Andrew Anderson: News

Hey y'all.

I have a show this coming Thursday at Columbia City Theater in Seattle. I am pretty stoked about this. It is a great sounding room and is a lot of fun to play in. It is a free show, so if you are in the area I hope you can make it out!

I have been working on a lot of things. Finishing background vocals for the album, a few little guitar things and getting really close to being able to get this thing mixed... 

This has been a longer road getting this album done than I had thought, but that is how many things go if you are going to do it right. Regardless I am very excited about sharing some of the new music with you soon.

I have also been spending some time working with the Occupy Seattle movement, which has been an interesting experience thus far. I haven't blogged about politics in a while and right now this isn't exactly the time for it except to say that I am amazed at how well intentioned citizens on both sides of the aisle are so very often full of shit to the point where I find it hard to wonder why we never get anything done. That's all I'm gonna say for now.

Come out on Thursday and check out some of the old and new songs at Columbia City Theater, lets drink some whiskey or rather I'll watch you drink whiskey from the stage and wish that I could have some on stage myself.... :)

See you soon!

-andrew

I have either lost my mind or I am right. There are no two ways around it. Grey area is for pussies who gave up their definition of right and wrong for some nursery rhyme bullshit about everybody getting along. Sure we need to try and get along, but that by no means should leave us with our hands tied when somebody has indeed wronged us, or is wronging themselves or some combination thereof.

We don’t need the existence of a God to justify or explain what is right or wrong either, though we may have needed it in times past when there was not a better explanation, we have outgrown the mysticism. Now we simply need people to be decent and honest to one another, and treat one another fairly. Manipulation, theft, games, deceit and gossip will do nothing but breed murder and hatred. But if you give a man an inch, he’ll take a mile. So when we compromise once, then the path is set for someone to take advantage of us, or for us to take advantage of them.

Some have grand ideas of how if our leaders would only live by these uncompromising terms then the world would be fine. That is not right though. We as a society have allowed those compromises and we are paying the prices for it and we are the only ones who can stop it. Unfortunately it won’t happen without things getting ugly or without people getting their hands dirty. But nobody wants to do that. Everybody wants to continue living in their bubbles of ideology and imagine that they are living their dream or pretend that things aren’t really so bad. After all “its not the end of the world”.... Not yet. Keep saying that. Keep compromising your values and who you are and what you believe. Keep treating some people the way your beloved Father in Heaven would and others like fucking dogs. Keep making exceptions to your own rules. Keep saying it isn’t the end of the world while you make those exceptions and more people will continue to do the same until it actually is the end of the world as we know it...

We’re doing this to ourselves.

Well, though I moved away from Texas a few months ago and spent the summer in Seattle and Idaho, I am now actually saying adios to Texas. 

We have most of the album done. There are a few things left with backing vocals and maybe a few small guitar parts, but overall the album is tracked and is sounding great. It didn't come without a lot of sweat and maybe a few tears, but to my knowledge no blood was spilled so that is something at least.

I head back to Seattle in 16 hours and counting. 

I drove to Lockhart, TX today and had a look around, ate some BBQ at Smittys and took a few pictures of the dead scorched earth where my wife and I used to Live in Maxwell, TX... This place is a hell hole. Life shouldn't exist in the area at all. I am going back to the northwest where things are fertile and green. Hopefully us humans don't fuck things up up there too.

I'll post some more pics and some videos of the session soon!

Since I wrote here about recording the album. Alex is tracking some electric guitar now and I am taking a break from vocals. It has been a crazy week and a half and we still have a lot of shit to get done. This last weekend we tracked some horn parts for two songs. We have a trumpet part that still needs to get done, and we'll be doing that tomorrow. 

There have been too many crazy nights drinking of late. A few of us went to a bar the night we recorded horns. Things got a bit out of hand... It was fun(ny) at moments and hell at others... you know the story.

I am really pleased with how everything is sounding. Mike Vasquez is a badass engineer and has a really good ear, the tones he's getting are simply fantastic.

We have a few electric guitar parts left, keys, and vocals. All if it has to get done by Saturday. Believe it or not I think we can make it happen. I've got a plan. 

As tired as I am though, I am at the point where I can't wait till it is over. Phil and I butt heads too much, Luke is bored because we got all of his drum track done in a day, Alex is chill, Mike is chill, Joe isn't here yet... I don't know things feel weird and I wish I had a manager who would have told us to go to bed on Saturday. Instead we stayed up till 4 a.m. 

