First review

Here it is then; the inevitable upward rise, or so I can hope.
This nice fellow happened upon our last show (Molly Malones) and was gracious enough to write us a review, look us up, and send it to us. Check it out:

http://www.giantrealm.com/music/straight-outta-hollywood-the-widows-and-neo-folk

And while you are at it, check out the nice banner they have of us on their main page:

http://www.giantrealm.com

You can also read about Metal Gear Solid IV, or the most recent Battlestar Gallactica episode, both of which are really cool - despite what Mazochi says.

Busfest

Taking place at the Ranch, this Saturday:

Busfest

Music, Art and Film. Join us!

Seven Bands!

The Widows will be headlining.
Our wonderful friends 'Southern oracle' and 'The Karabul nightlife' will be performing also, along with several other groups that I have heard great things about.

Secret Show; ranch quickie #4; whisky setlist

A Quick note:

We will be playing a secret show at the Hotel Cafe this Sunday, April 27th. We will be headlining the evening, for the first time.
The Hotel Cafe
10 p.m.
April 27th
Please come and support us!

* * *
Here is the new Ranch quickie, edited by Kevin Rosen-Quan:


* * *
The setlist from our April 18th show at the Whisky:
1. Amber Jean
2. For and of a child unborn
3. To set you free
4. Georgia Line
5. The Best laid plans
6. Waterside
7. The Ghost on which my spirit feeds

Nude

'Quick setlists update' designed to augment Mike Miller's wonderfully eloquent post

Hello friends!

Tedd here, in New York, strolling through the past. Wanted to post a quick update. Let you know I am still here. All that.
Here are the setlists from the shows mentioned in Mike Miller's most Recent Blog:

The Hotel Cafe
3/26/08

1.Oh Lover*
2.Amberjean
3.For and of a child unborn
4.The best laid plans
5.Georgia Line
6.Set you Free
7.The Ghost on which my spirit feeds
8.Lonely without you*
9.Oh my my**
10.Mama Blues**

*song premiere
**song cut due to mechanical breakdown of Guitar Amp

The Whisky - (showcase/benefit)
4/2/08

1. The tide of Earthly Deed
2. The Ghost on Which my spirit feeds
3. For and of a child unborn*

*Song added due to audience enthusiasm

Spaceland
4/3/08

1. oh lover
2. amber-jean
3. for and of a child unborn
4. to set you free
5. georgia line
6. the dead can still all be reborn (love song #2)*
7. best laid plans
8. oh my my
9. mama blues
10. the ghost on which my spirit feeds
(Set list originally included 'Waterside' and 'Lonely without you' in place of 'Georgia line' and 'The Ghost on Which my spirit feeds'. These substitutions were made due to equipment issues.)

* Mazochi solo

Mountain Man!

As many of you know, a film production has seized hold of the ranch. This production, known simply as 'Mountain Man', is under the direction of this man:



This is Matthew Mangs, friend and confidant.
You should check out his production blog. He will explain, with greater eloquence than I can draw out of myself at this moment, exactly what 'Mountain Man' is.

Mountain Man Production Blog

Film analysis: ranch quickie #3

Found footage. A wonderful clip edited by Kevin Rosen-Quan. Firstly, it polarizes the audience with the question of whether or not Andy drinking to excess is comedy or tragedy. One is forced to look inward for the answer, and find an optimist or a cynic. Much like the ending of "Children of Men".
Finally, we are given a 'comedown' of sorts, a 'fly-on-the-wall' view of an early morning moment between two friends. Heartwarming.
See you at the ranch on Saturday.

Commercial fun

Brief update

Apologies to the blogsphere. I have been under the weather, busy and unable to update.
For the kids:
We have a show next Wednesday, the 26th of March, at the Hotel Cafe, at 8p.m.
We have a show on the 3rd of April at Spaceland. This shall be our triumphant return to to undo the damage of our first visit.
We will be premiering some new songs very soon.
At the crack of dawn last Thursday morning, I heard Miller screaming from the roof of our house. Upon taking my morning tea onto the porch, I witnessed the birth of Mountain man. A skeleton crew consisting of Kevin Rosen-quan, Robert Lam, Matt Enlow and Matthew Mangs were filming Miller in a loincloth screaming at the top of his lungs whilst brandishing a gun toward Andy and a unidentified woman. He was shouting, "I don't care! Strip down! Both of you!" for hours. Take after take. Angle after angle. I quietly sipped my tea, ate my puffins and toast, and sat in the sun. A cool breeze swept across the ranch.

