Hey everyone,

Hello friends and web surfers!  Just a quick update that our song "My Divine" had made it to the final round in the International Songwriting Competition.  We're honoured to have this song recognized by some of the most notable musicians in the world (Tom Waits, Rob Thomas, Robert Smith, Matt Theissen, Jeremy Camp, etc.).  If you're reading this and have not voted... What are you doing here!? ... go to this link: http://www.facebook.com/n/?..event.php&eid=137020375606&..mid=212dc3G1e76535aG14a078fG7     You can listen to the song when you click on it in the voting screen.  Just so you all know, I've always thought this song was the best one on the album and I hope to make it our second radio release, hopefully destined to go further in the charts then our first single, Black Sea.

That's all folks!
Geoff

So we did a little unplugged show on Friday night to help send kids to summer camp in Ecuador.  I think it was a success because there was barely enough room to breathe - it was super crowded!  Now it was one of the smaller venues we've played, but it was great to see so many people come out to support this fundraiser.  We only played 6 songs (there were two other acts as well) and I must admit that 'Where Do We Go?' translates excellent unplugged.  We also do 'Black Sea' with a haunting piano melody and simple acoustic which is completely different than the CD, but very cool.  For those of you reading this on myspace I think there will be some pics on our Facebook page.  Check it out!

And the music video we were going to do this weekend didn't happen... Apparently Parks Canada (they own the location we wanted to use for filming) want a lot more money than we expected to use one of their locations.  So, we will continue to location scout and storyboard and hopefully get something in the next while.  That's all folks.

Geoff

Hello music listeners and curious folks abroad (particularly our friends south of the border).  We have been under the radar for the past year or so, but getting set to push forward with our music and live show throughout North America.  The past Fall was filled with romance as two of the guys got married (much of the reason why we've been under the radar!) 

So ... as for the title of this blog, we were ecstatic to discover our first single from our album Canvas Tears (pronounced 'tares' for anyone wondering) hit #23 on the CHR chart in its first week!  For those who are here reading this because they are wondering about this band called The Contact they heard on the radio, we are from Halifax, Canada (further East than Maine!) sticking out in the Atlantic Ocean (yes... it's VERY cold right now!) 

For those wondering about the song Black Sea, it is about spiritual, emotional, and physical perserverance in the midst of a dark place, when we as individuals and as a generation feel like we are submerged in unknown territory, sludging through the ideologies and philosophies of this world, facing opposition.  Sometimes the only thing that can keep us moving is the hope that we cling to, the hope of resolution and ultimately freedom and peace (which we as a band find in our faith in Jesus).

Anyways that was just a short introduction to those who are meeting us for the first time.   Keep checking back!  We're scheduled to shoot a video this weekend so I'll let you know how it goes! 

Don't forget to request Black Sea at your local radio station!  Until next time...

Geoff (lead singer and guitar)

Thanks to those who came out to Gus's last night downtown Halifax! It was a fun show. I really enjoyed it; the atmosphere was really relaxing and it was great to have my good friend and former drummer Mark Bergman there back from his travels. As well, Aaron Ewer has been drumming for us as of late and he performed very well. Aaron's a real perfectionist when it comes to his drumming and he really adds a cool vibe to the band. Another thing that was crazy was the new background Gus's used for wallpaper behind the stage. Man, anybody who has seen it would say that you almost feel lost on the stage. The whole background is a photo-realistic shot of a forest. Kind of creepy and 70's esque. It's actually quite funny in an ironic way.
Jordan

Greetings from my computer to yours! Not a lot of news lately... We’re in the process of working on some new demos for a label in the States. I must say, I really enjoy messing around with recording software .... cutting, looping, mixing, all that fun stuff.... it’s amazing what you can do with a computer and some good software! At the same time, I think home-based recording is hurting the music industry just as much as it is helping it. Without going into hours of my thoughts on the topic, I’ll briefly explain my opinion. It helps because, theoretically with the internet, local joe-schmo band can record themselves and get it into ears of anyone in the world. This means a lot more variety of music and songwriting and songs, etc.... which is great. The downside is one: there’s a lot more fish in the pond and there’s only so much food to eat (ie. harder for those who want to devote themselves to making art for a living to actually make a living doing it... so it becomes a survival of the fittest thing... and so then it depends on which large corporation is behind you or your great music connections more than the art itself) two: the quality of the audio of recording is going downhill because as good as home recording sounds... it will never sound as good as high quality (and usually high pricetag) analog and digital gear used in highly thought out acoustically designed spaces ... but we can’t tell the difference anymore because we only listen to music through our crappy computer speakers or crappy ipod headphones .... so you see the positive and the negative of the current situation? I have thought about the prospect of going to audio school to perhaps one day work in a studio, but the whole idea of a ’recording studio’ (that actually has enough clients to make money) is quickly sinking I’m afraid. Well, that’s my current opinion anyway. Have a good one!
Geoff

