12.24.03
Last weekend was about as life-affirming an event as possible! New Flesh were mind-blowing,
Career Suicide were great, I chatted with plenty of new faces and even met a girl named Erin
Death. There are a good handful of Air Conditioning shows in the works, including a spot on the
No Fun Fest in March, which should be incredible. Combine this with the holidays, a life-changing
decision and some good nog, and you've got a party! I'll be in Baltimore for New Year's!
Playlist: Slogan Boy, Trans Am, Toughskins
12.16.03
A cool review of 'Closet Full of Clothes' from the new issue of Skyscraper, and it wasn't
even written by me!
"Closet Full of Clothes is a twisted compilation chock full of no wave reverence and a
distinct appreciation for all things left of center. Beginning with My Name Is Rar Rar's distinctive
brand of spazz rock pastiche, the compilation continues its frenetic pace with tracks by the
Ritalin-starved Black Eyes, the sample-heavy gabba crunch of Doormouse, and the bent folk of Pearls
& Brass. Best, though, is Hair Police's "I'm On Steam", a visceral assault of power electronics
and punk rock fury. Those lamenting the loss of the great Harry Pussy would be wise to catch up with
these Kentucky noise-fiends. Pressed onto very attractive two-color vinyl, Closet Full of Clothes
is a promising introduction to a label that will surely be making marks. Cracked loners of the world
unite and take over!"
12.10.03
The streets are already slushy here in chilly Pennsylvania, yet White Denim continues
to heat up!
Nice Nice's single is on the brink of being sold out forever! It also hit the WFMU Heavy
Airplay list this past week; Nice Nice fever is only beginning to sweep the nation.
Live music! It rules, and there's some great shows coming up. Friday, December 19th, is going
to be a great day! At Jeff the Pigeon, Pearls and Brass, Otesanek, Welcome the Plague Year and
Air Conditioning will all be performing. I'd be at this show in a heartbeat, if the Gate Crashers
weren't playing in Clifton Heights, NJ that night with Career Suicide, Celebrity Murders and Paint
It Black! Speaking of the Gate Crashers, the LP is nearly out!
Then, on Saturday December 20th, Air Conditioning will be playing at the Charm City Art Space in
Baltimore. What's even more exciting for me is that I'll be playing drums for Air Conditioning at this
show! My ears are still ringing from last night's intense session, it should be incredibly fun with
hopefully all our good DC / Baltimore friends can come out.
Playlist: American Dream, Fit For Abuse, Swans
11.24.03
Boy am I pooped after my pre-Thanksgiving celebration with my best buds, a Sunday
evening spent giving each other whipped cream glasses and playing two different wrestling
video games on two different televisions set up next to each other, with football playing in the
picture-in-picture. Oh, and five different pumpkin desserts.
Anyway, a few cool things worth mentioning:
Pearls and Brass will be releasing their full-length cd on the aesthetically-superior
vinyl format on Bulb Records! Soon to be brothers with Wolf Eyes, Andrew WK and Ass Baboons
of Venus, I am excited for the exposure this will surely bring them. If you haven't checked
the album out yet, let me urge you! Crispy, bluesy rock that conjures the best of every decade
since 1910.
Matt Wand, the swift vocabularied man behind Small Rocks has been busy lately, releasing a 10" of material
composed solely with Game Boys and a 7" recording of an indestructible microphone inside of a building as it
is blown to the ground. Before I die, me and Matt are going to split a pot of tea.
Black Eyes have been receiving positive press from just about every media orifice possible, and are
currently chilling as they tour across Europe. I couldn't have wished it upon a
nicer group of dudes! All the fine DC peoples are missing them like crazy, no doubt.
E*Rock did a pretty awesome animation for Nice Nice, you can check it out here:
Hair Police's new album, 'Obedience Cuts', is to be released on vinyl via Gods of Tundra and compact
disc through Freedom From. How they are going to top 'Blow Out Your Blood' is anyone's guess, but
I know they'll somehow pop my skull all over again.
I heard Mammal might be touring Japan soon! If he has a duffel bag big enough, I'm willing to stuff myself
in for the trip.
Did you know that Barnacled played a NINE HOUR set on Halloween? Virtual insanity the likes of which
Jamiroquai has never known! Total dedication to sound, I tip my kangol to the men and women of Barnacled.
Here's a Pay Toilets track off their upcoming 12"! White Denim accepts no responsibility for those who
smash the state upon listening. This is going to be an excellent slab of wax!
