Friends,

I've just spent some time reading the celebrity blogs which were prominently displayed on the front page of myspace today, and at the risk of offending some of you, I have to say that I was utterly unimpressed.

Of course, I am fully aware that the arts community generally leans heavily to the left of the political spectrum – that's just the way that it is, and it's OK by me.  That said, I find it unnerving that Myspace would post four blogs from four beautiful celebrity personalities (with the exception of Michael Moore), each attempting with great difficulty to demonstrate the even-minded and bi-partisan nature of their positions (again, with the exception of Michael Moore).  Are you kidding me?

Are we really so easily fooled?  From this point on in the discussion, I'll be ignoring Michael Moore's contribution as it is exactly what one might expect from him.  That said, does Jessica Alba truly believe that since she's part of a non-partisan voter registration project that it outweighs her publicly announced support for Barack Obama?  Can she now portray herself as a thoughtful centrist?

The Maroon 5 blog would have us believe that although they gushingly praised Barack Obama's speech, they also really wanted to hear what John McCain had to say.  Yet, later in the blog they ask people to send them info - not on the convention, but on the PROTESTS.  The convention had been going on for days when they posted this blog, yet there's no substantive mention of whatsoever.  So how interested are they REALLY?

Does Lindsay Lohan truly expect us to believe that she's concerned about the problems of everyday Americans?  Or does she genuinely bemoan the fact that girls are becoming more sexually active at younger ages by choice (see Palin's Daughter)?  Lindsay?!?  Then she claims that Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin was the one who thrust her 17 year old daughter's pregnancy into the spotlight, and not the ravenous headline-hungry media...  Oy vay...  Of all people, Lindsay Lohan should know better.  Then again, it's Lindsay freaking Lohan.

Look, I don't care what you believe or for whom you cast your vote this November.  But when you do make that decision, remember that while these celebrities may be easy on the eyes or fun to watch on TV and in movies, each has an agenda – as does Myspace, apparently.  That agenda is to get you to vote the way they want you to vote.  Be like the cool kids.  Dress like I dress, act like I act, think how I think... vote how I vote.

I have a different idea.  Perhaps one should vote for the candidate whom he or she believes most closely embodies his or her personal ethos.  Who addresses your real concerns?  Who has the best and most realistic ideas, and who has YOUR interests and the interests of my fellow Americans in mind?

Whomever that is, John McCain, Barack Obama, Ron Paul, Ralph Nader, Homer Simpson or the Flying Spaghetti Monster (and his noodly appendages), cast your vote and be proud.

That is all.

~O

P.S.  If any of you see Lindsay Lohan, tell her that Owen Sartori says she should really stoppy stoppy the talky talky.  J

Well, we finally did it.  Interviews, live TV, 9 bands in 4 hours and a packed house, a next morning 5 hour commute to Milwaukee to do it all over again...

MAN, that was fun.  I want to thank all of the bands and the fans who came out to support this effort - it took 3 years, but I think it was worth it.

I heart you all right in the face.

~Owen

Now that Jason Nagel is back on the air and doing the MN Music show again, things are a little brighter for Minneapolis artists like myself.  In fact, we just confirmed that he's going to be spinning "The Cube" in an upcoming show!  Here are the details:

Sunday, July 27th at 10:00pm. 97.1 fm on the radio dial, or visit their website at http://www.cities97.com/main.html and click on the "listen now" link for the streaming audio!

I'll encourage people to listen not just that Sunday, but EVERY Sunday.  The only way to keep shows like this around is to LISTEN!  I know what I'll be doing this Sunday night.  Do you?

Hey all, it looks like those of you in the greater Twin Cities Metro will have a chance to see yours truly on KARE 11 for their segment called "Showcase Minnesota!"

Turn to Channel 11 at about 10:40am on Friday, August 1st and you'll see a segment featuring me and my awesome bandmates, including an interview and a live in-studio performance!

This should be GREAT promotion for the CD release party at Trocaderos that night, so your viewership would be freakin' amazing!

I thought I'd get my fans in on the action and help me design a new Tee Shirt!  If you think you have what it takes to make a cool new Tee for me, send me your designs!  Here are the stipulations:

1:  2 color print on a solid color Tee
2:  Must have my website www.owensartori.com on the back (1 color)
3:  Must work for wither a men's or women's tee
4:  Please send a 300dpi jpg of both front & back designs along with the actual photoshop or illustrator file.
5:  Entries must be received by 7/11/2008

If I pick your design, I'll send you 2 free tees of your design (one to wear, one to keep for posterity) and a signed, PRE-RELEASE copy of "Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE!"

Send as many designs as you wish to: pr@owensartori.com

And SPREAD the WORD!  Not a designer yourself, but know someone who is?  Tell them that I need a new shirt!!

Take Care!!

Owen Sartori

pr@owensartori.com

The PRESS RELEASE!!  Check it out!

C:..>Title..............Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE by Owen Sartori

C:..>Event...........CD RELEASE SHOW

C:..>Date.............Saturday, August 2nd

C:..>Location......Shank Hall - 1434 N. Farwell Dr.  Milwaukee, WI

C:..>Details.........8pm / 21+ / $6

C:..>Guests.........REVOLUSH (Shepherd Express "Best Rock Band in Milwaukee!")  Technically, we're THEIR guests, but I'm just sayin'.

