Static Gliding

I should probably mention that a new project just launched. Go visit D.iscontent! What is it? It’s a label-like, crew-like thing founded by myself and Hjalti, where we will be releasing music and gathering together other Cascadian musicians for collaborations, shows, etc. We’re accepting demos if you’re intrigued by what you see and simply must be a part of the excitement.

In case I haven’t mentioned it here yet, the live debut of the D.iscontent crew takes place on May 25th, at Static Glide Part 2, with Miniature Airlines (aka your truly) and Hjalti playing live PA sets at the Baltic Room, with DJs Travis Baron and Levitation Device keeping things bouncing. It’s free before 10, so you have no excuse for missing this. It’s also my birthday, so you have no excuse for not buying me drinks all night..

Static Glide Part 1, featuring Telephone Jim Jesus and DJ Egadz, went off last night, but not exactly as planned. Originally slated for the VIP Room at Neumo’s, the show was merged with Broken Disco at Chop Suey at the last minute. Damn Seattle Fire Marshall, making things all complicated! It still went off well, and hopefully interest will carry over onto our show in two weeks.

Pushpin Revolution EP…

…is out. Get it here. 6 tracks of retro-futurist synthpop, in .mp3 and .flac formats. Totally free, totally fun. Enjoy…

Sick Day = Blog Day

I worked a short day today, due to a head cold that’s wavering on the boundary of disappearing, but not quite ready to mosey along into the sunset. And so, since I’m home in the afternoon with nothing better to do, I guess it’s time to catch up on some blogging.

Saw TV on the Radio on Friday at the Showbox. The venue is nice, a very spacious theater with multiple bars (3 or 4?) and some interesting decor. I especially love the main support pillars that have blooming, floral structures just below the ceiling, lit bright red from somewhere inside the pillar. It’s a unique architectural touch that adds a classy, almost retro ambiance to the room. The band was awesome live, high energy and spot-on performances. The set seemed a little short, but I think that was just because I was blown away by what they’re playing. Time flies, and all that. But when they returned for an encore of “Staring at the Sun” and an incredible, beatboxed version of “Ambulance” (originally recorded as an a capella track) that “blown away”-ness got bumped to “truly next level.”

The next day was an exciting one too, for totally different reasons. I feel like I have a lot to say about that day, but everything’s been said so well here, by Serene, that I can’t think of anything I need to add, other than to reiterate the thanks to Tracy and Sean for welcoming me into a very intimate, incredible moment in their lives, and to Elliot Matthew, for making me gasp, cry, and smile, all uncontrollably.

Pretty much finished with my new Miniature Airlines EP. The mixdowns have been sent off and I have a date for mastering this Saturday. Which means that in the next week, in between a Mirah show and a Big Lebowski themed party, I really should try to get my cover art finished. I’ve got a start on it, but I’m not sure of what I’m going to do on the backside. Inspiration? Are you there? It’s me, Dylan…

More later.

A Busy Month

This month has barely started, and already it feels full. I’ve got so many events to go to and projects to work on, it’s hard not to feel excited an overwhelmed.

First up is my impending trip down to San Francisco tomorrow night, to attend the 2006 Alternative Press Expo, meet up with California friends, and just generally live it up.

Then, as soon as we get back, we’ll be heading to Neumo’s to see Subtle, Fog and Jel on the 11th. Then there’s a free Calexico in-store at Easy Street Records in Queen Anne.

That weekend I’ll be heading up to my hometown of Abbotsford, and then on to visit family in that area of BC, some of whom I probably haven’t seen in over a decade. Sadly, I’ll have to miss the baby shower that Serene organized for Tracy that weekend though.

After about a week of relaxation, we’ll be hitting up a records number of shows, seeing Mates of State, Pinback, and the Books. We would’ve gone to see David Sedaris too, but that sold out immediately.

