Week 10. Reality Calendar - Progressions
December 21, 2004 01:02 AM
MONDAY DECEMBER 20, 2004
Uploading the Package at this very moment
The Defining Moment
The Calendars are self-explanatory. This is the reality. There are
less than 7 weeks before the record release... and, it's cool to see
it on paper, right? We'll be heading out the day before it's released
Aww! -that means we can't go buy it in our home town. (sadness)
Transferring NOW
I'm uploading 120mgs of stuffed graphics to the WB server. That's
everything but the cdr label... I still have some file management work on
that one... in fact, BAM, it just completed it's magical journey.
Now comes the scary part... the color proofing stage. Within a week, WB
should send me a match print (a proof accurate to a press proof by no
greater than 5%... simulates dot gain...created from the film negs)
ANyWaY... it's a big step in this big process.
Random Thoughts on Covers
I think cd cover graphics, in particular, are so important - not to the sale
of the product, but like... more about the cultural significance and con-
nection the art has with the music and with people during the life of the
record - which could be...you know, a long time. (hopeful thinking)
The graphic has to be appealing on so many levels to such a broad
market... (well, perhaps in eisley's case) as a retail presentation, it
should, somehow, foreshadow what's inside the package, it should
support the music...undergird, compliment, be up-to-par with... the
contents. The additional support panels inside are not quite as important
they're not what people tie the music to... But the covers. Important, i
think.
And btw. - I'm not really happy with the first two covers at all. Laughing
City, perhaps stronger... but both just good enough. ep's. Will they be
around in 2 years, 5 years...10? doubtful. The future is not yet written.
And what if the music survives? How timeless will a cover be? I have
this book called 1000 Record Covers... and to me, most are unappealing
and outdated. Some are amazing...for example: Yes - "Fragile" and other
projects illustrated by Roger Dean are timeless; but in '77, they made a
bad decision by presenting a bad photo of a naked man looking up at
high rise buildings on "Going for the One". (funn, I don't remember any
songs off that record. music and art often share the same destiny.
Overall, I think there were better graphics in the 70's than 80's...but the
60's had some really great work. I remember more good stuff than I
found in this book.
Interestingly, many of the covers shown in this book are just that... I
don't even remember ever hearing about many of these bands. I'd like
to see a book correlating great album art with great music from each
decade.
Many covers, from the 70's in particular, feature elaborate illustrations
that are anchored to their era stylistically. (the legacy they leaves says:
"here's what was popular in 1978"). Sure, it's great for leaving a trail of
art history that helps us peer back into the culture of the day, but what
are the qualities that spell l o n g e v i t y... s u r v i v a l? Those are
questions I don't propose to define right now.
Sorry for elaborating to the point of utter bore on this issure of CD
Covers. It's kind of a big deal probably just to me ... getting approval,
completing and sending off these files; There's a great sense of closure;
Relief; Yes, I should sleep better.
This Week's Expectations
This week we'll get into the tour poster and the tour dates for sure.
Today I hacked out a ruff of the poster...tentatively called: The Winter
West Tour. Also, Sherri and I worked on drawings that will be used to
define certain components of their next video. I don't want to say
anything yet... still the early stages. But, it was fun sketching and
working in Painter.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2004
THE WINTER WEST DATES
Complete
January
30 Houston, TX Meridian
31 Austin, TX The Parish
February
3 Phoenix, AZ The Mason Jar (w/the Elected, The Colour)
4 San Diego, CA Epicentre (w/the Elected, The Colour)
5 Pomona, CA Glass House (w/the Elected, The Colour)
7 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour (w/the Elected, The Colour)
8 San Francisco, CA Slim's (w/the Elected, The Colour)
10 Portland, OR Nocturnal (w/the Elected, The Colour)
11 Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe (w/the Elected, The Colour)
12 Boise, ID Big Easy (w/ TBA)
13 Salt Lake City, UT ROK (w/ TBA)
Theses are official. Thanks.
WEDNESDAY 22, 2004
On Line Rumors
and...the flurry of production behind the scene.
A flurry of creative web solutions, sneak previews for radio peeps,
eblasts, new exciting news about an AOL bullet rotation for January,
Subeterranian voting, expanding the media player, tours and rumors of
special shows and on and on is all happening behind the scene.
...yeah, which is why I was up till 4:40am again last night with my buddy
Thomas - working on the sneak for radio dj's. Meanwhile, Luke found this
yesterday: (Ha HA!)
First - I love...I love...I love this pull quote from the short bulletpoints:
"one of the most impressive, entertaining and instantly accessible
full-length album debuts in recent memory with Room Noise"
I have to get an eblast out. Can't stay. Too much work! ahhhhhh!!!!!
News? The band is rehearsing like they were preparing for the Battle of
the Bulge, we're stressed because I'm buried alive and times are tough
here right before Christmas...but I told Kim this morning (a bogus
encouragement) - "don't worry...eventually you'll be like...Brittany's
mom". 
I really doubt if she'd like that..ha ha ha.. Gotta go. More
later perhaps.
BTW - I still have this lil' surprise if it works out or looks good.
It's... a video clip. WAit for it....wait for it.... Christmas present.
Oh, also... I get match prints TOMORROW! - on the cd package and the
enlarged cover for VINYL!!! woo-hoo!
Also...I have 8 pm's sitting in my bin. I can't read them or reply right
now. Please forgive! boid OUT.