Redemption update, shows

Update! Ranch redemption will now be taking place on Saturday March 29th. Bring your friends.

The Tesla coil will still be operational.

* * *

Show updates:

We play the Viper room on Wednesday (the 5th of March). 10 p.m.

We play the Hotel Cafe on the 26th. 8 p.m.

With luck, we will be premiering a new song!

Redemption

Shows; ranch redemption, redemption; tesla

Quickly now:

Our hotel cafe show last week was an immense success. Great thanks to everyone who came and supported. We netted a total of 44 unique guests, putting us just above quota for a Friday night at the Hotel Cafe. We will be given another Friday night thanks to our wonderful friends!

Quick update: Our next show is on Wednesday, March 5th. This will be our first assault on the Viper room. Come support us!
* * *
I will write about this at length later, but, RANCH REDEMPTION, REDEMPTION will occur on the 22nd of March. This will surely be the social event of the season. Prepare yourself.
* * *
There will be a Tesla Coil at Ranch Redemption, Redemption.

Inspirational Art, February 2008

Book - V - Thomas Pynchon"
Album - Real Gone - Tom Waits
Film - There will be Blood
DVD - The Venture Brothers - Season II

working the land, power outage, dogopoly, kevbo's blog, commercial

The Ranch.

Large weeds plagued the planters until yesterday.

In order to remove the deep rooted weeds I used a pick-ax. The sun glared at me from above, evoking memories of last summer's heat wave. First I hit at them with a shovel, 360 degrees. The root sticks. I pull at it with my gloved hands, grunting at maximum volume. Mazochi emerges from his home, his recording interrupted by my visceral yell. He asks me if I am alright so I throw a pine cone at him. It bounces off of the house and strikes his arm, my second hit of the day. As he heads back inside I grab the pickax and begin methodically working the root. 16 hits later, the root breaks and I toss the remains into the wheelbarrow, to be dumped into the gully by the dome. As a celebratory gesture, I chuck a victory pine cone at Mazochi's window.
I continue to clear the planters, emerging successful 2 hours later.
* * *
The power goes out slightly after sunset.
The ranch gathers for a dog themed monopoly-variant, "dogopoly".
We emerge 6 hours later, having decided on a 4 way tie.
* * *
Our friend (and ranch proprietor) Kevin has created a blog.
Check it out here.
And, a video he edited recently - it features a wonderful musical performance by our friend Brian Doell:

* * *
Finally,
Miller has edited two commercials/videos for out Hotel Cafe show on the 22nd. Here is my favourite of the two:

Head over to his blog to see/watch/view the alternative.

Birthday, hotel cafe, Pynchon, Justin Miller

Thank you to everyone who came to my birthday show at Crane's last week. It was a well-needed rest from the storm that has been raging in my brain for the last two weeks. Thanks especially to Kelsey and Michael for cooking up the whole thing.
Good cake.
My brain is getting better.
* * *
We have a show at Hotel Cafe on February 22nd at 8 p.m.
And...
They have given us some prime time real estate, being that the show is on a Friday night, so they have demanded that we actually bring people.
So...
If you love us...
please come.
We swear to put on a wonderful performance with all of the fire and passion contained within our bellies.
Mirth!
Info:

February, 22 2008 at hotel cafe
1623 1/2 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hollywood, California 90027
Cost : $10

* * *
"A screaming comes across the sky..."
* * *
Two night ago I saw a fantastic performance at Crane's tavern by a certain band named "Southern Oracle". You should check them out here.
And...
Go to one of their upcoming shows!
* * *
cheers

First US Review of the new record.

