Thrashing About
August 16, 2010 05:42 PM
Music Fashion Mag - photographer - Chris Phelps
Greetings faithful remnant of the Trolley enclave. Yes - yes, scoldings/thrashings are in order. We promised to post images from the tour and update more frequently. To place a thrashing order please enter the user/pass (provided) to to receive a.) thrashing implements b.) Eisley's secret mp3 player page. Instructions: Listen to the new record before using the thrashing implements, decide if you want to join our new enclave: Fed Up. (rhetoric license. there is no link. read on.)
Fed up - If you're already fed up there's no need to join (purely figurative) unless you think we should continue this conversation in private. I'm fairly certain we're all on the same page. Hey, is the the rogue forum still active? Just wondering. Where's that secret cranny to rant when you need it. Meet us at Starbucks.
@boydd57 2 days ago on Twitterific "Listening to mixes... focused on maneuvering around WB's post-contractual, suppressive behavior."
Yes, we're frustrated for good reason but are going to purposely sidestep the inside business crap and just say - you guys deserve new music and we're doing everything possible to make sure that happens. We're holding back words, attempting to be professional... managing the info-flow, etc. but we're not holding back on moving forward.
Mixing - We recently mentioned we were mixing Eisley's most recent WB record. Technically correct. Eisley recorded these songs while under contract w/ WB. They paid for the recordings, they own the recordings. That's how it works. We are mixing it on our own (meaning - an amazing mixer in the Bay Area named Andy Freeman; we met him through the Paste Mag & Pure Vol. folks) and it's going really well. If I were describing these mixes, I would use words like warm, powerful, lush, bold, honest...
@SDuPreeBemis - 43 minutes ago via web "I wish I could let you guys hear these new mixes for the album. They make me so happy. I'm so blessed that we get to make music for you guys."
Photos - Apologies. It's really hard to think about devoting tons of time/energy to more eisley pics. Thrash me; it's not like there's an on-line shortage. Well - am I right? lol. Already spent 3-4 hrs on editing but more important matters stole headspace. I seriously have a hard time focusing on anything beside this record and the Fall tour.
Fall Tour - It's being routed. It is real and will start around October 13th; more than likely continue past Thanksgiving for a week or so. Major markets... some B markets. Probably US only though nothing is in stone. Basically Eisley will pick up where they left off (reference -Mild Mild Midwest Tour). Typical headlining run; we'll brand it, tour it... 1.5 months minimum, Christie will open (yeah!). If you don't mind - hold off on questions about main support. I'll just say - we have to take out a well-established act. Eisley's history of bringing support we support speaks for itself.
@SDuPreeBemis - 33 minutes ago via web "Got this off ETSY today. I apologize in advance 4 how much you'll see me in it on Fall tour. http://twitpic.com/2fp0wq"
New Record Release - Doubt you'd want to thrash if we told you it was our goal to have this record in your hands this Fall (in time for the tour). Everyone is very on board with this scenario. Being fed up can be motivating. To pull this off we'd have to have a few break-thru's... not to mention - circumvent standard set-up, spend nothing on marketing/advertising, forgo the physical cd, etc. Essentially the record would be released digitally and pushed via publicity. Obstacles. Out of our control. Working on resolving.
@SDuPreeBemis - about 19 hrs ago via Twitter for iPhone "Oh, Mr. Moon - shines down on my home, it's where I belong without you."
Basically there has been nothing said here about who, why, how, when, where, what the'..., etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. It's our responsibility to make sure music finds it's way into your ears. Every signed band has to face the dark side of this industry at some point. Suffice to say, Eisley is moving on... even beyond this record.
Thanks always,
bd
p.s. Check out Music Magazine's feature as well as Filter's - Ragged Magazine on the band.
p.s.s. Sorry about all the sentence frag's. No time for long, sinewy, verboseal structure.
Post-Tour Tour Post
July 10, 2010 05:00 PM
Hi Trolleywooders. What's up. Felt like writing a a short prelude to a post. Possibly I'm just worried the post-pump needs primed. Or possibly I'm just whining wolf before crying.
Did we see any of you on the MMMW tour? Nevermind. I'll get into the tour on the next post. I did actually shoot a bunch of live stuff on this tour. I'm no Antrider. Expect standard-issue boid-ography (ref: previous 9 years of mediocrity).
Been quite busy. Eisley (duh), full time design job, several more hot irons in the fire. 1. a social media site (Eisley will be the first band) and 2. possibly consulting for an event (A level bands - wut?).
Anyway, in the upcoming post I'll talk about exactly where the band is w/ the new record, label news (i didn't say new label), talk of tours, life in the small city (scratch that), Stacy's wedding (it'll say like: Stacy is getting married) and other things...
If anyone is out there, say hi. If no one is out there, it's ok; I'll go back to fb. Last post had a 365 comments. But it's not Trolleywood.
WOAH... I need to take down all the tour banners and replace with some tastey 'stall' graphics. I could even use new eisley photography (we have it!) but nah - saving that for the new record.
Hope you are doing great. Will post asap. This week we might get some news that I'll include. If not, I'll just post pics and cry wolf again soon. Thanks.
bd
The Mild Mild Midwest Tour
April 30, 2010 09:54 AM
download bigger version but keep in mind - this is temp
until we get 1 last date plugged.
We're going OUT!
About time, huh. Yeah, yeah... it's only 10 shows not including a festival date, but... hey, we've been super busy (read previous posts if u are unaware). And yeah - some of the shows are in the South but we like the name (a fan named it) and we do what we want. Anyway... read on:
The Lion and the Sail are friends of ours from Tyler. Check 'em out. http://www.myspace.com/thelionandthesail Actually the two girls are the daughters of Gary Leach who had much to do with recording/co-producing our new record. They have a fresh sound. You'll like. We were just going to go by ourselves but thought... meh... "the gary girls" (as i call them) should come with us. They have a new EP and need to get out of T-town.
note: a local opener in Shreveport: http://www.myspace.com/feetofgoliath Pretty cool band.
