Week 12. New Years Eve Reflections / Expectations
Sun Jan 02, 2005 2:37 am
New Years Eve Show
January 1, 2005
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Sincere affection and thanks to everyone who came
to very memorable, very special show last night. wow. I'm still reeling.
I wanted to put up something from the show, though there could be
more... This song is one of two that will be available on itunes. (well, not
"this", literally; an unmixed demo of the song tracked by the band here in
Tyler).
Eisley -
New Year's Eve. Vintage People
So this is the new year. I don't feel anything different. I don't have a New
Year's Resolution, a new year's speech. I don't even feel like I have
closure on 2004. Maybe it's Eisley's fault. They missed the countdown!
The standard mechanisms and conventions that usher in the new year
weren't void...but, for some reason, I enjoyed the transition more than
usual.
Tree's
Let's talk about the show! I thought it was a very fitting, very superb
performance...full of very eisley antedotes for conventions they protested
- such as their rebellion to the classic encore; and their indifference to
the classic (aforementioned) countdown.
For me, "memories" provided the perfect passage from 04 to 05.
Everything in our lives has been so centered around these musical
seeds... I couldn't help but wonder - you know - whether or not they'd
actually spring from these rows... bloom into beautiful sounds. Lord
knows there's been a lot of sewing. But without being too literal, it was
the best song for that moment. Hope you guys were ok Sherri's, "oh
well....then, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!" I like breaking rules.
Tree's is a great club. Lot's of spaces for different environments - front,
back, side balconies, back balcony with seating, etc. What a great turn
out... I never heard exactly how many total (paid and unpaid) were
there...but best indications were about 600. All 3 bands sounded great,
the crowd was great. What a fun night. Wish you all could have been there.
Attempted Thanks
When you're sincere, it should just pour out. So why is it that I feel my
expressed thanks to all of you who drove for days to get here will come
off cheap? I think it's because I feel shock and... awe that you'd do such
a thing; that feeling overpowers my sheer gratitude. Maybe it's because I
feel a twinge of guilt.
I tried to meet as many as possible. There were droves of you...herds.
flocks of northern migrants, packs of Westerners, heaps of Easterners,
Plethora's of Central Folk...but even more - there were amplitudes of
Texans. You wonderful long-time supporters were there, like always... it
was awesome. All I can say is: you're the best and thank you for coming.
Russell, the club manager, say's it was huge... that traditionally, it's
almost impossible to get very many people to New Year's Eve Shows in
Deep Ellum... because people don't like to get out... and there are so
many other things you can do that doesn't cost much... Anyway, he was
thrilled at the enormous turn out. And...as usual, he freaked over the set.
Everyone at Tree's is so nice to Eisley. It's a good relationship. We
appreciate everyone, including the club for being so supportive.
It's late and i have to get to sleep. Haven't recovered from all of this yet.
Goodnight.
Dazed and Confludged
January 4, 2005
What day is this anyway? Monday? Tuesday? How could it be the 4th? I
feel very disoriented. I'm eating squirrel food to try to stay awake... that,
on the heels of a few Hershey's bars and some e-mergenC for brain food.
Been working on the web site all day. Around midnight I got brave and
checked email. 15 emails from the label...all - "boyd, this...boyd, that". I
can't keep up. They keep inventing new things to do. It's all cool and I
wanna be all over it, but sheesh. My head is caving in.
Maybe I should just go to bed - double sided flyers and new eblasts
featuring Eisley's new Launch.com push and the AOL feature and new i
tunes and I need blogs and content on e-merge and ads for the Winter
West tour to booking and updates/facelift to myspace.com/eisley and pop
ups on the website and final comps on the new website and ringtones
banners and new backgrounds and new eisley merch and the store. (etc.)