While all this is going on, I’ll be scrambling to get my latest EP mixed down and mastered (panicNow is working in mostly analog for the mastering process now, so I’m excited about that!), and get artwork done. I’m hoping for a release on Belladonna Records by the end of the month…we’ll see. I also need to have a new track ready for a compilation on that label by May 15th. And I still haven’t settled on a new artist name…

Oh, and I’m also working on a ground-up redesign of this site.

So, if I seem a little out of breath, that’s why.

More later…

Odds and Ends

A few short things that don’t merit full posts on their own…

I picked up a great stack of music at Amoeba a week or two ago, when I was down in SF meeting up with some of my compadres from EM411.com (pics by John). Some Jaga Jazzist, the Morr Music Slowdive tribute compilation, the new Doseone album, Owen’s last album, a Hood promo single, and the last Funkstorung (with brilliant multilayered packaging). All quite fun, especially the Doseone. I had a promo copy of the Funkstorung album (Disconnected) at some point, and the tracks were layered over with spoken commentary in order to discourage piracy, so it’s nice to have an unmarred copy now.

I’ve also been slowly collecting more music through, ahem, more illicit means. How have I not listened to the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up before?They’ve really got the classic emo formula down, in a way that’s not overwrought, but sort of refined and dramatic. I’d group them more with classic Karate than other emo bands though, really. And that’s a good thing.

Also managed to acquire the new Why? album, Elephant Eyelash (and I can see by my referrer logs that a lot of people are curious about this one as well). All I can say is, buy it. It’s good. Did you like Sanddollars? This is like that; quirky, off-kilter, accessible pop music with that good ol’ Anticon Flava. Seriously, album of the year contender.

On the topic of my own music: slowly plucking away at a few projects, including a new track for a compilation that will be out in Novemeber. Thent he 2 EP projects that are next in line, and a spot on a Sonic Youth tribute, with no fixed release date yet…

Also: the Apparel EP has been picked up for re-release by the lovely netlabel Kendra-Unique, and should be available on their site soon. Check out the other music there, from Samarah and the Great Mundane while you’re at it. Some fine folks to be associated with…

The Comics Blog is comig along nicely, but the whole reason I started it is so you wouldn’t have to read about that sort of thing here if you didn’t want to. So click thorugh if that’s your sort of thing.

More later, as I think of it.

Unmoved By Jazz

New Music up at EM411. An Airliner work in progress. Enjoy….

Parentheses on Parade

I’m finally settling into the new place, which is quickly become a swanky, if somewhat dorky, little bachelor pad. I got the bed situation figured out, with a rather awesome new futon (thanks, Mom!). I also got the fridge/freezer situation mostly sorted. The freezer is probably a little lower than it should be, ideally, but at least my milk doesn’t turn into dairy snow now. Mmmmmmm.

Phone and DSL service are back up (third time’s the charm, hmm SBC?), so now I’m free to waste hours on the internet again. I’ve already fallen back into that habit, alas. Still, being so close to everything, and being without the distraction of television (excepting my Arrested Development Season One DVD), I find that I have more time lately, a lot of which I’ve spent reading (currently: Revolting Youth, thanks Serene!) or taking short bike trips to the grocery and/or record store.

I’m putting the finishing touches on my remix project, with some direct feedback from a member of the band, which is a nice way to work. I’m feeling pretty good about how it ended up, and it’s nice to have someone giving me feedback on little technical fixes and arrangement ideas. Makes the project feel a little more collaborative.

As for remixes of my own stuff: I’ve got one remix back so far. Joey finished up a remix of an Apparel track (which I don’t have a final file for yet), and even sent a bonus remix of my old track “Pushpin Revolution”, which kicks so incredibly much ass. I’m gonna have to really beef up the original in order to not be shown up by him. Bastard! I’m not sure when I’ll release that, but the plan is to put out a remastered “Pushpin Revolution”, with a new B-side and Joey’s remix, as sort of a stopgap release while I’m working on my new project.

I’m kicking around ideas for another musical project, but I need to talk to the people I’d like to involve before saying anything about it…

Oh yes, and I’m trying not to panic about the apparently dead hard drive with all of my MP3s and digital photos. Grrr.

