Thank the Good Dude, It's Over

Josh here. It's been a while since I blogged, and with good reason. I've spent the past 3 weeks doing my darnedest NOT to fail out of grad school.

Well, to be fair, not to fail one class. But it was a doozy. However, I successfully earned a D+ in said class, so life rolls on. I will miss looking like Macaulay Culkin, though.

I've also been tied up with the closest thing to a real job I've had in 5 years. Since the end of April, I've been performing in RESPECT: A Musical Journey Of Women at the Act II Playhouse in adorable Ambler, PA (adjacent to Norristown, and a short hop from the imposing-sounding BROAD AXE). And let me tell you, if you think men are scum, if you remember the 40s, and if you want to sit in a theater and go "mm-hmm" for 2+ hours, then come on down. Seriously, the show definitely panders to 50-and-up female crowd, but it IS a pretty fun show. All the actresses are really nice, and the pay is good. But you will feel like a dick for having a penis (ba-dum-bum) if you sit through this.

One of the crew pointed out to me that there's only one man in the entire show who doesn't get a bad rap, and it's Dr. Martin Luther motherfucking King. The rest of us didn't have a prayer.

The band is finally working again after an unexpected hiatus (much of which was my fault), and we're looking forward to our upcoming show this Saturday, the 23rd, at Doc Watson's. It just so happens to be our 50th show, as well as James' 29th birthday. It's going to be a time, so come on down! I'll be screeching in around 11:15, minutes before our set, as I have a performance of RESPECT that night as well. Ah, the joys of professional musicianing.

Until next time, keep on tranglin'. (?)

The Punny Side of the Street

Sunday was Sad. So you'd think Monday would be happy here at the Sobriquets blog, right? I'd like to say it is, but it isn't. The rain won't go away! It's dampening my spirits, to say the least. Isn't there a saying about April showers bringing May flowers? I would like to see some of those flowers. Dry flowers.

Well, I'm sure it's the REAL May somewhere, so if anyone is having nice weather, be sure to comment below and rub it in. Describe it well, though. It'll make our visualization easier.

Today would be a good day to listen to some Sobriquets music. I think I'll "pop in" my copy of the soon-to-be-released Sobriquets EP. Since I don't have a physical CD, what do I say? I'll "click it on"? I'll "point to play"? What do you think? The digital revolution is upon us, so I guess we need to invent some new phrases. Are there a lot of phrases that sound dated if taken literally, but still in use in common modern language? Is there a term for THAT? Maybe my friend Nate Green will post something about this on his blog.

Good night everyone.

Sad Monday,
Nick

Sad Bastard Sunday Roundup: Rainy May Edition

Sad Bastard Sunday is right: no Phillies. Lame. Now what am I supposed to do between laundry and dinner?

Anyway... we had our first rehearsal in our new space, high above the street (which is really exciting when one is carrying amps, or drums, or a two ton anvil... this experiment may cause us all to have legs like Popeye's arms). Seemed to go well, though evidently I lack the proper tools to be able to set up much sound baffling (who knew you needed staples in a staple gun?). This is what I get for not being particularly handy. Pics to come soon.

This week, Arlen Specter changed parties (sorta), David Souter announced his retirement, and Nick finished editing the first of what we hope will be many, many video diaries of the Sobriquets. It includes live footage of us playing Boundary Blurring, a song which is, as yet, unavailable. Unless you were following our Download of the Month last year for the week between Christmas and New Years. Or go to our website right now and stream it. So I guess it's kind of available.

Speaking of Downloads of the month... Well, this is embarrassing... it turns out that last month, I was apparently asleep at the switch. April never got a Download of the Month. UNTIL NOW, BABY!!! Due to my egregious laziness/forgetfulness/uselessness, y'all get, in addition to the song I had intended to post, but also a sneak preview of a song from the new, almost-named EP coming out in July! Don't get too used to this generosity... I'm a cruel, cruel man.

Anyway, we're playing the Seaside Music Festival in Seaside Heights, NJ on the 15th, then our 50th SHOW SPECTACULAR WHICH IS ALSO MY BIRTHDAY on May 23rd at Doc Watson's here in Philly... so those oughta be pretty good parties.

Here's some pictures from our recent travels!

And the camera said, "Why is there only one set of footprints?"

And I said, "Because I was carrying you..."

Josh & Dan ponder the ineffable.

Nick & I create a feedback loop.

I try to leam at the James Leaming House.

Yay guitars (and amps and drums buried by guitars)!!

Me

Dan

Josh

Nick

The next two places are on the same block in New Cumberland, PA:

After taking this shot, the camera dies... is it me?

So anyway... gonna go have dinner now... See y'all soon!!

J(ames)

PS: The new Neko Case record is AMAZING.