make a Rising - Infinite Ellipse And Head With Open Fontanel - High Two
LAKE - Oh, The Places We'll Go - K
REISSUES
Daughters of Albion - Daughters of Albion - Fallout
Leo Diamond - Skin Diver Suite - Request Records
Biff Rose - Biff Rose - Omni
Judy Henske and Jerry Yester - Farewell Aldebaran - Phoenix
SINGLES
Solange - "I Decided"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD8wzrBLrLI
Miniature Tigers - "Cannibal Queen"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUrv7CBbN4
Dr. Dog - "The Rabbit, The Bat, and the Reindeer"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZYTk06Qhc8
Beyoncé - "Single Laides (Put a Ring On It")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g
Of Montreal - "For Our Elegant Caste"
http://fakepennycomics.com/blog/OFM_ForOurElegantCaste.mp3
Thao Nguyen - "Bag of Hammers"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57OtoBN_Jig
December 22, 2008
young nick krill’s year-end wrap up… word of the year!
curate: verb [trans.] (usu. be curated) – select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition)
being a child of two museum people, i spent plenty of time at the dinner table overhearing stories of curators and the wilds of curation. it seemed like a pretty garden-variety activity in the classy world of early american decorative arts, but as a young pop-rock music maker / recording engineer, 2008 socked it to me pretty hard when it laid “curate” on me…thick.
it started on tour when various rock promoters talked to me about how they curated concerts. fair enough, i guess, although the use of curate seemed a bit lofty when i was talking to a promoter in a crumby club with sticky floors. by years end, i had people talking to me about curating recording sessions, and my personal favorite, an email sharing youtube videos with a subject that ended with “ : a curated email.”
i respect all the folks that have been curating this year (well, maybe only a few of the rock promoters) but for some reason “curate” is giving my spine the same shiver that “zeitgeist” did a few years back. i’ll hand it to the curators for using a pretty descriptive word, but when fancy words are associated with things like bulk emails and assembling five singer-songwriters in one place i think we need to draw the line.
maybe i am being a jerk…after all, i really liked the curated email, and i went to a bunch of fun concerts…and really, who am i to say that high culture gets to use fancy words while low culture has to keep it simple (and who am i to decide what is high and low culture anyways). i guess if you are gonna curate, don’t try to deny a band a few extra waters for the stage or short them some door money…then all your expressiveness does is change you from a wang-dangle to a self-important wang-dangle.
happy new year, and good luck curating your holiday gifts!
-young nick krill
being a child of two museum people, i spent plenty of time at the dinner table overhearing stories of curators and the wilds of curation. it seemed like a pretty garden-variety activity in the classy world of early american decorative arts, but as a young pop-rock music maker / recording engineer, 2008 socked it to me pretty hard when it laid “curate” on me…thick.
it started on tour when various rock promoters talked to me about how they curated concerts. fair enough, i guess, although the use of curate seemed a bit lofty when i was talking to a promoter in a crumby club with sticky floors. by years end, i had people talking to me about curating recording sessions, and my personal favorite, an email sharing youtube videos with a subject that ended with “ : a curated email.”
i respect all the folks that have been curating this year (well, maybe only a few of the rock promoters) but for some reason “curate” is giving my spine the same shiver that “zeitgeist” did a few years back. i’ll hand it to the curators for using a pretty descriptive word, but when fancy words are associated with things like bulk emails and assembling five singer-songwriters in one place i think we need to draw the line.
maybe i am being a jerk…after all, i really liked the curated email, and i went to a bunch of fun concerts…and really, who am i to say that high culture gets to use fancy words while low culture has to keep it simple (and who am i to decide what is high and low culture anyways). i guess if you are gonna curate, don’t try to deny a band a few extra waters for the stage or short them some door money…then all your expressiveness does is change you from a wang-dangle to a self-important wang-dangle.
happy new year, and good luck curating your holiday gifts!
-young nick krill
December 8, 2008
Cooking with Jon
Just kidding. Thomas and Jon just posted the same thing at the same time unbeknownst to each other. It got us thinking about our favorite Michael Keaton movie. For actual "Cooking with Jon" video, see one of the posts below.
Cooking with Jon
While we do like to do more than promote tours and shows and other various spinto activities on this blog, sometimes we find that promoting an event is a good excuse to make a silly video... Case in point, tonite in Boston... day off, no show, no Phillies games for a few months- lets make a youtube video promoting our XPN show...
details about the gig after the video:
The XPN gig
Friday December 12, 2009
12 noon
hear it live-
In person: World Cafe Live
on radio: 88.5 WXPN (only for people in or around the Philadelphia area)
online: www.XPN.org
PS- the pasta sauce was a little spicy, but luckily there wasn't really enough of it for anyone to have too much and then there was too much pasta, so everyone had barely any of the too spicy sauce mixed into an extra large serving of angel hair pasta and so the spice (or any of the taste) was mellowed nicely. We had eggnog for dessert.
details about the gig after the video:
The XPN gig
Friday December 12, 2009
12 noon
hear it live-
In person: World Cafe Live
on radio: 88.5 WXPN (only for people in or around the Philadelphia area)
online: www.XPN.org
PS- the pasta sauce was a little spicy, but luckily there wasn't really enough of it for anyone to have too much and then there was too much pasta, so everyone had barely any of the too spicy sauce mixed into an extra large serving of angel hair pasta and so the spice (or any of the taste) was mellowed nicely. We had eggnog for dessert.
December 1, 2008
The Spinto Band Holiday Tour '08!
Happy December everybody! We've got some news for you:
Pretty crazy, right? The end of that video is no joke! The part of Joe Hobson WILL be played by Stevie Hobson on this Holiday Tour. These will be our last shows of this year, so please join us and The Oxford Collapse in this wintry mix of neglected New England.
12/03 - Garfield Artworks - Pittsburgh, PA*
12/04 - The Bug Jar - Rochester, NY
12/05 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
12/06 - Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA
12/07 - Club Hell - Providence, RI
12/09 - Space Gallery - Portland, ME
12/10 - The Space - Hamden, Connecticut
12/11 - The Bog - Scranton, PA
12/12 - FREE at Noon Concert at the World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA*
12/12 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
12/13 - The Talking Head - Baltimore, MD
*Without Oxford Collapse
Visit our myspace for more info or spintoband.com to buy tickets!
Pretty crazy, right? The end of that video is no joke! The part of Joe Hobson WILL be played by Stevie Hobson on this Holiday Tour. These will be our last shows of this year, so please join us and The Oxford Collapse in this wintry mix of neglected New England.
12/03 - Garfield Artworks - Pittsburgh, PA*
12/04 - The Bug Jar - Rochester, NY
12/05 - Mohawk Place - Buffalo, NY
12/06 - Iron Horse Music Hall - Northampton, MA
12/07 - Club Hell - Providence, RI
12/09 - Space Gallery - Portland, ME
12/10 - The Space - Hamden, Connecticut
12/11 - The Bog - Scranton, PA
12/12 - FREE at Noon Concert at the World Cafe Live - Philadelphia, PA*
12/12 - Maxwell's - Hoboken, NJ
12/13 - The Talking Head - Baltimore, MD
*Without Oxford Collapse
Visit our myspace for more info or spintoband.com to buy tickets!
November 24, 2008
November 13, 2008
October 29, 2008
On the joy of buying eggs...
You've probably bought eggs by the dozen, hell, probably by the half-dozen! But have you ever purchased eggs by the egg? Well, maybe it's the lack of natural food co-ops in my neighborhood...maybe it's my unwavering love of eggs, but the Madison Market in Seattle offers such an opportunity that both delights and excites me: the purchasing of individual eggs.
The going cost of an egg these days is 19 cents. I don't know why, but this actually makes it cheaper to purchase 6 seperate eggs "in bulk" than to buy the pre-packaged half-dozen. Maybe because a traditional carton is not provided and you have to do all "the work". But is it really work to get to hand-pick your desired egg? If anything, this process should add value! But going back to the costs...The average egg will get you 75 calories, which, at only 19 cents, is probably the biggest bang you could get for your caloric buck.
On top of that, there's a liberating...almost empowering quality to purchasing eggs in something other than a multiple of 6. Especially for a traveler such as myself. I can't eat 6 eggs in one night! (I actually could, but I wouldn't want to)
It should be noted that the hotel we're staying in tonight actually came with a stove and cooking appliances so I had no other choice but to take advantage of these stars aligning...So I bought two eggs. I put them in a pot of boiling ramen noodles.
They were delicious.
The going cost of an egg these days is 19 cents. I don't know why, but this actually makes it cheaper to purchase 6 seperate eggs "in bulk" than to buy the pre-packaged half-dozen. Maybe because a traditional carton is not provided and you have to do all "the work". But is it really work to get to hand-pick your desired egg? If anything, this process should add value! But going back to the costs...The average egg will get you 75 calories, which, at only 19 cents, is probably the biggest bang you could get for your caloric buck.
