It's winter again!  Jesus.  Seems like I just wrote that hibernation bit.  Now it's time to do it again; well, figuratively anyway. Actually, things are going great.  It's been a bit of a sleepy year for us, but that's okay.  You gotta pace yourself it you're going to be in it for the long haul.  So we've been practicing regularly and writing some new stuff.  We're doing a handful of close regional shows and will be getting together for a writing retreat this winter.  I don't think we'll have any problem putting enough material together for an EP in 2010.  We haven't really done a proper studio EP, so this should be fun.  Anyway, I just wanted to check in with you all so you know we're not dead.  We're terrible about keeping these damned sites up to date, but who has time?  It's hard to practice and gig when you spend all of your time in front of the computer.  You should spend less time in front of the computer too; maybe trade if for more time in front of a stage.  Go out and catch some music at a local venue - there are fantastic bands playing the QCA every week.  Let's avoid letting this winter be so sleepy, shall we?  We'll do our part if you do yours!  Well, I'm outta here, because I've got more web work to do.  Oh, the irony. 

…But Do Visit

Yeah, I suppose we ought to admit it: we're officially on hiatus.  "Hiatus" – we're not exactly sure what the dictionary or Wikipedia might say about it (yes, we're that lazy), but for us it means we're taking a break.  "What do you mean by, 'a break'?" you ask?  Well, we mean a break.  We're hibernating.  Catching up on some sleep.  Checking in with ourselves and our families and out from the band as we all know it.  We're regrouping and rediscovering what it means to play new music and to play old songs in a new fashion.  And we're practicing so that, when we awake from the slumber, there's something new and unexpected.  That's the goal.  Sure, we'll check in from time to time (probably more than we ever did, since we've got all of this time on our hands), so do visit.  In the meantime, enjoy "Last Solid Ground," build a fire, drink some red wine and dark beer, eat more than you're supposed to, and enjoy your families.  We'll see you somewhere on the other side of the solstice.

A ginormous thanks to all of the crazy cats that showed for the QC CD-Release show.  It was a whirlwind night, and we had a blast.  Our set break went a little too long because people were ready to party - we could hardly get out of the green room!  Anyway, it was a ball, and we want to thank you all for being so supportive over the years.  Hopefully you all took something home with you (and we're not talking about that smokey-eyed fetching piece of work that you struck up a conversation with at the bar - though we're sure that counts for something).  We're humbled by the fact that we have so many good friends out there that continue to support us after all this time.  Big Thanks.

You've been waiting, anticipating, palpitating, salivating, and next you'll be participating - but only if you show up!  THIS FRIDAY, AUGUST 1st, Jim the Mule will be hosting the Official CD-Release Party for our latest album, Last Solid Ground, at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Davenport, IA. 

We'll be filming and recording the big event, there will be tons of giveaways, brand new JTM merchandise for sale, and your ticket stub is valid for $5 OFF the new album at the show!

Doors are at 7pm, show starts at 8pm with The Dawn, and tickets are only $3 advance or $5 at the door.  Advance tickets are available at the Capitol Box Office located on Ripley and Third streets, and at Co-Op Records locations in the Quad Cities.  For all the details visit www.jimthemule.com.

The Capitol Theatre is a beautiful venue with outstanding sound, and we certainly can't think of a better way to spend a Friday night; we hope you can't either - we'll see you there! 

Holy cow, it's been a LONG time since we've written anything here, and that's most certainly our fault.  We've been busy, yes we have.  Apparently too busy to blog.  Maybe we're just not frustrated enough - though we certainly have reason to be (but that would take too long and is decidedly negative - Vanzilla will have her comeuppance!!).  The GOOD NEWS is that the new album, titled Last Solid Ground, will be in our hands shortly, and shortly after that it can be in your hands.  We'll be posting some new tunes here over the next few days so you can check out the goods, but we just wanted to let you know that it's almost here.  In the meantime, come out and enjoy a show!

T & JTM

 

 

 

If you've been taking a gander now and then at the JTM show schedule, you may have noticed a string of shows coming together "way up nort, der" in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Well, get the RV lubed up and release the stockpile of beef jerky, looks like we got ourselves a mini-tour! This 9 day, 6 show (and growing) run kicks off July 6^th in Eau Claire, WI and makes its way into Minnesota, and especially the Twin Cities, for the remainder. Sounds like there might even be a radio station and open mic stop in there too. Um, I guess we should probably name the run now. How about "Summer Nights and Northern Lights Tour '07" or something. Maybe we can even get some giant corporate sponsor to bank roll the whole thing. Wonder if the Land O' Lakes Butter people are interested, or Babe Winkelman Productions, Inc. Shoot, he's so rich, he can afford to throw back everything he catches on his "Good Fishing" television program.