But, I'm not complaining. I'm just...going to sleep; after I finish these
comps. It's 3:10 and where are YOU'RE Children? bd
-------------------------
...To Which I Might Add:
January 5, 2005
Do you realize what all this means? (reference above paragraph) It
means that WB eisley is on the front burner. Ever read those books about
the record industry and how bands can get shoved to the back burner? I
think Eisley is on the front - on high. They're looking for a rapid boil.
That's very cool.
The Launch Thing
This week, we're going to talk about this Launch thing and this AOL thing.
I'm told it's a freakin' huge thing. (as far as things go...) Voting on
Launch is going to be essential. This E-merge thingis starting to play
a very important role in all of this. But, for now, I have to send a cargo of
ruffs for the website out. Be back soon.
___________________________
What They Did
Today they took Luke to DFW (2.75hrs) to fly home to California. I
worked in a house that was as quiet as 10 mice playing the quiet game.
Only the sound of the Christmas tree lights could be heard as I toiled -
except for the phone calls. I should have muted those phone calls.
A big Wup Thing Comin'
This Launch thing - it's really big. I'll get more info soon. A big e-blast has
to go out by Friday when this big deal starts.
iTunes, they are a comin'
Official word: the itunes thing goes up January 25th. Here's the deal as I
know it: it's "Telescope Eyes" with the two demo's packaged together:
Pretty sure it'll be "Vintage People" and an early version of "Tree Tops"
from Nebraska w/ Mike Mogis (sessions from Laughing City).
Dis-capacitated Thinker
Today I invented "The Blogumentary". I'm working on a short, random
clip that...well, it's more like a blog - with boring narrative yamberings to
sortof get you along. NO, dummy!!..it's supposed to be hack; like these
blogs. Forget refined video transitions or beautiful gadger-gadgers (i
couldn't think of a word so I rebelled...against the empire of iron-ore-
ites). jeegz, what am I talking about? I might be retarded. That's not
a bad word!! so stop condemning me If I'm not...(the bad word) that
might be why they didn't tell me so far. But, I probably - I totally am...
which is why they didn't tell me so far. Would it help me to NO!!?
If this first blogumentary turns out as dumb as a regular blog, then it
might be worth putting up on the e-merge site. They want me to gib dem
somtin' tuh put up. (shakes head) I'm so sleepy after my alone-in-the
dark-den-day. I didn't even discover Cleo was outside till it was almost
dark. When I let her in, she just stared at me as if to say - "thanks - and
you were here all along? - I'VE BEEN OUTSIDE THANKYOUVERYMUCH!!..."
sheeze. Give a dog a load and she'll take a heap on the couch. What a
life... it's time for you to feed me again.
It's Happened..
January 5, 2005
I've reached saturation point. 20+ WB emails, 4 phone calls, outside
eisley related calls and emails requesting stuff, 10 + projects on my plate
- all due now, tour in a few weeks...12 pm's in my bin unanswered. I'll
see another 4 oclocker if my impecable, physical cadaver holds up. ha! ha!
That's a joke. I laugh as my head caves in and my spinal column melts to
my anterior skull sternum.
But, he work is SO fun... and I SO believe in the cause. That's what
keeps me going. I do apologize since I can't answer the pm's now. Please
post questions on eisley blog and plead for the well informed among us to
dig up the answers. Thankyou.
Did I mention this big Launch thing? Get your voting booths out. Friday is
the big vote day. if you need a motive - it's vinyl. Don't forget we're
making VINYL!!! make that your happy thought. much luv. bowed
Vinyl Wukin' Gud
January 6, 2005
It's 4:29am. My feet are cold and that infomercial about the facial goop
that replaces plastic surgery is annoying me - only because those 2 court
TV shows were aired back to back.
But the good news is - I started the vinyl packaging art at 8:00pm and
I'm finished. It's ready for to send off.
Only thing I'm wondering - what are the spec's on the insert - 4/0? I hope
so...that's what I did. Also, I deviated from the cd back...just to give an
option; different photo. (nice one) Very clean. no clutter whatsoever.