On top of that, there's a liberating...almost empowering quality to purchasing eggs in something other than a multiple of 6. Especially for a traveler such as myself. I can't eat 6 eggs in one night! (I actually could, but I wouldn't want to)
It should be noted that the hotel we're staying in tonight actually came with a stove and cooking appliances so I had no other choice but to take advantage of these stars aligning...So I bought two eggs. I put them in a pot of boiling ramen noodles.
They were delicious.
October 26, 2008
Drive
Writing from the wonderful St. Cloud, Minnesota, which falls in the 6th congressional district represented by none other than crazywoman/anti-american Michele Bachman. We are currently prepping for what will be a two day, 1600 mile drive to Seattle. I have already eaten two bananas and I plan on eating more.
Just wanted to inform you that while Shark Dance is still doing its thing, Blurt.com will be hosting a more detailed recollection of our journeys across this country. The first entry is right here.
On to banana #3.
Just wanted to inform you that while Shark Dance is still doing its thing, Blurt.com will be hosting a more detailed recollection of our journeys across this country. The first entry is right here.
On to banana #3.
October 20, 2008
Add to the Value
For Maximum Value (Kroger Value)
For Maximum Value (FMV), originally named Fred Meyer Value, offered staple products such as sugar, flour, bread, and canned goods at the lowest price for that particular product in the store. Though some FMV products (such as their cheese made with water & partially hydrogenated soybean oil) use a lower-quality manufacturing process, other products appear to be indistinguishable from their banner brand equivalent (FMV sugar and Kroger sugar, for example) other than the price (these are more than likely examples of loss leaders).
In 2007 Kroger replaced FMV with the new Kroger Value brand. This has led to a situation where Kroger brand and Kroger Value brand products are sold side-by-side with little to distinguish them except for packaging and price. FMV itself was the successor to Kroger's former Cost Cutter brand, which had been introduced in 1981 and was known for its near-generic product labeling. Most Kroger Value brand items are labeled bilingually (English and Spanish).
But what about Maximum Value outside of the grocery store? Well, when it comes to buying Moonwink at your local retailer, below is a list of stores that will throw in a free spinto band 7" with your purchase. Wow... save on!Bull Moose Music Portland ME
Sound Garden Baltimore MD
Amoeba Records Hollywood CA
Amoeba Records San Francisco CA
Amoeba Records Berkeley CA 52.5 Charleston SC
ATOMIC RECORDS Milwaukee WI
BOO BOO RECORDS San Luis Obispo CA
CD CENTRAL Lexington KY
CRIMINAL RECORDS Atlanta GA
CRIMINAL/AURORA Atlanta GA
CULTURE CLASH Toledo OH
END OF AN EAR Austin TX
EXILE ON MAIN ST Branford CT
GOOD RECORDS Dallas TX
GRIMEY'S Nashville TN
GUESTROOM RECORDS Norman OK
GUESTROOM RECORDS Oklahoma City OK
HOT POOP Walla Walla WA
JACKPOT RECORDS Portland OR
JACKPOT RECORDS Portland OR
JACK'S MUSIC SHOPPE Red Bank NJ
LANDLOCKED MUSIC Bloomington IN
LUNA MUSIC Indianapolis IN
LUNA MUSIC Indianapolis IN
M-THEORY San Diego CA
ROCK-A-BILLYS Utica MI
SHAKE IT Cincinnati OH
SLOW TRAIN Salt Lake City UT
SONIC BOOM Seattle WA
SONIC BOOM Seattle WA
STINKWEEDS Phoenix AZ
VINTAGE VINYL St Louis MO
VINYL FEVER - TAMPA Tampa FL
Cactus Houston TX
CD World Eugene OR
Disc Exchange Knoxville TN
earX-tacy Louisville KY
Earshot Greenville SC
Easy Street Seattle WA
Electric Fetus Minneapolis MN
Fingerprints Long Beach CA
Homer's Omaha NE
Kief's Lawrence KS
Lakeshore Record Exchange Rochester NY
Looney Tunes West Babylon NY
Lou's Records Encinitas CA
Magnolia Thunderpussy Columbus OH
Music Millennium Portland OR
Park Avenue CD Orlando FL
Plan 9 Richmond VA
Pure Pop Burlington VT
Rainbow Books and Music Newark DE
Record Archive Rochester NY
Record Exchange Boise ID
Record Time Roseville MI
Rhino/Mad Platter Claremont CA
Salzer's Ventura CA
Schoolkids Raleigh NC
Streetlight San Jose CA
Twist and Shout Denver CO
Uncle Sam's Miami Beach FL
Vintage Vinyl Fords NJ
Waterloo Records and Video Austin TX
Earwax Brooklyn NY
Other Music New York NY
Reckless (Broadway) Chicago IL
Reckless (Madison) Chicago IL
Reckless (Wicker Park) Chicago IL
Sound Fix Brooklyn NY
Underground Sounds Louisville KY
Wax N Facts Atlanta GA
AKA Music Philadelphia PA
Mondo Kims New York NY
Kim's Mediapolis New York NY
Insound.com New York NY
Angelo's (HQ) Aurora CO
Everyday Music HQ Portland OR
Everyday Music Portland OR
Everyday Music Seattle WA
October 18, 2008
Thank you!
Just a quick "Thank You" to everyone who has purchased a copy of Moonwink thus far and to everyone who attended the release show last night in Philadelphia. It was a very heartwarming experience. Our show in Brooklyn tonight will mark the true beginning of our U.S tour. Click here or here for the complete dates.Thank you once again!
Love,
The Spinto Band
October 15, 2008
Happy Birthday, Amazon.com!
Did you dudes know the book-selling website, Amazon.com is 10 years old? It's kind of a mind-blower, right? Well, anyways, they don't just sell BOOKS anymore! We thought we'd make a little video celebrating their growing omnipotence...
Just go to the Moonwink page on their site! Feel free to do a little shopping while you're there. Sometimes I like going to the wedding registries and typing in random names and looking at what they want to buy. I live a sad, sad, life.
Just go to the Moonwink page on their site! Feel free to do a little shopping while you're there. Sometimes I like going to the wedding registries and typing in random names and looking at what they want to buy. I live a sad, sad, life.
October 8, 2008
Winners of the 2008 Roy Spinto Mask Competish!!!
Well, the results are in! It was quite the contest! Here are the top ten winners of this year's mask competition, with some select comments from our celebrity judges. Thank you to everyone who submitted.
"Save me Spintos!" - Jim McGuinn
"Excellent visual impact; excellent design & composition" - John Krill
"Good tonality within the highlights and shadows of the picture." - Yale MFA photographers
"Really dope" - Pigeon John
2nd PLACE - Victoria and Charlotte Schofield
"This is one of my favorites, because of the guy in the back...slick shot...really great, this looks fantastic and untrying"- Pigeon John
"It should have been the worst picture but its incredibly hilarious." - Yale MFA photographers
"Would you like fries with your Spintos? The name tag won me over big" - Jim McGuinn
3rd PLACE - Zerena Diaz
"Roy was always a winner; good use of color" - John Krill
"Like the kitten, it's obvious, but still fun" - Jim McGuinn
"We want a monster truck wheel just coming in to the frame." - Yale MFA photographers
4th PLACE - Nogeeshik Haskell
"I love kats, really like the loungey feel" - Pigeon John
"A bit obvious, but still fun times" - Jim McGuinn
"Too clawing for Roy" - John Krill
5th PLACE - Erin Black
"Mysterious; excellent dramatic black & white; great retro and futuristic"- John Krill
"Please don't kill the spinto band when you see them in person" - Yale MFA photographers
"This is the guy thast gonna stab nicholas at a show in memphis" - Pigeon John
6th PLACE - Jenny Casmus
"The tension is held well within the frame."- Yale MFA photographers
"I have no idea why, but I love this one. Maybe it's the arms raised in triumph, maybe it's the general construction paper-ness of the mise-en-scene."- Jim Mcguinn
7th PLACE - Lisa Manfre
"Good tensions between static design and strong perspective" - John Krill
"We were scared." - Yale MFA photographers
8th PLACE - Joe Madonna
"Better in the toilet" - Yale MFA photographers
"That's pretty funny. Mighta been funnier if it was on the inside and prone to being pee'd upon" - Jim McGuinn
9th PLACE Ice Cream- Diandra Reyes
"Too sweet for Roy's tastes"- John Krill
"Who doesn't love a little chocolate? Not Roy! "- Jim McGuinn
"Makes me hungry...for her soul"- Pigeon John
10th PLACE - Corrine Frankenfield
"Good landscape but mask too diminutive"- John Krill
GRAND PRIZE - Karl Frankenfield
"Save me Spintos!" - Jim McGuinn"Excellent visual impact; excellent design & composition" - John Krill
"Good tonality within the highlights and shadows of the picture." - Yale MFA photographers
"Really dope" - Pigeon John
2nd PLACE - Victoria and Charlotte Schofield
"This is one of my favorites, because of the guy in the back...slick shot...really great, this looks fantastic and untrying"- Pigeon John"It should have been the worst picture but its incredibly hilarious." - Yale MFA photographers
"Would you like fries with your Spintos? The name tag won me over big" - Jim McGuinn
3rd PLACE - Zerena Diaz
"Roy was always a winner; good use of color" - John Krill"Like the kitten, it's obvious, but still fun" - Jim McGuinn
"We want a monster truck wheel just coming in to the frame." - Yale MFA photographers
4th PLACE - Nogeeshik Haskell
"I love kats, really like the loungey feel" - Pigeon John"A bit obvious, but still fun times" - Jim McGuinn
"Too clawing for Roy" - John Krill
5th PLACE - Erin Black
"Mysterious; excellent dramatic black & white; great retro and futuristic"- John Krill"Please don't kill the spinto band when you see them in person" - Yale MFA photographers
"This is the guy thast gonna stab nicholas at a show in memphis" - Pigeon John
6th PLACE - Jenny Casmus
"The tension is held well within the frame."- Yale MFA photographers"I have no idea why, but I love this one. Maybe it's the arms raised in triumph, maybe it's the general construction paper-ness of the mise-en-scene."- Jim Mcguinn
7th PLACE - Lisa Manfre
"Good tensions between static design and strong perspective" - John Krill"We were scared." - Yale MFA photographers
8th PLACE - Joe Madonna
"Better in the toilet" - Yale MFA photographers"That's pretty funny. Mighta been funnier if it was on the inside and prone to being pee'd upon" - Jim McGuinn
9th PLACE Ice Cream- Diandra Reyes
"Too sweet for Roy's tastes"- John Krill"Who doesn't love a little chocolate? Not Roy! "- Jim McGuinn
"Makes me hungry...for her soul"- Pigeon John
10th PLACE - Corrine Frankenfield
"Good landscape but mask too diminutive"- John Krill
October 6, 2008
Did you mean: "summer GROF"?