THURSDAY 23, 2004
FLATLINED
BBvvv..gggzzzz....
http://www.eisley.org/boyd/EisleyWinterWest.pdf
http://www.eisley.org/boyd/EisleyWinterWest.jpg
It's just wee after 3 and I'm so flatlined, I can't focus enough to quit
trying to stop trying to make headway before I fall asleep. The e-blast is
done, the poster is done, you can now download it, all I have to do is
make the player the pop up on the website and I can start sketching
mock ups for the new Web site for Friday's deadline.
goodnight.
THURSDAY 23, 2004
c o n t i n u e d ! ! ! !
GOOD AFTERNOON
A SWEET BASKET
First off....Antrider just brough in this amazing basket of gobblers. ('cuz,
that's what you do with them) I...WE...just wanted to get on line quickly
and say "THANKYOU". Some of you crazy forum'ers got together. Well,
our discussion went like this: why? we don't deserve their presents... it's
not like we can send them all anything...it's not fair; we're not
special...and shouldn't get the benefit of these super nice people... but...
ALSO, "ahhww...those guys on the forum love us so much...it's amazing;
and WE LOVE THEM..." (that's a direct Stacy quote). But, besides the
deep thoughts and the guilty feellings, it's too special of you guys.
Thankyou.
To make it up....I am now forced (by Kimbertones and the likes of this
offering) to go ahead and do what I was going to do... yeah, so now I
have to go and do it. And I'll try my darndest to put it up tonight.
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING
I have the goads of Gormuth honking down apon my skin-stretched
maulgrove... skenkering...bappering...pecking at my very headKlernch.
I refer to the projects and the label's careful watch over them... I will try
to get everything done; yes, through the holidays.
Though, to the record industry, it's already the Ha-Ha-Holidays. Still,
through modern communicators, they're still their peering into my
portal...watching, emailing, calling me... I already had 12 emails today!!
and they're NOT EVEN AT THE OFFICE! - "boid, just a reminder... boid,
just to verify... boid, during the holidays, coud you... boid, we really
need to... boid, here's my cell in case..." etc. ha. ha. It's crazy. But it's
all important. And you know, it makes me feel great about them. They're
taking this band... this release, very seriously.
COLOR PROOFS ARE IN THE HOUSE!!!
I GOT THE MATCHPRINTS IN!!!! WOOHT! SheeAHH-wootGUM
bob..!!! honkinSHEKTONS-a-moorGON!! yes! yes.... now that's more like
it... now we're getting somewhere. But, alas... I did knit-pick. I am now
in a full on color correction mode. Every panel will shift ever so slightly.
The grey greens will brighten on the spines, the Room Noises logo hue
will intensify and shift green (it's too grey), the magenta cast on the
cover will shift back toward green-blues in the upper mid-tones, the sky
will independently shift back towards a sublime blue on the indie-rock
shot...on and on. I'll finish and send it back to the WB server today and
then....then... it is finished.
VINYL!!
But OH. OH... I know I sound gayishly, foolish...but the vinyl, ya'll. The
vinyl..!! It's just... I don't know. It makes me want to cry. Just seeing it
sitting there; all big and in your face; I don't understand my reaction; I
guess, because I never thought I'd get to toss any design on vinyl, much
less my offsprings band on a major release. It's impossible. Dang.
And the girls have been in the kitchen cooking all day...listening to all
vinyl. Glen Miller, Iron and Wine (thanks to Eddie), The Postal Service
(ditto), Radiohead (thanks to me)... and tons of Christmas Oldies. Sweet.
DEFINING FEELINGS. A SNAPSHOT
I responded to an email a friend sent me this morning - I realized while
giving him an update (he asked for it) that I was finally getting in touch
with my true feelings about where we're at right now. Reluctantly, I think
I might post it... maybe because it does feel like the vulnerable thing to
do. Or maybe i just liked the words. I had to edit it a little. Only read this
if you're at your grandma's house by now and you feel really bored:
----------------------------------------------------
Personal. Email to a freind
Hey Don! (and his wife)
Think about you guys often. I've been buried alive with
projects from the label. I've turned into their Eisley art
monkey. I have been glued to my Apple...in the corner
of my room - an antique floor lamp lights me through the
night (draped with a towel as not to awaken my sleeping
beauty...sigh) and life passes in front of me - around me,
in other rooms; My children give me weird looks when
I come out - as if they've seen the transfiguration of
Scrooge - with matted, glowing hair - all scruffy with
eyes glare-glazed: "dad! what are you doing out of your
cage!?"
I have pulled so many all-nighters and consistent 3:00-4:30
AM'rs. I just hope we can survive; especially the coming
year. Don. I'm worried it's going to get crazy. I can feel it,
though I can't prove it or see it. There's an impending,
wonder-dreadful sense of fear growing. It's kindof exciting,
but it's also scary... a fear that this silly little thing called
"Eisley" is going to explode. I don't think we're really in
to explosions. That's for others. Does that make sense?
A freind/fan sent this yesterday... a single quote that
invigorated and spurned my collective thoughts into one
focused concern. Here is is:
"...one of the most impressive, entertaining
and instantly accessible full-length album debuts in recent
memory with Room Noise."
I know it's just an opinion. But it expresses what I
suspect about this record. Accessible = Broad =
not small.
All this to say, it finally hit me. Life could spin out
of control; I've found myself soliciting the prayer,
from others...which is something I don't think I've
ever done. I don't know if we're up for this. I don't
know if we can survive what's coming down the
shoots... I feel the rapids. I see white water. I'm
paddling fast but it's not really helping. The current
is starting to carry us. And, if I'm not mistaken,
we're at the beginning of the The Gondola. Who
survives The Gondola? We're not Gondola people.