Really it would be nice to not be dealing with everything, getting food, getting people back and forth, producing, performing and also having to be social, when I really just want to fall in my bed and watch a movie and tune the world out... 

Maybe we all just need a break. But we don't have time. Maybe everybody else takes a break except for me and Joe tomorrow. I don't know. All i know is it sounds great, so there is that.... Just gotta keep going. 

Three rehearsals down. two or three to go?

 I would really like to start tracking Sunday but the schedule has been kinda fucked. Half the band is from Austin and have jobs and responsibilities to deal with while the other half ends up bored during the down time.

 It will feel better in the morning (more like 8 hours from now when we start practice) nothing else will be on the schedule except practicing and eating a meal here and there.

Here are a few pics from last nights rehearsal.

Okay, whiskey then bed.

On the airplane to Austin, listening to David Rawlings 'A Friend of a Friend' and waiting for my bloody mary. Its 7:00 AM on the west coast. I have a layover in Phoenix then to Austin to make the new record. 

 My sister Katie gave me this moleskin notebook for writing music the staff lines in the book are mostly empty save a few ideas for a song I haven't finished and some horn ideas for Blackbird.

 It really is taking a long time for them to get me my bloody mary... Oh well.

 I don't know my exact purpose for writing this. (Bloody mary just got here btw...)

 I guess one could argue it could be that in this shit storm called the music business there is this need to appear interesting or cool, while still being 'accessible' to 'fans' or potential fans or labels or whoever. This is because Facebook has ruined everything, and yet somehow this entry will probably end up on a facebook post... But my purpose in writing this isn't to create buzz or whatever even if a manager or publicist might beg to differ, and fuck who am I  to assume that you will even believe me if you happen to be reading this.

 My purpose is more to document and reflect personally about this whole process of making the new album, maybe it is just for my own sanity. Maybe if nothing else so that when i finally call it quits I will have something more than just the finished product to look back on and show my kids.

 Not that I WANT to quit being a musician or a songwriter but I guess it all just seems impossible. I have worked hard, but I'm  not trending on twitter so I am apparently not quite legit.

 ('Bells of Harlem' is a great song btw)

 So I am not trending on twitter. Why make a record?

 Because I have to? 

 No, I do not have to and I would be less in debt than I am if I hadn't made the last one. 

 Because of Theodore Roosevelt and his man in the arena speech?

 Maybe. 

 Maybe I am just hoping against hope that after I die someone will appreciate what I've done.

 Maybe as long as I have things to say I would be an un-American sonofabitch no exercise my right to say or sing those things.

 Chances are if you read this you already know me. If not you probably are here by mistake and will close the page before too long. But more than likely you'll never be here reading this post in the first place reading this blog entry or listening to my music. 

 Why? Because you are leaking information out of every pore in your skin. You know too much and consequently nothing at all. You are America and you have be robbed, bought, sold, beaten and drugged till you have no idea what is going on or how you got here or how to fix things. 

I guess that is why I am really making this record. Knowing that it will probably fail but hoping that it might wake someone up who has fallen prey to the poison in the wires. But it is hard enough work making a record that sells without adding politics to the mix. So basically why I am doing this is arguably the worst reason to make a record ever.

 To hell with it. (it took a lot less time to get the second bloody mary.)

Hey y'all. I will begin recording my new album Poison in the Wires next week in Austin, TX at Sweatbox Studio. The temperature in Texas has been in the triple digits for a couple of months now so Sweatbox will certainly live up to its name, but we aren't going to let that stop us!

Joining me will be several friends and musicians from around the country Luke Meade on Drums, Phil Ajjarapu on Bass, Alex Tomaino on guitar, James Bookert on banjo and some other stuff, Joe LaChance on keys, Kait Berreckman might even sing on a song or two, and more...

We are really excited to make this album and hope that you are excited to hear it. Stay tuned to updates and videos from the studio!

-andrew

Hey guys, my new EP "The Devil's Gonna Get You If He Can" is now available on 7" Vinyl with a digital download so you can get that shit on your iPod.... To order either send $10 to the address below or paypal the same amount to andrewandersonmusic@gmail.com

Send checks to this address:

Andrew Anderson Music

760 William Pettus Rd

Maxwell, TX 78656

More to come!!!