We've done it, folks! We may not be the most successful rock band out there, but we have the power to alter the Google search engine! Now, when you search for the terms "Summer Grof", it will no longer infer you are looking for a "Summer Grove"!!!
Thanks for all your help.
Oh, and a reminder of two great things happening tomorrow: We're also announcing the winners of the latest Roy Spinto Mask Competish and Moonwink gets released in the U.S.A!
Thanks for all your help.
Oh, and a reminder of two great things happening tomorrow: We're also announcing the winners of the latest Roy Spinto Mask Competish and Moonwink gets released in the U.S.A!
October 4, 2008
September 20, 2008
More Information about the Mask Competition
I thought I would post the judges information here for everyone to know who will be picking the winners of the Roy Spinto Mask Competish. There is a little over a week to get your entry in, then we will let these folks pick the iPod winner.
While hustling underground snooker rings around the globe, Mark learned early on about composure. You need to keep a straight face and a dry forehead to make it on the felt. He has applied this skill as he scaled the snooker world rankings and won one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world- the 2008 Masters at Wembley. Now, Mark, always the sportsman, is eyeing up a new line of competitors as a judge for the Roy Spinto mask Competish. He will bring his experience in the realms of competition, honor, intensity, and of course, straight-faced composure to his judgement and will do it all in a vest and bowtie.
John has been a leader in the field of paper conservation for decades. Throughout his career he has treated and preserved everything from vital historical documents, to beautiful, one of a kind wallpapers, to priceless works of art. Since his retirement, John has devoted himself to judging mask competitions, so we are very lucky to have him take time out of his busy schedule to work with us. To fall on John's good side, think to yourself, "when the Smithsonian or National Archives finds my photograph 107 years from now, will they want to preserve it as an important part of the historical record or toss it aside with thousands of copies of The DaVinci Code, old 'Lucky' magazines and Jonas Brothers album notes.
Hip-hop wonder Pigeon John has spent the last fifteen years developing the pigeon dance. The dance is thought by many to be the culmination of his signature blend of wit, charisma and undeniable stage presence. Now that he has perfected his moves, he is able to savor some of the finer things in life, such as mask competitions. Hailing from Inglewood, CA, Pigeon John will bring a much needed West Coast perspective to the judges panel. He is not an easy judge to impress, so be sure to ruffle your feathers and have your plumage in good order.
As second year MFA candidates in Yale's infamous photography program, Caitlin, Justin, Catharine, and George routinely have had their work critiqued by the likes of Tod Papageorge, Gregory Crewdson, and John Pilson. Having been through this experience gives these four students a keen eye with what makes a great photograph. To please them, you should be thinking, "what scale is most successful for this photograph?" "how will this photograph work 'on the wall' in the context of my other pictures of Roy Masks?" "does this picture seem too much like editorial work?" Simply put, you should not be trying to "take pictures" but rather "make pictures."
It takes an amazing photograph to impress the many headed monster that is Ra Ra Riot. These renegade rockers respect only first rate reproductions of Roy. Rally 'round radical representations of reality in order to reach righteous ranks in the realm of the Ra Ra. Rarely does Ra Ra Riot review rubbish replications from ragamuffins, so don't rip off Ruscha! Roger that?
Jim has been part of the Philadelphia music community for ages, and a fixture of both college and commercial radio stations alike for nearly 25 years. He always has one ear open, and isn't afraid to give you real straight talk when it comes to modern music. As the programming director for Y-Rock on WXPN 88.5 FM he witnesses bands rise and fall, and DJs come and go. Will your photo be cherished by Jim like the first Reaction Formation 7 inch? or tossed aside like The Barsky Morning Show?
Alright folks. Look forward to seeing the winner. Remember, the deadline is September 29th, so hurry and submit your entry to spintoband@gmail.com with the header ROY MASK ENTRY or something to that effect.
MEET THE JUDGES
______________________________
______________________________
Mark "The Jester from Leicester" Selby
While hustling underground snooker rings around the globe, Mark learned early on about composure. You need to keep a straight face and a dry forehead to make it on the felt. He has applied this skill as he scaled the snooker world rankings and won one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world- the 2008 Masters at Wembley. Now, Mark, always the sportsman, is eyeing up a new line of competitors as a judge for the Roy Spinto mask Competish. He will bring his experience in the realms of competition, honor, intensity, and of course, straight-faced composure to his judgement and will do it all in a vest and bowtie.
John Krill
John has been a leader in the field of paper conservation for decades. Throughout his career he has treated and preserved everything from vital historical documents, to beautiful, one of a kind wallpapers, to priceless works of art. Since his retirement, John has devoted himself to judging mask competitions, so we are very lucky to have him take time out of his busy schedule to work with us. To fall on John's good side, think to yourself, "when the Smithsonian or National Archives finds my photograph 107 years from now, will they want to preserve it as an important part of the historical record or toss it aside with thousands of copies of The DaVinci Code, old 'Lucky' magazines and Jonas Brothers album notes.
Pigeon John
Hip-hop wonder Pigeon John has spent the last fifteen years developing the pigeon dance. The dance is thought by many to be the culmination of his signature blend of wit, charisma and undeniable stage presence. Now that he has perfected his moves, he is able to savor some of the finer things in life, such as mask competitions. Hailing from Inglewood, CA, Pigeon John will bring a much needed West Coast perspective to the judges panel. He is not an easy judge to impress, so be sure to ruffle your feathers and have your plumage in good order.
Yale University MFA candidates in Photography
As second year MFA candidates in Yale's infamous photography program, Caitlin, Justin, Catharine, and George routinely have had their work critiqued by the likes of Tod Papageorge, Gregory Crewdson, and John Pilson. Having been through this experience gives these four students a keen eye with what makes a great photograph. To please them, you should be thinking, "what scale is most successful for this photograph?" "how will this photograph work 'on the wall' in the context of my other pictures of Roy Masks?" "does this picture seem too much like editorial work?" Simply put, you should not be trying to "take pictures" but rather "make pictures."
Ra Ra Riot
It takes an amazing photograph to impress the many headed monster that is Ra Ra Riot. These renegade rockers respect only first rate reproductions of Roy. Rally 'round radical representations of reality in order to reach righteous ranks in the realm of the Ra Ra. Rarely does Ra Ra Riot review rubbish replications from ragamuffins, so don't rip off Ruscha! Roger that?
Jim McGuinn
Jim has been part of the Philadelphia music community for ages, and a fixture of both college and commercial radio stations alike for nearly 25 years. He always has one ear open, and isn't afraid to give you real straight talk when it comes to modern music. As the programming director for Y-Rock on WXPN 88.5 FM he witnesses bands rise and fall, and DJs come and go. Will your photo be cherished by Jim like the first Reaction Formation 7 inch? or tossed aside like The Barsky Morning Show?
_____________________________________
Alright folks. Look forward to seeing the winner. Remember, the deadline is September 29th, so hurry and submit your entry to spintoband@gmail.com with the header ROY MASK ENTRY or something to that effect.
September 18, 2008
songs and witty sayings
i don't know if it is just me, but it seems like the standard way an expert is supposed to describe this current financial crisis is with loads of cliches and silly sayings.
here are a few that have wiggled themselves in...mostly just on monday and tuesday!
- if these chickens come home to roost...
