New Jersey / New Record / New Tour

Hola,

In the post before this one, I was going on and on about making a new record and yada yada.. well, like plans often do, they changed.

What I really meant to tell you about was that I will be going on tour this summer playing bass and banjo for a New Jersey based band called River City Extension, and also playing solo sets on many of the dates in support of a new EP I'm releasing for the tour.

How about some questions that A Buncha People been asking? OK!


A Buncha People: Woah?! Seriously?
Me: Yeah, Totally.

A Buncha People: Wait, Really?
Me: Yeah.

A Buncha People: Where are you going?
Me: I'll be in New Jersey for the month of May rehearsing RCE's music, then we'll be on the road doing shows around the country May 29th-July2nd. Listed all the shows below, the ones that are bolded and have a * mean I'm playing a solo set that night as well.

A Buncha People: River City Extension?
Me: Yeah, they're an awesome band who's about to release a record that you'll love. I've had the pleasure of listening to it too much, and I'm really excited to perform with them. Come check out one of the dates closest to you or peep some videos online.

A Buncha People: So you're going to miss my ________ ?
Me: Yeah.... Sorry. I hope it goes well, post some pics on facebook.

A Buncha People: Will you miss San Jose?
Me: Dearly.

A Buncha People: You play banjo??
Me: Wellllll, I'm no Bela Fleck....

How about some questions that Not Many People been asking? NO PROB!

Not Many People: New EP? Sup with that?
Me: Glad you asked! Yeah it's called FORTUNES.
Not Many People: Why?
Me: I'll tell you later, but for now.. It will have 6 songs, all previously un-released including a club knocking reprise of 25 Siren. I'm recording it with the same fine fella, Trevor Bryden, who's recorded most everything I've done. It won't be out before I go, but when the tour stops in San Jose on June 17th, I will have copies.

Not Many People: You have shows before you leave?
Me: In fact I do, this Saturday April 28th at the San Pedro Square Market for the kickoff of the Daydream Nation Music Series.. Also performing will be: Dogcatcher, Fialta!, The Shants... You oughtta come out.

Not Many People: Springsteen is from Jersey!
Me: Yeaaah, but SO IS LAURYN HILL!!!

Not many People: Do you plan on keeping it real?
Me: That's not a question.

Not Many People: Don't you have a ton of things to do rather than write a fake Q&A in your blog with two posts??
Me: Fine! Whatever! all the dates for the tour listed below.. I'll be posting here frequently along the way and I hope you tell your auntie in Akron, OH that I'm comin to make her cry.

Take care,
Ben

May 29 Hamden, CT The Space
*May 30 Hoboken, NJ Maxwells
May 31 Washington, DC 6th and I
*June 1 Charlottesville, VA The Southern
*June 2 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506
June 4 St. Augustine, FL Cafe 11
June 5 Orlando, FL The Social
*June 6 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade - Purgatory
*June 8 Dallas, TX The Prophet Bar
June 9 Austin, TX Stubbs BBQ (inside)
June 10 San Antonio, TX Korova
June 12 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
June 13 San Diego, CA The Casbah
*June 14 Phoenix, AZ The Rhythm Room
*June 15 Los Angeles, CA The Satellite
June 16 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
*June 17 San Jose, CA The Blank Club
June 19 Portland, OR Backspace
*June 20 Seattle, WA Barboza
*June 22 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
*June 23 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
June 24 Lawrence, KS Jackpot Music Hall
*June 26 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
June 27 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
*June 28 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
June 29 Pontiac, MI The Pike Room
*June 30 Akron, OH Musica
July 2 Pittsburgh, PA Altar Bar

Banjos / Beacons

The Album begins here.. or my sharing of the process rather..

In 2009 I released "Get me wrong", a 4 song EP that sounded pretty nice I think.. Had some of my best songs at the time paired with Anthony on drums....ok, this is already too long.. 

I'm making a new record.. if you're close with me in real life, you've heard me say that a bunch and you don't actually believe me anymore. But I swear.. I've been busy and busy and busy, and there really is a new record in the works NOW WITH SOME SORT OF STRANGE UNSUBSTANTIAL PROOF...press play and continue reading please, thanks.

I've been a part of... lemme count em... 7 ish recording processes that ended up with albums that I felt good about selling to folks.. 3 with Delta Activity, 2 with Good Hustle, and 2 solo records.. The approach is always different. I love performing live.. I kinda hate recording.. I love great recordings!! but I hate making them... but.. I have so much new music. It's time to let it go. So, this record, is about falling back in love.. with the recording process, and lyrically I find myself singing about the same ol' tragedies far less... does this mean it will suck? Yes, probably... But I have no choice other than venture into that deep dark place of happiness and contentment to churn this one out. My sad shoes have worn through... and you can tell by this blog post and my use of ellipses... that I'm quite jovial. 

For better or for worse, I have begun experimenting with different instruments and different recording techniques in order to have fun/entertain myself while I make this record.. I think/hope it will make something that you'll want to bump while you drive around this summer/winter/decade - whenever I finish it.

The idea with the audio above and below, is to get an idea and finish it in one-ish sitting.. An exercise in trying to get better at completing an entire idea that I can eventually turn into solid gold and show other musicians when it comes time to make final recordings and/or play live. 

Questions? concerns? feedback?

Hope you hear from me soon.

Enjoy.

- Ben