I mean, everything is manageable right now; sorta.
But, there's that feeling like it could unravel. It could
speed up too quickly...Do you know that feeling?
Surely you do; you've been there...
It's like - when you're a kid; and you're at this big
park; and you see the Gi-normous slide...
(think, big slide...towering, tall...rusty... intimidating)
We use to bring wax paper to make it slickier...so
we could go faster. But it's scary, right? It's TALL
dude. You face your fears, climb up the wobbly
structure, you get the wax paper positioned under
your scrawny butt...and push off.
But there's resistance from that old sheet metal;
too much friction; you're not liberated, even after
a powerful push; you scoot your butt and ooch down
to the zone of no return; suddenly, the wax paper does
it's job; There's that solitary moment of fear...when
friction shifts and you're inertia takes over...and
you become instantly acquainted with the gravity
of your situation. Should you have shoved off quite
so hard? Oh, Lord...(mom!!...)
Freeze frame that moment. That's me right now.
I've shoved off too hard, and I can't turn back.
Maybe I'll get over it. I could be just hyped because
I just saw the match prints for the vinyl cover!
(Edvard Munch's - Silent Scream)
Blessings to ya'll.
boyd
Of course, I edited out personals and other aspects that
aren't broad enough for us all. Anyway. Not sure if that
was remotely entertaining. The reality of content isn't
so important. It's a stupid little offering. I just liked the
slide analogy.
----------------------------------------------------
Stay tuned for something... if I can get it done. I'll hide it
here I think. boyd
----------------------------------------------------
Wait. There were questions... i read the posts. Uhh... The club in Seattle;
yes. I think it's 21+. I'm sorry. I already bugged management about this.
But, booking is difficult. There are so many considerations; size...
availability on a certain night; you have to consider all 3 bands, there are
politics and personal friendships and pressures... I don't know all that
went into this decision and it does suck for younger than 21-ers.
I was assured there are very few of these shows booked... like that
might be the only one.
What else? I can't remember. gotta go.
----------------------------------------------------
FRIDAY DECEMBER 24, 2004
Christmas Eve
Tidings of Great Joy
Besides that fact that I've gotten more and more boring as time goes on,
(it's the lack of sleep yall. I lose focus, direction... sorry)... at least
we're passing time and I've been able to convey a bit of vital info as it
rolls in; AND, I this has been as an emotional scape-goat for me;
Occassionally, it keeps me from going insane. Even if nobody is reading,
it's been a great diversion from my digital art monkey-ness.
Anyway, I am toying with the idea of tossing up a clip taken last Sunday
at our 'lil church here in Tyler, Texas. Though our Vineyard is a very
rocking, very un-orthodox, very coffee drinking place, we broke the
norm by working up a very, very, simple, folksy, country Christmas tune.
If it makes your stomach turn - on any level - I'm sorry. Really... sorry
for you, but I just can't apologize; it's just simply...too wonderful not to
put up.
You'll recognize some of the people in this who-ville scene - a few
Eisleyoids, Christie, Kimbertones, Jesse (Wes's girlie-girl), MarkyMark,
our friend Robert, Micah from Pilot Drift, Randy (keys), Charles
(percussion - played with Paula Abdule and Stevie Wonder, etc.)... I'm
hidden on the kit in back, thank the good Lord.
Anyway, this song is one of those that's deeply embedded into the
DuPree pyche'... fused to our emotions during Christmas. Believe it or not
- it's an arrangement by The Judds. True... the mother/daugher team had
big influence on us, like it or not. Kim and the girls always sang this stuff
at Christmas when they were tiny tots. dude. HARMONIES. come on...
How do you think they picked up this stuff? You can't really go wrong with
The Beatles and the Judds. Two vantage points of musicality. Add
Radiohead and even more modern influences, add some magic sprinkles,
and you have.... Eisley.
But... all of this folksy stuff goes deep into our roots... Enjoy (i hope)
Antrider shot the video using my camera. You can't see very much.
It's not much of a production, trust me. As lo-fi as you can get:
O' Beautiful Star of Bethlehem QT mov
O' Beautiful Star of Bethlehem - mp3
Post coments wherever, or not. I put the mp3 blog here:
http://www.eisley.org/viewtopic.php?p=223775#223775
We're gone for the DAY! out in the country with relatives! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!
Week 9. Finishing the CDGraphics / TOUR INFO
December 13, 2004 04:57 PM
MONDAY DECEMBER 13, 2004
A Short Breather from the Corner
» Vote for Subterraneans Best of 2004
http://www.mtv.com/onair/mtv2/subterranean/best_of_2004/index.jhtml
Post the above link wherever you go - on-line. I'd doubt if Eisley is a top
contender - considering this line up, but it can't hurt, right? They were in
regular rotation on Subterranean for awhile. Maybe we have some pull
power by our numbers. (forgive if this is already out on the forum
somewhere... I've been hybernating from my e-life)
CDGraphic Cerebral Stew
The cover is the hardest, sure... but the rest of the project has so many
complexities, including templates, building mechanicals, making type fit
(especially because a certain forum enclave requested all the lyrics to be
on the insert); I have this quagmire of criteria that I run every decision
through... the sequence of the experience determines what visuals are
assimilated... (when this opens, what do they see and how does it relate
to the title and the graphics they've already seen), how do the color fields
relate from the outside to the inside, what are the selected images
conveying about Eisley's reality... too glam, too indie, too serious, does
everyone look ok or does just Sherri rOcK!? etc. On and on... this
working model has constants but shifts randomly based on the
keenest thought I can muster at the time... what will Eisley think...what
will you think, what will the industry think?...critics, the label,
the WORLD!!?? It's really not safe to be me. My mind is too clouded with
weighing out the greys. I live in the 20% part of the 80%... that's the part
where most type A, sales people/execs think is worthless and wasteful.