- saw the writing on the wall
- step up to the plate
- looking for the next problem child
- when the ship goes down it doesn't matter if you are in the state room or the steerage
- hold the line
- it is hard to be an optimist when it is raining everyday
- waiting for another shoe to drop
- in a race against time
- the cavalry has arrived
- take a pound of flesh
- practice what you preach
- take it on the chin
- with a blind eye and a deaf ear
- go to hell in a hand basket
- throw the baby out with the bath water
and finally a non silly saying that seems pretty thought provoking:
michael greenberger - "We privatize profits and socialize losses."
here are a few that have wiggled themselves in...mostly just on monday and tuesday!
- if these chickens come home to roost...
- saw the writing on the wall
- step up to the plate
- looking for the next problem child
- when the ship goes down it doesn't matter if you are in the state room or the steerage
- hold the line
- it is hard to be an optimist when it is raining everyday
- waiting for another shoe to drop
- in a race against time
- the cavalry has arrived
- take a pound of flesh
- practice what you preach
- take it on the chin
- with a blind eye and a deaf ear
- go to hell in a hand basket
- throw the baby out with the bath water
and finally a non silly saying that seems pretty thought provoking:
michael greenberger - "We privatize profits and socialize losses."
September 9, 2008
The Roy Spinto Mask Competish: PART II
Yes, the original September 6, 2008
tale of metropolitan no-goodness
Oh Goodness Gracious. Good luck getting to sleep after you hear this little bit of bookery recorded a few months back in Rock Island. It is downright haunting and hypnotizing and hell-bent on being heard.
Click over to Daytrotter and listen in.
September 2, 2008
Did you mean: "summer GROVE"?
That's what www.google.com will tell you if you search the terms "Summer Grof". Today is the day where we change that.
For today, September 2nd, is the day when the first official release of music from Moonwink occurs. The single is "Summer Grof", a vague tribute to the great comedienne Janeane Garofalo. The digital single is available on iTunes and has a digital b-side to boot. No one's looking for a summer grove. Make your voice heard before we have to get in touch with the people at Google.
August 30, 2008
CHAHHHLLLLLAAAUUUUUNNNGE
it occurred to me that the reason blogs exist is so you can share things like this with people
i looked up "one of the greats" in the dictionary and found this clip right there.
yours etc,
nick
i looked up "one of the greats" in the dictionary and found this clip right there.
yours etc,
nick
August 26, 2008
Now accepting orders for "Moonwink"
Ladies and gentleman, it's been an exciting day at the Spinto Band offices!
First, we observed, studied, then rehearsed the choreography of The Shadows' historic 1981 performance on Noel Edmonds' Swap Shop.
It's not perfect yet, but by the time we play your city, we will have it down! Wait, "play your city"? Oh, about that. We've got some tours planned. Are you ready?
First, we cross the Atlantic ocean and traverse the United Kingdom (with just a punch of Belgium, France, and The Netherlands). It's been a while since we've been there. Do they still have Pret a Manger? Joe wants to know.
09.22 - Brussels - Botanique / Rotonde
09.23 - Amsterdam - Paradiso
09.24 - Paris - La Maroquinerie
09.25 - London - The Borderline
09.27 - Norwich - Norwich Arts Centre
09.28 - Oxford - Bullingdon Arms
09.29 - Glasgow - Oran Mor
09.30 - Liverpool - Korova
10.01 - Stoke - Sugarmill
10.03 - Bristol - The Louisiana
10.04 - Leeds - The Cockpit
10.05 - Manchester - Night & Day
10.06 - York - The Duchess
10.08 - Cambridge - Soul Tree
10.09 - Nottingham - Bodega Social Club
10.10 - Birmingham - Barfly
After that exhilarating jaunt, we make our way back home. If all goes as planned, we will have safely smuggled Scotland's own Frightened Rabbit through U.S Customs. Why? Because they fit into our backpacks and we're going on tour with 'em!
10.17 - Philadelphia, PA - The First Unitarian Church
10.18 - Brooklyn, NY - The Music Hall of Williamsburg
10.19 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Cafe
10.20 - Montreal, QC - Petit Cafe Campus
10.21 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
10.22 - Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
10.23 - Chicago, IL - Metro
10.24 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
10.25 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10.28 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
10.29 - Vancouver, BC - The Media Club
10.30 - Portland Oregon - Holocene
11.01 - San Francisco, CA - The Bottom of the Hill
11.02 - San Francisco, CA - The Bottom of the Hill
11.03 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
11.06 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rhythm Room
11.08 - Denton, TX - Hailey's
11.09 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Festival
11.11 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge*
11.12 - Atlanta GA - The Masquerade*
11.13 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater*
11.14 - Washington, D.C - The Black Cat*
*No Frightened Rabbit on these dates
But the real reason we're excited today is because Moonwink is available for pre-ordering!
For residents of North America, please direct yourself to Park The Van's Web Store. You can purchase a CD, Vinyl (180 gram!), or a "bundle". Now, I know what you're thinking: "Bundle? What is a bundle?" Well, the bundle comes with a copy of Moonwink, a comfy t-shirt, an adorable poster, a modest sticker, and a roguish button! For only $30.
For residents of Europe, please direct yourself here. Each purchase comes with a digital copy, and the first fifty customers will get a free copy of the Decade: 10 Years of Fierce Panda compilation...So order fast...and often!
First, we observed, studied, then rehearsed the choreography of The Shadows' historic 1981 performance on Noel Edmonds' Swap Shop.
It's not perfect yet, but by the time we play your city, we will have it down! Wait, "play your city"? Oh, about that. We've got some tours planned. Are you ready?
First, we cross the Atlantic ocean and traverse the United Kingdom (with just a punch of Belgium, France, and The Netherlands). It's been a while since we've been there. Do they still have Pret a Manger? Joe wants to know.
09.22 - Brussels - Botanique / Rotonde
09.23 - Amsterdam - Paradiso
09.24 - Paris - La Maroquinerie
09.25 - London - The Borderline
09.27 - Norwich - Norwich Arts Centre
09.28 - Oxford - Bullingdon Arms
09.29 - Glasgow - Oran Mor
09.30 - Liverpool - Korova
10.01 - Stoke - Sugarmill
10.03 - Bristol - The Louisiana
10.04 - Leeds - The Cockpit
10.05 - Manchester - Night & Day
10.06 - York - The Duchess
10.08 - Cambridge - Soul Tree
10.09 - Nottingham - Bodega Social Club
10.10 - Birmingham - Barfly
After that exhilarating jaunt, we make our way back home. If all goes as planned, we will have safely smuggled Scotland's own Frightened Rabbit through U.S Customs. Why? Because they fit into our backpacks and we're going on tour with 'em!
10.17 - Philadelphia, PA - The First Unitarian Church
10.18 - Brooklyn, NY - The Music Hall of Williamsburg
10.19 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East Cafe
10.20 - Montreal, QC - Petit Cafe Campus
10.21 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
10.22 - Columbus, OH - Skully's Music Diner
10.23 - Chicago, IL - Metro
10.24 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
10.25 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
10.28 - Seattle, WA - Chop Suey
10.29 - Vancouver, BC - The Media Club
10.30 - Portland Oregon - Holocene
11.01 - San Francisco, CA - The Bottom of the Hill
11.02 - San Francisco, CA - The Bottom of the Hill
11.03 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echoplex
11.06 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rhythm Room
11.08 - Denton, TX - Hailey's
11.09 - Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Festival
11.11 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge*
11.12 - Atlanta GA - The Masquerade*
11.13 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater*
11.14 - Washington, D.C - The Black Cat*
*No Frightened Rabbit on these dates
But the real reason we're excited today is because Moonwink is available for pre-ordering!
For residents of North America, please direct yourself to Park The Van's Web Store. You can purchase a CD, Vinyl (180 gram!), or a "bundle". Now, I know what you're thinking: "Bundle? What is a bundle?" Well, the bundle comes with a copy of Moonwink, a comfy t-shirt, an adorable poster, a modest sticker, and a roguish button! For only $30.
For residents of Europe, please direct yourself here. Each purchase comes with a digital copy, and the first fifty customers will get a free copy of the Decade: 10 Years of Fierce Panda compilation...So order fast...and often!
August 16, 2008
Moonwink Countdown
Have you guys been to HTTP://WWW.SPINTOBAND.COM recently?
It's kind of sparse right now, but with each new phase of the moon, there will be new content. Exciting!
It's kind of sparse right now, but with each new phase of the moon, there will be new content. Exciting!
July 20, 2008
Release Dates! Residency!
So Moonwink, finally has some release dates! The time period will be autumnal. Those of you living in the United Kingdom, (and the rest of the European Union, for that matter) will have the privilege of being the first people in the world to purchase it when it Fierce Panda drops it on September 15th (during a full moon...a full Harvest moon).
Those of you living in North America won't have to wait long after, for Park the Van Records will unleash it on October 7th. Vinyl-enthusiasts, fear not. For the first time west of the Atlantic, we will be pressing 12 inched LPs (the radical ones that come with a CD copy so you can still listen to it on your discman!).
In show news, we still have three more shows at the Union Hall in Brooklyn. Last Thursday was great, and the remaining shows are on par to be so as well. For example, next Thursday:
July 24th - And The Moneynotes
Probably one of the most up-and-coming of Scranton's "gypsy-beat" scene. For you Scrantontonians, they may be a "local band", but this Thursday, they will be foreign. And you will want to marry them so they can get citizenship.