Anyhow. More later….

In Brief…

Quick update. I moved. I am without DSL or phone service at home. I became everything I despise and bought myself a cell phone (If you need my number, e-mail me). I adopted a bike, which I’ve been riding daily. I’m busy unpacking and settling in, and trying to find the ideal setting on my combination fridge/freezer thing so that my ice cubes freeze but my milk doesn’t (This is a rather difficult process that i fear may cost me a fortune in milk).

Still remixing. Getting excited about working in my new music workspace (a sprawling, accessible area compared to my old setup). Getting excited about visiting Seattle at the end of the month.

Finally finished my months-long Salinger spree, completing Seymour: an Introduction the other night. Tearing through my DVDs of the first season of Arrested Development.

Need a bed. Preferably a futon. Preferably one that won’t destroy my back.

End of an Era

Did I mention I was moving? Well, I am. Soon. Like, this weekend soon, if all goes well. And so far it looks like it does, if a little slowly for my tastes. I have a place that’s 90% sure to go through, to be confirmed this weekend, and another place I just looked at that will be a damn fine backup if the first place doesn’t work out for some reason. Both potential dwellings are studios in Santa Rosa. More than that I can’t say for now, for fear of jinxing anything.

And speaking of moving, roommate, friend, musician, and actor extraordinaire Joey Trimmer has left this afternoon for a life of adventure in the great land of Seattle. Walking into the garage he used to call home when I got off work this afternoon was an odd experience. Seeing a place that was, until last night, the home of a great friend, filled with signifiers of excitement and life and creativity, suddenly emptied and barren, was a little affecting.

But, I’ll be making my way up to his new neck of the woods in a few short weeks, to spend some quality time and paint the town, and meet a bunch of other people I so far only know through miles and miles of ethernet and fiber. It’ll be a nice break, and a good time, I’m sure. And I’m planning a super secret fashion experiment for that week. Hush hush. No more details available at this time….

Plucking away at a very fun remix project at the moment…I’d say I’m about 1/3 of the way through it. It’s a great track by musicians whose work I enjoy and respect immensely, which is always exciting. More on that as it happens.

For now, I’m off to find some way to entertain myself in this house that’s slowly draining itself of life.

More later….

Odds and Ends

I’m officially busy for the next couple weeks. Like, leave me the fuck alone busy. I’m looking for a new place to move into within….oh, a little over 14 days. I’ve committed myself to some remix work which is due in the same timeframe (which I’m very excited about, but don’t want to talk about too much). And of course, the usual work and social business. But I’m feeling a little stressed.

On the remix topic…I got my first remix back from the Apparel remix kits, and mailed out the last two of about 14 that I sent. Now I just have to wait for them to trickle in. I’ll probably do up the first batch as a release for my Airliner website, complete with cover art, etc., and post the rest as they come in. I’m hoping to post those up in a month or so? We’ll see. I’d like to do it before I go visit Joey in Seattle, or shortly thereafter.

Did I mention that I played the first ever Airliner live set a while ago? I busted out my Ableton Live versions of Jacket and Skirt at North Light Books & Cafe’s open mic night. It went well…relatively well-received, considering the crowd consisted of everything from jaded indie rockers, college poets, old folkies, and bluegrass dudes. I still need to set up the rest of the songs in Live, but I’m not sure yet how I’m gonna do some of the drum tricks I’ve come to rely on in Buzz. But I haven’t really scratched the surface of Live’s abilities yet either, so I’m optimistic.

Picked up Flight Volume Two yesterday. I meant to grab it at APE (see previous post), but I’d all but spent myself out of house and home by the time I found out they were selling it there, and at that point, it was either Flight or my Cloonan original. I’m happy with my choice. I read through the book cover to cover last night though, and it was excellent. Over 400 pages of comics from relatively established and totally unknown artists, with stand-out efforst from Hope Larson, Kazu Kibuishi, Becky Cloonan, Jen Wang, Kness, Doug Holgate….jesus, there’s too much quality in this book.

Well well…more later, I suppose….