So...let's see...what's been happening...wow..

Well, firstly, my debut album 'The Art of War' will be released soon on Spectra Records, which is a huge relief..we're awaiting an official release date now. All of the new artwork is in...the mixes are mixed and the masters are mastered...finally TAoW will be freed from my basement hard drives and cast boldly into the light of day.. forever!! Sweet. :)

Some of you already know that this is the same album that I attempted to release myself around this time last year - just before I signed with Spectra - and if you're one of the few INCREDIBLE people who have a copy of the first draft, toss it into the fire - this one is WAY better! Believe me!!

Yeah..it took three years to get this album finished. There are many, many reasons why - some complicated, some ridiculously simple - hell, there's even a really cool story to go with it, (which some of the people closest to me won't soon forget)..

BUT a funny thing happened on the way to getting this record made - I recorded half of another record. More than half, actually. Same amazing players - and some really killer tunes!! So although I've stumbled to the starting line, so to speak, I'm quite ready for the gun - and if things go smoothly, I should be wrapping up the vocals on my second record by Christmas. I need about another 20 minutes of music yet, and I'll hopefully be working with Paul Roessler at the awesome Satellite Studios in Malibu on just that issue..I can't wait!!!!

Next, I'm very pleased to be one of the first 400 artists to be approved by iLike for an official iPhone App. It launched a week ago, and even though it's in beta, I can already tell it's going to be cooool!! So if you have an iPhone go check it out!! YEAH!!! :)

We're also working on a treatment for a music video for the song 'Flat', and if I'm lucky we'll be looking to shoot in Los Angeles by early 2010. Videos are tricky to make, and I'm learning some great lessons about what it really takes to make a good one. Personally, I like the early music videos, from the eighties - goofy ones that made little sense and didn't necessarily compete with the song. That's the kind of video I want to make, especially for this tune. We're getting some celebs in there, too - don't you worry! As always, I take every opportunity I have to meet and work with people I admire, and this video will surely be no exception. I'll keep updates rolling as we go. It should be interesting..definitely fun!

And that's about it for now.

I'm working on putting together a touring band, talking to lots of cool players from all over the place, and playing guitar every day to keep the hands strong. It may take a few months, but I'll build that band. I'm getting closer...I can't wait to get out on the road and rock with some of the amazing people I've met on Myspace over the past two years!! Yeeeehhaaaawww!! :)

Thanks for reading,

Cheers!

Phil

 

 

 

Phil Jones on iLike - Add iLike to your MySpace

sad news today with the sudden death of John Hughes...i'm not sure how many of you know who he was or what he did, since he sorta dropped off the radar in the mid-90's - but for many of us kids growing up in the 80's, especially in the midwest, John's films played a significant role in framing the the landscape of misunderstood teenage angst; he made it okay to be young and awkward, and ultimately taught us lessons about breaking down stereotypes in the midst of peer pressures, zit creme and puberty. good times. the best times. i mean what 16 year old boy didn't want to be 'John Bender'? just for a day... i know i sure as hell did. i might, still...

..and young molly ringwald..i mean c'mon...that was a gift to us young boys in itself...

i used to drive around out in the suburbs of chicago looking for some of the locations of the great movies he made, just for fun and out of nostalgia...and i found a few, too.

i smoked a ciggy right where the high school had stood, (before it was torn down), where they shot 'the breakfast club' and drove around the little neighborhoods where several other of his films were made - listening to Simple Minds, of course..

i've always felt deeply connected to several of John's films, they've come up time and time again, in reference and in real life - and i'll remain a grateful and thankful fan of his work and influence for the rest of my days. 

Rest in peace, Mr. Hughes.

pj

 <---- huh? lol

anyways,

i've decided to give Facebook a try...apparently it's quite popular? hmm.. ...so swing by if you're on - we'll see how it goes :)

cheers,

philj

so i know this is on the myspace homepage somewhere, some of you may have seen it - i was lucky enough to have a moment free this morning and happened across it - and so i clicked...

and then i sat in awe and admiration - frozen like a statue, unable to blink...

if you haven't seen it yet, and you have 7 minutes to spare, spare it here and witness what is surely one of the best live performances ever recorded. 

we're fortunate it exists at all, sadly...