The label (that's the circle) was the hardest... lots of conversions on
images; like I had to use line art only....colors limited to one solid pms
and either a black or a silver for the type. It still looks much like the cdr
label - same pms base with black.
That was perhaps the most boring bit of blormification I've ever slarnked
out of my dried out medulla femor majoris. So, I'm going to splatter
myself on that bed right there. After I turn off ole' Oreck - who's selling a
professional air purifier.
Eisley? oh, they're fine. Visions of sugar plumps and video shoots dance
in their heads. And when the first shipment of printed CD inserts come in,
they have to sign 1000. Oh, btw... they're scheduled to print...like right
away or already have. They sent me the match prints - which looked
great. btw.
Disclaimer - that digital jpg is probably way too bright on your cheesy
monitor. I never wanted the art that bright. You have to understand -
your monitors are not color corrected. It's almost impossible to simulate
what happens on press. ink on paper. cmyk dots. rosettes. the brightness
of the sheet-fed paper will effect the final outcome, but I'm just warning
you... the cover is very rich... it wasn't supposed to be like a saturday in
the park. It surely is "a real celebration" - but more like something
Rembrant might have imagined. And yes, that grid is pretty much gone.
bd
The Never-Never Ending Wall to the End
January 6, 2005
The pile of projects keeps growing. It's very-very exciting...seeing all of
this and being in the middle of it. Amazing. It's overwhelming. How are
you guys? I hope OK. I answered the pm's. I can't stay on here long
(oh..please boyd...please...all 3 of us who read this are crying...whaa...
whaahh!) jk. anyway.
Ok. So...here's my stupid, weird spew that describes how bad it is for me
today: "The crimson folds of cortexial mass - now floating in my own
head-uranium sparks and flickers...warning of meltdown" (These
ridiculous kinds of phrases are for my own pleasure. They just come to
me and give me pleasure. I don't apologize though I know they're gross.
And that's what I need. Gross Pleasure) "My shriveled eyes are as the
dried prunes of Bandernon...I see the murky about, though they
ooze manowar guk." gross.
TOMORROW IS A BIG DEAL DAY. E-BLAST GOING OUT. THE LAUNCH
THING! Don't touch that e-dial. If you don't want to do it, I suggest you
go for a drive or study or listen to music. That's really the only things I
can't think of.
Paul isn't dead. Miss me. miss me.
______________________________________
The Last Sip of Chauntelle's Left Over Latte
January 8, 2005
Goodmorning and welcome to the 3:30 Tell Tell Heart Hour. I'm the
dragoon boid and I'm sipping the last of my generous daughter's latte
from their trip back from DFW hours ago. mmmm...it's lickin-lickin' good.
slurb. but now it's gone. I lap up leftover Starbucks...cold and all.
Boid Sufferage
I just read all of the 6 pages of posts....for the first time this week. I
must have complained too much. Yes i did and you know it. So let's hear
some more. I went past the numb zone - Certainly, into what Navy Seal's
must experience in the field or in training. The brain boils in it's own sleep
deprived chemistry and threatens to shut down...until wHambo. it's like a
second kick in the wind happened; I muscled out so many projects today
and really feel better even tho' I'm worse off for it. That means that
emotions really enter into the physical realm. I'm like some kind of bio-
synchronical sleep-scientist or something.
The Growing Archive of Work
The vinyl went out for routing, I did the e-merge e-blast template, I did
the 1'X1', 4/4 retail card, the 4 up, 2sided flyer for the WWTour, the
Launch pop up window on the .com, got the eblast out, conferred with
New Media about my digital websketches for the site, answered 12 pm's -
directed some of them to WB, handled (but really almost dropped the
ball) a sherri phoner, and a lot of mortar that floats those bricks.