Here is the first review of Michael's new album:


TAN Album Review:
Michael Mazochi - http://www.myspace.com/michaelmazochi
Volume 1: Until My Teeth Turn Into Sand ...
© 2006-2007 Roving Gambler Records

Michael Mazochi, currently residing in the Los Angeles, CA music scene and with his latest third album, Volume 1: Until My Teeth Turn Into Sand ... presents a masterful musical exploration that sounds of a traveler from present dipping into a bygone era, when the singer / songwriter was king on the charts and in the hearts of the mainstream consciousness. Familiarly original, with a comforting intimacy, and playful feel, Volume 1: … reverberates with the styles of country, folk, blues, and rock along a raw edge of punk / alternative that speak through on occasion. Michael crafts his songs of passion and observational love into a genuine expression of original viewing that ignites the imagination and memories within, like a good old friend visiting after a long absence. Invoking the music styling of Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, and Bob Dylan. Michael rises to the ranks on a sure footing with guitar and harmonica in hand, ready to speak his soul.

Volume 1: Until My Teeth Turn Into Sand ... is a 15 track album that starts out with Introduction, a two-minute instrumental track that sounds like a train traveling down the line on a moon lit evening, entering a world of time spent here and there. Lately I, invites the listener into a joyous romp with chorus and cheers in foreign lands and the friends made along the way. Georgia Line, steps up the pace with steam and a bluesy wailing harmonica, preaching a song of women. The Tide Of Earthly Deed, one of the highlights of this album and a personal favorite with its lush and plaintive voicing that stay with you pleasantly like the company of a dear friend with delicate guitar workings intertwined throughout. The Old Rails, calls to the listener to take notice of the happenings that came before with a straightforward tale of travel through the heartland alone but with many friends along the way. To Set You Free, pleats to heartache and loss with lyrics as "My lungs are wearing lines into my face …" When Will It End, is a rocking observational onslaught with band (the Widows) asking why … "Kids carry guns as they shoot out the sun. So they blacken their ties to the holiest one."

Volume 1: Until My Teeth Turn Into Sand ... is a masterpiece album that needs to be taken notice of and one of the best I have heard in the last few years. Michael Mazochi, is said to be working on composing a rock opera next, an artist to definitely watch and listen for, playing live or in the studio.

- David Leikam (reviewed, 30.01.2008)

Migraine and Miller, webcast and fifths

It's been years, but I should have seen it coming. "Sinus headaches" for three nights straight, every ten days for the last 2 months. Then it got bad. Sunday night like screwdrivers in my temples. Mazochi speaking but unable to understand. Spots. Woke up feeling fine, assumed it was nothing. Last night, four in the morning, stolen from sleep, eyes fix immediately to pulsing yellow light emitted from Brian Doell's Xbox. So painful I want to scream. Realize I am sweating streams of liquid, hair is soaked. Where? Mangs' couch. Frightened confusion. God. A Plea. Thoughts of a stroke, or a brain tumor, or any of those things that haunt my mind in the dark. Remember the terror of going into surgery. Laying, staring straight up at what could be the final image (of this life). The injection and the gas. The dark.
I paced around in the dark. I attempted to sleep. The heart beats in the ear, the only rhythm heard above the ringing. Hours pass. The memory is foggy. "The occasional foray into madness is perfectly healthy." But not when it hurts so much. Eventually I pass out.
Trapped today. A nearly broken down car. Regardless, I'm too fucked up to go anywhere. Watch Bobby Lam play rock band. Drink tea. Try to play an instrument. Write a blog to get the mind off the mind. I ate some eggs and veggies, orange juice and coffee, a banana and two glasses of water. Almost threw it up immediately. Showered for an hour, just to breathe in the steam. Meditation took twice as long as usual. Like someone pressing thumbs into my temple. More nausea. Don't even think about exercising. Can't spell a simple word; so bad that not even spell check can help. Obsessively read the articles for 'Migraine' and 'Brain tumor' on Wikipedia.
This will pass.

* * *

Last year, during a cool and dark evening on the ranch, Mike Miller wrote one of the most beautiful songs that I have ever heard. Here is a video of us playing it during our webcast:






* * *
Our friend Julie Mintz, a local singer-songwriter who we have worked with in the past, has a show tonight at the Cat Club.

Check out her myspace:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=118617829


cheers,

Tedd

Once again, Radiohead set the bar for the rest of us

As part of our new band 'push' I've been thinking about new media and its possibilities in relation to the music that we create. Some of you may have seen our webcast from late last year. It was an interesting, frustrating, and ultimately successful endeavor which I hope to repeat and enhance in the future. Radiohead have created three of them since their new album In Rainbows debuted, and I am of the opinion that they were top-notch.