C:..>Artist Reviews

"Heartfelt, self-reflective lyrics.  Hair-raising chord changes and melodies...  Sartori has made a timeless and original pop record that manages to capture the vibe of an era."  - Adam Levy, The Honeydogs

"A well-produced, well-crafted set of songs from a veteran of the trenches of the music recording business...  Owen Sartori has earned his chance to be heard."  - Slim Dunlap, The Replacements

"Great recording, great mix, cool vocals and very intelligent, literate songwriting a la Elvis Costello, Tal Bachman, Aimee Mann, etc...  Great job!"  -- Kevin Bowe, Johnny Lang/Etta James 

"Dude, I f*ckin' love your songs. It kinda reminds me of Jason Mraz, but with better songwriting and none of that wordy bullsh*t." - Kenny Aronoff, John Mellencamp/Melissa Ethridge

C:..>Biography   

Owen Sartori has been fronting CMJ charting rock outfits like Push and A Band Called Delicious for more than a decade, and enjoying the anonymity that goes with a band name.  However, his work with ABCD garnered the attention of Milwaukee producer Daniel Holter, who convinced him to complete the new album under his label Burst Records... and under Owen's own name. 

His style isn't exactly unfamiliar, just hard to nail down.  Owen takes a kind of singer/songwriter craftsmanship and combines it with a self-deprecating lyrical wit that sometimes makes you wonder if he really wanted us to know so much about him.   

Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE features help from some of the industry's heaviest session players and producers, like Kenny Aronoff  (Alanis Morrisette,  John Mellencamp), John Ferraro (Rod Stewart,  Barry Manilow),  Dave Marotta (Phil Collins, Manhattan Transfer),  Chris Mosher (Sixpense None the Richer, Bon Jovi) and Tom Tucker  (Prince, Lucinda Williams).  Owen hopes his music will connect with, among others, cubicle-jockeys and the legions of under-paid, over-educated pop music lovers of generations X, Y and whatever's in between.

This is me inviting YOU (and this time, by "you" I mean my Milwaukee / Chicago / 'Sconnie breteheren) to my Milwaukee CD Release Party.  See you there!!

~Owen

The PRESS RELEASE!!  Check it out!

C:..>Title..............Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE by Owen Sartori

C:..>Event...........CD RELEASE SHOW

C:..>Date.............Friday, August 1^st

C:..>Location......Trocaderos - Trocaderos.com / 107 3^rd Ave N, Warehouse District, Minneapolis

C:..>Details.........8pm / 18+ / $6 / Coffee & Donuts

C:..>Guests.........Kevin Bowe, The Heed (reunion), Sirens of Titan, Grayson, Mighty Fairly, Run at the Dog, Wet Nurse Orgy (Area 52 House Band), and The Farewell Circuit.

***Each band will be performing in 15 minute sets, and each band will be covering one song from Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE!***

C:..>Artist Reviews

"Heartfelt, self-reflective lyrics.  Hair-raising chord changes and melodies...  Sartori has made a timeless and original pop record that manages to capture the vibe of an era."  - Adam Levy, The Honeydogs

"A well-produced, well-crafted set of songs from a veteran of the trenches of the music recording business...  Owen Sartori has earned his chance to be heard."  - Slim Dunlap, The Replacements

"Great recording, great mix, cool vocals and very intelligent, literate songwriting a la Elvis Costello, Tal Bachman, Aimee Mann, etc...  Great job!"  -- Kevin Bowe, Johnny Lang/Etta James 

"Dude, I f*ckin' love your songs. It kinda reminds me of Jason Mraz, but with better songwriting and none of that wordy bullsh*t." - Kenny Aronoff, John Mellencamp/Melissa Ethridge

C:..>Biography   

Owen Sartori has been fronting CMJ charting rock outfits like Push and A Band Called Delicious for more than a decade, and enjoying the anonymity that goes with a band name.  However, his work with ABCD garnered the attention of Milwaukee producer Daniel Holter, who convinced him to complete the new album under his label Burst Records... and under Owen's own name. 

His style isn't exactly unfamiliar, just hard to nail down.  Owen takes a kind of singer/songwriter craftsmanship and combines it with a self-deprecating lyrical wit that sometimes makes you wonder if he really wanted us to know so much about him.   

Another Beautiful Day in the CUBE features help from some of the industry's heaviest session players and producers, like Kenny Aronoff  (Alanis Morrisette,  John Mellencamp), John Ferraro (Rod Stewart,  Barry Manilow),  Dave Marotta (Phil Collins, Manhattan Transfer),  Chris Mosher (Sixpense None the Richer, Bon Jovi) and Tom Tucker  (Prince, Lucinda Williams).  Owen hopes his music will connect with, among others, cubicle-jockeys and the legions of under-paid, over-educated pop music lovers of generations X, Y and whatever's in between.

This is me inviting YOU to my Minneapolis CD Release Party.  See you there!!

~Owen

http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080622/SHE04/806220549

(Don't worry, the link is legit, no matter how scary Myspace makes it look.)

This weekend I'm playing at the Midwest Acoustic Music Festival in scenic Elkhart Lake, WI!  It's going to be a crazy-good line-up and a total blast, so anyone in the Sheboygan County vicinity should het out there for this.

See you Saturday!!

http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/get_a_life_blog/2008/06/escape-from-cub.html

Pamela Slim has one amazing blog, and I contacted her a few months back to let her know how insightful and fun it was to read.  She picked up on the CUBE vibe and we sent her an advance copy of the CD, and voila!! 

I've been blogged.  Check it out!!

Owen