Pay Toilets "How Punk Rock Is This?"
Playlist: Daniel Menche, State of Fear, Kevin Drumm
11.19.03
Much like your holiday waistline, the White Denim distro has been expanding!
Now in stock is Nice Nice's masterpiece full-length 'Chrome' on vinyl, along with the glorious
full-length Pearls and Brass disc. Limited quantities on both, so hurry!
Jeff the Pigeon has been keeping the Lehigh Valley hot with activity, but
will be slowing down during the Winter months. Et At It and Behold the Arctopus
are playing on December 5th, which also coincides with my last day of formal
education ever! Should be a massive, glorious show.
Speaking of live music, Air Conditioning are currently booking a full United
States tour slated for directly after Christmas (and throughout Kwanzaa); if
you'd like to book a date in your neck of the woods, please don't hesitate to
drop me an email! They are definitely one of my favorite live bands of the past
year, and make for enjoyable houseguests.
I was happy to see that 'Closet Full of Clothes' made the heavy rotation
list for WFMU in the past month or so. Coincidentally, it made the heavy rotation
list for my bedroom as well!
Pay Toilets mp3 off the new record will be up soon! My buddy Holmsey said he heard
the Minutemen in their sound, and I can't blame him. Pittsburgh's best kept secret?
Finally, there are some pictures that still aren't up, due to my focus on altering my
new suit and file delimiting rather than picture scanning. My apologies, especially to
Matt Franco, who I can count on to check out all the photos.
I guess that's all. Make the rest of 2003 beautiful!
11.10.03
Sup! It's getting nipply out, which means it's time sleep with socks on
and start passing out my Christmas list. Some new items in
the distro, Barnacled's full-length disc with the Pearls and Brass disc to
follow shortly.
Up next, although without any set release date, is a one-sided 12" by Pittsburgh's
finest rabble rousers, Pay Toilets. I already have their material for this
release, and it really slays, think Monorchid and the Minutemen beaten up by the
Candy Snatchers. I'll put up an MP3 off the record soon, until then you can hold tight
and read this interview with Pay Toilets in the Pittsburgh City Paper here.
Following that will be a Menstruation Sisters record. They are yet to record, as their
members tend to travel the world endlessly playing music and kicking back with old friends.
After that, who knows? I have a few ideas. Wink wink!
Double Leopards and SB were sick last Friday night at Jeff the Pigeon, as was the chaos
created by a box of sandwiches and the world's largest microphone (part 2). I got a Double
Leopards crewneck sweatshirt, and it fits like a glove! Also, I will be obtaining my bachelor's
in a month, feel free to hire me.
Playlist: Ernesto Diaz-Infante, Popular Shapes, Slowdive
10.30.03
The witching hour draws near! Halloween night, I am performing with
friends in a Saves the Day cover band at the Pirate's Cove, then heading
to the local typically-bad nightclub to cut a rug into the wee hours. For those
keeping score, I am a pregnant leopard for Halloween.
Keep loving life!
Playlist: Slapshot, Stone Breath, Hugs
10.26.03
Nice Nice were incredible in Allentown last night, as anyone there
can attest to. Go see them if they hit your town!
Speaking of touring, Pearls and Brass are hitting the road today with
their lord and protectorate, Holmsey. Lots of dates in Michigan, and
a few in Maryland and DC. Somebody's gotta feel this!
I heard the newest Air Conditioning yesterday, and it seriously blows
all other harsh music out of the water. They are currently shopping
it around to a small handful of great labels, hopefully for a release
date in the near future. Seriously, I wasn't prepared to hear it. Immaculate
and grotesque!
Still updating the Catalog and Photography sections, hold tight. Did you notice
Nice Nice and White Denim in Pitchfork this week? http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/03-10/24.shtml#story6
10.23.03
Oddly enough, Maximum Rock N' Roll decided to review the GTC single,
even though I'm pretty sure they already did, back when it originally
came out. Regardless, I thought it was pretty cool. Check it out:
"A shocking assault of force and confidence that any variety of emo or post punk band I'd
guess GTC to be, based on the sparse art-school layout of the sleeve, would never have. Discordant
guitar and trumpet... like Constatine Sankathi without all the crying on the floor stuff. From
chaotic to calm, GTC are heavy on the dynamics. It's fast when it needs to be, and they never get
carried away with the artsy stuff. I'm impressed."
