STONE PONY & BOWERY BALLROOM

8/27/08
6:40pm Tampa time

Quick note: Tickets are still available to the co-headline shows with MATT PRYOR (Get Up Kids, New Amsterdams) September 4 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and September 5 at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.

JONAH MATRANGA (of FAR, NEW END ORIGINAL, ONELINEDRAWING, GRATITUDE) has been added to the Stony Pony show September 4th (http://www. myspace. com/jonahmatranga), and my good friend SCOTT MATTHEW (who did the music for the film "Shortbus" and has recorded music with Mike Skinner of the Goddamn Band) has been added to the Bowery show September 5th.

Pick up your tickets and I hope to see you there...

xo
Kevin

10:44 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

"Another Bag Of Bones" on iTunes, Rhapsody, etc.

8/26/08
11:24pm in that good Florida Panhandle

An update: The "Another Bag Of Bones"/"Love Me, I'm A Liberal" single has been added to iTunes, Rhapsody, and other mp3 purchase sites for around $2. We've linked to iTunes on the left side of the page. We've also been told that the mispricing for $9 over at Amazon. com should be fixed by the end of the week; physical copies of the 7", which you can still order through Academy Fight Song, should be getting sent out now-ish as well.

Thanks to those of you who've made it out early to see my set supporting MATT PRYOR in Texas and Baton Rogue this past weekend. We're rolling real mellow to this point and it's been enjoyable, even paced. Just saw a creepy cabal of (action?) cats tearing fish meat from goddamn bones in a desolate and unsafe parking lot in front of a discount Western store in Tallahasee. So shit's about where it's supposed to be, as best as I can tell. The remaining dates are on the main page, from Florida through Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland, Philly, Jersey, NYC, Boston, Providence, Toronto, Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago; come out if you're around and also, check out Matt's new record, "Confidence Man."

Alright - be easy and take care.
Kevin

Current listening: "Conor Oberst," Conor Oberst; "On The Mouth," Superchunk
Current reading: "The World According to Karl Pilkington," Karl Pilkington

5:01 AM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Matt Pryor tour starts TONIGHT; ’Another Bag Of Bones’

8/22/08
4:20pm Dallas Time

Newark to Charlotte to Dallas/Ft. Worth. And 11 hours later, here we go - the run of dates with MATT PRYOR (of THE GET UP KIDS & THE NEW AMSTERDAMS) starts tonight at the House of Blues here. Read on:

8.22.08 Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues Dallas - Cambridge Room
8.23.08 Austin, TX @ Stubb's Jr.
8.24.08 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live (Studio)
8.25.08 Baton Rogue, LA @ Spanish Moon
8.27.08 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
8.28.08 Orlando, FL @ The Social
8.29.08 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl (w/ ANDY HULL of MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA)
8.30.08 Columbia, SC@ New Brookland Tavern
8.31.08 Norfolk, VA @ The Boot
9.02.08 Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
9.03.08 Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero
9.04.08 Asbury Park, NJ @ The Stone Pony
9.05.08 New York, NY @ The Bowery Ballroom* (KD HEADLINES)
9.06.08 Cambridge, MA @ Harper's Ferry
9.07.08 Providence, RI @ The Living Room
9.09.08 Toronto, ONT, CAN @ Mod Club
9.10.08 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
9.11.08 Detroit, MI @ Shelter
9.12.08 Chicago, IL @ Schubas (ALL AGES)
9.13.08 Chicago, IL @ Schubas (21+)

Hope to see you at the shows. I'm also really stoked to announce I'll be going out with RACHAEL YAMAGATA this fall, supporting her on a string of shows and playing in her band. I'll add the dates in a less jetlagged, the world looks pixelated haze.

The "Another Bag Of Bones" 7" is still available to be ordered via Academy Fight Song. They're working on getting the existing pre-orders sent out and fixing the EP's online availability on MP3 purchase sites. Thanks for your patience.

And also, thanks for voting me co-artist of the month over at the Deli. My mom's thrilled.

Take care,
Kevin

9:45 PM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

’Another Bag Of Bones’ MISPRICED at Amazon; Vinyl delayed!

