Slo-mo convict video

and



There have to be more of these. Can anyone recommend other entries for the genre?

Crank Crank Radio!

Not many people know this, but the popular Shamblers song "Crank Radio" is actually based on my deep and abiding desire to own a crank radio (just in case of an emergency). Last summer, I actually donated platelets to the New York Blood Center three times in one month, in part because I knew that it would earn me the prize of a crank radio. (Also because I have a surplus of platelets and people with cancer really need them.) It got here yesterday, and I broke it within 5 minutes of getting it out of the box. I got a little overzealous with the cranking, I guess. Good thing I have a platelet donation scheduled for this week!

Congratulations Caroline!

Here's an article in Time Out Chicago about Caroline Picard (singer for Thee Iran-Contras), her new show and her gallery, The Green Lantern.

Vic Goddard-- still going strong!

From last November:



From 2003:



From 1977:



He's been writing good Buddy Holly music since it's been uncool to do so, and his "What's the Matter Boy" album is a favorite around these parts. If you're unfamiliar, grab that one and track down his "Songs For Sale" LP-- he was firmly in Jonathan Richman territory by that point. The Vic Goddard resurgence is bound to kick in sooner or later.

eBay Rear Window #3

Don't let the three Distressors (w/ "Brit Mod"), three LTD-1s, the pair of Brent Averill 312s or the Chameleon Labs 7602 in the photo fool you, this auction is only for one Chandler LTD-1. The one with the recall arrows painted on it.

Who needs these kinds of options? Don't people buy consoles anymore? Whatever happened to just finding a little Kelso sidecar and being cool with it?

Yes I'm jealous. What?

"What's this?" "I don't know, sell it."

Here's an eBay auction for an Electro-Voice RE-20 microphone with one of the best/worst write-ups I've seen in a while:

"RE 20 don't know much about it found it in some stuff."

The photo isn't exactly sealing the deal either:


Where do you all think he found the mic? And what do you think "some stuff" means? Like, "I was going through this pile of laundry and found the mic McCartney used for his vocals on Ram at the bottom of it"?

Photos from last night's show

We played last night with two great bands (The Fourelles and Twin Thousands) at Union Hall. It was a blast.

Bryan, of Subinev and Man in Gray fame, snapped these shots of us:



Thanks Bryan! If anyone else took pictures, email 'em over and I'll post them here.

Also, in non-Shamblers news, Spectrum is playing tomorrow night at Union Hall!

"Nothing's Going to Happen"

"Anything Could Happen"

We bought a drum kit

Danzig fun

Via TTL Estoy Con Estupido, via the Legion of Rock Stars, whose other videos can be seen here.

eBay pick of the day: API 500 filler

API 511D-1


That's it, sandwiched between the 550 and the OSA (what's that Fightin' Irish looking OSA module to the left of the MP-1??).

I love the seller's write-up:

1. Install in lunch box without engaging edge connectors.
2. Listen to mix with client present.
3. Push large white button, sit back and listen
4. Push large yellow button, sit back and listen.
5. Tell your client that the mix with the yellow button sounds best, what does he think

Yes! I've been thinking about painting a Neve logo on my 414 and doing something similar, like "Sure, the computer sounds good, but you know what would sound great? If we recorded on the Neve four track. I hear that's what The Beatles did. They recorded on a cassette four track. On used tape. In a bedroom."

First Winter NAMM '08 report I've seen

As of 1:53PM EST on 1/17/08, this is the only photo from NAMM that I've been able to find anywhere:


via Mix Online.

Maybe the new Moog is hidden under Buckethead's bucket.

New 7" teaser, pt. 2

Here's the front cover of our new single, "New Year's Songs," out NOW on the Colonial Recordings USA label in a limited edition of 30. Silkscreened and stamped covers and inserts, individually numbered records on clear, lathe cut "vinyl" in an 8" x 8" resealable bag.


We'll have a few at our show on the 23rd at Union Hall, and will be selling them on the Colonial site after then (as soon as we make a page for it). Should be around $20. Expensive, but, again, there are only 30 of them.

We Make microRevolt Not Art

Two of my very favorite arts-and-crafts people have come together in this interview between Cat Mazza, founder of microRevolt and Regine, of We-Make-Money-Not-Art.

Cat organized the Stitch for Senate project I participated in, and developed knitPro, an application that creates knitting, needlepoint, cross-stitch and crochet patterns from digital images. It's a great interview that touches on all of Cat's many projects and gives advice to knitters/crafters and non-knitters/crafters alike about how they can address sweatshop labor and revolt on the micro level. Enjoy!

1 to 100

via The Triumph of Bullshit.

MOTU Traveler error

Does anyone out there have a MOTU Traveler, and have any of those people come across this error?


I turn the power on, the machine boots up and then the message above sits there until I get frustrated and power it down. This is an out-of-the-blue situation. It worked as usual last night. Today, this.

Is there a fix aside from re-downloading the drivers? If you know, let me know. Thanks!

I don't remember my 4-track ever giving me this sort of trouble...

New lightbulb

This is a Perma-Glow "Beacon" 30 watt lightbulb that I picked up at Sunlan Lighting, Inc. in Portland. It was a great shop, and if you're ever in the area, make it a point to stop by.

Lost Portland weekend, 1/10 - 1/13

The greatest artist of our time

If you were one of the proud few who attended the Movie Night get- togethers a while back, then you're no doubt familiar with my deep love and admiration for the film "Wizard People, Dear Reader," which was directed by Chris Columbus and written by Brad Neely.

Somehow, though, with the exception of his "George Washington" clip, which made the rounds a while back, Neely's animated shorts have flown under my radar, which is a shame because they're unreal and every bit as good as the immortal "WP, DR."

And so, with the understanding that the following link is probably already saved next to Office Naps in your Favorites folder, it is with great excitement that I recommend you click here and visit his page on the Super Deluxe website.

This one is a favorite, but they're all great. Zero exceptions. Enjoy:

New 7" teaser

I went ahead and demolished (not in a slang way-- I mean I straight up ruined) the silkscreen I was using for the new Shamblers 7" a few minutes ago and feel like a real jerk about it.

I did manage to get the inserts printed, but the covers will have to wait another week before the record is officially out. My apologies. We'll have it for sale at our show on the 23rd at Union Hall, though, along with our new 98-track MP3 CD called "First Year Music," which is great and very much worth owning.

In any case, here's a blurry shot of our first single's insert card. Screen printed photo, photocopied text on heavy-duty cardstock:

eBay pick of the day: Telecaster ukulele

Solidbody Electric Baritone Ukulele


Made out of Fijian mahogany and Australian Oak. It could have a fist fight with this video for "cutest thing I've seen online all week."

Thank you David Lynch

The Shamblers are recording

We were up at Ben's school today and will be tomorrow as well, recording drums and guitar tracks for our new album. With any luck, we'll have it ready in time for the President's Day rush.

In the meantime, here's a video from the ride home of people sleeping on the D train:

CV Tremolo

I'm finding new things to do with this pedal every day. Thanks again, Terry!

Happy New Year!