So...WB art department just called me to ask the proverbial
question: how's it coming since the drop dead deadline for approval is
Wednesday? I'm 85% finished...which means I'm being true to form. The
rest 15% is what I'll obsess over till the pdf's fly out of my Titanium mid
tomorrow morning. (well, I said I'd have it on their desk by the time they
arrive, which is like 9-10am pacific time...heck, that's noon my time)
Gotta go. Sorry if this has gotten boring. I admit, it's seemed a bit more
like my Xanga and that's lame. There ARE a few cool things brewing
however... news about the Eisley headlining tour - like, I should have it
by the end of the day so stay connected. And there are a few other
things... at least in my mind; if I have time to do them. That made no
sense. I'm very toast... having crashed at 5am (last night/this morn) but
tonight I might not sleep at all.
Perspective on where we're at: Chauntelle told me a few minutes ago:
"I'm finally getting excited about this record coming out". I think seeing
graphics somehow is making it real to them. OK bye.
3:15am
I'm getting close! I'm getting close! - just finished showing the band
members that were hanging out downstairs with friends all the panels. A
great reaction. Sweet. For some reason, I always know that if i like
something, they'll like it... so it's never scary showing anything to them.
Anyway, I just finished shooting more stuff from Sherri's sketch book so
I can make sure there's enough sweet eye candy for you guys. I'm really
not joking... Especially today, as I was designing, I was thinking... what
would I want to see if I were on the outside looking in. If it looks right
and works conceptually, I consider it for usage.
OK. Gotta go. Looks like it's gonna be a long night. I have the entire
"label" for the cd to do... (that's the screening on the cdr). I have to
include every song this time...so, there's a lot to pile on there. gotta go.
See you sun-up (or earlier if I need a break from graphics). Writing
copy is easy. I'm not supposed to be good at it...so, I can have fun being
a hak. 'nite. bd
7:20am
Think I'll get a few hours and hit it again. All pdf's are cooked and ready
to send... just a few questions still floating around in my mind that I need
to sleep on. A fresh look and an hour or so of tweaks might solve the
problem before delivering the eagle. 'nite.
Mamma, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Artists...
Up all night. Crashed from 7:45 till 10:00 - got up, rethought the cdr
label, tweaked it and sent everything by 10:15 pacific time. btw. I just
read the posts on this thread... thanks for the nice words. Thank you.
I was thinking about how some of your responses focused on the
originality of the band - or, I guess their involvement, their hand, their
thumbprint being on all of the creative processes...and then I got to
thinking about how they produced two songs on their first full length - and
how punk rock their attitudes have been lately about everything. Then it
hit me - maybe that's why Eisley comes off "indie". It's a philosophy, not
a status. Here's the thought process that led me to my foregone
epiphany.
Anywayz I extrapolated the idea: I first thought - well, I guess every band
that's now on a major label was at one time "indie", right?...hmm...as if
their prior identity was wrapped up in their (prior) status? no way... and
(along the same lines) would it mean that their new identity on a major
label would shift automatically to the opposite of self-reliant, self
directing, free-spirited, rugged individualism (an American thing - so
we're taught).
So, then I thought - well, then it's not contractual status, or necessarily
even self-reliance...because there are probably plenty bands that are
very involved and self-reliant...who are not "indie" at all. Think of..Linkin
Park or whatever. They are very plugged into everything they do.
So what is it about Eisley's work, character, creative involvement that
makes them indie? It's their vision... Sure, it might can be supported by
the industry eventually - mtv, clearchannel, trl, major labels, etc. but it
(Eisley's vision) does not belong to the industry). And btw - it's not my
vision either. I happen to share the same vision, but I didn't impart it to
them - not directly, at least, as if it were a fabrication... a plan, an
invention.
So my mental ascent began to take wings, after having picked up tiny
nuggets from various realms- and I came full circle: maybe it IS
the music... and the emancipated spirit, and the vision that's so indie
about Eisley.
All I know is that you will see Eisley's dna throughout every fiber of their
expression - visually, musically. The CD graphics are chocked full of their
world. It's easy to interpret this world. It's all around me.
Or maybe i just need to get some sleep.
tilt. (plop)
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
Wedesday December 15th Working Thru Projects
Hey everyone! Again, I don't have much time...(as you can see, it's the
first time i've been on line today) Quick update for the record: (get it? for
the record?) I got thumbs up on the package! There are only minor
tweaks...type things/copy things, very insignificant. Nothing artsy, which
makes us really, really happy.
Gotta make the changes, and muscle it out the door... then finish the
sticker that applies to the front and try to slam out the vinyl art. After
that, I have to cram, cram, cram, cram-slam on the website.
Then there's this tour that starts January 31 and lasts for a few weeks.
Obviously, the record will HIT while we're on the road. Sound good?
There are lots of request for encoded masters these days. CD's are flying
out of WB's office like frizbee's. The evil critics are lined up...(sorry
Joseph, sorry Eddie...write whatever you want...our friendship is all that's
at steak 
) I know Blender got their copy and have pen in hand.
