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