March 18, 2003
Brassland Mega-Update
Clogs have been making final preparations for their second European tour. This one will take them to the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, and possibly Germany and Switzerland. Their new album, Lullaby for Sue, will be released in Europe in mid-May to coincide with the tour.
Starting this weekend, The National are playing a bunch of midwestern shows opening for Dan Bern + the IJBC as well as some headlining gigs in Chicago, Detroit, and West Virginia. Their new record, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, will be released in mainland Europe (but not the US or UK) in May.
Baby Dayliner continues to gig regularly in clubs around New York, re-shaping jaded young minds. We're...
March 2, 2003
The National Update
The National have just announced a midwestern swing of tour dates with Dan Bern. See the [LINK TO COME] tour page for details. In a bit of random news, the band recently got a note from Gene Ween, native of New Hope, PA and member of Ween. He sent an email asking for the lyrics to "American Mary" so he could cover it at a solo show in his hometown. We thought that was neat. Or neen. Moving on to more substantive matters, The National's sophomore album Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers will be seeing its European release any day now. More info coming soon...
February 14, 2003
New Blood
Happiness and joy! Happiness and joy! Two new musicians have just been inked/signed/assented to let our brandname appear on their new records. Those artists are cellist/composer/improviser Erik Friedlander and Baby Dayliner, who does a new wave kind of thing and is a true 21st century entertainer. We are very excited about this. Suffice it to say that the records are a nice departure from our inital offerings and from one another. (Baby Dayliner is upbeat and joyous and pop. Erik is an intense, mystical classical/jazz amalgam.) We don't have anything else to tell you right now, but soon, soon...
For now you can read a bit about [LINK TO COME] Baby Dayliner and [LINK TO COME] Eri...
February 2, 2003
The National Update
In more "big overseas" news, the band's song "Bitters and Absolut" from their self-titled debut appears this month on the "New Noises" CD that comes with this month's issue of German Rolling Stone. The Mountain Goats, The Good Life, and Hot Hot Heat are just a few of the bands who also appear on the record. Previous "New Noises" success stories include David Hasselhoff, Milli Vanilli, and Lou Reed (during his Berlin phase).
After you're done learning how to sprechen sie deutsch, peep The National's [LINK TO COME] new video for "Son." (Not so fast 56k users, it's a 9.5MB download.)
December 13, 2002
European Report
We just got back from Europe, where we accompanied the National on the first leg of their ongoing European tour. Great successes were had in disparate locations like a basement club in the Notting Hill district of London; a smoky and intimate red-curtained club in Halle, East Germany; and a venue in Paris, France called Le Guingette Pirate -- essentially a pirate ship docked on the Siene River. (After the gig, The National stayed up to participate in a dance party that lasted well into the night.) Two days later, they played a well-attended, last minute Paris gig opening for Low.
We've also heard our first reports from an enthusiastic European press. Kerrang! says of The Nationa...
November 19, 2002
The National Update
The National have finished sessions for their new album. The tentative title is Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers but that might change.
The band is travelling to Ohio to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. While in the midwest, they'll be playing some gigs with Dan Bern. There won't be much time for leftovers. The National are catching a flight to London on November 29th for their first European tour. For details on the month of shows in England, France, Germany, Ireland, Kentucky, and Switzerland visit our [LINK TO COME] tour page.
November 19, 2002
Clogs Update
Our friends at Dublab.com have just posted a great Clogs' live session. It's short but sweet, 15 minutes of material that is of yet unavailable on record.
Clogs are planning their second and third trips to Europe in March and May. Details to come. Word is Clogs' has also finished sessions for their second proper full length, tentatively titled Lullaby for Sue. We'll have a progress report on that record in our next news update.
November 19, 2002
Brassland Update
The debuts by the National and Clogs are now both available on the European continent via Southern. We've already had reports that the Brassland logo has been spotted on record racks in Rome and Paris. Soon, the albums should be available wherever albums are sold. (Especially if you ask for them.)