July 31st - Ball Of Flame Shoot Fire
It's rare that we get along with people from Pittsburgh (for obvious reasons), but these kids have won us over with their musical charms. Raucous piano and horn sing-a-longs that never abandon well-crafted pop sensibilities.
August 7th - The Homophones
The video above is everything the Homophones aren't. Imagine the possibilities!
For a list of the other groups playing, please see this post.
Those of you living in North America won't have to wait long after, for Park the Van Records will unleash it on October 7th. Vinyl-enthusiasts, fear not. For the first time west of the Atlantic, we will be pressing 12 inched LPs (the radical ones that come with a CD copy so you can still listen to it on your discman!).
In show news, we still have three more shows at the Union Hall in Brooklyn. Last Thursday was great, and the remaining shows are on par to be so as well. For example, next Thursday:
July 24th - And The Moneynotes
Probably one of the most up-and-coming of Scranton's "gypsy-beat" scene. For you Scrantontonians, they may be a "local band", but this Thursday, they will be foreign. And you will want to marry them so they can get citizenship.
July 31st - Ball Of Flame Shoot Fire
It's rare that we get along with people from Pittsburgh (for obvious reasons), but these kids have won us over with their musical charms. Raucous piano and horn sing-a-longs that never abandon well-crafted pop sensibilities.
August 7th - The Homophones
The video above is everything the Homophones aren't. Imagine the possibilities!
For a list of the other groups playing, please see this post.
July 16, 2008
June 13, 2008
New York, New York, New York, New York...
Hello readers, but most importantly
Hello NEW YORKERS!
Why the BIG hello? Because that's how all you NEW YAWRKERS talk. HAHAHA! Seriously though, the real reason we want to say hello is because next month we're going to spend quite a bit of our time in your little city. But we won't be visiting the Empire State Building or taking in a Broadway show...No, we'll be PLAYING SHOWS!!
Shows plural? Correct. Four shows. Four shows in four weeks. Something we're pretty sure no other band has done before. And it's all going down at the Union Hall in Brooklyn. On Thursdays...which I heard are the new Fridays. Buy your tickets now!
But will they actually run out of tickets? Probably, because we alone are not playing these shows. We are delicately lacing each show with a lethal amount of talent. All the details aren't firm, but here's a sampling of just some of the great music we're going to surround ourselves with:
July 17th - Emilyn Brodsky
I hesitate to use the words "ukulele" and "songstress" to describe her, but you're like me, the combination of those two words alone is enticing enough. Plus, she's got a wit that won't quit! Here's an example:
July 24th - The Sin City Band
Simply put, if it were not for the Sin City Band, there would be no Spinto Band. They were our primary enablers during our early years of musical addiction. To this day they continue to inspire and honky the tonk out of us. Here's a clip of them stealing the show from a gig of ours a while back.
July 31st - Pepi Ginsberg
Seeing a Pepi Ginsberg concert is a real treat. You forget that you're in a little club with your arms crossed...and you're transported into a cozy living room next to a fireplace sitting cross-legged, possibly petting a golden retriever. Check out the video Albert Birney did for her:
August 7th - Public Record
Not sure how to describe Public Record, and neither are they. Some of the songs have vocals. Some of them do not. All of them, however, are groove-tastic. I couldn't find any performances on Youtube, so in keeping with the New York theme, I'll leave you with a video that I think about every time I set foot in Brooklyn.
This is only half of the cool music that will be joining us. Stay tuned for more up-to-the-dates!
Hello NEW YORKERS!
Why the BIG hello? Because that's how all you NEW YAWRKERS talk. HAHAHA! Seriously though, the real reason we want to say hello is because next month we're going to spend quite a bit of our time in your little city. But we won't be visiting the Empire State Building or taking in a Broadway show...No, we'll be PLAYING SHOWS!!
Shows plural? Correct. Four shows. Four shows in four weeks. Something we're pretty sure no other band has done before. And it's all going down at the Union Hall in Brooklyn. On Thursdays...which I heard are the new Fridays. Buy your tickets now!
But will they actually run out of tickets? Probably, because we alone are not playing these shows. We are delicately lacing each show with a lethal amount of talent. All the details aren't firm, but here's a sampling of just some of the great music we're going to surround ourselves with:
July 17th - Emilyn Brodsky
I hesitate to use the words "ukulele" and "songstress" to describe her, but you're like me, the combination of those two words alone is enticing enough. Plus, she's got a wit that won't quit! Here's an example:
July 24th - The Sin City Band
Simply put, if it were not for the Sin City Band, there would be no Spinto Band. They were our primary enablers during our early years of musical addiction. To this day they continue to inspire and honky the tonk out of us. Here's a clip of them stealing the show from a gig of ours a while back.
July 31st - Pepi Ginsberg
Seeing a Pepi Ginsberg concert is a real treat. You forget that you're in a little club with your arms crossed...and you're transported into a cozy living room next to a fireplace sitting cross-legged, possibly petting a golden retriever. Check out the video Albert Birney did for her:
August 7th - Public Record
Not sure how to describe Public Record, and neither are they. Some of the songs have vocals. Some of them do not. All of them, however, are groove-tastic. I couldn't find any performances on Youtube, so in keeping with the New York theme, I'll leave you with a video that I think about every time I set foot in Brooklyn.
This is only half of the cool music that will be joining us. Stay tuned for more up-to-the-dates!
June 2, 2008
Tour photographs
Happy June everyone. If anyone out there interested in seeing some "behind the scenes" photographs of our last tour, please direct your bad selves here.
In other news, the shows went very well. We're going to be laying low during June, but if anyone's going to be in New York this July, we've got something special in store for 'em.
That's that!
- Ebenezerblog O'Spheerie
In other news, the shows went very well. We're going to be laying low during June, but if anyone's going to be in New York this July, we've got something special in store for 'em.
That's that!
- Ebenezerblog O'Spheerie
May 12, 2008
ya only gey one ya only get one!
we spinto banders wanted to give a big ol' thanks to our moms....and we are so cheap that a blog post is the way we decided to do it...
anyhow we love our moms....and here is what they think of us:
mother krill (maaj of nick krill):
1. what is your favorite new song on the new spinto band album and why?
I love all your music, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I keep playing “Summer Grof” over and over. The singing is smooth, and the beat is great. I really like the repetition of that long “I” sound over and over. Glad to hear the lyrics “I won’t lie.” Just what a mother wants to hear, that you play by the important rules! And the clapping sound effect at the beginning is neat, especially when it is synched just right with the first water balloon hit in the video. And that video is lots of fun. I bet you guys all wanted to throw messy things at each other since you started playing together in eighth grade, but so glad you waited until you were all grown up and doing your own laundry!
2. what other music have you been listening to lately, any good tips
on a cool song?
Well, I guess I’ll be kind of old-fashioned and list some old sounds: Nick and I were in our kitchen a few days ago. I was probably washing dishes, and he was probably eating, which is a fairly typical pattern. On the radio, we heard Belá Bartok’s “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.” The various sounds that the percussionists achieved were just great, against the piano. At one point, it sounded as though the strings of the piano were being brushed by the percussionists!
I really love traditional music from earlier decades in U. S. history, like ‘‘Hard Times Come Again No More” sung by Thomas Hampson. “Calling My Children Home” on the disc Our American Journey, by the wonderful à cappella group Chanticleer, is a great listen.
3. how often does your son call you while the band is on the road?
Nick calls every time he needs to talk or ask a question, and it’s always great to hear from him and hear about the most recent gig. Of course, we all miss the guys when they are off on tour, even though we’re so proud of the work they are doing and wouldn’t want it any other way. So I just get out the Chanticleer disc and play “Calling My Children Home.”
4. did you ever think your son would end up doing this with his life?
Back when you all started playing together, and I was driving Nick to practice (and getting to chat with the other moms!), I never dreamed you all would be playing together so successfully years later! But as a mom, I always hoped that Nick, Tom, Sam, Jon, Jeff, Joe and everyone connected with the band would be developing their talents and making a contribution and pursuing their goals. So it’s all just great!
Here’s to you, guys! Rock on! Thanks for making us all mothers!
mother baird (Maaj of thomas and sam):
1. what is your favorite new song on the new spinto band album and why?
I love this album and how it flows as a whole. In general I like the complexity of the arrangements and the layering of vocal parts. The c.d I have is called " Pepes confusion" and none of the songs are identified by title so I dont know any of the song's titles. It is the soundtrack in my car and I never fast forward or repeat and can sing along with all of it.
2. what other music have you been listening to lately, any good tips
on a cool song?
I only listen to Spinto (and what Scott puts on...)secretly I love the soundtrack for Twin Peaks and I recently heard an inerview with a Emmanuel Jal and I found his story and music compelling.
3. how often does your son call you while the band is on the road?
DO THEY HAVE PHONES?
I usually call them ,but I love it when they do call or email from the road. Why dont you guys start sending your moms postcards from your travels? Ill supply the stamps.
4. did you ever think your son would end up doing this with his life?
