What up, peeps?

Well, it’s been a musically non-eventful 2009 ‘round these parts: with the exception of a one-off festival appearance this summer with my old band La Ruta, I have not been performing live whatsoever. (The Henry Mena Ego Trip is in the midst of an extended and possibly permanent hiatus. Yeah...) Also, the release dates for the various projects I’m working on have come and gone…and still no product out there. [“Jeez, this dude is such a buzzkill…”]

BUT

In the midst of all of this nonsense are two pieces of good news:

- I’m writing songs at a decent clip—for my slowpoke ass, anyway—and I’m genuinely enthused about some of the new tunes that have been popping out. (When will you hear 'em? Well...)

- A musical collaboration with a former member of an iconic British band MIGHT be on the horizon. I’ll let you know who it is IF, and only IF, it actually takes off. (Don’t want to jinx it.)

In the meantime, let’s cross our fingers and hope for the best. Oh, and thanks for your continued support. You know who you are.

Cheers,
-hm

Hey, kiddies. Got something to share with ya:

The EP I've been recording over the last few months has become a full-length album (!) and is 90% complete, in so far as recording is concerned. I'll be doing vocals in the next few weeks with mixing and mastering to follow. The whole thing should be ready for a Summer '09 release, via One Seventeen Records.

Sadly, no cds: the album will initially be available exclusively as a digital download from your favorite online retailer. (Don't worry "old-schoolers", we'll get to CDs eventually.) The downloads will have cover art/liner notes files included. You'll know more as soon as we get closer to the actual release date.

Oh, as it turns out, I've decided to title this new album Beautiful Insults and Compromises, while the album I've been working on with the great Brian Montgomery will bear a different title upon its eventual release. [index and middle fingers in cross mode]

...oh, and don't forget:

One Seventeen Records' expanded and remastered reissue of  The Avatar Sessions EP, is still available. Visit your local record store, iTunes or CD Baby for purchase. Also, check out the cool 'Ego Trip' tees for guys and gals from the folks at Univox Design

Stay warm and fuzzy,
-hm

Yo, Peeps!

AmieStreet.com is one of the online retailers that carries my EP The Avatar Sessions, and to help promote my music and their site, they’re giving you a 50% discount to download my songs!

All you have to do is click on the link below to get a 50% discount off my music—there’s also tens of thousands of other great independent artists on the site to check out, too.

http://amiestreet.com/?pytr=cdbaby

Just click the link and you'll be all set!

(If you already own The Avatar Sessions—thanks!—feel free to forward this link, ok?)

Best,
-hm

So...

The taking-forever-to-finish Beautiful Insults and Compromises album—which shall be re-titled “Dominican Democracy” if it doesn’t come out soon enough—has been in the works, on and off since Nov. ‘07. (Two rough mixes, “Brand New Ride” and “Fool of the Year” are posted here on MySpace.)  The reasons for the delay are numerous and typical of a self-financed recording project with no budget. But I’m grateful to be working with an awesome co-producer who’s invested much of his time and talent in this record, regardless of monetary reward. I’m also quite confident the results will be nothing short of wonderful.

In the meantime, I’ve been demoing and recording  a new batch of songs. Enough for an EP as it turns out. (And I'm not even counting my recently completed, but yet to be released lounge/electronica project Tonight at Noon.) So, I was thinking I might share these songs with you in the interim. Hmm...

Because I’m still working on lyrics and melodies, as well as other details, you’ll be listening to the instrumental tracks. (They are also unmixed and have not been mastered, either.) But I figured you might be interested in hearing what I’m currently working on and the opportunity to check out some works in progress. Don’t forget to tell me what you think and thanks again for listening.

Stay warm and fuzzy.

Cheers,
-hm

Yes, kiddies: rough mixes of a couple of rockers from my upcoming Beautiful Insults and Compromises album. AFT, right? Well, here they are:

"Fool of the Year", which you're already familiar with in demo form; and "Brand New Ride".

Also, as a little bonus, I've posted a demo version of "Next Big Thing", which will appear in completed form on BIC as well.

More coming soon. Cheers!

In another of our occasional live appearances since we sorta reunited last year, my old rock en español combo, La Ruta, is headlining this event.

Come on down!

+ + + + +

live in nyc: la ruta / nelson poket / diego mena / turista
A Night of Dominican Rock and Roll in New York City

To coincide with a new season of music festivals, three artists from the Dominican Republic's thriving rock scene will join their hosts, veteran New York-based trio La Ruta, on the Ace of Clubs stage, Wednesday, July 9th, for what is sure to be an unbelievable night for fans of the Dominican rock and roll universe.

* LAMC badge holders are entitled to reduced cover charge .


la ruta
http://www. myspace. com/larutanyc

nelson poket
http://www. myspace. com/nelsonpoket

diego mena
http://www. myspace. com/menadiego

turista
http://www. myspace. com/turistard


* * * * *

live in nyc!

la ruta
nelson poket
diego mena
turista

Ace of Clubs
9 Great Jones St (East 3rd St)
btwn Broadway & Lafayette, NYC
Wed. July 9th
7 PM

Hey, kiddies!

Just wanted to touch base with you guys and let you know what's been going down.

After a bit of a lengthy break, I'm back working with co-producer/engineer Brian Montgomery (Ted Leo, Stone Temple Pilots, Sheryl Crow) on my upcoming Beautiful Insults and Compromises album with contributions from some special guests and, of course, the rest of The Henry Mena Ego Trip: guitarist Hank Gonzalez, bassist Alex Guerra and drummer Jim Jackson. It's coming out pretty rockin' so I'll have some rough mixes up soon for you to check out. Stay tuned.

In other news, I recently recorded backing vocals for my buddy Nestor Cora's upcoming album at Studio G in Brooklyn, owned by legendary indie rock bassist Tony Maimone (Pere Ubu, Bob Mould, Frank Black) who I met and got to work with. A cool cat, indeed.

That's all for now, but there's a lot more to come. And as always, thanks for your support.

Later!

Just wanted to let you guys know I had a great time at Southpaw Wednesday night opening for Eric Bachmann. (He also turned out to be a super cool dude, to boot.) To those that came out I really appreciated your enthusiasm and support. (Thanks Matt, Pete and Troy for wearing neckties in my honor. Very sharp and tres cool.) Hope you enjoyed the show as much as I did. See ya soon!

Wednesday Jan 30, 2008
at 8:00 PM
Where: Southpaw
125 5th Ave
Brooklyn, New York 11217
United States
Description:
Acoustic set opening for Crooked Fingers

Click Here To View Event

Yo,

I'm opening for former Archers of Loaf guitarist/frontman Eric Bachmann (aka Crooked Fingers) on Wed. Jan 30th at Brooklyn's best concert venue: Southpaw in Park Slope. I'll be playing an acoustic set to promote the newly expanded+remastered Avatar Sessions EP. 

Eric's in the middle of a series of opening slots of his own, accompanying Neko Case on her current East Coast dates.

See ya there!