Hey hey!

So I just pulled out an old live track from the archives and posted it to our myspace player.  Many of you who have seen us play live always ask me when we're going to record this tune. So here's a live version of "Story of My Life" recorded live from Puck Live in Doylestown, PA.  Hope you enjoy!

Cheers!
August

That's True! My Name is August was selected from 1,000's of bands to play an In-Store Performance @ The Gap in NYC. It's called "Born to Play" and will be happening at over 700 Gap Clothing Stores around the country! Our song, "Caroline" will also be featured and sent to over 30,000 Gap employees around the country. This opportunity nominates us to record a demo with award winning producer John Alagia. (John Mayor, Jason Mraz, Dave Matthews band, etc) so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Hope you're all enjoying the summer. Stay cool. Cheers! -AugustT

Yesterday I unexpectedly met up with an old friend & musical mentor of mine. He happened to be in town for the night to catch a concert and after the show we met up for some drinks. We ended up at a real "down home", local bar & grill called, Ollie Gators. If you're from South Jersey you've probably been there or at least heard of it. Good food, good people, the kind of place where "everybody knows your name" (sorry, had to say it) 

Now this friend of mine is the kind of guy that could do anything with his life, but was born to be one of three things: A teacher, a preacher, or an artist. It just so happens he became all three. I mean, this is the kind of guy that you go to grab a bite to eat with and the next thing you know you're enrolling yourself back in college to get your PhD! Anyway, I think you get the point.

As all of you know I’m a singer/songwriter and performer. What many of you don't know is that I am also a full-time private music teacher. I guess you can say I've chosen to make music my life in every facet. Even though I absolutely LOVE what I do, it can also be the most frustrating career on the planet. In this career it’s very easy to sometimes loose sight of your purpose, goals and meaning. So, without going into too much detail, if there was ever a time that I needed to unexpectedly meet up with him it would have been last night. 

In a full-blown conversation I was expressing this frustration of losing focus, purpose and meaning for creating, performing and teaching music in a sometimes unreceptive world. In the midst of all the beer and food there were two things he said last night that I distinctly remember. 

"As artists and musicians, we are here to give back to creation, to make life for others and ourselves just a little bit better."

"As a music teacher my job is to reach the 90% of you who will never make it in this business.  You will become the important business men, lawyers and politicians of the world. If I can inspire you now and instill in you a sincere appreciation, then the life of art and music will thrive in the future."

I just wanted to share a little of this man’s brilliance because over the years it has inspired me and continues to have such an affect on my life and my music.

Cheers! 

-m. august

Tunes Against Turmoil II: A Musical Defense for Darfur
This Saturday May, 9th help us make a difference from half a world away.

The situation occurring in Darfur is unimaginable. People are being tortured, driven out of their homes, and killed by their government. The project that I am a part of believes that this needs to be stopped. Most people do not even know that a genocide is currently occurring. We even received the question "Who's Darfur?" Our goal is to raise awareness and make this genocide end as soon as possible to save as many lives as possible.

Article from the Atlantic County Newspaper:

ATLANTIC COUNTY BREAKING NEWS: 'Tunes Against Turmoil' making a difference a half a world away.

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP – “Some people say, ‘How could we ignore the Holocaust?’ Well one is going on and it is not even on the front page of any newspapers.”

That is what Jennifer Bleznak, a senior at Egg Harbor Township High School, can’t understand and wants to change.

This Saturday, May 9th, Tony Canale Park will be a hot bed of fun, music, food, and students striving to inform people about the genocide going on in Darfur.

Students have become expert spokespeople for the thousands without a voice who are being persecuted, at first because of their non-Arab culture, and now with even more being hurt and killed in the process.

“They deserve a voice and we can be that voice,” said junior Samantha O’Brien who is one of the students at the forefront organizing “Tunes Against Turmoil.”

Student members of the Darfur Committee have been working on this music festival for a while now, scheduling the bands, planning food and setting prices while making sure their message gets across loud and clear – we need to help and everyone can.

“You can build an entire hospital for $30,000,” Bleznak said to The Current after school at a meeting of the committee May 1.

“That includes medicine,” said O’Brien who wants to become a doctor and travel to help those in Darfur.

“Everything I do is for the future of others,” said O’Brien who is one of about 130 volunteers organizing thousands of little details necessary for the upcoming event.