The Barnacled single is tight! Also, Nice Nice in Allentown on Saturday!
In the words of the currently-defunct NWO, "2 sweet!"
10.21.03
The Barnacled single is out now! I am incredibly pleased with how
the cover and vinyl turned out, not to mention the tight sounds
enclosed within.
Here's the new site! Still finishing up the Catalog page, as well
as the Photography page, but that will be up fairly soon. Let me
know what you think! I also added a shows page, to keep up with
the many White Denim-affiliated groups hitting the road.
Playlist: Eeyore Caste Traitor, Sun City Girls, Septic Death
10.16.03
New site design has begun. Things are good, the leaves are turning, and
the Yankees just beat the Red Sox. Excellente!
10.13.03
A small book of poetry that I wrote is available now
for sale, in a modest edition of ten copies. It will
be in the store soon with an equally modest price. Not
what you're expecting from White Denim! It's called
Carried, and it's cool.
Apparently, the Barnacled single will be out before
Halloween! Pretty stoked if this is the case. As always,
stayed tuned here.
A New Yorker by birth, I am cursed by my love for the
Giants. And the Yanks lost tonight. I keep coming back
to Mojave 3 for support; "Got my sunshine, I'll get by."
Reading: Tales of a Traveling Panty Salesman, Lew Houston
10.05.03
The first pressing of 'Our Gimmick Is Wrestling' is
finally out of print! It only took about two years to
get rid of 200 copies, not bad right? Check distros
and eBay for copies, or get the repressing still
available from Doppelganger.
The Barnacled single will be out real soon, seriously!
I can't believe how smoothly things are going with
this record, considering how tight the packaging is.
I'm really excited for it!
I gave the catalog a facelift, along with some new
hot stuff to purchase. The non-musical distro items
will be added this week.
The Giants just lost miserably, and I'm bummed. I
blame Matt Bryant's hamstring. So it goes!
09.25.03
Your days are hectic! If I went to a fortune teller,
that's what I'd hear. It's true! But good. Learning
lots, listening to records, chilling out, thinking,
all stuff that needs to be done by humans.
I had a blast with Air Conditioning last weekend!
They played two of the best sets I've ever witnessed.
It was especially fun watching the unprepared squirm
as the sonic thrust blew their ears off. Insanely
mad ups to all the DC residents, especially Matt and
Evan for the supreme hospitality. Speaking of Matt, he
won a White Denim gift package via the crossword
puzzle. Did you???
The Barnacled record is being pressed as I struggle
through my File Management class. So psyched for that,
a Halloween release date is possible but wishful. An
MP3 off the record is available on the record's page
go!
Nice Nice are playing at Jeff the Pigeon on October
25th! I feel like I will be meeting my long lost bros
at this show, and it's probably true. Mom, bring a
camera! The Lotus and Japanese Karaoke Afterlife
Experiment are also playing this show. Warm like a bed!
To reiterate, DC rules, as this picture of me and
Doug from Air Conditioning clearly shows. What happened
to my thumb? "First Oldest Jumbo Slices"
Playlist: Big Whiskey, Gang of Four, Et At It, Red Scare
09.08.03
Air Conditioning LP is available now! It's already
available for ordering in the catalog, and those
who have preordered it should expect it in their
mailboxes very soon. This is a great record!
In order to celebrate, Air Conditioning are playing
a bunch of shows in the future. Next Wednesday, the
17th, they are playing at Jeff the Pigeon with Friends
Forever and Human Host! Both groups are phenomenal.
The following weekend, Air Conditioning are heading
South, and I'm tagging along for the ride! Saturday,
September 20th takes us to Eternal Life (Evan's house)
in Washington DC. Et At It and Japanther are playing
this show as well, and I'm especially excited to see
Et At It. The next night, the 21st, Air Conditioning
are wisking me off to Reading, PA, where they are
playing with Hot Cross, Lickgoldensky, and the Sick
Lipstick. I will be headbanging, audiotaping, dancing
and selling stuff this weekend, so come shake my hand
and say "peace be with you" to me.
In other live news, Jeff the Pigeon is hosting
Panicsville this Saturday! I'm so excited for this
show, and not just because Stewart Brodian, Satanic
Mechanisms, Fuck With the Bull Get the Horns, and
Hepatitis Youth are playing, but because I haven't
been there in a while and it'll be fun making music
on giant cardboard tubes and filing cabinets.
