Hey,

So maybe this is nothing, or maybe it's something. I've realized though that it's quite unlikely that I'll ever play a legitimate show again as 'Redbear,' and for that reason I'm letting you, my friends and supporters, know what's up: Redbear., in my eyes, is over. I am in two new bands which are really starting to blossom right now, as well as my new solo project (VLLNS), and I have plans to start another band down the road that i will be singing in and blah blah...you won't even notice i'm not redbear anymore, i promise.
I am, however, planning on releasing at least one more Redbear. CD with all the songs that weren't ever released, along with some new ones. I want the CD to be really special, so I think i'm going to handmake 100 or so unique ones and it'll probably come with a data CD as well that has everything I've recorded on it (that's worth putting out that is). That idea is far from coming into fruition, though.

Anyway, thanks for the support. hopefully you will continue to support my musical endeavors, as i will continue to try and support others as best as i can.

Love,
patrick.

wow!  so many blogs!
i guess stuff is just happening, you know? 

i just moved to oak park, and things are great.  still very busy, but great.  come say hi! 

i had band practice the other night for a psychedelic jungle metal band.  that's just a funny genre i made up.  genres is dumb.

i start sentences with "i" a lot.

i have a lot of music stuff happening so keep posted if you care to.

check out the video that james eric put up of my set at the Southwest Folk Fest this year.  i played as VLLNS.  http://www.vimeo.com/6323821 BAM!  sorry it's hard to hear some of it.  a lot of people were complete assholes during my set and would not stop talking.  whatevski.

uh, the end.
wait, no!  listen to Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Orchestra (or anything by otomo, really) as well as anything you can find by Martin Tetreault.  absolutely phenomenal. 


patrick.

Well, I'm hopping on the bandwagon.
as some of you know i've been wanting to make a book of my artwork, but that will take a lot of time and money still. i've been thinking of what to do in the meantime, i came up with an idea, and i'm almost done with my first zine (if you want to call it that).

it's a collection of tiny drawings and writings dealing with social commentary, my thoughts on music and art, some funny stories, and more. that's all i'll tell you for now. i'm hoping to have it done in the next couple weeks, and i'm even going to try to distribute it through independent bookstores (i.e. Quimby's, Chicago Comics, etc).


let me know if you're interested.
yeah.



patrick.

i'd like to start this off by saying i don't really think people read these blogs so i'm just sort of writing to put my thoughts into words.

BUT...
i've decided not to do that show where i put my old songs to rest.  it was a stupid idea and i don't need to be putting those kind of restrictions on myself.  i've also been turning down shows a few times a week.  as far as i can tell (don't hold me to this) the last show i played at the fun house will be the last redbear. show for quite some time.  i have no idea when the next one will be, but i wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't for months and months and months or maybe even close to a year (with maybe the exception of a private show or something).  i might end up changing my mind for one reason or another, but my heart really isn't in it anymore for so so so many reasons.  i still like the music i have been doing, but....well it's pretty emotional and complicated for me.  anyway, if you're reading this and you want me to book you a show, or if you want me to play a show i will probably only be able to point you in the direction of my friends and acquaintances. 

don't give me a hard time about this, please.  i am perfectly able to give myself a hard time about it.

i am starting 3 new bands at the moment (although the road is a slow one), and i will be playing in those as soon as i can.  stay tuned if you care.


love,
patrick.

the Deli is a website which focuses on local indie music scenes and emerging artists.  So, i guess i am listed as #79 most popular band in chicago, and 10th most popular songwriter in chicago.
http://www.thedelimagazine.com/chicago/top300.php

wtf, right?

I want to say thank you to all of the people who have supported me over the years.  All of the friends who have come out to my shows, paid for or received a CD (and listened to it). All of the nice folks who have left me friendly comments or messages or talked to me at a show.  Even the nice people who stop by various websites to listen to my music now and then.
So rarely do I say thank you for that, yet so often do you deserve it.
I don't know where I'd be now if it weren't for you, and I wish I could tell you all personally how much your support means to me, but for now this will have to do.


love,
patrick.

hello there.

last week i played a couple shows with Paul "the Boss" Baribeau & Ginger "Pink Cadillac" Alford posing as the Velvet Underground.  Night one was pretty sloppy, but the entire second show is available on YouTube and on the CLLCT website.  Hear are the lynx:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz25Ajrxzo8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB3R9JryDsQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZejujLo9R4g
http://cllct.com/release/redbearperformsliveasthevelvetunderground

czech it out if you want two.


thanks to those for coming and giving me emotional support after the first show.
patrick.


EDIT:  All of these media items are brought to you by the wonderful James Eric.

Alright, so there have been some changes...I'm just filling you all in with the details in hopes of exciting you...

I basically have the whole band together (one person might drop out though) and i've got a handful of stuff in the works for it already.  First off, it is no longer a "redbear." band.  we will have a new name, and i will not be playing as many redbear. shows as i have been for the last few years. 

Also, the band is a five piece (for anonymity, me + people 2-5):
Me - guitar, vocals, noise
2 - bass, vocals, sampling, synth
3 - drums/percussion, vibraphone, vocals
4 - drums/percussion, trumpet, vocals
5 - synth, vocals, 2nd guitar

the music i have been writing thus far could be described as the combination of free-jazz, metal, punk, and noise.


As far as redbear. news. ....
i am planning on booking a show in april or may at the church of rock (western springs, il) with only local bands where i'll play my first full length album in its entirety and hold a "funeral" for those songs afterwards.  there will also be a surprise, but it's not the band, i swear.

so, if you read all of this, you care more than i thought and i love you for that.


love (see?),
patrick.


ps - everyone should go to the co-prosperity sphere on march 14th to see Cacaw (ex-Coughs/Slutbarf), AIDS Wolf, and US Girls.  shit is gonna be HOT.  support good music.

Hey there,

so i'm officially trying to put together a band for Redbear.  the idea is to have lots of percussion, lots of backup vocals, and perhaps a bass of sorts.  i've got one drummer on board already, and another one as a possibility.  it would be nice to find a girl or two who can sing and also keep a decent rhythm (you don't need to be a pro drummer or anything).  i'm also looking for the same thing in boys, but i would like at least one girl to be singing in this.  also, if you play a cello/viola/woodwind/brass instrument well that could be awesome, but i'd probably make you sing or do drums, too.  this is going to be a little more noisey and experimental than i am now, but it will still resemble folk music.

i'd like to add, if anybody has a good knowledge of electronics and would be interested in doing some noise stuff in this band that would also be great.  or if you just have a special talent with noise things/found sounds..

let me know what you think.



patrick.

Howdy,

I'm just letting you know that Toby Foster and I both have videos up on ifyoumakeit.com now.  That's pretty rad, so enjoy the videos and support IYMI!


patrick.