Here is the second one. Broadcast on New Year's Eve, we find the band performing most of the new album. The video remains, from a fans perspective, engaging and interesting from start to finish.

Aint no train Session I: The best laid plans

A Video (edited by your's truly), depicting a performance of 'The Best Laid plans' recorded from the basement of the internet.
Oldie but a goldie, complete with bird and mountain imagery.

Fragment 1: Eleanor Rigby; Musical autobiography

In which Tedd’s musical history (or lack there-of) is (loosely) traced.

Ah, look at all the lonely people.
Ah, look at all the lonely people.

First lyric heard. First melodies remembered. The Beatles, of course. They caused me to spell it wrong for years; caused me to be a terrible speller. Moonlight sonata falls in at some point; favorite melody, like to think one of the earliest heard, but that may just be wished for nostalgia. But if I believe it, was it?

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been,
Lives in a dream.

Final Fantasy III soundtrack. Understanding of narrative styles and musical themes.

Classic rock then, and always. Mowing the lawn with Zeppelin, the who, floyd, more Beatles. Tommy. Everyday. Tommy. First two years of high school. Everyday. Came up with stories, theories – expounded upon, analyzed, air-guitared. Fucking Sparks.

Blonde on Blonde/ The White Album

Zeppelin’s lightening sound tracked earliest writing. Would walk a mile after school to see a waitress, always listened to Bron-Y-Aur-Stomp. Would lose my virginity to her – years later.

Waits at the window, wearing a face that she keeps in a jar by the door,
Who is it for?

- This is Radiohead. This is Marijuana.

Father McKenzie, writing the words of a sermon that no-one will hear,
No-one comes near

First heard Kid-A while home from school with a sinus infection while playing Zelda: A link to the past for Super Nintendo. In Limbo still sounds like the swamp level.

How to disappear completely sounds like my life feels.

Chris Cimino handed me a bass guitar during my senior year. The Crooked beat.

- These 4 notes.

- How will I know when they switch?

- You’ll know

Band in a basement; band in a yucky house.

Two high school rock concerts.

Listening to OK Computer while driving away from High School for the last time.

Exit Music.

Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there,
What does he care?

College. Two years. Zero practice, almost. Summer. Porcelain. Chronic throat gland swelling. Persistent pain. Chewing pain pills and washing them down with cheap beer. Tre’s apartment. Opium, Ithaca, waterfalls and rain. Modest Mouse/ The Moon and Antarctica. Playing Music in the yucky house with Tre, Brian, Brady, and Cimino. Porcelain. Wrote and recorded songs for the first time, together.

One year later.

Some weird playing a song in the blue frog when all I want to do is drink coffee and write. Cold Tom.

Jam Band. Horns and guitars. Jeff, a 16 year old gunslinger. A house on a hill outside of Cazenovia. Jumping in the pool during a jam, taking a swim, then jumping back into the melody. The beautiful drive between Cortland and Caz. Route 13. I’m wide awake, it’s morning.

The music in Segio Leone westerns.

Eviction.

Michael Mazochi’s couch. Listening to Michael and Sandra record an album. A chair thrown through a door. Matt Sneed. Booze. The Bad Beagle. Ian Thomas. Michael Miller. Josh Oxford. Folk Music. Mississippi John Hurt.

They move to California, I stay and take over the apartment.
Central Ave. Vinyl. The White Album/ Blonde on Blonde. Music from big pink. Danielle buys me Bringing it all back home. On the beach. The flaming lips.

Three piece with Jeff and Micky. 12 bar blues. Rock music.

Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name.
Nobody came.

Driving across the country with Michael Miller while listening to records.

The Buffmilox.

Panic Attacks; starvation. The Ranch.

Ox. Apricots and Rice. Scales. Theory.

Laura. Michael. Miller. Tedd. Mazochi.

The Band.

Jake Blunt.

A dozen names.

The Hotel Café.

Performing regularly.

The first time that I realized that people liked our band.

Practice.

Karabal nightlife. Justin Miller

The Widows.

Cortland. A jam in a church; a buffmilox reunion at the Blue Frog.

Cd release.

Shanti Shanti Shanti Hi

The Best Laid Plans

Father McKenzie, wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave.
No-one was saved.

Hope.

All the lonely people, where do they all come from?
All the lonely people, where do they all belong?