October 5, 2002
Brassland Update
Things continue to go well with our new partners at Southern Europe. Barring production delays, the records are set to come out October 21st. Southern's been instrumental in setting us up with booking agents, and The National are now set to tour Europe from late November to late December, mostly in England and Ireland, though there may be shows in Italy and France as well. Keep an eye on our [LINK TO COME] tour page for details. Rumors abound that they'll be sharing bills with some great bands.
Southern is currently featuring a link to live video of The National at the Mercury Lounge on their home page. Check it out.
October 5, 2002
The National Update
Matt Berninger, lead singer of The National writes: "The new record is almost finished and will be done in a month or two, maybe. It's been described by early listeners as 'creepy, rocking and sexous (erotic and dangerous but in a fun way)' and 'the perfect record for dirty lovers.' It might be called Cardinal Song or Shaving The Neighbor but probably not."
Matt sounds non-committal, but we've been told basic tracking for the album is finished. Clogs' Padma Newsome contributed what are being called "mildly askew string arrangements." Nick Lloyd led recording sessions in seven different locations, ranging from the penthouse of the Soho's Puck Building...
October 5, 2002
Clogs Update
Bryce Dessner, guitar player for Clogs & Brassland co-proprietor writes, "Clogs just finished a whirlwind tour of the northeast which included an art gallery in New Haven, a high school auditorium in Lyndon, Vermont, and two big rock clubs in New York and Boston with Shipping News. We are back in the studio recording brand new music for our second album Lullaby for Sue, including "Mangrove Mountain Dreams," "Swarms" and "Who's Down Now?" in which Padma Newsome raises a feisty fist with one finger extended towards his past.
"We're excited to be back in the company of producer/engineer Vic Steffens of Horizon Studio in West Haven where we record our first record Thom's Nig...
August 25, 2002
The National Means Quality
...which is another way of saying that they take a long time to get things done. Recording sessions for the follow-up to their self-titled debut continue in the fashion of many good things you wouldn't want to live without, things like consumer capitalism and the weather. The sessions have moved from a glamorous location (the penthouse of the Puck Building in Soho) to a charming and rustic one (an 18th century vintage farmhouse in the Connecticut suburbs). (Pictured, at right, is drummer Bryan Devendorf at the Puck, either making phat beats, aiding producer Nick Lloyd in mixing a song, or playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 on the Game Boy Advance.) Wrap-up is currently scheduled for th...
August 25, 2002
Euro Plans
We've solidified things a bit for Brassland "across the pond," and we can now say, with some confidence, that the National and Clogs records will be coming out in Europe on October 21st. Southern has even erected a neat little sitelet for Brassland at Southern.net.
July 17, 2002
Brassland Goes Euro Crazy
We're happy to announce that Southern is now Brassland's exclusive distributor in Europe. As if the unprecedented success of the US team in this year's World Cup was not a surprising enough development for those on "the continent." We join a fine family of labels that includes Touch & Go, Kranky, Dischord, Tiger Style, GSL, Anticon, and Ipecac. European release dates for the debuts by Clogs & The National are still TBD, but it's looking like they'll come out in late October. Keep your eyes on this here website and we'll keep you posted.
While we can't confirm rumors of a full-on touring invasion, Clogs are hoping to follow-up on their recent excursion to...
July 17, 2002
The National's New Website
Contrary to popular belief, the internet is still hot hot hot! Hence the re-design of the National's web presence AmericanMary.com. If you want to learn more than you ever wanted to know about the Nabisco Biscuit Company's Bathtub Dunkers, graphic designers, eCommerce opportunities in an economic downturn, and the weather you should go there. Now.
July 17, 2002
Clogs on WFMU Compilation
Clogs appear on Don't Shoot the Toy Piano Player, a new 2-CD anthology of recordings made in the studios of the legendarily cool radio station, WFMU. Broadcasting from Jersey City, it's probably the most offbeat and interesting radio available to those in the New York metro area. The compilation was produced as a thank you gift for people who pledged money during the station's March 2002 fundraiser. "Elevenses" by Clogs appears alongside tracks by such fine outfits as Clinic, Peaches, the New Pornographers, Howe Gelb, Lightning Bolt, and Dead Moon. You can still stream Clogs' [LINK TO COME] full set [RealAudio]. It was recorded during Irene Trudel's show on 10/15/01. (It&...
