In this edition: 8th Grade Talent Show Relived SXSW Reviewed Road trips, Radio, Snowboots and Dress Shoes FAIR. Every year P.O.S and I visit the 8th graders at the FAIR school. It’s a remarkable place where young people beat the snot out of national averages and teachers all but eradicate the achievement gap. P.O.S and I talk about finding your … Read More
Into the Spin Tour Announcement
Blogging from SXSW is a little like trying to blog on horseback, while your steed bucks and rears in the throes of sever DTs. So I’ll keep it brief. I’m going on tour. I’ll head west in late April for my very first headlining run. This time around, I’ll be bringing the cast of live players with whom I perform … Read More
The Ides of March.
If you’re in an unsigned but promising band, mid-March means South by Southwest. And SXSW means tens of thousands of musicians, reporters, and industry reps descend on Austin, Texas. There are skinny jeans and taco stands and streets papered with handbills. Sunshine and lost bandmates, high hopes and public intoxication, old friends and new lanyards. It’s like a cross between … Read More
Gig Getting.
As part of my residence at McNally Smith College of Music in Saint Paul, a few times a year I lace up my finest pair of Chuck Taylors and deliver a presentation on campus. In January, I asked the bookers for two of Minneapolis’ best clubs to join me on stage to talk about what bands can do to get … Read More
Fam[ily]ous
I’m not saying that my little brother Max just brought home a Superbowl victory to Green Bay, under the psuedonym “Aaron Rogers.” But I’m also not not saying that.
The Talk
In life, there are several prescribed conversations that serve as a right of passage. As a preteen, you’ll have The Talk with one of your parents. With very little eye contact, you’ll receive a harried, mumbled account of the birds and the bees. When you’re older…two people who love each other…very careful… This conversation is most notable for the rare … Read More
On the overnight drive.
Most of Doomtree had some variety of respiratory infection for the past week. In the van at night, chesty coughs rose from every direction in the darkness. Lazerbeak (ever the optimist) was convinced that his rising fever was evidence that his body was beating the infection. Somehow this line of reasoning took hold, and as our conditions worsened, we became … Read More
BOOK CLUB, GO.
Hello all, The book club is officially on. For those of you just joining in, the first title we’re reading is Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. So here’s what I’m thinking: Let’s read the chapters 1 through 8 by next Sunday, the 26th. We’ll read through the end of the book by the Sunday after that. I’ll be introducing a … Read More
Last Days.
Pre-order here: http://store.doomtree.net/product/legend-recognize-legend-lazerbeak And thanks. Dessa.
Beak on deck.
The great day is almost upon us: On September 28th, Doomtree Records will release the debut disc from Lazerbeak, Legend Recognize Legend. Sincere thanks to those of you who’ve pre-ordered the disc. As you may know, pre-order sales allow Doomtree to compete with bigger labels who have greater resources. If we can sell direct to our listeners, and bypass all … Read More