May 30, 2009
May 29, 2009
"Uplifter"
This week, 311 was streaming their brand new album "Uplifter" on their MySpace page, and I spent all day Tuesday and Wednesday listening to it, over and over...
Most of the guys in the band and I have been diehard 311 fans since at least 93, and I'm constantly pleased with every new album they come out with for one reason or another (Uplifter is their 9th studio album - not including a greatest hits, a live album, and the Omaha Sessions). Although they've clearly lost the ability to REALLY throw down the heavy metal, there's still plenty of good hard rock on the new album, and most of the music is really well done. The singing also continues to get better and better - especially the harmonies (they're using a lot more 3 and 4-part harmonies which sound amazing). The older these guys get, the more they seem to be perfecting the chill, groovy, reggae/jazz that they're so so good at. My current top 5 songs on Uplifter are as as follows:
1) It's Alright
2) Two Drops in the Ocean
3) Never Ending Summer
4) Golden Sunlight
5) Daisy Cutter
Those 5 are the most radio friendly, I think - but just like with any 311 album, the weakest song on the album could end up being the BEST song when you see them live. Either way, I'm just glad 311 continues to make music and explore new sounds and styles with every new album. Go check it out when it's released on June 2nd!
ROCK/ROLL,
Matt
Most of the guys in the band and I have been diehard 311 fans since at least 93, and I'm constantly pleased with every new album they come out with for one reason or another (Uplifter is their 9th studio album - not including a greatest hits, a live album, and the Omaha Sessions). Although they've clearly lost the ability to REALLY throw down the heavy metal, there's still plenty of good hard rock on the new album, and most of the music is really well done. The singing also continues to get better and better - especially the harmonies (they're using a lot more 3 and 4-part harmonies which sound amazing). The older these guys get, the more they seem to be perfecting the chill, groovy, reggae/jazz that they're so so good at. My current top 5 songs on Uplifter are as as follows:
1) It's Alright
2) Two Drops in the Ocean
3) Never Ending Summer
4) Golden Sunlight
5) Daisy Cutter
Those 5 are the most radio friendly, I think - but just like with any 311 album, the weakest song on the album could end up being the BEST song when you see them live. Either way, I'm just glad 311 continues to make music and explore new sounds and styles with every new album. Go check it out when it's released on June 2nd!
ROCK/ROLL,
Matt
May 28, 2009
May 27, 2009
Soundtrack of My Week
Greetings! Dave here, and I've had a song stuck in my head for the past 4 days. So, since I can't humming it to myself, I thought I'd make it the soundtrack of my blog post this week.
Just some more proof that musical trends are cyclical, and the electro-cheesy sounds from the 1980's, against all odds, are coming back with full force. Hopefully this time around, people will remember and appreciate that pop music can truly be groovy and awesome, not just unoriginal retread crap, like The Jonas Brothers and Beyonce. These guys are called Solid Gold, and they're from the fabulous city of Minneapolis, which is a place you should definitely consider visiting.
In other news, Jackpot Donnie is busy preparing for our very first roadtrip and road gig, in beautiful Boston, Massachusetts. We've got a whole slew of new cover songs (and original songs too!) that will make appearances once we return home to Chicago and start playing shows for our amazing fans. So, until then, seek out NEW MUSIC, and JPD will be anxious to see you on July 11th at the Abbey Pub!
Just some more proof that musical trends are cyclical, and the electro-cheesy sounds from the 1980's, against all odds, are coming back with full force. Hopefully this time around, people will remember and appreciate that pop music can truly be groovy and awesome, not just unoriginal retread crap, like The Jonas Brothers and Beyonce. These guys are called Solid Gold, and they're from the fabulous city of Minneapolis, which is a place you should definitely consider visiting.
In other news, Jackpot Donnie is busy preparing for our very first roadtrip and road gig, in beautiful Boston, Massachusetts. We've got a whole slew of new cover songs (and original songs too!) that will make appearances once we return home to Chicago and start playing shows for our amazing fans. So, until then, seek out NEW MUSIC, and JPD will be anxious to see you on July 11th at the Abbey Pub!
May 25, 2009
Online Interview w/Junior's Cave Magazine
We did an interview with a cool music site called Junior's Cave. You can read it in its entirety at http://www.juniorscave.com/JackpotDonnie.html
May 22, 2009
To boldy go...
So, last weekend I dragged my girlfriend to go see the new STAR TREK movie. She was hesitant, to say the least, but in the end I think she was as glad to have seen it as I was...
I wouldn't say that I'm a "trekkie" or anything like that, but I've definitely been a fan of the show and the old movies for some time - and the new movie did NOT disappoint!