In other live news, Nice Nice are touring in October!
They will definitely be coming to Allentown, will
they be coming to your town? I'll let you know soon!
Lastly, the Barnacled 7" is in the pressing process
right now, expect to drop before Halloween so long
as all goes as planned. I'll post an mp3 of their
material for it soon. It's too bad there's already
a group called Big Mountain, because that name fits
their massive sound perfectly.
Playlist: Homosexuals, Rob Gee, Phiiliip
08.27.03
In case anyone's wondering, I am still waiting on
the last three winners of the 'Closet Full of Clothes'
crossword contest! Don't be shy, get those entries
in, I can assure you that the prize is pretty cool.
Nice Nice's single got a pretty cool review in the
new issue of Blastitude, check it out:
http://www.blastitude.com/15/pg18.htm
08.20.03
Fall semester begins in less than a week! No idea
how the summer flew by, but it wasn't without it's
moments of total clarity, freedom and excitement.
Less than a week ago I was listening to Suicidal
blast out of the speakers at Rob Zombie's bar in
Hollywood! Obviously, the Gatecrashers tour was
a total success and worth every minute, fart and
In and Out Burger. Thanks especially to Out of Vogue
for being so hospitable and not minding our untamed
selves.
As for White Denim, always good stuff brewing! The
long-awaited Air Conditioning LP is being pressed
right now, and will be available before the end of
August. It will be available to order in the next
week, so don't slack! Even sooner will be the Air
Conditioning / Carpenter Ant split 7"s, I hope to
have some of them in the catalog soon. Two of my
favorite bands that I can visit within a short car
ride.
Barnacled have recorded for their single, things
will be moving with this sure-to-be classic in the
next few weeks / months. More info to follow, except
that it will undoubtedly put hands in the air and
sweat in the pits.
Confirmed for White Denim in the distant future is
a single by Menstruation Sisters, an incredible group
from Australia. Think an acoustic Masonna or Hair
Police using buckets and practice amps. Incredible
stuff. Also in the works for a fall release is a
short book of poetry written by yours truly. I can
tell you already, it's not what you're expecting!
Playlist: Life Crisis, WWF Wrestlemania Volume 2
08.04.03
Sup! Life rocks! It's my birthday tomorrow! Cola!
Air Conditioning supposedly absolutely destroyed
last Saturday night on WPRB, I'm eager to hear the
recording. I would've caught it live, had I not been
away from a radio and being harassed by cops.
The Gatecrashers are touring the West Coast next week!
I'm so excited, it's going to be a mess of all things
fantastic. Here's the schedule:
August 8th - The Pirate's Cove - Allentown, PA
August 9th - The Muse - San Diego, CA
August 10th - Arts in Action - Los Angeles, CA
August 11th - The Hammer House - Las Vegas, NV
August 12th - Hopefully a beach somewhere
August 13th - Record shopping / surfing
August 14th - More surfing? Perhaps boogie boarding?
August 15th - Blue Lake, CA
August 16th - (early) Warm Water Cove - San Francisco, CA
August 16th - (late) Gilman - Berkeley, CA
August 17th - Ojai, CA
Naturally, I won't be around to answer many emails or
mail out orders, but I'll quickly get back in the
swing of things come the 19th. Come out and say hi!
07.27.03
Check out this Barnacled live track! I am so incredibly
stoked for their single. Sweeter than sugar, yet
tougher than leather!
Barnacled 'Skin Mechanic'
Air Conditioning LP will be out in about 10 days! Yes!
07.16.03
Air Conditioning LP test pressings are in! This record
will be dropping soon, ripping up more roads than the
construction that plagues my daily commute. Speaking
of Air Conditioning, they've got a lot in the works! A
split 7" with local hospital/jail rockers Carpenter Ant
will be out shortly as a combined effort from Peel Back
the Sky and Torn Tendons, respectively. I hope to get
a bunch for the distro! And finally, Air Conditioning
will be performing on the Idiot Control radio show
on WPRB Princeton, from 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM on
Saturday, August 2nd. Stay in, skip the boring SNL rerun
and mosh with the lights off!
In general White Denim news, our distribution is slowly
growing larger and more expansive across the globe. I'm
tossing around the thought of a links page, for those
interested in finding White Denim product in a variety
of top notch sources.
Always good things brewing! And just to tickle your tongue,
we have two words for late 2003: Menstruation Sisters!