Yesterday (for my records) I did planned and prepared Tshirt designs
and sent off another sherri drawing complete with color suggestions w/
instructions to make HOODIES for this tour... i made revisions to the cd
sticker and sent that out for good, wrote and put together the eblast w/
calendars, and...something else.
The Tangled Web to Weave
I'm clearing a path to go deep... go really deep into the world of
webness. It's going to be hard and fun. Creative and...what's the
opposite? right and left brained... arty and geeky. But mostly - simple
and effective in disseminating info., content, etc. Everyone seems to love
the ideas... they just didn't want it quite so drab. I had proposed limiting
the color pallette of the key background images as much as possible to
decrease load times...but, hey if they want zingier, I can bring up the
saturation and slow down the load. hey...it's all taters.
Fam-O-Bliteration
Our lil tight knit-nit fam' is getting obliterated. What am I saying? it's
BEEN obliterated - which is why we held close during these last months.
Today, Sherri accompanied by her lurchy 6'4.5" brother, made air
passage to Long Island or where ever those BN guys moved to for a
splendid social hang.
Brand New is starting on their "most anticipated" record of the year and
this is the last time (even during Rich Costey's pre-production perhaps) to
yuk it up. Cuz' on the heels of this, the young band known as Eisley flys
to LA to make their 2nd video.
Videoscope - Eyes
I think maybe Kimbertones will go - as I am laden with webness and
burdened with the Dago-Gorim's of Triffleage. I will equip her with video
cam and tapes....and a hard mandate to film all that she see's. It's
something I sure wouldn't want to miss - but, I cannot deny - i'm all
about the website. If she loads me up with plenty of coffee beans, me
and the 'lil ones will survive and flourish - even under certain hardship.
Everyone has heard by now that T.E. (no surprises) has been selected as
a tune to cast over the land in various medias... I happen to believe that
this medium might be the joust and sheild for this battle-worn song. (no,
the treatment not about canterbury... )
That Bunny Label
WB is freakin' me up. They're so hard-core all over all of this - and I'm
continually very impressed. They're danged aggressoids... hot on the
break eisley trail. I think they'll be heart broken if Eisley doesn't win
this Launch gig. It's inspiring me to go vote as all of the boids i can be.
'Makin me wanna dang quesa-dilla. AND (addendum), I should add - that
management's Ricky, who worked at Capitol, is kicking some merch
bootie for us. He's really the one driving all of this now. What a great,
enthusiastic guy. He's going to make sure merch is a priority. Manage-
ment is getting stronger and stronger.
The Winter West Rumbles In
So anyway, the tour. it's beginning to rumble through the Eisley corridors
like a 60's bowling ball that jumped a gutter. I'm getting the deal
memo's, the contracts, all the details... management is working out final
budgets... there's talk of a sound check party in Seattle at that 21+ club
(talk, i tell you. waiting on the word from the club)... and i have to start
planning the tour soon. (with LANYARDS!..oh...oh...i always wanted to
make those lanyards to pass out to everyone... a lifes dream come tru)
Swag to Pedal
And Merch! - talkin' 'bout my m-mer-mer-mer mercheration. But NOT so
much as what we're talking 'bout for the NewifoundGlory tour. omygosh.
Talking lithos and cool new t's and zip hoodies... maybe even old fashion
lunch boxes... (wouldn't that be so fitting. eisley always loved those old
brand oriented metal lunch boxes. so dumb and vintage. yes) Merch is
going to get very, very fat indeed. You will see. It's a whole new realm.
Musical Rings
And there'll be... ok, if this is cheezy, shoot me with a large grade A
black, hard-shelled bug of your choice through a pigmee pipe ...but,
everyone seems to be doing Ringtones these days. At first, I was
like..."oh man, that's so cheezy..." but then I met Eisley fans that i love
and respect who had them on their phones. And, it sorta sounded
cool...so I thought, well, maybe WB is right - maybe it is the next big
wave. I, in fact, am now putting photos of people so that when they call, i
can see them. Backgrounds and banners and ringtones, oh my!