I never imagined "this" but I thought both Thomas and Sam would do something creative. I also knew they would follow their hearts and do what made them happy. When I went to the first battle of the band event at Sanford, I was so nervous about what might happen on that stage (you were all so shy) but fears faded as I watched your entertaining performance (I remember a wheel chair, costumes...was sam wearing a helmet? ) It was that moment I knew it was possible... I laughed and cheered with the audience and have not stopped-GO SPINTO!
mother eaton (maaj of jon eaton):
I love all the songs and there is no music out as great as Spinto. Jon calls often while on the road and boy do I love it when he does. I always knew he would do something cool cause he is a cool guy!
anyhow we love our moms....and here is what they think of us:
mother krill (maaj of nick krill):
1. what is your favorite new song on the new spinto band album and why?
I love all your music, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but I keep playing “Summer Grof” over and over. The singing is smooth, and the beat is great. I really like the repetition of that long “I” sound over and over. Glad to hear the lyrics “I won’t lie.” Just what a mother wants to hear, that you play by the important rules! And the clapping sound effect at the beginning is neat, especially when it is synched just right with the first water balloon hit in the video. And that video is lots of fun. I bet you guys all wanted to throw messy things at each other since you started playing together in eighth grade, but so glad you waited until you were all grown up and doing your own laundry!
2. what other music have you been listening to lately, any good tips
on a cool song?
Well, I guess I’ll be kind of old-fashioned and list some old sounds: Nick and I were in our kitchen a few days ago. I was probably washing dishes, and he was probably eating, which is a fairly typical pattern. On the radio, we heard Belá Bartok’s “Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion.” The various sounds that the percussionists achieved were just great, against the piano. At one point, it sounded as though the strings of the piano were being brushed by the percussionists!
I really love traditional music from earlier decades in U. S. history, like ‘‘Hard Times Come Again No More” sung by Thomas Hampson. “Calling My Children Home” on the disc Our American Journey, by the wonderful à cappella group Chanticleer, is a great listen.
3. how often does your son call you while the band is on the road?
Nick calls every time he needs to talk or ask a question, and it’s always great to hear from him and hear about the most recent gig. Of course, we all miss the guys when they are off on tour, even though we’re so proud of the work they are doing and wouldn’t want it any other way. So I just get out the Chanticleer disc and play “Calling My Children Home.”
4. did you ever think your son would end up doing this with his life?
Back when you all started playing together, and I was driving Nick to practice (and getting to chat with the other moms!), I never dreamed you all would be playing together so successfully years later! But as a mom, I always hoped that Nick, Tom, Sam, Jon, Jeff, Joe and everyone connected with the band would be developing their talents and making a contribution and pursuing their goals. So it’s all just great!
Here’s to you, guys! Rock on! Thanks for making us all mothers!
mother baird (Maaj of thomas and sam):
1. what is your favorite new song on the new spinto band album and why?
I love this album and how it flows as a whole. In general I like the complexity of the arrangements and the layering of vocal parts. The c.d I have is called " Pepes confusion" and none of the songs are identified by title so I dont know any of the song's titles. It is the soundtrack in my car and I never fast forward or repeat and can sing along with all of it.
2. what other music have you been listening to lately, any good tips
on a cool song?
I only listen to Spinto (and what Scott puts on...)secretly I love the soundtrack for Twin Peaks and I recently heard an inerview with a Emmanuel Jal and I found his story and music compelling.
3. how often does your son call you while the band is on the road?
DO THEY HAVE PHONES?
I usually call them ,but I love it when they do call or email from the road. Why dont you guys start sending your moms postcards from your travels? Ill supply the stamps.
4. did you ever think your son would end up doing this with his life?
I never imagined "this" but I thought both Thomas and Sam would do something creative. I also knew they would follow their hearts and do what made them happy. When I went to the first battle of the band event at Sanford, I was so nervous about what might happen on that stage (you were all so shy) but fears faded as I watched your entertaining performance (I remember a wheel chair, costumes...was sam wearing a helmet? ) It was that moment I knew it was possible... I laughed and cheered with the audience and have not stopped-GO SPINTO!
mother eaton (maaj of jon eaton):
I love all the songs and there is no music out as great as Spinto. Jon calls often while on the road and boy do I love it when he does. I always knew he would do something cool cause he is a cool guy!
May 8, 2008
Plans!
Readers of this blog are probably already familiar with the actress Jenny Lewis from her guest appearance in the fourth episode of our (still on hiatus) web series, Treasure of the Cisne:
Well, in addition to being a talented actress/magician, Lewis moonlights as a talented musician/magician, playing in the indie-rock band, Rilo Kiley. What does that have to do with us? Well, it turns out that we will be opening for them on a few dates on their upcoming tour! What dates? What venues? Here are your answers:
05/18 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
05/19 - Denver, CO - Odgen Theater
05/20 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
05/21 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown again!
05/22 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
05/23 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
05/24 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater
05/25 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theater
05/26 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Did we mention that Nik Freitas will also be playing these shows?! Well, he is! Also, I heard that if provoked, Jenny Lewis sometimes will perform the "banana trick" live on stage. Won't you come join us and see?
After that stint, we will embark upon what journalists are already calling the "underappreciated cities tour". We have either never played or rarely play these wonderful cities:
05/27 - Rochester, NY - The Bug Jar
05/29 - Pittsburgh, PA - Lava Lounge
05/30 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
Wait, so what is the Spinto Band doing with all of these "tour dates"? Shouldn't they have that album out by now? Good question. We really should have that album out now, and every day it gets closer to being put out. In the meantime, we're working on things. We really are.
Well, in addition to being a talented actress/magician, Lewis moonlights as a talented musician/magician, playing in the indie-rock band, Rilo Kiley. What does that have to do with us? Well, it turns out that we will be opening for them on a few dates on their upcoming tour! What dates? What venues? Here are your answers:
05/18 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
05/19 - Denver, CO - Odgen Theater
05/20 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
05/21 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown again!
05/22 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
05/23 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
05/24 - Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater
05/25 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theater
05/26 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
Did we mention that Nik Freitas will also be playing these shows?! Well, he is! Also, I heard that if provoked, Jenny Lewis sometimes will perform the "banana trick" live on stage. Won't you come join us and see?
After that stint, we will embark upon what journalists are already calling the "underappreciated cities tour". We have either never played or rarely play these wonderful cities:
05/27 - Rochester, NY - The Bug Jar
05/29 - Pittsburgh, PA - Lava Lounge
05/30 - Indianapolis, IN - Radio Radio
Wait, so what is the Spinto Band doing with all of these "tour dates"? Shouldn't they have that album out by now? Good question. We really should have that album out now, and every day it gets closer to being put out. In the meantime, we're working on things. We really are.
April 11, 2008
The Teeth shall be missed
April 2008 will be remembered as the end of one of the greats. As Philadelphia's The Teeth hang up their guitars and head towards other adventures, all of us in the spinto band will miss them. I thought it might be nice to share a few memories from the band:
Some time in 2002 or earlier, some of the boys and I went down to the East End Cafe in Newark DE to see a Wilmington band called Motor. We were sitting around talking about Al Gore or something when the show started. It was the first time I saw the Teeth and I still remember it. They had a different drummer and more conventional haircuts, but they rocked out pretty hard. They were driving a minivan that had www.theteeth.net spray-painted on the side of it. I talked to Aaron after the show to tell him how much I enjoyed the performance and I remember it being the first of many times our conversations ended with some kind of weird discomfort on my end. Over the next 5 years, we ended up playing more shows with the Teeth than anyone else in town as they were always up for sharing the stage. As far as Motor goes, they rocked pretty hard that night too.
it seems like there is a huge disproportion between the many
experiences with the teeth stuck in my memory and the short time i
have been aware of them. over the past few years i have been lucky
enough to get to know aaron, peter, brain and jonas, and share with
them not only the bandstand but musical ideas, recording thoughts,
daddy ray's fig bars, rides to concerts and practice warehouses,
coffee, jokes, handshakes and pizza.
they were always an explosive team, and i think my fondest memory of
them as a fine tuned squadron was seeing them play with a 'bop-it'
machine. the bop-it is a sort of simon says style game with four
triggers…a little voice tells you what button to push and of course
the game gets faster and faster until you screw up. the toy was laying
around jonas' house and late one night it made its way into the spare
bedroom where we were mixing their album. with each tooth holding a
different trigger they started playing 'bop-it' twisting, pulling,
spinning, flicking and anticipating the bop-it machine's every move.
commanding the bop-it machine the teeth appeared as they always did:
pushing all the right buttons and leaving me dumbfounded.
In May of 2004, we joined the Teeth for Bennington College's annual Sunfest music festival. In addition to having bands play throughout the day, the college's lawn was outfitted with carnival attractions such as high-strikers and dunk-tanks. The centerpiece of all these amusements was a giraffe-shaped bouncy castle that stood over twenty feet tall, casting a protective gaze among the festival goers. As night began to fall, I watched from afar as the Teeth took in the festivities, and slowly began huddling around that floppy giraffe. I could sense that some form of spectacle was imminent, and within an instant, they began to pounce upon it; their devilish smiles clearly visible with each of the giraffe's violent spasms. As I watched them attack that inflatable giraffe, I felt the same mixture of glee, fear, and awe I reserved for their live shows. It was only later I realized they were recreating this crushing scene from nature. The Teeth were a captivating pack of lions and they will be severely missed.