-andrew

<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yiSem189vkc" width="640" height="390"></iframe> Andrew Anderson, James Bookert (banjo) and Phil Ajjarapu (bass) performing Andrew's song 'Borders' live in the studio during the sessions for Andrew's new EP 'The Devil's Gonna Get You If He Can'  The EP will be available on vinyl and digital download only.</p>

Andrew is also going to be releasing a new EP which will be limited run released on 7" vinyl with a digital download. The vinyl should be released sometime before the end of March and will feature Andrew along with bassist Phil Ajjarapu and banjo player James Bookert as well as the lovely cello playing of Andrew's wife Ki.

In addition to the new EP Andrew will be releasing a Live Album of performances from shows that Andrew has performed all around the US a little later in the spring. Later this summer Andrew will be entering the studio to record his 2nd full length record! Check out his music on iTunes or order copies of his handmade and screen printed albums here!

Andrew's album As Long as This Thing's Flyin' made it to Number 9 on the Euro Americana Chart for the month of February, you can read about it here!

http://www.euroamericanachart.nl/charts.html

Andrew is anxiously awaiting the Valley of the Vapors Festival which will be held at the end of March this year! Andrew played the festival last year with Lucero and Tumbledown and will be spending the week playing shows as well as giving a lecture about music and its social impact on society. 

The VOV is an Independent Music Festival in historical Hot Springs, AR. check here for tickets and info. 

http://www.valleyofthevapors.com/news/?page_id=324

Well, it was a crazy summer, and though I had a blast moving, getting married, working with a bunch of high schoolers at a rock and roll summer camp, recording a Christmas EP, driving all over the west coast and then some.... Well, I guess I was ready for a break by the time I got back to Texas and Ki and I moved into our new place.

I have been spending most of my time recently trying to get things settled while still attempting to maintain some normalcy at home as well as get business stuff taken care of. I have been cooking a lot, cleaning and listening to a lot of Thom Hartmann. Check him out! thomhartmann.com - this guy is rad!

My buddy Phil and I have been producing a record for our friend Kait Berreckman this past year and we are almost done with the project, so that is exciting. We have a few things left to do and then it will be off to be printed. We worked really hard on it and if you are reading that means you care about independent music and artists. Please take the time to check out Kait's record when it is out. In the meantime you can hear some of her songwriting at myspace.com/kaitberreckman.

Other than all of this, I have been writing some new material, so come out to my upcoming shows and you may end up hearing a new song or two. Some of these new songs may end up on the next record which I am planning on recording in February of next year. I am also going to be releasing a live EP early next year. It is a bunch of recordings from several shows last spring, as well as the shows I will be playing in the coming months. So come out to the shows and maybe you'll end up on my live record!

Right now, I am getting ready to release a Christmas EP. I am going to release one of these every year for, well, I guess as long as I feel like it... This is something I am doing for fun and hope that you will pick up a copy. Each copy will come with a handmade Christmas Ornament, so I figure even if you hate my rendition of Home for the Holidays it will be worth it to you to get the ornament... :) Plus, the EP will have one original song on it that you won't be able to get anywhere else... the Christmas EP will be available on CD and online on Black Friday, and I will be accepting pre-orders so email me if you are interested in pre-ordering a copy.

Also I'll be doing several shows in the Northwest and in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri in the next few months, so take a look at the calendar and keep coming back for the latest show listings!

I'll see you on the road.

-andrew anderson

So I meant to write more about this tour as it happened. Again I apologize for sucking. We had a few really cool shows in California. The only weird show was San Francisco where I almost got into a fight with the door guy. It's a long story but let's just say he was a total douche bag. Basically, the bands had no chance to sell merch (which is how we make a living) before he kicked out all the patrons. This was 40 minutes before the bar was supposed to close. I told him what I thought of it... At least I still got paid. I will say the rest if the staff was great, it was just this one guy who liked waving his dick around like a fucking flag. We then went to Redding last night after and played at Bombay's after the show we drove to a hotel in Medford. Tonight we played at the Elks Lodge. It was surprisingly really cool. Tomorrow we play at Dante's in Portland. That will be the last show of the tour. As good as this has been, as much fun as I've had, I am ready for a few days off, mainly cause I'm a bit under the weather. I left for tour just a little sick and it hasn't gotten any better, I now have almost no voice left... But I think I can pull out one more show before having some time off.