They wanted xtra info...xtra scoop, so we were accomodating. And,
Absolutepunk.net wants to do a review! woah. I talked to the guy... he's
a fan. That's sorta cool i think. Anyway, on this topic, there is lots of
activity. And it's going to get out of hand...especially on the road. The
difference between a band with a full length major record release and
one that has a few ep's out is enormous.
Let's hope those reviews are sweet. If not...will you promise just to all
move to Tyler and we can open up...like this little mini-Vegas show room
for Eilsey to play every weekend; And they could charge just enough to
enable them to keep writing songs and making ep's. And everyone in
bands could just use the 'lil auditorium (eisleyville) for their own bands to
practice in...and the scene could grow and Tyler could be this little piece
of music heaven. ok. Let's do that. Grandpa...could you and Ryan
organize it? Thanks.
Meanwhile, I have to get back to work. It's been nice. All 10 minutes.
No spell check. gotta go. Much love.
boydee-boo
p.s.forgot to mention. dropped the band off at 10:30pm to
begin rigorously rehearsing and planning the New Years Eve
show. It was collllldddd unloading. Stacy and Sherri are
worried they're getting sick. not good. So they made
"emergen-C" drinks before we went out the door.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 16, 2004
WAVE LOSS ...the secrets of sleep - Unlocked!
JUST KIDDING...
That was a hookey headline. Unfortunately, I don't understand sleep. I
can tell you this: lots of sleep = a Thick brain. Little sleep = a Thin brain.
I prefer Thin. Also, consistent sleep is better than sporatic, random
swings between no sleep and lots. Avoid sleep hangovers. Also...thin =
creative. Thick = quagmirical sludge.
The Tour
So...I keep waiting for details on that lil' tour I keep talking about.
Management won't give me anything until they give me EVERYthing. I can
tell you...(or will tell you) it's heading West. It starts in Houston and
heads West - ending in Dallas some 2 weeks later. It's anyone's guess as
to which major cities the tour will go. My guess (BIG DISCLAIMER) is that
it heads...umm, West. Why guess?
I do know the openers. 2 openers. Eisley had little to do with the
selection, just so you'll know, but that's not a disclaimer that points
toward a lame outcome. Actually, I think the main support is a great
choice and I think it'll be a great match. I confess - at this moment, I
haven't heard the first band, but soon will.
Of course, the tour will go to LA. Of course, it will go to San Diego, and
other major pit stops... I'm guessing all the way up to Seattle? I dunno.
I'm guessing again.
Album Graphics Closure
I finished tweaking and making the small typo revisions to the various
panels. btw. It's a standard 6 panel, tri-fold insert...traycard (inlay) front
and back...and of course, the label (the cdr screening). I'm sending new
pdf's off to everyone for a last round of proofing. Then I have to pull
bleeds, double check modes, get some color proofs, flight check,
compress, burn to dvd, send FedX... then official match color proofing,
revisions if any, sign-off, final film.
WB Strength
During the interim, I have to work on SO much stuff. I won't get into it,
but today I received an unexpected, impromptu converence call from all
the heavy's at the label, plus one of my new favorite guys also in the
meeting from management (Ricky) who is a brilliant guy from Capitol...
he's a genius at merch. We're really going to deliver some great stuff;
lots of it, lots of variety... very cool.
Anyway, they were like..."boyd, we wanted to talk to you about the
website...and schedules and...blah, blah, blah... we're really pumped
about how everything is going; it's looking great...e-merge site is really
outperforming our other bands, Eisley's fans are amazing, the new media
player is almost finished, massive e-blasts will go out from other bands,
traffic is going to get heavy...we need to get something up fast, also we
need a email template for emerge and we want boyd stuff over there...
can you write some stuff? and how about some content... some exclusive
stuff and...we need the band to do some custom art work for these fans"
and on and on and on.
I really, really like these people... they're enthusiastic, they never stop
dreaming...thinking...figuring out ways to get the word out on Eisley - on
line. Very smart. And, whether it sounds suspicious or not - they love the
band. Some of them have told me how - after getting their official copy of
the cd, they've played "Room Noises" non-stop. I've been in many
corporate settings - worked with tons of different kinds of people. I know
ego's, I know styles, types... but nothing really matters unless there is
truely inspired talent. I get lots of encouragement from them, lots of
direction, and I'm learning tons. Very thankful.
5 Interviews this week. 6 if you count the scoop that Blender was digging
for. Rehearsals are in full swing... major progress is being made on all
fronts. It is... as someone said, getting exciting. Goodnight. bd
p.s. be looking for that media player soon. very soon. like...soon.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2004
EISLEY THE ELECTED THE COLOUR
...and, I'm working on the Vinyl Art!
THAT'S THE TOUR. I still don't have dates. I have a poster due. I guess
you guys know that "The Elected" is Blake's band from Rilo Kiley. This
should be a great match... Blake is a super nice guy, a genuine music
lover, very indie, writes wonderful melodic, folksy-indie-pop and has a
great band. Eisley feels very honored to have such a superstar like Blake
opening. Well, those are my words...but, they're very humbled.
I don't know anything about the Colour, but I think they're from LA. All of
this is set up by management and agent. So far, they've done a great job.
Sweet Vinyl
I'm working on the vinyl art!! wow. What can I say. It's been a life's
dream. Though I was an inspired young illustrator/artist, I was too young
when everything converted...by 80, when I graduated, LP's were starting
to fade away...and I never had an opportunity to do anything for this
wonderful, warm, ancient medium. (a medium with big real estate)
More than likely, because of time constraints and limitations, I'm going to
blow the cd up and slap it on the big boy. (sounded very cheesy on
purpose). I'll absolutely put a big picture of me on the back.