 

 

So, this is fun:

Guitars: 2002 Gibson Les Paul Classic, Mid 1990's Gibson Les Paul Studio, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Faded Double Cut Special, 1995 Gibson Faded SG Special, Late 1960's Rickenbacker 12-String, 1989 Japanese Fender Stratocaster, 1974 Fender Telecaster Custom, Mid 2000's Gretsch Nashville Semi-Hollowbody Reissue, 2003 Ibanez Artcore AM73 Semi-Hollowbody with Seymour Duncan Pickups, 2004 Gibson Songbird, 2006 Martin DCX1E

 

Amplifiers & Cabinets: 1968 Fender Bassman Head, 1969 Fender Bandmaster Reverb Head, 2005 Sheldon True Tone 2, 2001 Carvin MTS 3212, 2006 Crate V3112, Late 1950's Viscount/Gibson Maestro, Early 1960's Gibson Falcon, Late 1960's Sears Silvertone Head, Early 2000's Mesa/Boogie F-50 Head, Early 2000's Soldano SLO Head, 2006 Vox AC-30, Marshall 4X12 Basketweave Cabinet (unsure of year), 1968 Fender Bassman 2X12 Cabinet

All of the goodies that Dan & I will be using on the album.  I've tried to be accurate with dates and models, but much of these things are borrowed, so thanks to the owners.  I've actually tracked all of the songs with the Ric 12 and the Bandmaster Reverb (sweet amp, BTW; breaks up at reasonable levels - well, okay not reasonable, per se, but it will and it does breakup).  But that's just the beginning for guitars.  We definitely have to lay down acoustic tracks and then  - of course - solos.  Shit -now that's the fun part.  Solos are very important, but not in the way you're thinking. 

Anyway, a little fun for you geeks out there.  And maybe some insight for those not steeped in geardom.  But it is fun, and they sound so damned good.

T

I forgot to tell you: awesome weekend in Madison, WI area.  We met some great new friends and allies, and we had a killer time.  See y'all next time...

T

Hey Hey,

What's new with ya?  Kind of a rhetorical question, I guess.  And it almost proves that there's something inherently lacking in electronic communication.  At least that something that you get with person-to-person communication.  But, I suppose the trade off is the ability to be a little more precise with your speech.  Or something.  It's just not the same; that's the point.  I'm supposed to be paying bills - rather assigning categories to bills that I've paid.  This is for the band.  I started handling the finances a couple of months ago.  It's pretty straight forward, but it's a tad mundane.  It's always one of those things I kind of dread.  But then, once I take care of it, I think about how foolish I was to dread it so much in the first place.  Anyway...I'm getting excited, as I'll be laying down some guitar tracks next week.  Jason killed his bass lines (after a few tuning missteps  - on his and my part).  Shit, you think you'd learn.  But, like most things, I think it helped in the end because, when you're in the studio, you have to slow down and realize that it's going to take longer than you think it is.  Everything does, doesn't it?  The cool part about finally getting to do my guitar tracks (I've done two sets of guitar and vocal scratch tracks already), is that I'll be using a bevy of ass-kicking amps and guitars.  I'm not going to get into it here, but let's just say that the idea is centered around glowing tubes.  Well, that's all I have for you tonight.  I contend I've been pretty productive this evening.  I even practiced a handful of brand new songs for this private gig we have coming up.  But those bills are callin' my name...

Late,

T-Money

Hey All,

Tracking for the album has been going splendidly.  Normally I wouldn't use the word splendidly, but I must be feeling a little British.  Saw Gomez in Chicago a couple of weeks ago...must be feeling the inspiration.  Anyway, Ryan has knocked out eight full drum tracks in two days, and ninety percent of it was without assisting instrumentation OR click tracks.  Now that's badass.  Imagine playing a song from start to finish, in time, with no reference other than what's happening in your head: yeah, it's difficult.  VERY difficult.  In fact, I think the rest of the band is feeling a little intimidated by his recent studio prowess.  But we'll see how it all comes together, I guess.  It's a lot different recording this time, in many ways.  Mostly I think that we realize that we all don't need to be there all the time, and that's certainly a good thing.  I also think we have a much better handle on how to coax the sounds we want out of our instruments (again, we'll see how the rest of us do) so that we're not relying so much on "post-production."  Lastly, I think we're just better musicians.  Little by little, day by day, it just kinda happens.  I wish that we could hit the road for a real stint just to get so damned tight that it's un believable.  But we do what we can.  Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how things are going; hope to see a lot of you out in the real world soon...

Take it easy,

T