So the ECMA's were pretty crazy. We arrived on Friday to a migration of musicians and industry-types in Fredricton. Our first show was Friday night - the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Showcase. I knew it was going to be an interesting show when I saw 40 year old women sitting in the front row with their fingers in their ears for the electronic/folk singer who played before us. I mean, if they think she is loud then they're going to think we are jet-enigine roaring in their ears! It was pretty funny! They proved to me that there is no polite way of jamming your fingers into your ears while an artist pours out their music to you. You can sit there with the most sincere appreciative look on your face, but if your fingers are in your ears, an artist is not going to take it as a compliment! Anyways, once we got on stage, the "ear-pluggers" all must have had to use the washroom at the same time, and left while a younger crowd took their place. I must admit, it was pretty loud in the room, but the music and show went over well. I did have one technical problem... my guitar konked out on me halfway through the set. It's not a pleasant feeling when this happens, I assure you. I finally figured out the problem after finishing one of my favorite songs without the guitar part it so desperately needs. The stage manager signaled that we had 2 minutes left, but the Lord knew I wasn't about to leave the stage and the audience with a song that was even played as it should be. So, we went full steam ahead "Black Sea", the guitar raging and the crowd bobbing their heads along. I think they appreciated and understood that slightly longer set than the other acts because of technical problems. Anyways, the important thing is that we left them on a high, energetic note, which was our intent from the beginning.

Saturday night turned out be absolutely crazy at the Back Nine bar. This was the Music Nova Scotia showcases featuring acts like Jill Barber, Joel Plaskett and The Trews. Apparently there were 500 people waiting outside the bar at 6:30pm to get into a show that started at 9pm. The bar only held 300 - 400 people. You can imagine the energy and anticipation in the place that night. We were given both an incredible and terrible spot to play. Between Joel and The Trews. Joel Plaskett puts on a great show and he has incredible musicians with him, including Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar. In the end, we did our thing and the crowd energy stayed with us through our entire set. We received encouraging comments from managers and industry people and most importantly from the audience in attendance. After we finished, The Trews finished the explosive night with an explosive set.

Sunday was a relax day and the awards show. The awards show wasn't as good as ones in the past, but at the same time, it wasn't televised and apparently had only a slight percentage of the previous budgets. The host of the night was Mark Critch from This Hour Has 22 Minutes and he was quite funny. We sat beside the guys from Wintersleep and behind the guys of The Trews. I felt bad for Wintersleep because Joel Plaskett won every category that they were in. I think from the expression of their faces, they expected this and didn't really care. They know that they are well on their way to great success in the music biz.

We decided to stay in Freddy town on Sunday night because of the weather, and we were dead tired. We got home to Halifax Monday afternoon. Planning to get together soon to explore some new ideas that have been floating around in our heads for a little while...

Later,
Geoff

Holiday break was nice. We're glad to be together again filling the air with our music. In the midst of prep for ECMA's in Fredricton ... Playing twice during the weekend and sounds like they will be small sets ... 20 min ... we will likely squish 5 songs into that time frame. Excited to see all the great talent play this year at the award show! It's an honour to be nominated for Rock Recording of the Year alongside the likes of Plaskett and Wintersleep.

Geoff

That's right. I am currently enjoying a hotel at the Music Nova Scotia Awards. I guess I kind of have to mention that we got nominated for some stuff.

"Pop Rock Artist/Recording of the Year" and "Group/Recording of the Year." It is pretty cool I guess. To be noticed with the likes of Dog Day and In Flight Safety is very flattering.

We show case tonight at Marlin's with Mike Trask and Mudhill, Carmen Townsend, and Alert The Medic. I watched Carmen in sound check and she will blow us all out of the water. I am siked.

So, I guess I should give a little signing off the tour as well. I'm not gonna lie, I don't have the freakin' internet. I thought I could live without, you know, the minimalist lifestyle. I think I need it though. My brother moved away, I need to stay connected with the "scene" I guess, and I need to write these blogs. Plain and simple, the internet is cheaper than calling BC long distance and you get more with it than long distance.

So, the tour ended good. We played some great shows to send us home. I wish I could remember specifics. All you need to know is that by the end, we were happy with what we did, but that we were very ready to come home. Halifax, not to toot a horn here at all, is just nice. The ocean is nice, the people are great, and our families are here. Our drive home was all the way from Chesterfield, Missouri. We drove it man, 15 hour, 12 hour days, ridiculous, and we were home in three days. I was definitely ready to get out of the van though. I think I said five words the entire drive home, reading, and listening to music (sorry guys). Driving drove me bonkers. It's cool now, my sanity has returned.

Our last night of the tour was fun. We all (as in Red Umbrella, Heath, and us) all spent the night in a house very generously given to us for the night. It was great to get to hang out and sort of have that proper goodbye. I woke Heath up by jumping on him, I tried to make a picture of my mustache the background of this family's computer (Red Umbrella wouldn't let me), then the next morning, we got to hug and all that. A very proper send off. Then it was time for 30 hours of driving.

AAAAAAAAAAAAnyway. I'm rambling like usual. I'll you know what goes down with the awards.

Love you,

nate

If I Fall is the second single from Canvas Tears to hit the number one position on the East Coast Countdown. Black Sea was previously number one. Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote. Please keep it up.

Visit East Coast Countdown at www.eastcoastcountdown.com