Art Monkey
So... I also have to have several other significant projects finished by
monday morning so...looks like the art monkey/slave will not break for
air. It's getting sad again. When I pop out of the room, they all gasp and
look at me like..."what are YOU doing in here"?
But today I was up and down... the band had 3 phoners and I had
numerous calls from WB. You can't imagine my e-mail bin. Today was
fairly light..only 20 from the label. But it all spells progress. It spells
momentum. The beginning of the stage the band might have thought
they'd been at a year ago. All in good timing, right?
New Found Dates
Hey! There are some dates up for the NfG Tour! Garrett emailed me
tonight. (It's the first blog)
http://www.newfoundglory.com/
Apologetics
Guys, I'm doing a terrible job of keeping you informed. I've been
spending an average of 15 minutes per day on this forum... a place i
dearly love. I apologize. I believe things will somehow return to normal. I
can't say how soon, but it will... right? I mean... it will.
The Brink/The Beginning
Today a wave of reality hit me. Mail brought a bunch of cd's from fans
who wanted responses, all kinds of old and new friends were calling the
house, there were calls from 3 journalist, 6-7 calls from the label,
multiple streams of communication, news coming in, responses going out,
new responsibilities being dumped, people - in/out, coming/going,
wanting, requesting, deadlines, practice, tours, posters, phone ringing,
demands, stress...confusion...CHAOS!!
It occurred to me that things were dropping through the cracks; and
we're not even really IN-to this lifestyle full-fledged. I already can't keep
up. I started wondering how bands who are really in the lime-light,
or...band that are really big - survive. For now, it's great being small. I
almost don't want it to change. With recognition and visibility comes
weirdness and all manner of stress, i think. But I don't know.
ok. That's all. Thanks. Merry Christmas. I might have a little surprise
soon.
boyd
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2004
THE MEDIA PLAYER IS UP
http://www.hyfntrak.com/eisley/fromafriend/
NOW, if you're wanting to gain those e-merge points, don't send the link
from here or from your email. Do it from emerge, but in case some of
you aren't into all of that ....here's the link.
I wanted to show you guys the player right after i finished it in Flash, but
had to wait for WB to load it up with goodies. Wanted to do something
that looked very eisley...sorta indie-ish, but professional at the same
time... and not glam.
In other news. I have a thread out there in Eisley blog soliciting your help
in naming the upcoming short headlining tour. There are about 4 pages
already. Thanks for the help. I think we might have it...
ok. it's late. gotta get some slam shut eye. bdout.
Week 8. Off to LA for a Few Days
December 05, 2004 11:09 PM
MONDAY DECEMBER 5, 2004
Really, we'll be back Wednesday Afternoon
It's not a big deal... well, I dunno if it is or isn't; Other bigger artists will
do their thing as well. Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy are doing an acoustic set
(2 songs) for the WB Town Hall meeting... I guess it's like a business
meeting. Everyone at the label (US and worldwide) will be there; there'll
be this presentation on Eisley, they'll play the lil' video I did...(trust me,
it's no big deal) and yak about their record, etc. and then (drum roll)
"vwuallah...here they ARE!!..Eisssssslleeeeyyy!) Or, part of Eisley.
(snap!) I don't really know what to expect; I've never been to one of
these. That night, there'll be a big WB party. I guess it'll be fancier and
there'll be hob knobbing. Should be nice getting to meet people. I like
people. (no, not just the rock stars... i especially enjoy meeting like, A&R
guys for other bands, or publicists, photographers, the people that make
things happen...managers, producers, engineers. They're the best.)
I will totally take my video camera and film the event whilst attending to
the soundguy in case there needs to be any adjustments during their set.
So, at the very least, I'll be bringing you live pics of the girls show. If the
audio is decent and it's worth the doing and I have time, I'll put a clip up.
The cd cover is mostly finished... I spent all afternoon/eve on the 85
layered (that included adjustment layers), 200mg ps document. No, it's
not what you think...not some over-decorated bag of photoshop tricks. I
think I'd use words like atmospheric, romantic, magical, whimsical...
classic. Yeah, you're gonna love the picture of them dressed up in cheer
leader outfits while galloping thru the rain forest.
I have to pack. What are ya'll up to? It's been rainy and coldish here.I'm
not feeling so great...fighting something but amn't sickly. Talk to you
from LA. bd
------------------------------
Later That Evening
We landed. 1:25pm LA time. It was weird. Some guy with a DuPree sign
was waiting... who escorted us into his stretch Limo. Fresh, huh? We've
never been in a Limo. But it seemed wrong... and now we're in this ritzy
hotel feeling strange... so, since we were starving, we did the only
normal thing: walked to a Burger King and ate frenchfries and milk
shakes.
Anyway... then we walked a block over to the place where the "squares"
are - only to find there was a Premier at the Chinese Mann Theater. AND
WE GOT TO SEE KURK DOUGLAS. dude, that dude is old, dude. He
received some award or something... I'm not sure. I want coffee but we
have to eat dinner first.
Someone wanted to know what songs those girlie-girls were doing...
Lost At Sea and Golly Sandra. That was their choice.
Woah, SONGS are up
As mentioned, this is part of the e-merge effort; the player will be out
soon and it looks like WB went ahead and posted a the same ones that
will be on the player on the e-merge site. (first page, bottom...under
something about "Laughing City". (typo or brain skip...should be Room
Noises).
All of these songs were played exactly like the records on the Snow
Patrol tour, so you might not be too surprised if you heard them live.