8/20/08
1:09am Brooklyn Time

The 'Another Bag of Bones' b/w 'Love Me, I'm A Liberal' 7" was set to come out today, August 19th. Thank you if you pre-ordered the vinyl or intended to purchase it on the upcoming MATT PRYOR dates.

Unfortunately, there have been some problems. Please DO NOT PURCHASE THE TRACKS DIGITALLY FROM AMAZON. COM. They are mispriced at $8.99 for the two-song EP due to miscommunication between Amazon and Academy Fight Song Records; the price will be fixed to something far more standard and reasonable, and the EP will be added to other digital music retailers, like iTUNES, and when those things happen, an easy link will be offered right here on the website. PLEASE, refrain from picking it up until then, because while I think Schnapf did a killer job and I believe in the songs, they're not worth $4.50 per mp3.

As for the physical vinyl, delivery on those will be delayed as well due to a mishap at the pressing plant - when it rains it pours. Those of you who pre-ordered should receive the 7" by mid-September, and I definitely apologize for the delay and inconvenience. For a more detailed note from the label, please continue reading - thank you for your patience and support, as always.

xo
Kevin

Current reading: "Daredevil: Frank Miller, Volume 1"
Current viewing: "The Sopranos: Season 2," Disc 3

"Friends,

As you may have gathered from our website over the past couple of weeks, the production delay on Kevin Devine's "Another Bag Of Bones" 7" has led to our inability to send out the 7"s by today's release date: August 19, 2008. To be more specific, when we received the first batch of test pressings in the mail, we were not fully satisfied with the sound quality of the original lacquer cut. Having the lacquers re-cut, re-plated, and the new test pressings pressed and shipped to us was a process that took over two weeks to complete and set us back accordingly.

Needless to say, we are extremely pleased with how the new test pressings sound, and the vinyl is currently being pressed at a California-based pressing plant. As soon as we receive the finals, assembly and packaging will be finished as quickly as possible [overnight if need be], and each and every package will be shipped out by September 3, at the latest. As soon as your order ships, you will receive a shipment confirmation e-mail that includes the shipment date and a recap of your order.

Thank you for your incredible support for both Academy Fight Song and Kevin Devine, and for your patience with this release as we try and make it the best quality possible

Take care,
RJ

--
R.J. Crowder-Schaefer

Academy Fight Song
www. academyfightsong. com
myspace. com/academyfightsong"

5:15 AM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Record 5; 7"; Deli Magazine; Pryor tour

8/15/08
3:18PM, Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Headgear Studios

I sit on the control room couch surrounded by Mazzy's hair, thin black stripes shed against coffee colored cushions. She whimpered off twenty minutes ago, in seach of exercise and excitement. Bracco applies makeup to Nick Cave's face in a magazine while Skinner gets levels on Strandberg making ambient angelbaby loops for a song called "She Stayed As Steam" in the live room. Skinner flips the plate reverb on, and off, and back on, muting and unmuting faders on the Trident 80 mixing board. Strandberg: "Let's make magic work." The space bar is clicked and deep space beauty spirals forth. 15 songs in 10 days is the plan. We are on day 8 and we are definitely on the downward sprint, but still a ways up the mountain...in other words, we got more shit to do but we're getting close.

In the interim, while the record gets recorded, and mixed, and mastered, and titled, Academy Fight Song Records offers up "Another Bag Of Bones" b/w "Love Me I'm A Liberal" on 7" vinyl and digital release this coming Tuesday, August 19th. The record's available for pre-order now at Academy Fight Song.

We're apparently running close for the Deli "August Artist of the Month" competition. You can cast your vote here. Please do.

