Hi everybody,

We've started blogging at our newly-designed website: www.jaybercrow.com

We may throw a few highlights on the myspace blog from time to time, but for regular updates, please check the website.

See you at www.jaybercrow.com

Zach and Pete

We've re-designed our website, and we hope you like it.  Check it out!

www.jaybercrow.com

We're happy to announce the unveiling of our first music video! Pete spent hours creating a paper cut-out world of ice and snow to celebrate the release of Two Short Stories on iTunes. The song is "Freeze and Thaw," and the video is at:

www.youtube.com/jaybercrowmusic

Take a look, let us know what you think in the comments section, and check out Two Short Stories on iTunes!

Zach and Pete

Amid the flurry of end-of-the-year lists, we'd like to say thanks to those who included us on theirs. Here a few we noticed:

No. 5 on Top 10 Best Albums of 2008 at Radio City Discos in Madrid, Spain (PDF download)

No. 7 Most Promising Artist for the Future at An Inside Out Sock

No. 41 of 50 at Das Klienicum (dasklienicum.blogspot.com) via Slowcoustic.com

We were tickled to get word of a write-up on a Spanish newspaper's blog. Here's the link:

http://lacomunidad.elpais.com/ruta-norteamericana/2008/10/27/jayber-crow-letra-pequena

Our friends Anne and Mike saved our sorry, unilingual selves and sent us translations. We mashed 'em up and got this:

Introduction:

Creo que si tuviera que quedarme con, por ejemplo, los 10 discos que me cambiaron la vida, nunca serían los mismos, o sí, quién sabe, pero siempre serían aquéllos que me recomendó un amigo con alguna copa de más en una noche de bar, o me regaló otro colega con todo el cariño, o me grabó alguien sin que yo se lo pidiese, o escuché en aquel programa de radio a altas horas de la noche, o encontré tras buscar con tranquilidad y esmero en una pequeña tienda de música, mientras su dueño me los pinchaba o me hablaba con pasión de sus últimas adquisiciones.

I think if I could only have, for example, the 10 albums that changed my life, they would never be the same ones... or maybe they would be, who knows. But they would always be those albums that a friend recommended over one too many drinks at the bar; or that another friend or colleague gave me provided I take good care of it; or one that was recorded for me without my asking for it ; or that I heard on that late night radio program; or that I found after peacefully and painstakingly searching through a small music shop while the owner was pointing them out to me or speaking passionately about his latest acquisitions.

La Ruta Norteamericana, que se mueve más por impulsos que por promociones, tiene el gusto de inaugurar la sección de recomendaciones de la pequeña pero valiosa tienda Radio City Discos, afincada en pleno centro de Madrid. Cada mes este enclave, al que llegan los álbumes más subterráneos y fascinantes de la música norteamericana, recomendará un disco, músico o banda para los transeúntes de esta ruta. El texto correrá a cargo de Jesús, dueño de Radio City. Espero que lo disfrutéis. Porque ya dice el dicho que lo que no se comparte se pierde.

The American Road, moved more by impulses than promotions, has the pleasure of inaugurating the "recommendations" section of the small but invaluable Radio City Discos store nestled in the heart of Madrid. Each month this nook, where one only finds the most fascinating and underground of American albums, will recommend an album, musician, or band for the passersby on this road. Jesus, owner of Radio City, will be in charge of the text. I hope you enjoy it. Because they say that which isn't shared is lost.

Review:

Mañana de domingo, recibo un explicito mensaje al móvil: "Apunta, Jayber Crow, te van a encantar". Mi amigo José Luis Prieto del programa radiofónico Hotel Arizona, uno de los sabuesos musicales más efectivos que conozco, sabe que la zanahoria no tiene que ser muy grande ni muy naranja para que corra tras ella. Una vez tras la pista, descubro que bajo ese nombre se esconden dos chicos de Minnesota que se han autopublicado once canciones y cuya muestra enMySpace promete lo mejor. Veloz hago todas las gestiones para que me hagan llegar su trabajo. Cuando está aquí y lo destripo no puedo lucirlo más con orgullo en las estanterías de Radio City.

Sunday morning I receive a text message: "Heads up, Jayber Crow, you're going to love it." Mi friend, Jose Luis Prieto, from the radio program Hotel Arizona and one of the most effective musical sleuths I know, knows that the carrot doesn't have to be very large or orange for me to chase it. Once on the trail, I discover that under that name hide two guys from Minnesota that have self-produced 11 songs and whose sample on MySpace promises great things. Quickly I do what's needed to have their work at my doorstep. When it's here and I unwrap it, I can't help but flaunt it on the shelves of Radio City with great pride.

Two Short Stories (Jayber Crow Records - 2008) es un disco lleno de verdad. Las canciones hablan de la cosecha, de copiosas nevadas, de la influencia del río Mississippi, de episodios de la tradición popular, de la vida en el medio oeste que tan poco atractiva parece a nuestros ojos. Y nada es impostado, todo esta contado de primera mano. Zach y Pete (el dúo que forma Jayber Crow) no son dos chicos de gran urbe que han aprendido la lección oyendo grabaciones de Big Billy Broonzy o la Carter Family, ni buscan identidad disfrazados de neofolkies con largas barbas y camisas a cuadros. Este disco se ha gestado (y grabado) durante el parón invernal de la cosecha en la granja familiar de Pete.