I actually liked the plot of the movie - which some that I talked to thought was merely setting up more movies down the road. That was obviously part of it, but it was still crafted well. The dialogue was slightly more clever than previous Treks, but not thoroughly stimulating by any means. The actors were all really good in their roles (the person that cast this movie did a great job). And the special effects, well, they clearly made the movie. EASILY the best special effects of any Star Trek movie I've ever seen.
All-in-all, I thought it was a solid movie - and it definitely has re-"energized" the franchise (har har). I'm pumped for the next one! Beam me up - J.J. Abrams ;)
ROCK/ROLL,
Matt
I wouldn't say that I'm a "trekkie" or anything like that, but I've definitely been a fan of the show and the old movies for some time - and the new movie did NOT disappoint!
I actually liked the plot of the movie - which some that I talked to thought was merely setting up more movies down the road. That was obviously part of it, but it was still crafted well. The dialogue was slightly more clever than previous Treks, but not thoroughly stimulating by any means. The actors were all really good in their roles (the person that cast this movie did a great job). And the special effects, well, they clearly made the movie. EASILY the best special effects of any Star Trek movie I've ever seen.
All-in-all, I thought it was a solid movie - and it definitely has re-"energized" the franchise (har har). I'm pumped for the next one! Beam me up - J.J. Abrams ;)
ROCK/ROLL,
Matt
May 21, 2009
Chicago Roots Collective - Logo Design Contest
Calling all artists!
We've recently joined the Chicago Roots Collective, a group of like-minded Chicago musicians that are trying to create a larger sense of community in the Chicago rock scene. You can check out our website here.
We're a new organization and we need a snazzy logo. This is where you come in. Check out the contest information below!
"The Chicago Roots Collective wants YOU to design our Logo! Winner will receive one pick from several prizes including a cash prize of $200. Others that place within the Top 10 will receive a free pass to our first CRC show at The Cubby Bear on Saturday, September 19th, 2009.
The Chicago Roots Collective is a collaboration of musicians working together to get their music heard. We value community and want to reach out to our combined audiences to find the best artists out there. If your logo is selected, your work will be posted all over our MySpace, event posters, CD's and press releases. Find out more about the music and bands at www.myspace.com/chicagorootscollective .
We've recently joined the Chicago Roots Collective, a group of like-minded Chicago musicians that are trying to create a larger sense of community in the Chicago rock scene. You can check out our website here.
We're a new organization and we need a snazzy logo. This is where you come in. Check out the contest information below!
"The Chicago Roots Collective wants YOU to design our Logo! Winner will receive one pick from several prizes including a cash prize of $200. Others that place within the Top 10 will receive a free pass to our first CRC show at The Cubby Bear on Saturday, September 19th, 2009.
The Chicago Roots Collective is a collaboration of musicians working together to get their music heard. We value community and want to reach out to our combined audiences to find the best artists out there. If your logo is selected, your work will be posted all over our MySpace, event posters, CD's and press releases. Find out more about the music and bands at www.myspace.com/
Rules for contest:
- All submissions must be sent to chicagorootscollective@gmail.
com - Submissions must be sent first in .jpg/.gef. When selected, a .pdf file will be requested.
- Submission deadlines are June 20th, 2009. The winner will be announced once all designs are seen and discussed by members of the CRC.
- Top 5 winners will get to pick from one of the following prizes (top winner picks first):
- $200 Cash prize
- 4 FREE tickets to The Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival in December (www.cbbfestival.com)
- 3 sets of Merchandise Pack from all 10 bands (including CD's, attire and more!)
- Top 10 winners will receive a FREE pass to our first CRC show at The Cubby Bear on Saturday September 19th, 2009.
Not an artist? If so, please forward to any friends that would be interested.
The Chicago Roots Collective looks forward to viewing your submissions and wishes everyone the best of luck!
May 19, 2009
Committing to the Indian
Stayed up late tonight to watch the Hawks OT loss to the Red Wings. That one really hurt.
What makes it even worse is that I want to hate the Red Wings just as much as I did twelve years ago, and this group isn't even unlikeable!
Wait a minute...that in itself makes me hate them even more.
Go Hawks!
What makes it even worse is that I want to hate the Red Wings just as much as I did twelve years ago, and this group isn't even unlikeable!
Wait a minute...that in itself makes me hate them even more.
Go Hawks!
May 11, 2009
Show Diary: MS Benefit 5/9
Despite what might have been our worst week of practices in years, we pulled off a decent gig on Saturday. It was a trip to play a gig at our old high school. We unloaded our gear in the fieldhouse, and we got to drive our cars around the same gym that I had to run laps in as a P.E. student. If I could have done that in high school I would have had much better times on the mile.
The sound was shitty because it was a big fieldhouse, and everything we played was bouncing all over the walls which made for a challenge. I could hear my guitar and Matt's voice, and that was about it. Plus, I think there actually were a lot of people there, but since the room was so big it always felt kind of empty. Regardless, my guess is they made a lot of money for the MS Foundation, so it was well worth it.