Telescope Eyes - as mentioned many times, quicker. perhaps more
radio. not too slick. butt-rock guitars dead on chorus, nice overlay of
keys and guitars on intro before verses; the band probably wished the
song could have gone away, but...here it is; the sacrificial offering. My
guess is - slated for a single. If you're an old eisely fan and are sick of
this song... ignore it. The rest of the world won't know anything about it.
Actually, in case anyone is interested, the band is pretty ok with it.
Golly Sandra - If you listen to the live clips, you've basically heard this
song. It has Casey's sweet lap steel guitar (from Hot Rod Circuit), the
catchy, hooky, verse/chorus/bridge's... etc. Eisley tracked and produced
this right here...i mean there cuz we're here...in Tyler, Texas. WB really
likes it. So does the band.
Lost At Sea - The enigmatic song... if you like the lo-fi, cassette tape
recorded with the Wurly version, so be it. We all do. This version is
somewhere in between that early version and perhaps what WB
wanted...which was something with a big beat. The beat has been
neutered; all that's left is a tinkling of cymbals and scattered off
rhythms...all ambient. The song is still very striped down... with a bit of
beautifying.
L.A.S. is one of those songs that might coult be produced any number of
ways. One example is "the remix" of L.A.S. - done by Beck's piano
player.(sorry, I'll try to get his name). He added some weirded out
reggae and all kind of digitalia. Pretty cool actually. It's not on the record
or anything, as far as I know, but...it'll be around.
Remember...these songs were jerked out of a line up. They're really part
of an album. Ok. gotta go for now.
bd
-------------------
i feel really sick now. shouldn't have gone out in that wind. great.
anyway, we had these amazing WB vouchers to eat out so...it was
a sweet meal. Now i'm gonna cuddle up on the floor and get some rest.
We have early meetings.
btw. I wonder about all of this song posting and early critiques. I hope it
won't breed jealousy and cause a bunch of forum troubles... we'll see. It
just sorta sucks that the record can't be heard instead of piece-mealing
the songs out in random chunks. But, this is the price of promotion. Don't
listen to me. It's my temporary illness talking. My throat is a devils
playground... a firehole of pain... and this upper chest/lower throat
cough. I need a pick axe and a can of Bart Oil. I'd best turn in. That floor
with the blanket looks inviting. nite.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2005
What a Scary ...Important Day
I wish I had about 2 hours to craft out a few really good paragraphs to
describe the day because it really deserves the detail. But I don't. We
have to head over to this party in half an hour.
The morning started out with a great breakfast that supported a meeting
with a video team about possible treatment. Management and several
label peeps were there... but I think the tone for the day was set when
we walked in the restaurant downstairs. There was a stark sense of
excitement as WB executives were dashing around, smiling and high
fiving. Woah...what was going on?
Immediately Tom Whalley, the president of WB motioned for Craig
Aaronson, (eisley's A&R) over to his side to tell him something... which
we soon found out about. It seems that early reports were coming in...
WB had raked in tons of Grammy nominations; Everyone was majorly
pumped...what perfect timing for an international corporate meeting
which was basically to rally support, talk about vision, the successes of
the past year and what to strive for in the coming year.
All of this good news played into Tom's inspiring state of the union address
today. I was blown away. I don't have time to get into it right now, but I
might chose to bloat about how amazing Warner Music Group is. They're
kicking boo-teh and scraping face. This is verifiable industry-wide. But,
more on that topic later.
The crescendo leading up to Eisley's lil' we're-a-new-band-with-a-new
record performance was, for them.....an adrenalin pumping, palm
perspiring, butterflies-in-their-stomach time of anguish. I was wrestling
with the same shrinking feeling as the fanfare of rock stars and bands
were being blasted on the two gi-normous video screens with a speaker
system to give Jurassic Park's T-Rex a run for his decibals.
By the time they're moment came about, there had been enough sizzling
bands and triumphant success stories from so many bands, from every
WB imprint, from ever genre', from veteran artists like Eric Clapton to
Josh Grogan... from the smash success of Green Day's new record to
emerging bands on Record Collection - it felt like an uphill battle...an
untimely moment for Eisley. And the waiting had, perhaps, taken it's toll.
The Eisley girls confessed that they were more nervous for this than
ever. That includes their initial showcases for all the labels and for
opening for Coldplay at the scariest venues in the US. That's the context
for a performance that, as far as I can tell, was a sweet success.
We actually left after their set, so it's hard to know how the label will
react, but several exec's stopped them on the way out the door - paying
them huge compliments. I think the band feels like it wasn't their best
performance and contribute the 7-8 out of a 10 to nervousness. I thought
is was beautiful.
To me, the vulnerable edge is what makes Eisley real... it's what
separates them from their pop star contemporaries on the label. It's what
differentiates them from the testosterone-laced GothGuyRock bands who
raise the rock sign, catch air and spew spit on stage... They sounded
dreamy, emotive...and guys, they looked stunning under the beautiful
spray of magnificent lights (lights that nobody else had). They were
100% indie, 100% beauty. (what is that...200%?) I can't define this in
new terms... they are who they are...magical. I believe that was the take
away. They're unique, they write amazing songs, they have a broad
reach in an untapped market. This is the beginning.
We're heading out to this hob-knob party, where, I'm told, many of the
WB artists are going to be at. Eisley has an entirely different, stunning
wardrobe on and it's time to go feel entirely weird. This is fun, but it feels
fake. I know we're already missing the warmth of home.
I'll try to check in later....you know, as a reporter. bye.