April 29, 2002
Clogs German Tour and New Album
Clogs have recorded 13 new songs at Brooklyn's Context Studios with producer/engineer Fionn O'Lachlain for an album of a yet undecided configuration.
Tracks include "A Gentler We," sung by composer/violist Padma Newsome, a solo guitar piece, and the first appearance of the electric guitar in the group (giving way to several moments described by O'Lachlan as sounding like Sonic Youth with a bassoon). There are also some beautiful noises from percussionist Thom Kozumplik made on hanging flower pots, metal pipes, concert bass drum, and a badly tuned kalimba.
Clogs are also playing a handful of German dates in early May. For no reason in particular we'd like to...
March 29, 2002
News on the Development of The National
"The National are recording 26 new songs about 2 things, men and women," reports the band's vocalist Matt Berninger, "Some of these new songs are very loud." Many of these songs will end up on the second album for the Brooklyn-based band, to be released on Brassland this fall. Or this winter. (Depends...)
The sessions for the record are notable in that they're taking place in the penthouse of the Puck Building, a very hoity-toity piece of New York real estate, poised between lofts owned by David Bowie and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore. Helming the sessions is Nick Lloyd, producer of their first record. He is co-producing the album with Paul Heck, a long time producer for...
November 15, 2001
The National vs. Osama
Click here for a revealing feature on The National in Cincinnati CityBeat. It appeared in celebration of tonight's gig in Newport, Kentucky, nearby the ancestral home of these current day Brooklynites. A preview: "I love the first album, but the next one will have more firepower for us," [The National's Aaron] Dessner says. "If the debut is kinda smoky and somber, the next one will be more explosive, more like a punch in the face. Maybe we should call it Fuck Osama or something." Taliban beware.
November 15, 2001
Clogs-Related Website
We just wanted to call your attention to padmanewsome.com, the stylish new website for Clogs lead composer and fiddle player Padma Newsome. It includes a ton of sound files of his work, as well as a stunning photograph of the man himself looking windswept.
November 1, 2001
The National Kick Off Their Tour In (and With) Style
In 2 days, The National kick off an American tour with 15 shows in 16 days. The days before the tour find the band fit and sexy as ever, semi-groomed and glamorous.
Grrrr!(Hands off ladies. Most of them are taken. (It's up to you to figure out who's not.)) Click [LINK TO COME]here for dates, cities, venues, and openers. Here's what the band have to say about it:
"I shall say another world for the most select ears: what I really want from music. That it be cheerful and profound like an afternoon in October. That it be individual, frolicsome, tender, a sweet small woman full of beastliness and charm."
-Friedrich Nietzsche
"The whole business is built...
October 15, 2001
The National Tour Half the Nation
In November, The National are kicking off an 18-date American tour. [LINK TO COME] Click here for dates and cities. Most shows are with their buddies from Brooklyn, Elk City.
September 21, 2001
The National Tour
The National are currently scheduling a two week November tour of the northeast, midwest, and southeast with their buddies from Brooklyn, Elk City. Another possibility in the works is a promotional CD-EP featuring 2 album tracks, and a handful of unreleased songs and demos.
September 21, 2001
Clogs October Residency in NY
Clogs have scheduled a residency in the Old Office at New York's Knitting Factory for three Wednesday's in October (the 3rd, 10th and 17th). After some doubts as to the Knit's continued operation, we've been told the residency is a go.
Each show will also feature another leading light on New York's jazz, classical, and new music scene, including clarinettist Evan Ziporyn (Bang on a Can All-stars), cellist Erik Friedlander's Topaz (Erik also plays in Masada and various John Zorn groupings), and bassist/composer Jack Vees. The third show will also feature collaborations with special guest Mia Doi Todd, a Los Angeles singer-songwriter who co-headlined Clogs'...
August 21, 2001
Brassland Website Debuts
No new news for now, other than the fact that we've just debuted this here website. Thanks for visiting.