We played our new song, "On the Mend," and it went over really well. I am really excited to record this song. It's catchy as hell - always in my head since we've finished it.
Other highlights: eating dinner at Moon Doggies (best cheese fries ever), playing the same stage from 11 years ago at The Battle of the Bands, making my mom and dad come see me at high school again, selling way more CDs/t-shirts than we ever do in the city, loading out BEFORE 9:30 PM, and going to Grandpas for the Hawks game after the gig. Yes, the same Grandpas where JPD played their first real gig as a band back in 2003.
Hawks rule! Back to practice tomorrow for our big Boston gig...
BWise
The sound was shitty because it was a big fieldhouse, and everything we played was bouncing all over the walls which made for a challenge. I could hear my guitar and Matt's voice, and that was about it. Plus, I think there actually were a lot of people there, but since the room was so big it always felt kind of empty. Regardless, my guess is they made a lot of money for the MS Foundation, so it was well worth it.
We played our new song, "On the Mend," and it went over really well. I am really excited to record this song. It's catchy as hell - always in my head since we've finished it.
Other highlights: eating dinner at Moon Doggies (best cheese fries ever), playing the same stage from 11 years ago at The Battle of the Bands, making my mom and dad come see me at high school again, selling way more CDs/t-shirts than we ever do in the city, loading out BEFORE 9:30 PM, and going to Grandpas for the Hawks game after the gig. Yes, the same Grandpas where JPD played their first real gig as a band back in 2003.
Hawks rule! Back to practice tomorrow for our big Boston gig...
BWise
May 10, 2009
Setlist: 5/9/09 MS Benefit Concert - Glenbrook South High School
Intro->
Rumble
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Daybreak
Shakedown Street
On the Mend*
Use Me
Set It Right
Could You Be Loved
See We Rollin'
Everlong
*first time played
Rumble
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Daybreak
Shakedown Street
On the Mend*
Use Me
Set It Right
Could You Be Loved
See We Rollin'
Everlong
*first time played
May 6, 2009
Tortilla Soup for Old Men
Hey folks, Dave here! As a special Wednesday treat, I am going to disregard standard paragraphical formatting, and deliver this blog-post in the style of a Top 5 list.
5. Went to the Allstate Arena last night and watched a bunch of old men play music. They called themselves The Dead, and they charged $100 for a ticket. I bought a ticket for $15, because I am enthralled by bargains. I hope I can play a glowing bass guitar when I'm 70 years old, like Phil Lesh.
4. Happy Birthday Dad! You were born in 1945, so that makes you 64 years old today!
3. I woke up early today, so I could make my homemade tortilla soup. It smells like a sexy cantina in my kitchen right now, and if you're interested in some Patron body shots, I'm your man.
2. Jackpot Donnie has got a show this weekend at Glenbrook South High School, of all places. I didn't go to school there, but the other three "men" in the band did. Notice how "men" was in quotations? (It's cause I think those "guys" are sissies!)
1. A challenge for our readers, wherever you may be: Comment this blog-post with suggestions for songs you'd LOVE to hear JPD cover in concert. We need suggestions, because we simply don't know what "cool" is. Clearly, my idea of cool is putting words in quotes.
Until next week...Watch Demolition Man.
5. Went to the Allstate Arena last night and watched a bunch of old men play music. They called themselves The Dead, and they charged $100 for a ticket. I bought a ticket for $15, because I am enthralled by bargains. I hope I can play a glowing bass guitar when I'm 70 years old, like Phil Lesh.
4. Happy Birthday Dad! You were born in 1945, so that makes you 64 years old today!
3. I woke up early today, so I could make my homemade tortilla soup. It smells like a sexy cantina in my kitchen right now, and if you're interested in some Patron body shots, I'm your man.
2. Jackpot Donnie has got a show this weekend at Glenbrook South High School, of all places. I didn't go to school there, but the other three "men" in the band did. Notice how "men" was in quotations? (It's cause I think those "guys" are sissies!)
1. A challenge for our readers, wherever you may be: Comment this blog-post with suggestions for songs you'd LOVE to hear JPD cover in concert. We need suggestions, because we simply don't know what "cool" is. Clearly, my idea of cool is putting words in quotes.
Until next week...Watch Demolition Man.
May 5, 2009
Dia de los Muertos
Brian here. Happy Cinco de Mayo, which, did you know, is not the Mexican Independence Day? No, no, my friends...that's September 16th. I think today is actually celebrated in Corona commercials far more than it is in Mexico.
But I am looking forward to a fiesta this evening in Rosemont. I'm off to see The Dead tonight! I've had this show on my calendar for a long time now. From all accounts I've heard, the shows have been fantastic, although I wish I was in New Jersey to see Branford Marsalis jam with them. His performance on Eyes of the World on "Without A Net" is what made me fall in love with them in the first place.