----------------------
Hey... It's later. Actually it's morning and we have 15 minutes to be
downstairs. The magic limo is hauling our Texas boo-tey's back to LAX.
The party was great, we met lots of people... saw Mandy Moore and
some of the Muse guys and various other bands, but the highlight was
hearing "Mute Math"'s showcase for the label. (yes. they' played for the
party along with some other bands)
I'd been tipped off by a friend to be watching for them. Turns out, Collin
has this band on his ipod, which doesn't surprise me. Anyway, they were
stellar. After their show, Chauntelle and I made a b-line to the stage
where we grabbed the attention of the guitar player.
Anyway, we ended up spending several hours with them, yacking and
trading stories for hours. They're from New Orleans and have a similar
background as Eisley. In fact, we talked for so long, we missed eating...
they'd put up the food so we all blew the joint and were blessed enough
to have our good friend, Eddie call us (out of the blue from somewhere in
Hollywood) and bring us all California's famous "In and Out" burgers here
at the hotel. good times.
I blew my voice out and eventually couldn't talk last night... I'm a little
better this morning, but am still hacking and coughing, like many of you.
I got loaded up with more work...revisions and changes and tweaks to
everything I'm juggling: front page of eisley.com, the pop up, stuff with
e-merge, the media player and, of course, I have to have the entire rest
of the cdinsert/traycard finished by Monday....which, I don't have copy
for yet and I just got digital scans from the WB shoot. yikes. I may not
be talking much on this forum in the coming few days, but I'll enter a few
brief paragraphs daily. This stuff is extremely urgent.
Well, time to head home. bdout
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 9, 05
Home again, home again jiggedy-jigg
We made it home. Life has returned to normal...I'm working like a sic
dog (and did all day on the plane and in the van and while the women
went into malls and stores in Dallas), Stacy is banging out some complex
diddy on Erik Nicholsons' grandmothers old piano, a friend came from
Sacremento to stay for a week, Kim is asleep, and the rest of them are
upstairs doing who know's what... I'm too sleepy to type. zzzzzzzzzz....
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9,2004
Scenes from the 2004 WB Town Hall Meeting
Hey. This is really all I had time to do - other than edit/make changes to
the media player, convert quark templates to indesign for the inlay
6panel inserts + photo selection. Conference call in a few minutes with
New Media. (they're a hopin' bunch of zingers...) Enjoy pics from the
ordeal...and a few frivoulous ones I slammed out from our hotel window.
Take care and...have a happy-new-holiday-year-Christmas time in the
city...a boad-ee-oh-boadee-oh-doh... Get the sound track to Elf. bye.
There are two big flanking screens.
Sherri had the one camera on her.
My fuzzy camera zooms in from way back in the room.
Stacy was blown out... bright lights mess up crappy camera's.
You can see the nice lights here.
The lil' clip I did...hey! They played it. I Wasn't Prepared boomed the room.
In case you didn't know who Warner Music Group was and how Eisley
fits in.
Capitol Records building... what a classic edifice.
I hate people who photograph this sign. But the mist...it drew me in. I..
I...couldn't help myself.
These are the some places. Some important, some not so important.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10,2004
ROOM NOISES COVER THUMBNAIL
Well, I can't keep this undercover any longer since WB has
asked me to put the the pic on the splash page of the site. I figured I
might as well post it here at 3:00am on December 10th for all to see... to
take pot shots at, rellish in, to bite me with sharp teeth, to e-mail, to use
as a bug tarp, etc. So... with all intrepidness: here it is:
wait for it........
This is it. For real. I'm not joking with you now. See my face? I'd love to
have kept it hidden...unveiled only on the shelves of retail stores on Feb.
8, but I can't stop the wheels of marketing... it's too important that this
record is set up for that day - only 8weeks from now.
This really is on the .com splash page also...and shortly will be on the
media player as well, so - I hope, I hope, I really hope you like it cuz it's
really finished. approved. sent out. put to bed. It's done. Complete.
Al Fin. The end. Goodnight. I have more work to do. (4:00am!) bd
----------------------
Hey. wow-woah. thanks for the sugary complo-mints. I'm dead-alive
serious. It's helping my day. I'm SO glad...so very glad-glad that you
guys are cool with the cover. Honest - besides Eisley, you are the most
important of earthlings. Sure, I respect management/label, but they're
not going to buy the product. They're guessing based on hunch. But each
of you have an eisley shaped target on your hearts.
Someone asked for a bigger clip so I thought I'd zero in on each band
member very, very carefully. Now I have to go. I just wanted to lob out
a big ole greasy, slobbery, sinewy, smacker (gross) to say Thanks.
btw. Those are like... sticks or twigs from some forest vegetation that
Weston and Jon picked up. Totally not staged. They were just being
themselves and I snapped it. Sherri?! She's totally crashed. Not joking.
She is out cold on that couch. That's what makes it for me... the dream-
state persona of their band is actually happening on this cover. Stacy
decided to make that lil' heart shape with her vintage gloves... and
Chauntelle has this revealing expression...interpretive. Not sure. I think
she's the mona chauntelle or whatever. I GOTTA GO!!!
Vinyl, ehh? hmmm... I might have to change the design. The art is
300dpi, of course. Unless we're using a 150 line screen for the big boy,
we're not gonna get there. I'll probably use this but build out an extended
version with new design elements. Not sure.
ha. ha.
p.s. The video is up on emerge. Streaming sucks sometimes...but that's
the medium right? I have other developing news but it's not out of the
incubator yet. bd