Ok folks,

Leaving for the tour with Tumbledown today! It has been awhile since I updated my website, and I am sorry for that. I will try and do better but it is a bit hard on the road... :S

Anyway, the tour is going to be great, riding with the Tumbledown boys and playing some shows with Two Cow Garage as well! Plus the show in Hot Springs at the Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival with LUCERO!

Its gonna be a blast, be sure to follow what is going on on twitter or you can just check the link on the homepage of my website!

See you on the road!

Hey guys,

Starting March 5th - Somewhere in Washington - I will be hitting the road with my buddies Tumbledown. Joining us on some of the shows will be Two Cow Garage (Suburban Home) on our way down south, and Ha Ha Tonka (Bloodshot) on our way back north. We will also be playing a show at the Valley of Vapors Independent Music Festival with LUCERO to kick off the festival! It is going to be a blast!

Also, last night I spent some time in the Studio with Mike Vasquez at Sweatbox Studios here in Austin. I wanted to record an acoustic EP and release it before I hit the road in March, most of the shows will not be full band as it is on As Long as This Thing's Flyin' and I wanted to have something that would showcase my acoustic set. So we went it, and recorded 6 songs. Two sessions, one to record, one to mix. Quick and dirty, just me, my guitar, mandolin, and a couple harmonicas. No overdubs, only 2 punches. We are gonna mix it tonight. She ain't pretty-But she'll fly.

I am gonna post some video of the sessions in the next day or so.

Also, if you haven't seen them check the dates below and come check out the shows!

Fri, March 05 Somewhere, WA @ TBA
Sat, March 06 Boise, ID @ Neurolux
Sun, March 07 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge w/ Two Cow Garage
Tue, March 09 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge w/ Two Cow Garage
Wed, March 10 Colorado Springs, CO @ Triple Nickel Tavern w/ Two Cow Garage
Fri, March 12 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory w/ Two Cow Garage
Sat, March 13 Kansas City, KS @ The Riot Room w/ Two Cow Garage
Sun, March 14 Fayetteville, AR @ George's Majestic Lounge w/ Two Cow Garage
Wed, March 17 Hot Springs, AR @ Valley of the Vapor Festival w/ LUCERO
Thur, March 18 Dallas, TX @ The Doublewide w/ Two Cow Garage
Tue, March 23 San Antonio, TX @ TBA (Date Subject To Change)
Wed, March 24 Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room
Thur, March 25 Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar
Fri, March 26 San Diego, CA @ Radio Room
Sat, March 27 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside w/ HA HA Tonka
Sun, March 28 Redding, CA @ Bombay's w/ HA HA Tonka
Mon, March 29 Medford, OR @ Johnny B's w/ HA HA Tonka
Tue, March 30 Portland, OR @ Dante's w/ HA HA Tonka
Wed, March 31 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern w/ HA HA Tonka

'Damn It Man' off of the new album As Long as This Thing's Flyin' is available on Paste Magazine's new download club with Dale's Pale Ale.

Go to pastemagazine.com/dales to download the new track for FREE!

Plus several other songs by more independent artists!

Andrew will be joining fellow songwriter Brian Martin for a tour during the month of December.

PLEASE NOTE: Not all of the dates have been booked so if you would like us to come to your town, get in touch on myspace or at andrewandersonmusic@gmail.com.

Peace!

04 - Hot Springs - Maxine's
05 - Fayetteville or Little Rock - Looking for a show!
06 - Eureka Springs - The Squid and Whale
07 - Tulsa, OK - Looking for a Show!
08 - Kansas City - The Record Bar
09 - St Louis or Des Moines - Looking for a show!
10 - Madison, WI - Looking for a Show!
11 - Chicago - Reggie's Music Joint
12 - Carbondale, IL - PK's
13 - Memphis or Nashville - Looking for a show!
14 - Nashville or Memphis - Looking for a show!

This Friday October 16th at Emo's in Austin, TX Andrew and his band will be opening up for CMJ headliner Elliott Brood also playing that night Wooden Sky. Tickets are $12 at the door.

come check it out!

