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!
May 12, 2008
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
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