John Butler Trio

John Butler has a way of speaking to you, and I've had some pretty deep conversations with him in the past, especially the summer of 2006, when Sunrise Over Sea never left my car stereo.

Here he is, playing "I'd Do Anything" off the Live at John Butler Trio: Live at Red Rocks DVD.

Enjoy the weekend.

Print Liberation

I can't wait to get this book in the mail and start gathering screen-printing supplies. Maybe I can be like this dude.

#awesome! (Photo courtesy FPO)

Gotta start somewhere.

- J

Smooth Sailin'

Here's a cool featurette starring Andy Cabic of Vetiver, cruising along a coastline in California, swinging by the guitar shop, and talking about his approach to the new Vetiver album, The Errant Charm, all to the tune of the mellow new track "Faint Praise".

http://youtu.be/6iZIeW4Q6RY

I've been listening to The Errant Charm for a few weeks now. You need to be in the right state of mind to really get into it, but it's a great album with awesome musicians nonetheless.

New Umphrey's This Fall!

Illinois face melters Umphrey's McGee have announced fall dates on the heels of a new album, Death By Stereo, to be released Sept. 13. It's their sixth studio album (or seventh, depending), and the first since 2009's Mantis, which was an ambitious new direction for the band, featuring explorative, prog songs (think Yes meets Pink Floyd).

The track listing for Death By Stereo hasn't been released yet, but I suspect recent live staples like "Conduit", "Booth Love", "Nipple Trix", "Puppet Strings," and lead singer/guitarist Brendan Bayliss' acoustic number, "Susanah", will make the cut. Though, they could surprise with a mess of new material that we don't even know about, and that's exciting.

After a four-night stint at the Brooklyn Bowl from Sept. 6 - 9, Umphreys will hit other perennial stops on the east coast such as the Higher Ground in Burlinton, Vt., and the Calvin Theater, in Northampton, Mass. Click here to see all their fall dates.

Umphrey's camp says:

"We are pretty jazzed about this one - we think you will be too."

Yes, sirrr.

- J

TRUCK America

I'm just catching wind of a super exciting thing that will go down in the Catskills, NY, in September. It's called TRUCK America Festival and it's the baby brother of a hugely popular annual festival in England called TRUCK Festival, that's been going on since 1998.

I'm super excited to learn, not only about the fest, but also about some of the headliners:

The Hold Steady, Okkervil River, Ra Ra Riot (Syracuse, natives), and -- all the way from Washington State -- Fruit Bats and Vetiver (plus many more to be announced).

#sick

TRUCK America will be held at the Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, NY, and early bird tickets are on sale for $99.

TRUCK America is in its infancy and I can't wait to be a part of what is sure to become a big deal (and probably move to NYC or something).

See you there

Vetiver/Fruit Bats Tour the Northeast!!

A nice surprise for my Monday when I read on Sub Pop's website that the Fruit Bats and Vetiver will be hitting the road together this fall and will actually venture away from their native Pacific Northwest for shows on the eastern seaboard, where I, for one, will welcome them with open arms.

Take the opportunity to catch them at these east coast venus in September:

Sep 10 Mr. Smalls Theater, Pittsburg, PA
Sep 11 TRUCK America Festival, Big Indian, NY (See you there!)
Sep 12 Middle East, Cambridge, MA
Sep 13 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
Sep 14 First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA

Some awesome musical inspiration to start your week:

Vetiver - Wonder Why from Bella Union on Vimeo.

Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band from The General Assembly on Vimeo.

Also, here is a teaser for the Fruit Bat's upcoming album, Tripper, to be released Aug. 2. Details on the new album, as well as a download of a super cool, bright new song "Tangie and Ray" HERE.

- Thanks ; )

Check out this piece by moe. guitarist Al Schnier that he wrote for Patagonia.com's blog, Cleanest Line.