A while back we were offered a show at Messiah College. If you can't tell by the name, Messiah is a Christian college in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and we decided to bring along the Teeth. We stood around chatting about what a strange environment this event offered us. I wondered to myself before the show whether the Teeth would change anything about their show, namely some lyrics which certain young Christians may be offended by. Surely enough the Teeth attacked the stage at full kilt with Aaron jumping on a table and intimidating the audience while Brian 's devilish mustache drew stares and intrigue. When those lyrics I was waiting for occurred ("the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were always fucked for sure") I turned and acknowledged my band mates, none of whom seemed very surprised at the outcome as maybe as many as ten or fifteen students left the building. If there were such a thing as quintessential Teeth performance, then this was it. A certain merciless, take no prisoners attitude that is something to be admired, and I am sad to have seen it for the last time..
----
To hear a new song that we had never heard recorded before and to read a well written eulogy to the band, peep out this site
KEY: Jon Nick Tom Sam
Some time in 2002 or earlier, some of the boys and I went down to the East End Cafe in Newark DE to see a Wilmington band called Motor. We were sitting around talking about Al Gore or something when the show started. It was the first time I saw the Teeth and I still remember it. They had a different drummer and more conventional haircuts, but they rocked out pretty hard. They were driving a minivan that had www.theteeth.net spray-painted on the side of it. I talked to Aaron after the show to tell him how much I enjoyed the performance and I remember it being the first of many times our conversations ended with some kind of weird discomfort on my end. Over the next 5 years, we ended up playing more shows with the Teeth than anyone else in town as they were always up for sharing the stage. As far as Motor goes, they rocked pretty hard that night too.
it seems like there is a huge disproportion between the many
experiences with the teeth stuck in my memory and the short time i
have been aware of them. over the past few years i have been lucky
enough to get to know aaron, peter, brain and jonas, and share with
them not only the bandstand but musical ideas, recording thoughts,
daddy ray's fig bars, rides to concerts and practice warehouses,
coffee, jokes, handshakes and pizza.
they were always an explosive team, and i think my fondest memory of
them as a fine tuned squadron was seeing them play with a 'bop-it'
machine. the bop-it is a sort of simon says style game with four
triggers…a little voice tells you what button to push and of course
the game gets faster and faster until you screw up. the toy was laying
around jonas' house and late one night it made its way into the spare
bedroom where we were mixing their album. with each tooth holding a
different trigger they started playing 'bop-it' twisting, pulling,
spinning, flicking and anticipating the bop-it machine's every move.
commanding the bop-it machine the teeth appeared as they always did:
pushing all the right buttons and leaving me dumbfounded.
In May of 2004, we joined the Teeth for Bennington College's annual Sunfest music festival. In addition to having bands play throughout the day, the college's lawn was outfitted with carnival attractions such as high-strikers and dunk-tanks. The centerpiece of all these amusements was a giraffe-shaped bouncy castle that stood over twenty feet tall, casting a protective gaze among the festival goers. As night began to fall, I watched from afar as the Teeth took in the festivities, and slowly began huddling around that floppy giraffe. I could sense that some form of spectacle was imminent, and within an instant, they began to pounce upon it; their devilish smiles clearly visible with each of the giraffe's violent spasms. As I watched them attack that inflatable giraffe, I felt the same mixture of glee, fear, and awe I reserved for their live shows. It was only later I realized they were recreating this crushing scene from nature. The Teeth were a captivating pack of lions and they will be severely missed.
A while back we were offered a show at Messiah College. If you can't tell by the name, Messiah is a Christian college in Grantham, Pennsylvania, and we decided to bring along the Teeth. We stood around chatting about what a strange environment this event offered us. I wondered to myself before the show whether the Teeth would change anything about their show, namely some lyrics which certain young Christians may be offended by. Surely enough the Teeth attacked the stage at full kilt with Aaron jumping on a table and intimidating the audience while Brian 's devilish mustache drew stares and intrigue. When those lyrics I was waiting for occurred ("the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost were always fucked for sure") I turned and acknowledged my band mates, none of whom seemed very surprised at the outcome as maybe as many as ten or fifteen students left the building. If there were such a thing as quintessential Teeth performance, then this was it. A certain merciless, take no prisoners attitude that is something to be admired, and I am sad to have seen it for the last time..
----
To hear a new song that we had never heard recorded before and to read a well written eulogy to the band, peep out this site
KEY: Jon Nick Tom Sam
April 10, 2008
No Love For Ned round 2
About 2 months ago now we returned to the Chapel Hill area where in 2006 we recorded a session for his radio show: No Love For Ned
Since Ned was letting us sleep on his floor for the night, we figured we might as well record some more songs for his show... "Why the heck not!" we proclaimed.
To find the and listen to Ned's show. Visit his site , and the session featuring the spinto band is dated 3.17.08. You can also listen to a billion other awesome recordings by Ned archived on the site.
God Speed
Since Ned was letting us sleep on his floor for the night, we figured we might as well record some more songs for his show... "Why the heck not!" we proclaimed.
To find the and listen to Ned's show. Visit his site , and the session featuring the spinto band is dated 3.17.08. You can also listen to a billion other awesome recordings by Ned archived on the site.
God Speed
March 27, 2008
Brain Thrust Razzery
To celebrate the release of We Are Scientists' new life improving manifesto, Brain Thrust Mastery, we thought it might be fun to dig up some Scientist paraphernalia from the Spintonic Archive. Here is a little background information to preface our findings:
We had the pleasure of touring with these self-help gurus (along with shock-rockers, Art Brut) in the tail-end of 2006. On one of our many 8-hour drives, we found ourselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic approaching the United States / Canada border. With nothing better to do, we began observing the vehicles around us, stating a hilarious superficial judgment every now and then. After a couple minutes of this road-side joshery, we recognized the white van behind us was none other than the We Are Scientists Mobile!
What a PERFECT opportunity to play a prank on those unsuspecting dance-punkers! We quickly brainstormed and came up with an infallible plan: we would write a note that said "Hey, dickfores! Get a life!" and place it on their windshield. We would then drive smoothly across the borders without them even knowing what hit 'em! This was going to be like a real-life version of Punk'd! But ONE THOUSAND times better!!!
So we put the plan into action. Jeff quickly ran back to their vehicle, planted the devious note under their wipers and sprinted back to our van. We all laughed maniacally as their bear of a tour manager confusedly removed the piece of paper and brought it into their van to read to those unwitting Sci-Guys. A success! We began closing in on the border. They couldn't even retaliate if they tried!!!
But traffic was moving slower than expected. We began to sweat. We knew that Keith Murray kept a loaded weapon with him at all times, and he wasn't afraid to use it. A couple of minutes later, an envelope arrived on our windshield. "Don't even open it, just drive!" cried Sam. Unfortunately, the writing on the envelope gave us no other option.
We had had enough trouble with Canadian customs before, so we didn't want to take the risk of just leaving it there, so we opened it. The letter read:
It was then we realized the truth in their Brain Thrust Mastery teachings. Never enter into a battle of wits with We Are Scientists. You will lose. You will be razzed. You will be denied entry to Canada.
We had the pleasure of touring with these self-help gurus (along with shock-rockers, Art Brut) in the tail-end of 2006. On one of our many 8-hour drives, we found ourselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic approaching the United States / Canada border. With nothing better to do, we began observing the vehicles around us, stating a hilarious superficial judgment every now and then. After a couple minutes of this road-side joshery, we recognized the white van behind us was none other than the We Are Scientists Mobile!
What a PERFECT opportunity to play a prank on those unsuspecting dance-punkers! We quickly brainstormed and came up with an infallible plan: we would write a note that said "Hey, dickfores! Get a life!" and place it on their windshield. We would then drive smoothly across the borders without them even knowing what hit 'em! This was going to be like a real-life version of Punk'd! But ONE THOUSAND times better!!!
So we put the plan into action. Jeff quickly ran back to their vehicle, planted the devious note under their wipers and sprinted back to our van. We all laughed maniacally as their bear of a tour manager confusedly removed the piece of paper and brought it into their van to read to those unwitting Sci-Guys. A success! We began closing in on the border. They couldn't even retaliate if they tried!!!
But traffic was moving slower than expected. We began to sweat. We knew that Keith Murray kept a loaded weapon with him at all times, and he wasn't afraid to use it. A couple of minutes later, an envelope arrived on our windshield. "Don't even open it, just drive!" cried Sam. Unfortunately, the writing on the envelope gave us no other option.
We had had enough trouble with Canadian customs before, so we didn't want to take the risk of just leaving it there, so we opened it. The letter read:
It was then we realized the truth in their Brain Thrust Mastery teachings. Never enter into a battle of wits with We Are Scientists. You will lose. You will be razzed. You will be denied entry to Canada.
