Step inside my coffin

For Ex-Lovers Only "Coffin" from Magic Marker on Vimeo.

Hot New Wax from Magic Marker!

BOAT release new album on tangerine colored vinyl!

Setting the Paces is available to everyone in all three formats(CD,LP,MP3). I have to say I am partial to the tangerine colored vinyl but I hear those I-pods are sweeping the nation. It is in stores, emusic, and on our web page. Here is Magic Centepede from the recent release show. Allmusic says "Short, snappy tunes with rambunctious vocals and humorous lyrical content, with debts owed to Pavement, Television Personalities, and the Banana Splits, and with a bouncy energy that makes the album very easy to like" and we have to agree their best album to date. Come on in.

Setting the Pace

Since their debut album "Songs You Might Not Like" released in 2006 it looked like they may release an album every year. It just seemed like they had the stamina and the will and the songs. Well last year they decided to hold back and release the EP Topps only to bolster what would become "Setting the Paces". The sloppy pop boys spent some time in the studio and let the songs simmer. Most of these songs have been regulars at their live shows for the past year. You already know the words to the songs. Thursday bear witness to the BOAT stage show to top all the others. Dive into your office shredder for pockets of confetti, duct tape your uncooked rice in paper cups, practice your chest pound, and whatever you do sing along with BOAT as they present their new album on beautiful tangerine vinyl and compact disc.

Smitten gets married!

The New England band the Smittens have been around awhile and put out some fun records. Here is a video of Dana Smitten tying the knot with fellow Smittens in tow. This video is just irresistible.

New Pastels and Tenniscoats song and video

One of my all time favorites. The Pastels released this new song and video. They collaborated with the Japanese act Tenniscoats. This song is pretty fantastic. I am very excited for the new album is due in September on Domino Records.

And the winner is.... RICKY!

Well that's not exactly true. Ricky was Carrie's favorite theme song and her second favorite was Dave's song but since it was who ever got more of their friends to vote it was awarded to Darling New Neighbors who submitted a fanciful accordion theme.

Ricky has supplied us with a download of his theme song.

Enjoy!

Ricky versus Dave in a theme song battle

Carrie Brownstein from the band Sleater-Kinney has her own music blog on NPR titled Monitor Mix. She is having a contest for the video blog theme song. Dave Crane from BOAT and Ricky Cancro from Galactic Heroes are both finalists. Please head over to place your vote for your favorite themes!

I can't decide Ricky rhymes Styx with mix which I like but Dave talks over his theme in a sassy voice saying "What's on your mind, girl?". Results to follow currently both are at a 11%.

Monitor Mix

The Manhattan Love Suicides call it quits

THE MANHATTAN LOVE SUICIDES SPLIT.

After 3 years, 1 album, 6 singles, a 27 track compilation CD and a DVD, plus more hit and run, feedback and noise drenched 20 minute gigs than we can remember... The Manhattan Love Suicides have decided to split.

The reason? Quite simple really: We'd made our point.

Some bands form, and they keep going for many years. The Manhattan Love Suicides were never about that. We were never career driven; we just wanted to make an impact, like 4 sticks of dynamite thrown into a stale music scene. And in our own way, we did what we set out to do.

The music remains, and that is the most important thing. We're all very proud of how much we did in the short time we existed. The last thing we ever wanted was to become stale. End it while it's still fresh, while it's still vital. While it still counts.

So, thanks to everyone who came to see us , to everyone who appreciated the music and to everyone who supported us. This is not the end: it's just a new beginning. Adam and Rachel have formed The Medusa Snare and the debut album will be released by Squirrel Records soon, Caroline and Darren are contributing vocals and guitar respectively to Ailsa Craig, as well as working on new material together which will be released later in the year.

Indie Pop Show in Portland

Hey not often do forces combine to have three pop bands play in Portland. I am looking forward to this one.

Summer Cats have a new video


The Tartans have a myspace page
Soft Paws are local and have a new record and a myspace page

come on down only $6.

Love is a Wave

The Crystal Stilts are currently in first place for my song of the year. It isn't brand new so you may have seen this somewhere else but they put out this song on a single on Slumberland Records. Enjoy!

Hello Seahorse! "Bestia"

Hello Seahorse! have been working on their new album Bestia for awhile. I am not sure who is releasing or distributing here in the US but here is their video for it. They are a 3 piece now and have changed direction from the EP we released. I have to say they seem have enormous talent and I love the new dark/electronic direction.

Souther Salazar makes cool stuff

Souther Salazar is someone I have gotten to know through emails and texts. He is a visual artist who I am a big fan of. I saw his cover of Giant Robot and knew I had to meet or know more about him. We met two years ago or so on a road trip to Portland where he was friendly and jovial. I have been following his work for some time now and hope maybe to turn you onto his art. He currently has a new show up in New York at the Jonathan Levin Gallery. The Friends We Love site put up a little interview with him about his new show.

"Off The Wall" ft. Souther Salazar from friendswelove.com on Vimeo.