The New Eisley Store
So....there'll be these sorts on the website...and a juicy link to the new
WB/Eisley store, which will undoubtedly rock hard. I'm not joking. Those
guys are gonna do so many cool things - like advertise the site, push it
on all there web entities... work with us on origial art merch... try all
kinds of things to see what works. Robin Bechtel, the head of New Media,
is in fact, a Texas girl from AUSTIN; she's really cool. we met her day
one at the label....she's always been a fan and so so supportive. She's
now heading up MERCH at the label. so...woo-hoo...a great team;
sensible, artistic, smart, no egos. It's all working out so well.
See. I'm riding the quest of nocturnal emissions. You'd think I'd be too
dead to have any coherant thoughts...but i really wanted
(plop)
______________________________________
The Sunshine Bath
January 8, 2005
BE GONE!!!
The dank, pressing, vaporous, nebulon of darkness hovers no more.
The brittle, crackling of light shafts from our earthen sun now surges -
giving way to a brighter sanctuary - a wonderous backdrop for what I
never call: the creative flow.
The Mug of Magumba
I'm sitting comfortably - in my corner - alone; AHH, but not so alone...
for I am sipping, perniciously, from the rare indie-mug awarded to me by
none other than the vivacious Grandpa Turtle and the cerebral Ryan
Fisher. For this reason.... I AM ALL POWERFUL!!!!
And what a mug it is...rather an urn of malgroitous proportion. It is the
end all to bev'rOcontainers. Rootbeerish and barrelesque, rotund,
tall...it's wooden handle clasps round the deep-amber glass with brassy
rings - one atop and one below; it's decorative presentation employs the
less than precise, screened with a deep-treasure-golden ink - bearing the
words: "I BET YOU CAN'T".
ahhh... to relish my freshly-brewed-double-latte in such a worthy urn is
making me a fine, fine gentleman. It gives me the power to engage
THE... WORLD....WIDE.... WEB!!! YES!!! HA HA HA AAAAAAAA!
OOOOHHH AHH-AHH-AHH-AHHHHH!!!!! ( the boisterous chortling of
sinister yaup )
i ain't missin' you
ok. that's all. already miss sherri n weston. they safely landed. kim and
all have gone to D. Chauntelle is hanging with Pilot drift - they have a
show at the Tea room tonight, StacyChristieJessie are probably preparing
to have fun again...like they did last night. Girl time.
I have to go make some content for Karina - the emerge girl, who is
quite awesome. So, let me jump off here. No one is reading anyway. It's
Saturday. have a great weekend everybody.
OH....PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE ON LAUNCH!!
http://launch.yahoo.com/promotions/whosnext/
Click the little circle and then click vote. Also... go into the other section
and vote 5 stars for every song, every record, etc. (if'n you wunt. if you
don't, it's ok) But, if Eisley wins...there will be a super duper show in LA.
No joke. So... for the love of Californians, everybody - help them. All for
the cause of celebrating original, indie music that now has an opportunity
to invade the commercial world with it's honesty and love.
bd
sunday blues
January 9, 2005
I don't have much to report really. i'm sitting here trying to force myself
to work - projects piled up last week and worked slightly to hard. my
brain still hurts. i'd rather watch a movie with everyone and just chill. but
tomorrow's string of emails from the west coast will hit my desktop at
approximately 11 oclock - "boyd, where's this...that..." So, it's off to work
i go. I have to clear my plate for the website. all of this other stuff is
choking me.
Eric Pullido (Midlake) drove down from Denton last night for some good
catch up time. We hung out, drank lots of coffee, went to a local show to
see friends band here in Tyler, stayed up till 3:30am and...it was great.
So. I have nothing to say. Everyone is taking a Sunday nap. I just
thought i'd close out the week with a few words and we'll catch up
tomorrow. sigh... it's going to be a crazy week. bd
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