Lastly, following recording, I'll be heading out to meet my friend MATT PRYOR (The New Amsterdams, The Get Up Kids) for a few weeks of shows starting in Texas, in support of "Another Bag of Bones" and Matt's new record "Confidence Man." The dates are included below - tickets are available for all shows now, and I will be headlining the New York show at the Bowery Ballroom, so make sure to reserve a spot before spots can't be reserved:

Aug 22 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues - Dallas
Aug 23 – Austin, TX @ Stubb's Jr.
Aug 24 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Studio
Aug 25 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
Aug 27 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
Aug 28 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
Aug 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
Aug 30 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
Aug 31 – Norfolk, VA @ The Boot
Sep 2 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Sep 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero Balcony
Sep 4 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony
Sep 5 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Sep 6 – Allston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
Sep 7 – Providence, RI @ The Living Room
Sep 9 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
Sep 10 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Sep 11 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
Sep 12 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Sep 13 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas (The Terrible Twos – Early Show)
Sep 13 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas

"Put Your Ghost To Rest" is re-registered to us over at iTunes and Amazon, so happy hunting; and enjoy the new online merch store. And take care.

Ride strong,
Kevin

Current (re)reading: "The Dark Knight Returns," Frank Miller

8:35 PM - 5 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Ryan Russell; The Deli; Online Store(s); Record 5; thanks

8/8/08
Friday, 3:10am Brooklyn Time
Can't sleep.

So.

My friend Ryan Russell's a sick photographer. He does a lot of great band portraiture, including one of the few pictures of myself I like - close-up wearing Chris Freeman's hunting cap and Jordan's O'Darbys shirt after a show in Atlanta with Owen and Andy. Just sharp stuff, casual, good use of light and shadow, and a super nice and genuine and committed dude to boot. He's presenting some of his work from the first half of this year at http://www. ryanrussell. net and http://www. myspace. com/ryanrussell. Go take a look.

It's been brought to my attention that we're (I'm?) one of the bands/people being voted for or against as the best band of the month of August in The Deli (a NYC music magazine). I'm not sure what we win or don't win, and not sure what this sort of thing means or doesn't mean, but a friend pointed out we had 'very little votes,' and well, to rally the troops and defend her pride, please, feel free to let them know if you think we're positively this month's best band of the bands listed at http://www. theDeliMagazine. com.

We're opening up a 2nd online store through Merch Co. for the hoodies and t-shirts I've been selling on tour so far through 2008. The link will appear at the left of the screen but you can access the page through http://www. merchco-online. com/kevindevine/. The 2007 designs are still available at the working link to Merch Now. All four existing released records can still be found on iTunes.

Speaking of: tomorrow begins recording on album 5. Many of the songwriting demos you heard here in the past 8 months will be part of that process; most of them sound pretty different than they do played quietly alone in my apartment into my mBox with Bracco sitting three feet away manning the space bar. Work commences at Headgear Studios in Williamsburg, where we made 'Split The Country,' with the same producers (Bracco & Skinner) and engineer (Dan Long). I'm pretty thrilled with the song cycle and the way we've arranged things and can't wait to get going. Expect updates.

In the interim, pick up the "Another Bag of Bones" b/w "Love Me, I'm A Liberal" 7" I recorded with Rob Schnapf (who made 'Put Your Ghost To Rest') in LA this past March when it comes out August 19th. You can pre-order at http://www. academyfightsong. com.

Thanks to everyone who made the JESSE/KD/BONZ tour such an easy and rewarding experience. The crowds were generally so supportive and respectful, and we genuinely had a ball - it passed real quickly and that's the best kind of tour, one where good, mellow times are had, people enjoy themselves, travels are safe, and everyone leaves happy. Thanks also to you, we've sold out of the first Procrastinate! print of "Put Your Ghost To Rest." That once barely-born record won't die thanks to your efforts - know it's appreciated.