Andrew will be doing a short tour in November, returning to Great Northwestern United States in support of his new record As Long as This Thing's Flyin'. The tour will kick off in his hometown Boise, ID with a CD release party on Nov. 10th at the Terrapin Station.

Before the show will be a short all ages set at around 6:00 (venue TBD - anybody want to have a show in your living room?)... The BIG party will be at the Terrapin Station later that night with folk-punk band SGFY.

From there Andrew will set out on the road with Bremerton punk band Neutralboy for a few shows in Colorado and Utah and will then make his way through Oregon, Washington, N. Idaho and Montana.

Andrew's performances have been recently described as "Elliott Smith meets Dylan" and has been compared to such artists as Conor Oberst and Chris Thile. His music is somewhere in between country and punk and is best labeled as Post-Cowboy.

For more information on Specific dates check the calendar or to book a show feel free to contact andrewandersonmusic@gmail.com

Ok,

So in the past weeks I have made a limited number of handmade copies of my new record 'As Long as This Thing's Flyin'. Each CD is silk screened by yours truly as well as my lovely fiance. Each one is numbered so you will know which one you got and where it was made in relation to other handmade copies.

There are only a few ways to get some of these handmade copies as I will not be making them for long so if you are interested jump on it! You can get these at shows that I am playing currently all of which are in the south....

Or I am also accepting mail orders.

Here is how it works for a mail orders. You can either paypal $15 to andrewandersonmusic@gmail.com or you can send a check for $15 to:

4825 Davis Ln.
Austin, TX 78749

If you place an order be sure to include your mailing address so I can send you your copy. and I will mail it out in the next two business days.

In the coming months we will be doing a larger run of the album that will not be handmade or go through the same process that these ones have so if you want one of the limited edition copies get your order in!

So, The summer has been fucking crazy my friends. Worked at Power Chord Academy from mid June until the end of July with all of 4 days off... 17+ hour days in general...

During the process I met the lead singer from the band The Blue Meanies who invited me to live in Hot Springs, Arkansas for the month of Sept. as an artist in residence at a local music venue called Maxine's (a former brothel...pretty rad...) as well as do some teaching/playing with some local high school students while here.

I arrived yesterday and make my first appearance as artist in residence tonight at Maxine's...

I am stoked.

On top of all of this, the album is almost finished... This does not exactly mean that it is almost available but we are getting there. I should have a limited number of copies that I can sell here in the next so let me know if you would like a copy.

I will keep you all informed of my travels here in the southland.

Also, listen to David Bazan's new record Curse Your Branches. Fuck me it is good.

talk soon.

-andrew

So me and my girl are moving to Austin, as I mentioned in a previous blog.

It has been a really hectic few weeks getting ready for this including having my good friend J.R. Harris and his buddy Brian join us at the house in Bremerton for a few days, a wedding in Boise, packing the house in Bremerton, cleaning, fixing a trailer....

Then finally on Monday Ki and I got on the road. We left Bremerton at around 4 and wound up in Portland that night. Ate at Burgerville with J.R. and invited him to come and camp with us for the evening. He accepted and we all went and started a fire at a KOA and drank a bunch of Hamms. J.R. is finishing up a record that he recorded on Orcas Island, it is amazing. Go listen to his music if you haven't already and get in touch with him about getting the new record when  it comes out.

We parted the Portland area Tuesday morning (after re packing the trailer which had some weight issues) and drove to Boise. That night I had the opportunity to play a show with an amazing band called Telegraph Canyon from Ft. Worth, TX. These guys are the best live band I have seen in quite some time. They are playing at the High Dive in Seattle tonight so if you are not buys go. They are playing at the Ash Street Saloon on Saturday in Portland, so if you are in the area... GO SEE THIS BAND!! They really are fantastic and some of the nicest people I have ever met.  Go see Telegraph Canyon, it'll do you some good.

After playing with them in Boise, we woke up Wednesday, and drove to Spokane to play at the Empyrean Coffeehouse with Telegraph Canyon again. It was a fun show and we went to a bar afterward where I had a really great single malt scotch...

After that we drove back yesterday morning and hung out with the famliy last night. Today we are heading down the road to get somewhere between here and Colorado Springs where I am playing at the Triple Nickel on Saturday. If you are in the Denver or Colorado Springs area I hope you can make it out to the show.

peace.

-andrew