Last year O’Brien attended a lecture by Holocaust survivor Alice Gold; she left wanting to help more in Darfur.

“I asked her about Darfur,” O’Brien said about the encounter a year ago.

In the end she realized we are not learning from our mistakes in history, but they can try to do something about it.

Junior Lindsay Wolf said she was unaware of the atrocities until a traveling exhibit with artwork from the children in the devastated regions was brought to the library last school year.

The aspiring journalist wishes to go there one day and bring their stories to the front page while also working as a humanitarian to help those suffering.

Now the school is full of posters and T-shirts about the cause.

O’Brien said T-shirts from St. Augustine Prep have infiltrated the school reading, “Smoke the Janjaweed.”

The shirts get attention from people thinking that Janjaweed is a drug-related reference when in reality they refer to the murders in Darfur that they want to stop.

The group is hoping to attract at least 600 guests to the six-hour concert.

“We have 998 tickets,” senior Amanda Flick said, but if they exceed the number of wristbands they will not be turning people away.

“The aim of this service-learning project is to raise funds for various relief efforts in Darfur, particularly Doctors Without Borders, an organization aiming to provide medical care to the victims of the atrocities,” said advisor and teacher Steven Marcus who credits the students with making this a reality.

The concert will have music for all ages and tastes with some high school-age bands/professional bands playing and some bands with older members chipping in to help their children who are helping put the event together.  The concert will feature the sounds of headliners
My name is August, Patrick Droney, Hand Me Down Buick, and Marc Ribler and performances by Identical Twins, Last Try, Striving for Better, Global Chill and Warranty.

Even when the concert is over Sunday, these students are prepared to start working on their next big project for Darfur knowing a group in Egg Harbor Township can make an impact half way around the world.
Learn more at www.savedarfur.org 

By JACKIE HANUSEY
Staff Writer

If You Go
Tunes Against Turmoil is scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9th at Tony Canale Park off Dogwood Avenue.  Rain location is the Fernwood Avenue Middle School auditorium. Tickets are $6. Food will be available for additional cost.

Hey,

Just wanted to thank everyone who came out and supported the SJU Records Label showcase at St. Joe's University last night.  We had a blast and hope all of you did as well.  To all who purchased CDs/t-shirts, we graciously thank you for your support!   Hope to see you all again soon.Sign up to our Website!

Cheers!

-m. august

We have a killer event coming up in South Jersey that supports a GREAT cause! We're performing at BowlForKidsSake..
2009 in support of the Big Brothers Big Sister organization of
Burlington. We'll be playing the after party at Brewsters Pub in Laurel
Lanes, Maple Shade, NJ Rt. 73

Details:

College Bowl: 3-6 Laurel Lanes in Maple Shade
After-Party: My Name Is August: 6-9 Brewsters in Laurel Lane, Maple Shade

4/26 Family Bowl: 1-4 Playdrome in Cherry Hill

Registration
is just $15 for the session of your choice- buy an enhanced ticket for
$25 and do the session of your choice and enjoy drink specials and an
all-..you-can-eat buffet at the After-Party! :)
$25 for SIX HOURS of food and entertainment! From 3-6 pm, participate in BowlForKidsSake..
2009 with pizza, soda and all you can bowl at Laurel Lanes in Maple
Shage! At 6 o'clock, join us in Brewsters for an open buffet and LIVE
MUSIC from My Name is August! Benefits Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties. Go to http:../../..www...kintera...org/..faf/..home/..default...asp?..ievent=293794 to register today!



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Hey,
 
So in an attempt to keep everyone updated about shows, new music releases, merch, contests and more... we've recently been able to generate a really nice newsletter.  

Since myspace is so filled with spam and clutter we're trying to connect with everyone in an easy more personal way.  Newsletter members also get perks like first crack at FREE tickets, music, and merchandise.  If you'd like to sign up its right below. Cheers! 

More live video's taken from Saturday's show @ Milkboy.  "A Higher Place" was taken by Susan.  "Hey California!" was taken by Bill.  Cheers!

Live Video taken @ Milkboy Coffee in Ardmore, PA.  February, 7th 2009.  "Bird's-eye View" is an unreleased song set to be recorded and released this year.  Thanks to everyone who came out to the show! Video Credit: Susan