Spent reunite for 20 years of Mergefest

Spent were/are from Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1995 their debut album came to our radio station in Bloomington,IN. It came in a Merge promotional mailing with a Cakekitchen CD and a Portastatic EP. I am not sure quite how it happened but Mark and I as well as quite a few people quickly fell hard for this band. I credit this band for one of the reasons why Magic Marker exists. Mark along with our friend Paul and Chris from the radio station "booked" their first show with Spent headlining. They were on tour supporting Seam (or was it Licorice?) but instead of playing their scheduled show I think in Cleveland. The guys had convinced their booker to play the all ages club Rhino's in Bloomington for $400. This was a lot of money for 3 full time college kids but the fact that they could just call a booker and get your new favorite band to play a show you are setting up they just had to do it. The album had come out in the spring and I had graduated that summer and moved home to live with my parents and work 12 hour shifts in the rubber factory to save money. So when the show was booked there was no way I was going to miss it. I drove the 3 hours from Ft. Wayne to Bloomington for the show. The rider had promised them a meal so Mark borrowed my car to take the band to get some food. I was too nervous to talk to them at first but we hung out before the show and I told them that after the show I was driving back and that I had to work the next morning. I requested "Ready, OK" off the album "Songs of Drinking and Rebellion". John, Annie, and Ed all wrote songs for Spent and they all sang their respective songs. I am always amazed how distinct their vocals and songwriting were but they sounded so great together. The show was fantastic probably one of my favorite shows I had ever seen at the time. I drove back home through the night and showed up at work so beat but still they played "Ready, OK" and dedicated it to me.

Spent put out another great album "Seat Beneath the Chairs" the following year.Mark had kept in contact with them and they were suppose to give a song for our first release. They broke up and had run out of recorded material so it never happened. I attended their surprise last show at CMJ. Ed and John continued playing together and Annie put out two solo records over the years.

Spent are reuniting for the Merge XX fest in North Carolina on July 22-26. I am envious of the people attending. I am glad I have a reason to pull out those records again.

Spent have a myspace page.

The Online Romance

The Online Romance are based in Portland, OR and my friend Jack Saturn is their leader, organizer, and singer- songwriter. I have known Jack for a long time. He used to live in San Francisco and worked for a Dot-Com of some sort. He told a story of being out of work and living in his old employer's offices and listening to Dear Nora tracks over and over. He eventually moved to Portland and has become a main stay. His good friend Sharin moved into the Magic Marker house near the tail end of its existence before we all moved out. He is at every show I go to and is always up to something. As I understand it Jack didn't know he could sing until he started doing karaoke which wasn't that long ago. I am not exactly sure what has made the process take so long but they have had a myspace since 2004 and yet they have only released a single. Well Jack emailed me a few months ago about posting a song and I am happy to do that. What ever the wait was it from the sound of the new songs it seems like he has gotten them exactly the way he wants them. I know he is a fan of all things 60's british/pastoral and I am excited to hear the finished product.

The Online Romance - "Ladybug Don't Smile"

Also check out their myspace for more.

It's Coming

welcome Wake The President to Magic Marker

Penelope hearts Magic Marker

So this is what has been keeping me extra busy. My daughter was born about a month ago. My wife Molly and I are completely head over heels in love with her. Mark and Erin gave her Magic Marker onesies for up until one year. Here she is sporting her newborn model . So if I am late sending out your orders or if your product arrives with a white crusty substance on it, you know why.

Two Shows

Tullycraft play "Twee" at NYC Popfest from Magic Marker on Vimeo.

It was posted on a few blogs a few weeks ago but Tullycraft posted on their myspace this note:
"Each of us has had a wonderful time, but over the years it’s become increasingly difficult to balance our personal lives (i.e. Chris’ goat farm, Cori’s adult bookstore, etc..) with our time in the band. While we’re excited to continue to write and record music together, we’ve decided to take a step back from playing live shows.

If you would like to catch Tullycraft live before our self-imposed hiatus, we have two shows scheduled: April 4th at the Crocodile (in Seattle), and May 23rd at the Rickshaw Stop (in San Francisco). Thanks."

Only two more times to witness what I witness in the above video. It sounds like they aren't closing the door completely on live shows but you might not want to take that chance.

Go see them April 4th in Seattle at the opening of the Crocodile w/BOAT, "Awesome", Iji

or be sure to be at the Popfest May 23rd in San Francisco w/Northern Portrait
My Teenage Stride,Magic Bullets,The Smittens

BOAT covering Dear Nora

BOAT covering Dear Nora
Originally uploaded by pencrush

This is a little clip from the Magic Marker Anniversary show.

I know there is more footage out there I just need to track it down and edit some for your perusal.

Magic Marker in Austin

There have been a lot of things transpiring around here since my last post. I will update you on of all of those things as the weeks unfold. Currently we have two bands playing the spectacle known as SXSW. Please turn out to give them support. I hear Kanye is playing somewhere too.

Hello Seahorse!

Mar 19 2009 10:00P	SXSW Official Showcase	Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 6:00A	Karibu Day Party@ Karibu Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar	Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 5:00P	SXSW @ Waterloo Cycles Day Party	Austin, Texas

Manhattan Love Suicides

Mar 17 2009 8:00P	Elysium w/ Ringo Deathstarr and others	Austin, Texas
Mar 18 2009 4:00P	SXSW - The Red House Lounge and Pizzeria	Austin, Texas
Mar 19 2009 2:00P	SXSW - Okay Mountain Gallery	Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 3:00P	SXSW - Club Primos w/ Ringo Deathstarr	Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2009 8:00P	SXSW - Karma Lounge	Austin, Texas
Mar 21 2009 12:00P	SXSW - Austin Convention Centre	Austin, Texas