Two Short Stories (Jayber Crow Records - 2008) is an album full of truth. The songs speak of the harvest, of deep snows, of the power of the Mississippi River, of popular folklore, of life in the Midwest that attracts so little notice in our eyes. And nothing is pretended, everything is told first-hand. Zach and Pete (the duo that makes up Jayber Crow) aren't two big-city guys who have learned their trade by listening to recordings of Big Billy Broonzy or the Carter Family, nor are they trying to create an identity by dressing up as neo-folkies with long beards and checkered shirts. The album was produced (and recorded) during the harvest's long winter break at Pete's family farm.

Y en lo musical tampoco hay trampa ni cartón. Guitarra, mandolina y armónica es la parca pero apropiada instrumentación. Nada de alardeos. Sólo grandes canciones basadas en hermosos juegos vocales herederos de Blue Sky Boys o los Monroe Brothers. Nada de trucos efectistas. Pero no nos confundamos, los de Minnesota no juegan sólo al revisionismo perfectamente ejecutado (y de talento) de Old Crow Medicine Show o Avett Brothers sino que dan un paso más en la puesta al día del folclore y hablan de tú a tú a bandas como Decemberists o Port O'Brien, desprendiéndose de toda la afectación y pomposidad que a veces ataca las composiciones de los (ahora) numerosos descendientes de Neutral Milk Hotel.

Their music is also the real deal. Guitar, mandolin and harmonica make up the sparing but appropriate instrumentation. There is nothing boastful about it. Only great songs based on beautiful vocals reminiscent of the Blue Sky Boys or the Monroe Brothers. No tricks with effects. But let's not confuse ourselves, the guys from Minnesota don't only offer a perfectly executed (and talented) revision of Old Crow Medicine Show or the Avett Brothers but also go a step further in bringing folk music up to date and remind us from time to time of bands like the Decemberists and Port O'Brien, disposing of all the affectation and pretension that at times undermines the compositions of the (now) numerous descendants of Neutral Milk Hotel

Y en este punto uno concluye que Jayber Crow y mi amigo Jose Luis y su Hotel Arizonason como esa letra pequeña que nadie lee pero que luego resulta ser la más importante.

And on that point one must conclude that Jayber Crow and my friend Jose Luis and his Hotel Arizona are that little detail that nobody paid attention to but later ended up being the most important.

Hi Friends,

Just checking in to see how your summers are going. We're still basking in the glow of releasing our first full-length album in April. For those of you who still want a copy, it's available for purchase on our website (www.jaybercrow.com). We're working on the iTunes thing, but it looks like we're going to have to be patient. Very patient. A few folks were nice enough to write about the album and the CD release show, so we'll include some links at the end of this post.

We're also making plans for the late summer/fall. It would be nice to play a few more shows while the weather is warm, but we're having a hard time deciding where. So, we'd like to open the floor to suggestions. Do you know of a venue that would be a nice fit for us, particularly in a town, city, or state we haven't played? Michigan, we're looking at you. And Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska--tell us what you've got.

We look forward to hearing your thoughts. It would be especially nice if you had a connection (a.k.a. "hook up") at the venue, and could help us figure out the details. But mostly, we just want to know where we're wanted.

Thanks, everyone. Here's what people are saying about Two Short Stories:

http://howwastheshow.com/index.cfm/action/reviews.view/reviewKey/940

http://music.for-robots.com/archives/002385.html

http://minneapolisfuckingrocks.blogspot.com/2008/04/mfr-feature-jayber-crow.html

http://staergetaleht.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-favorite-song-this-week_30.html

Also, check us out on this podcast:

http://howwastheshow.com/index.cfm/action/reviews.view/reviewKey/945


Hope you're all well!
Pete and Zach

www.jaybercrow.com
www.myspace.com/jaybercrow
...and check us out on Facebook!

Wow. We're stoked. Check it out here.

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, we've been on tour for the past 8 days, seeing friends, singing songs, and spending a lot of time in the car. This time out, we've been a little lax when it comes to a Jayber Crow staple: the tour blog. We've had a blast posting video updates from the road, but it just wouldn't feel right if we didn't put something down in print. I'm a little overwhelmed at the task of summing up the past days in writing, however, with all of the smiling faces, diner breakfasts, broken guitar strings, futons, and searches for wireless internet that become a part of daily life when we're traveling around the Midwest. So, as a little exercise in memory, I'm just going to write the names of the towns we've visited and a word or phrase that pops into mind. Let's see how it goes.

Fargo, ND: Human Cannonball
Annandale, MN: Snow Day!
Decorah, IA: Contact Improv
Grinnell, IA: Carrot Cake
Peoria, IL: You know the words better than we do
North Manchester, IN: Save the Firehouse (www.thefirehouse.net) and pass the enchiladas
Goshen, IN: Holy Yoder, Mennonites are Awesome
Winona, MN: Farmer and the Nomad share a Wisconsin Martini

As you can see, this has been an eventful trip. We've just got two shows left: tonight at Hogan Brothers in Northfield, MN and tomorrow night at The Nomad in Minneapolis with The Floorbirds and Spider John Koerner (our CD release party!). We'll try to write more before we wrap this one up. Thanks for keeping tabs on us!

Zach and Pete

We’ve posted a new song to our MySpace page: www.myspace.com/jaybercrow. Don’t be an April Fool -- give it a listen!

Hi,

Just wanted to let you guys know that we’ll be posting a new song every week from Two Short Stories until we pack the album up and take it on tour with us. We got the idea from a hip musician named Chris Koza (check him out at www.myspace.com/chriskozaband), and we thought it was such a good one that we had to take it for ourselves (don’t worry, we asked).

So, enjoy Two Short Stories Tuesdays, and start saving your allowance to pick up a copy of the new album when you come out to one of our April shows (it will also be available on our website)!

Zach and Pete

P.S. Have you seen the cool, new things going on at www.jaybercrow.com?