There’s something really charming about local bands. I’ve seen a lot of Buffalo and Rochester bands that I really thought would make it, usually because they meant so much to me and whatever life I was living at the time. How could these dudes not go on to change millions of lives like they changed mine?! Maybe it’s just the type of person I am, or maybe it’s the fact that myself and these bands have so many shared experiences. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been going to shows and playing in bands for six years now. Without knowing it, we all have been building on something here in upstate New York. We all know this terrain and we all know each other (through someone at least) and we all know what it was like to be a kid in the 90’s (at least a lot of us do) and that this city looks different now that we walk on it every day and stand outside of bars together every night and have jobs.. and for a lot of us, still dream of only having to do one thing for the rest of our lives which is of course playing music. My emotional ties to music are strong but it’s the seemingly stuck-in-one place bands (like the ones I’ve been in before) that have often times meant the most to me. I love Pavement and Bob Dylan in a way that feels very close and personal. I’m sure a lot of people feel that way, which is beautiful in its own way, they should. But then I love Attic Abasement and and A Wonderful and Dream Girls and Sports and Arctic Death and Rountine Involvements because their weirdly a part of all the shit I’m going through here in Rochester. I love them because they’re crazy talented too. Some of the most amazing bands around will never make it big.. but regardless of whether they do or don’t, they do it anyways. We’re just kind of getting through this life and trying to have a good time with each other.
katie
The above video is a song I’ve been listening to a lot. Nothing compares to being at home with my roommate, quietly contemplating and occasionally grunting at the really heart wrenching lines in Arctic Death’s self-titled album. I wish I had gotten to see them live while they were still a band in Buffalo but I’ve listened to their vinyl about 4,000 times.
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So perhaps being the drummer, I feel compelled to take a minute to pay tribute to the great Levon Helm, who passed away yesterday. His and his Band’s music has been an important part of my life since I bought a copy of ‘Music From Big Pink’ in April 2007. The first time the five of us performed onstage together was an impromptu run-through of “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down,” which prompted us to become a real band.
So, Levon, wherever you are, thanks for the music and the inspiration. Anyway, I’m out for now. See y’all in Buffalo next week.
-Rup
RERUN!
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new recordings coming soon. this is just one of the ones were working on. holla!
PILOT EPISODE [ROUGH DEMO] COTTAGE JEFFERSON
this girl : http://bovinator.tumblr.com/ what a talent!
Check it out! We’re playing with these guys this coming saturday at Lovin’ Cup. Listen to their really cool new album here.
clippings
Tour was smashing!!! We wish it was economically feasible to tour perpetually till we’re as old as Bob Dylan but we’re not gods we’re mortals. Honestly, the people we encountered over our weekend tour probably thought we were traveling a lot further than we actually were (which by the way, was all the way to the charming town of Ypslaniti MI) by the level of our childlike enthusiasm. If anyone out there actually reads this and wants us to come to your city WE WILL magically appear before you can say “wait, I wasnt seriously inviting you assholes!”
Here’s a picture of us at Franks Drugs in Ypslanti. Definitely can’t wait to get back out on the road again for more mooning contests and Weezer sing-a-longs!
-kate
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New song by Mr Jackson. Bug Jar 2/29
TOUR!
