new alternate apple of discord lineup: me, pat, nolan on our regular instruments, nelson switching to keyboards and jessica from the english system on drums, and we're going to play all quieter, chilled out and jazzed up songs. the main rock lineup will still be playing the majority of shows we have lined up, while the 'apple of discord jazz odyssey' shows will only be an occasional happening. i think it's an opportunity for us to try some different things and play some new places that being in a dumb rock indie band doesn't allow. we had our first informal get-together on monday and it felt real good. it sounded almost like a real band right away. haw haw.

at work and leaving soon. had a great weekend. played solo at the 1619 house on friday night and it was one of the most enjoyable experiences i've ever had playing. the PA overheated and i wish i could play every show from now on without using a microphone. got to meet the guys from metroplex and robyn from kitty kat dirt nap and three hot chicks promotions, really great people. speaking of which, check out the cd release party for metroplex and the english system wednesday night at the balcony at the trocodero in philadelphia.

i found myself back at the 1619 house less than 24 hours later, watching the u.s. rail, up up down down, zolof the rock and roll destroyer, outsmarting simon & late night desperate. it was a great time. as usual, the u.s. rail rocked my socks. zolof made me feel depressed, tired and broken down. if i expended half their energy while playing, i'd have to be carted off on a stretcher.

happy birthday to nolan!

this notice is a little late, but the reinforcement records compilation is out now. "everything we know" and "the dread in your voice" by some lame indie band are on it, along with great songs by fairmont, multi-purpose solution, the slow wire, elemae, planet antonio, the pennyroyals, darien, young hasselhoffs, darby jones, coolidge, and goin' places. come out to a show and we'll hook you up with a copy.

also, the new series of artist amplification comps (vols. 6, 7, 8) are out and our track "last breath" is on volume 8. also on this series are nj/nyc artists like little t & one track mike, cropduster, dewey defeated, small a.m., green to think, particle zoo, the crayons, mad happy, hero pattern, the churchills, spiraling, the blakes, the slow wire, the stuntcocks, million time winner, darby jones, joanie loves trotsky, mary ann farley, edible red, double-breasted, planet janet, racermason, the swimmies, robin renee, val emmich, mj parker, lanky, drew isleib, alfonso velez, dave murphy, jersey beat's jim testa and much more. contact the awesome andy gesnar for more info.

don't forget, aod solo set tomorrow night, the u.s. rail & more saturday night. also, videogames are the topic of the day on the azteca records forum. whoooooo.

so what's new and how are you? i'm playing a short solo set at the 1619 house on friday night; if you can make it, check it out. more importantly, you should come down this saturday the 19th to see the u.s. rail, up up down down left right left right b a start, zolof the rock and roll destroyer and late night desperate.

rented two great movies this past weekend: monsoon wedding and the brotherhood of the wolf. between the monsoons, weddings and wolves, there's something for everyone.

switched hosting providers tuesday night - it's a long and very stupid story. in other news, i recorded some solo acoustic demos of an as-yet-untitled song and one called 'do you remember the eclipse'. download it here and here. if you're so inclined, leave any feedback you might have in the forum. yeah, right.

tonight (thursday) i'll be playing a short set of songs at la tazza at 108 chestnut st. in philadelphia. alan from 1619 was nice enough to give me some time out of his set. hope to see you around 10 tonight.