And - you all already know Christie DuPree. She's movin' right along. She's been doing some pretty cool shows here in Tyler and is quite popular. In fact, she now looks/dresses exactly like Ke$ha and GaGa combined. She'll probably do a solo show with her guit'-fiddle. Nice & mellow... soul-soothing. Soul enhancing actually. Darren King and friends have been working on some recordings for her (well, he's out right now but is messing w/ files). Not sure if she'll have any of that ready but - we'll keep u posted. http://www.myspace.com/christiedupreemusic
The Markets/Dates
JUNE 23 - JULY 23
Wed June 23........ Shreveport, LA........ The Collective (all ages)
Thurs. June 24..... Little Rock, AR......... The Village (all ages)
Friday June 25..... Tulsa, OK................. Cain's 2nd stage (all ages)
Sat. June 26........ TBA
Sun. June 27....... Nashville, TN............ *3rd & Lindsley (all ages)
Mon. June 28....... Memphis, TN............ Hi-Tone (all ages)
Tues. June 29...... St. Louis, MO............ Old Rock House (all ages)
Wed - June 30..... Chicago, IL............... Lincoln Hall (all ages)
Thurs. July 01...... Indianapolis, IN........ Emerson Theatre (all ages)
Friday July 02...... Bushnell,IL............... Cornerstone Festival ( - )
Sat. July 03......... Kansas City, MO........ Record Bar (**18 +) (correction)
*part of WRLT live broadcast (sans L&S/Christie 
)
** we did everything we could to get an all ages show.
It's as big as it can be
I know some of you living in or near the greater Midwest area might be pissed a little since we're not coming to your city/town. I'm sure we're gonna deal with it on Twitter/fb. We tried to stretch it as wide/tall as possible within this short time span. Sorry. Keep in mind that Stacy ties the knot in July. We have to get that girl 'to the church on time'.
And remember - we'll be back out in the Fall. Hey - I mean... we were going to do like only 5 or 6 shows; at least this is a decent little jaunt. I wish we could cover a bit further West and further North but not at this time.
I'll be adding the 26th to all the graphics/on-line, myspace, etc. if it gets booked soon. Admat goes out Monday along with a press release.
INQUIRING MINDS READ FURTHER. OTHERWISE, YOU ARE FREE TO TWEET THE NEWS ABOUT THIS VERY MILD TOUR ON YOUR IPHONE TO ALL YOUR FOLLOWERS.
Indie Status
Because I can talk about whatever I want and no one will shush me... we're talking to an indie. Yes... a label. After careful/contemplative thought - we're just not up for the path where you build the machine by financing it. Maybe at some point we'll want to start our own label... do a self-release, etc... but right now: nope.
I have as many concerns about being 'indie-visible' on our own. I know it's legit to go that route; it can be done. But I've also talked to plenty bands (big and small) lately who have suffered greatly in their own hands. So - yeah; basically we've been weighing it out.
It's like... you can step out of the industry and [poof] disappear... like stepping into another dimension. Where did Eisley go? "Oh, they went completely indie... I think they put a record out... not sure; i heard they were going to tour... but i don't see them in magazines, blogs, or hear much buzz these days". Frustrating right? I mean - you're workin' it... you're grinding it out with all the other seasoned rebels in some dark, oil stained engine room with low-overhead pipes & steam and pressure gages that don't work (you have to tap those things) - fighting for your life; you're fighting the Matrix. But - ughh... Bands need visibility. The industry is snobbish; you can't just say f/u music industry (sorry, using vernacular that fits) and expect to be coddled, courted, amped. If you want to play ball, you have to be in the game. We're not ready to get out of the game. btw - the imagery of the rebel alliance appeals to me but the reality is, perhaps, for a different time.
Besides - honestly - we're all freakishly left-brained. You have to know your strengths and you're weaknesses. Eisley writes/records, is great live... we have on-line/marketing/graphics/touring/relational/branding/etc. down. We also have the best agent in the biz'.
We just want to work with a tight team who's basically extension of this team. The goal: find a label who is seriously in love w/ this band; a label with a great track record... one that has signed some good bands, have sold a million records (jk). I actually do have steep criteria but I'm just glossing over because I don't have time to write a novel. We're looking for a label with a good feel for on-line marketing, who has a solid sales team for (dwindling retail) & distro to get records to market... a good (hired) publicist, a decent push, maybe some college/Triple A' radio... but - someone who good relationships w/ late night, is well connected... a team who basically gets this record... and more importantly gets this band. I said that. Repeating.
As I said - we are talking to an indie and there is good vibe on both sides. This - a result of me contacting them cold - on line... through their website. A label that responds to a data gathering e-form within a few minutes is... well - I was impressed. Since then we've been back and forth talking/emails/music... endlessly. We've had a great conference calls w/ the band and 2 A&R's... they're flying down, suits are talking, attorneys are talking... blah, blah... too much info. Hey, I don't give a crap. This could all change overnight. That's the industry we're in. IF that happens, I can simply create another journal.
AP.net Interview
Read this very honest interview (by Adam Pfleider) that might help connect dots... or - the early emotional chunks to what's happening today. Clearly that interview predates our decision to go with an indie label. We're further down the road by now and pretty much everyone is over all the WB dl (you dig a little and sure - it's there, but it's not top of mind at all). http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=66520402#post66520402
So - that's the update. Tickets on sale next week. Will post more info as soon as I have it. I'll post a banner on our site soon... and create a smaller one so you can toss it somewhere if you want.
Thanks. ~ bd