Loud and Clear Records #25



3-30-06



Well hello there...



Seems we have been a bit absent lately... at least in terms of internet updates via email lists and what not.



When a musician tells you they have been busy, it's generally a good thing.  Well... all of the L+C crew have been busy, very busy... for a few months now.



This email is well overdue, so it's gonna be hefty. 



1.  L+C 4th Birthday - done and done

2.  Goodbye Blue Monday / Ilya tour springs eternal bond

3.  Scott Mercado is playing bass in Black Heart right... now.

4.  neonthief hard at work / workin it hard

5.  Did we ever tell you?
 
6.  (buy our) New merch.

7.  Drew and Tim feel the burn.
 
8.  BIG NEWS... really.



1.  There was champagne, cake, and hired women.  L+C's 4th birthday at the Casbah was a well executed demonstration of rock, merriment, and functional alcoholism.  Thanks to every single person who came out or was involved in any way.



2.  Goodbye Blue Monday joined forces with fellow San Diegan's ILYA on the road for three weeks in February.  They revisited Arizona and the Midwest, then headed east to break new ground in Florida, North Carolina, and a few southern truck stops.  Along the way they forged a formidable bond with their travel companions. 



Basically, when you send good people out on the road with good people, they come back as one amorphous glob of tour energy... it's actually quite fascinating.  They even wrote and performed a song together.  There is lots of tour footage shot by ILYA drummer Geoff Hill... and many rumors of a DVD to come.



3.  Our very own Scott Mercado (Manuok, Via Satellite) is once again rubbing his multi-instrumental talents in our face by joining the Black Heart Procession on bass.  He learned 20 songs in 3 days and jumped on stage with one of San Diego's most prestigious and talented bands.  They recently finished a short tour out to SXSW, and will be heading to Europe for the month of May.



4.  neonthief's lead singer is Kevin Barlow.  Some of you... though probably not many of you, may know that the starting running back for the San Francisco 49ers is Kevan Barlow.  You probably don't care, but I think that is pretty fucking cool. 



Anywho... Kevin Barlow and the neon crew are writing and recording.  An EP will be ready soon.  I predict said EP will inspire you to finally do something that you've always wanted to, ie: model rocket building, salsa lessons, marijuana, boxer briefs... ya know, something new and exciting.



5.  There seems to have been a few occurrences worth mentioning from the last few months.  You probably didn't hear about most of them, and that is probably because we didn't tell you.  We'll lay them down quick like: 



-Goodbye Blue Monday's "Help is on the Way" is featured in Taylor Steele's latest surf video, Campaign 2 alongside 25 HUGE bands and a dozen world famous surfers... way gnarley bro. 



-Goodbye Blue Monday had a song appear on last year's Real World (AUSTIN), ya know... that one episode where there was drama with that one girl and her boyfriend.


 
-Adam Gnade did THIS INTERVIEW with Drowned in Sound, a UK webzine... now he has tons of bloody UK fans all in a tizzy about his latest album. 



You can also check out THIS  BRAND NEW INTERVIEW with Adam Gnade and David Dondero currently running in the San Francisco Weekly.



-Scott Mercado recorded some bass lines for a band called Horse Stories on their last record, we heard it's on the charts in Australia.



6.  We have some new merch items in our online store.  New shirts from L+C and Goodbye Blue Monday.  There are girl sizes of each new design as well!



7.  Via Satellite is once again stymied by members touring with other projects.  This time it is Drew and Tim who are stuck at home while Scott is off playing rockstar.  The way I see it, this is actually good for the band, because now they are a bona fide SUPERGROUP.  Each member plays in either the Album Leaf (Sub Pop) or the Black Heart Procession (Touch and Go)... that's some crazy shit.



8.  Alright... finally... the big news.  Merch Lackey has a brand new wholesale and distribution department.  It will distribute the entire Loud + Clear catalog alongside merch from Pinback, International Noise Conspiracy, Black Heart Procession, Rocket from the mother fuckin Crypt, Mogwai, Hot Snakes, Swami Records and tons of other great bands.  The extra swedish part is that I am in charge of the whole shebangba... ha!  There are miles and hours of hard work to come, but this is a great opportunity for Loud + Clear and all of our artists.



I'll try to get these emails out a little more often, nobody wants to read a novel... and I don't want to write them... god damn carpal tunnel.



GOOD LUCK.






Brad



L+C