Regardless, the dancing shoes are bustin' out tonight!
BWise
But I am looking forward to a fiesta this evening in Rosemont. I'm off to see The Dead tonight! I've had this show on my calendar for a long time now. From all accounts I've heard, the shows have been fantastic, although I wish I was in New Jersey to see Branford Marsalis jam with them. His performance on Eyes of the World on "Without A Net" is what made me fall in love with them in the first place.
Regardless, the dancing shoes are bustin' out tonight!
BWise
May 1, 2009
THE HAPPS...
What's crackin kids?! Matt here, just checking in with yous, as all of the guys in the band will be doing more often, starting in May. There's a lot goin on right now for JPD, and we want to keep our people updated on a regular basis - and also have some old fashioned goofy fun with this whole blog deal ;)
As some of you know, our drummer extraordinaire (Adam Campbell) is now also a recording engineer...um.....aire - as well as a business owner! "Mammoth Studios" is close to being open for business, and let me just say - as a bandmate of a guy who owns and operates a recording studio, nothing could be more BADASS! I get teased often for acting like this studio is my new "clubhouse/treehouse," and you know what??......FINE BY ME! The place is awesome - and it has a spiral staircase (even more awesome)! And lets not forget about the sweet old, BALDING, lady who runs the bar down the street and sells us beer-to-go (escalating awesomeness)!
We've all been helping out when we can (after work, and sometimes on the weekends), but Adam has been a madman about this place - in the BEST way possible. The guy has been working almost nonstop to create a place where musicians will feel comfortable recording their songs, and overly pleased with the finished product. It's incredibly cool to see Adam take this step because he went to school for it - he LOVES doing it - and, he's GREAT at it! Some of you probably remember a small mix that Adam did for the band (including tracks like S.F.E., Resignation, and Art of Mixing Colors - all before Music Nightly was released). Adam did that in our old practice space (basically a 20 x 10 room), with old microphones, and a tiny sound board. Now he has control of 64 tracks, in the same studio where we recorded our album.
Within a few weeks, we'll be throwing LOTS of recordings at you guys! Everything from a recorded practice, to us playing some of our favorite covers, podcasts, as well as some fun lil cpu-jams that I'm sure Adam and Dave will be playing around with from time to time, as they did back in the practice space days. And obviously we're already preparing to record our next EP which will most likely be finished later in the fall. In fact, last night we just put the finishing touches on a brand new song called "On the Mend, " which I wrote :) and which could very well be on that EP because we think it sounds pretty cool!
Anyways - I know Adam is planning some sort of house warming party in the coming weeks to celebrate this new beginning for our band, but more importantly for Adam, so I expect to see a bunch of you there! Until then - stay up! Keep smilin, laughin, and livin-it-up :) I'll check back with you guys again soon.
ROCK-ROLL,
Matt
As some of you know, our drummer extraordinaire (Adam Campbell) is now also a recording engineer...um.....aire - as well as a business owner! "Mammoth Studios" is close to being open for business, and let me just say - as a bandmate of a guy who owns and operates a recording studio, nothing could be more BADASS! I get teased often for acting like this studio is my new "clubhouse/treehouse," and you know what??......FINE BY ME! The place is awesome - and it has a spiral staircase (even more awesome)! And lets not forget about the sweet old, BALDING, lady who runs the bar down the street and sells us beer-to-go (escalating awesomeness)!
We've all been helping out when we can (after work, and sometimes on the weekends), but Adam has been a madman about this place - in the BEST way possible. The guy has been working almost nonstop to create a place where musicians will feel comfortable recording their songs, and overly pleased with the finished product. It's incredibly cool to see Adam take this step because he went to school for it - he LOVES doing it - and, he's GREAT at it! Some of you probably remember a small mix that Adam did for the band (including tracks like S.F.E., Resignation, and Art of Mixing Colors - all before Music Nightly was released). Adam did that in our old practice space (basically a 20 x 10 room), with old microphones, and a tiny sound board. Now he has control of 64 tracks, in the same studio where we recorded our album.
Within a few weeks, we'll be throwing LOTS of recordings at you guys! Everything from a recorded practice, to us playing some of our favorite covers, podcasts, as well as some fun lil cpu-jams that I'm sure Adam and Dave will be playing around with from time to time, as they did back in the practice space days. And obviously we're already preparing to record our next EP which will most likely be finished later in the fall. In fact, last night we just put the finishing touches on a brand new song called "On the Mend, " which I wrote :) and which could very well be on that EP because we think it sounds pretty cool!
Anyways - I know Adam is planning some sort of house warming party in the coming weeks to celebrate this new beginning for our band, but more importantly for Adam, so I expect to see a bunch of you there! Until then - stay up! Keep smilin, laughin, and livin-it-up :) I'll check back with you guys again soon.
ROCK-ROLL,
Matt
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