March 20, 2008
March 3, 2008
SXSW, more than just a grab-ass
People have been inquiring about the rundown of Austin events the spinto band plans to attend. Much like skinny blonde celebrities, our party habits are front page news. So, if you plan on being in Austin next week, let your inner-skinny blonde celebrity out and join us:
Sunday March 9th- Get Weirdly Wired Party
9:00 pm - 1:00 am
Austin City Limits Studio (2504 B Whitis, Corner Guadalupe & Dean Keeton)
This party is going to be sweet for a baker's dozen worth of reasons. First and foremost, Lightspeed Champion will be joining us, and there are free margaritas. We are performing at the reknown Austin City Limits studio and plan on being healthy for the show.
Wednesday March 12th- DoneWaiting.com throwdown
5:30-6:15
Big Texas Jumpstart at Creekside Lounge- 606 East 7th street
Does anyone frequent the doneWaiting website? Do you have it bookmarked, or even featured on your bookmark bar? Well hotdog! sounds like you will need to hit this sucker up. We will be joined by the following bands: Division Day, Freightened Rabbit, Goes Cube, Catfish Haven, Midgetmen, and El Jesus Magico. So come spend the day with us.
Thursday March 13th- Schuba's 12th Annual SXSW Roundup
1:40-2:05
Yard Dog Gallery -1510 South Congress Ave.
Have you ever been to Schubas? Well- I mean have you ever eaten dinner at Schubas then had a few local microbrews then experienced a sonic erection inside the walls of an intimate venue with a great soundsystem? If so, then come bro-down with us here... Might as well check out Peter Mohren, Ohmega Watts, The Hood internet, Cool Kids, The Builders and the Butchers, Blitzen Trapper, and Ben Jellin while there.
Saturday March 15th- Music by the Slice With Homeslice Pizza
3:45-4:15
1415 South Congress St.
I would be a dirty dirty liar if I told you I wasn't super psyched for this pizza party. If spending time with Scott Wiener has taught us anything, it is to cherish the triforce known as pizza. So lets eat some anchovies together with Joseph Arthur, Earlimart, The Watson Twins, Office, The Submarine, The Morning Benders, Le Loup, Ola Podrida, and Laura Gibson.
And then- don't forget our official showcase.
Sunday March 9th- Get Weirdly Wired Party
9:00 pm - 1:00 am
Austin City Limits Studio (2504 B Whitis, Corner Guadalupe & Dean Keeton)
This party is going to be sweet for a baker's dozen worth of reasons. First and foremost, Lightspeed Champion will be joining us, and there are free margaritas. We are performing at the reknown Austin City Limits studio and plan on being healthy for the show.
Wednesday March 12th- DoneWaiting.com throwdown
5:30-6:15
Big Texas Jumpstart at Creekside Lounge- 606 East 7th street
Does anyone frequent the doneWaiting website? Do you have it bookmarked, or even featured on your bookmark bar? Well hotdog! sounds like you will need to hit this sucker up. We will be joined by the following bands: Division Day, Freightened Rabbit, Goes Cube, Catfish Haven, Midgetmen, and El Jesus Magico. So come spend the day with us.
Thursday March 13th- Schuba's 12th Annual SXSW Roundup
1:40-2:05
Yard Dog Gallery -1510 South Congress Ave.
Have you ever been to Schubas? Well- I mean have you ever eaten dinner at Schubas then had a few local microbrews then experienced a sonic erection inside the walls of an intimate venue with a great soundsystem? If so, then come bro-down with us here... Might as well check out Peter Mohren, Ohmega Watts, The Hood internet, Cool Kids, The Builders and the Butchers, Blitzen Trapper, and Ben Jellin while there.
Saturday March 15th- Music by the Slice With Homeslice Pizza
3:45-4:15
1415 South Congress St.
I would be a dirty dirty liar if I told you I wasn't super psyched for this pizza party. If spending time with Scott Wiener has taught us anything, it is to cherish the triforce known as pizza. So lets eat some anchovies together with Joseph Arthur, Earlimart, The Watson Twins, Office, The Submarine, The Morning Benders, Le Loup, Ola Podrida, and Laura Gibson.
And then- don't forget our official showcase.
February 26, 2008
Selling Out Isn't Plausible
We realize that this story has already been making ripples throughout the blogosphere, but since we’ve been taking a bit of heat for it, we thought you might like to hear our side of the story. You see, a couple of months ago we were approached by the Café Bustelo corporation to film some TV spots in part of their campaign to reach a younger, hipper demographic. In light of the recent trend of television advertisements featuring not only the music, but the personalities of notable indie bands such as Of Montreal, Art Brut, and Mates of State, the prospect didn’t seem that strange to us.
February 21, 2008
A bit of SXSW news
So we have been trying to get a handle on this whole SXSW situation for a while now. What's the deal? Where do we play? Why is it called that? The fellas from Flight of the Conchords haven't been much help either.
Today though, we found this flyer in our inbox and realized we do have a showcase booked and it is going to be the most freakingly awesome showcase of the whole week!
It's a tag team between Daytrotter.com and Philly's Park the Van records. What more could you ask for? Dr. Dog, the Teeth, Ra Ra Riot, Hugh Strung, Tulsa, Pepi! oh man- if this lineup toured the world it would end in Armageddon. For it would rock so hard nuclear missiles would just up and detonate from too much bloody rock. Mick Jagger would be the only surviving human and he would just sit in a rocking chair all day knitting mittens for his dog because there would be no rock left for him to juice. Dry as a bone Mick... dry as a bone.
So I bet we all wish we could see it. Unfortunately, attending SXSW doesn't really make sense unless you are somehow in a band or write for a magazine or work in a corner office of Atlantic Records. Speaking of Daytrotter, Jon wrote an account of the band's performance with Cornelius the other day in Chicago that is up on the site now... Peep it.
how bout that poster too? looks like it might be the work of this man.
Today though, we found this flyer in our inbox and realized we do have a showcase booked and it is going to be the most freakingly awesome showcase of the whole week!
It's a tag team between Daytrotter.com and Philly's Park the Van records. What more could you ask for? Dr. Dog, the Teeth, Ra Ra Riot, Hugh Strung, Tulsa, Pepi! oh man- if this lineup toured the world it would end in Armageddon. For it would rock so hard nuclear missiles would just up and detonate from too much bloody rock. Mick Jagger would be the only surviving human and he would just sit in a rocking chair all day knitting mittens for his dog because there would be no rock left for him to juice. Dry as a bone Mick... dry as a bone.So I bet we all wish we could see it. Unfortunately, attending SXSW doesn't really make sense unless you are somehow in a band or write for a magazine or work in a corner office of Atlantic Records. Speaking of Daytrotter, Jon wrote an account of the band's performance with Cornelius the other day in Chicago that is up on the site now... Peep it.
how bout that poster too? looks like it might be the work of this man.
February 18, 2008
Cooking with Jon
The full list of ingredients:
2/23 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge*
2/25 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
2/26 - Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle Tavern*
2/27 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theater*
2/28 - Charlottesville, VA - Satellite Ballroom*
2/29 - Durham, NC - Duke Coffeehouse*
3/01 - Lexington, KY - The Dame*
3/03 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada*
3/04 - Omaha, NE - Waiting Room*
3/06 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge*
3/07 - Colorado Springs, CO - Black Sheep*
3/09 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Studio
3/11 - San Antonio, TX - Rock Bottom Tattoo Bar*
3/17 - Tulsa, OK - Crush Lounge
3/18 - St. Louis, MO - Bluebird**
3/19 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews**
3/20 - Chicago, IL - Schuba’s** (18+)
3/21 - Chicago, IL - Schuba’s** (All Ages)
3/22 - Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection**
* with the Whigs
** with Tally Hall
February 15, 2008
New Music from Old Friends
Well, what would a blog be without an occasional post pertaining to the latest happenings within the independent music stratosphere? Here at the spinto blog, we understand that we hold a voice that thirty some people pay attention to when we post. Therefor, we try not to abuse our voice and keep our opinions close. We avoid posting on Vampire Weekend, and instead post on Jeff's eating habits. (As that is what our audience loves to read about.)
However, all that haullabaloo aside, we felt the urge to recommend a few songs by some old friends whom we shared a stage with a little over a year ago. Sheffield's Tiny Dancers just recorded a couple new songs then posted them up on their myspace page. Click below to listen in- then forget about all that jazz I wrote above about opinions and potentially preachy sounding short sentences about the rolls of a blog because all that doesn't really hold a candle in any church where I'm praying... that's for damn sure:
Tiny Dancer's Myspace page, featuring two new songs.
February 10, 2008
Spinto Band crafts
I've been admiring these Spinto Band inspired crafts from the mysterious Flickr user froot loops.
Our faces, from our website a long time ago...
Beloved Bippy...Based upon Joe Hobson's "Did I Tell You" photograph.
And finally, a collection of buttons ("badges" for you Europeans). The "Treasure of the Cisne" one never ceases to crack me up.
Our faces, from our website a long time ago...Beloved Bippy...Based upon Joe Hobson's "Did I Tell You" photograph.And finally, a collection of buttons ("badges" for you Europeans). The "Treasure of the Cisne" one never ceases to crack me up.
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