Finally, I'll be heading back out after recording for the last time for at least a few months stateside to share the stage with my friend MATT PRYOR (GET UP KIDS, NEW AMSTERDAMS, TERRIBLE TWOS). Tickets are available to all shows listed below, just contact the club; I'm HEADLINING the BOWERY BALLROOM show in September and have some ideas to make it a special night so please, get your tickets now. The dates:

Aug 22 – Dallas, TX @ House of Blues - Dallas
Aug 23 – Austin, TX @ Stubb's Jr.
Aug 24 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Studio
Aug 25 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
Aug 27 – Tampa, FL @ Orpheum
Aug 28 – Orlando, FL @ The Social
Aug 29 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
Aug 30 – Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
Aug 31 – Norfolk, VA @ The Boot
Sep 2 – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Sep 3 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero Balcony
Sep 4 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony*
Sep 5 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom*
Sep 6 – Allston, MA @ Harpers Ferry
Sep 9 – Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
Sep 10 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Sep 11 – Detroit, MI @ Shelter
Sep 12 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Sep 13 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas (The Terrible Twos – Early Show)
Sep 13 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas

* - Co-headlining with Kevin Devine

Sleep calls. Goodnight.

xo.
Kevin

7:31 AM - 7 Comments - 18 Kudos - Add Comment

"Put Your Ghost To Rest" back on iTunes & Amazon

7/30/08
12:13am Omaha Time
Backstage at the Waiting Room

Hey guys,

Just a quick note to say 'Put Your Ghost To Rest' has been put back up on iTunes and Amazon, wrested finally from EMI's pincers and 100% under my ownership. Hard to believe. So, if you're interested and have extra time and an inclination to burn some of your dwindling expendable income - fire away.

Take care,
Kevin

5:30 AM - 3 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

KD with BRAND NEW & MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA in Chicago 8/1/08

Hey guys,

Just a quick note to happily announce that myself and an abbreviated version of the GODDAMN BAND will be joining our friends BRAND NEW & MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA at the House of Blues in Chicago on August 1st. I believe the show is already sold out, but all the same - if you're going, make sure you get there early.

Hope to see some of you at this last handful of dates with JESSE & BRIAN. Thanks to everyone we've met at these shows to date - good people, respectful listeners all around.

Sleep in Wichita is seductive at 2:25am. I'm seduced. Good night and good luck.

See you soon,
Kevin

Current reading: "DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore"
Current listening: Bonz and Jesse, pretty much nightly; Sigur Ros and Radiohead; Elliott Smith, "XO": Belle & Sebastian, "If You're Feeling Sinister"

7:19 AM - 7 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment

LIVE STREAM TONIGHT AT THE CHAIN REACTION

If you can't make it out to the show tonight at the Chain Reaction in Anaheim, CA, we are streaming our show FREE and LIVE over at http://www.notmtv.tv/chain/

The show starts at 7:30 PST so tune in and check it out!

http://www.notmtv.tv/chain/

6:37 PM - 1 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

"Another Bag of Bones" on SPIN.COM; Jesse/Bonz Tour

7/17/08
10:15am Washington Time

Hey,

This morning, SPIN. COM posted an interview and exclusive stream of "Another Bag of Bones" as recorded with Rob Schnapf this past March for release August 19th with Academy Fight Song Records. You can read/listen at SPIN.

Later today, after a humbling and well-paced drive across America's northern passage that bore witness to 50 foot tin sculptures, Clarke's vanilla extract-heavy milkshakes, Lake Calhoun at sunset, dockside dining in Couer d'Alene, "Indian Tacos" in Reeds Point, Montana, and tons of staggering natural beauty, we start the JESSE LACEY/BRIAN BONZ/DR. STRANDBERG tour. The dates:

Jul 17: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Jul 18: Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Jul 20: Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction* (KD & BONZ only)
Jul 21: Hollywood, CA @ The Roxy
Jul 22: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues @ Delta Room
Jul 23: Phoenix, AZ @ Brickhouse Theater
Jul 25: Dallas, TX @ The Loft
Jul 26: Austin, TX @ Mohawk
Jul 27: Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
Jul 29: Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot Saloon
Jul 30: Omaha, NE @ Waiting Room
Jul 31: Iowa City, IA The Picador
Aug 4: Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre

Tickets are still available for the KD/Bonz show at Chain Reaction in Anaheim on July 20 - to purchase, visit Chain Reaction.

Thanks guys,
Kevin

Current reading: "Secret Invasion 4" with tie-ins; "Invincible Iron Man" 1-3; "Hulk" 1-3

10:25 AM - 2 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment