Hello Again

It has been far too long yet again since I have gathered myself in front of this silly screen to think of something to post here. Sometimes I tell myself I am going to do it but then I start playing my guitar or listening to a record or driving somewhere or "looking for a job" which seems to be one of the strangest most intimidating processes in life, yet I desperately need one, I would like to go to the movies again and buy beer and avocados and pay bills and tickets, and unfortunately I don't exactly know how to save money so I am presented with a big problem.

So as I ponder my financial woes sitting in the sun with fresh coffee in a well used somewhat antique looking mug on a beautiful Thursday morning I realize that I am one of the luckiest people on the planet...this makes no sense to me. Not really sure why I am writing all this but normally when I sit down for these little sessions I have some type of plan...not this time. Today I positioned my computer on my lap (I cant really put it on a desk or it wont work as it has a really intense warp on the bottom) and just decided I would write...or type, whatever this is. Anyway here is to relevance-

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Things have been going well for us in the past couple of weeks, we have been writing loads of songs, we re-decorated our space in Venice, played a fun one at the KSCR fest at USC and filmed and recorded a bunch of songs in our newly decorated space.

We have some exciting Los Angeles shows planned in the coming weeks and we hope to start working on a record here in this time that we are not out on the road. We really want people to hear these new songs and if you are around...

!!!!!!!!!!

If you happen to live or enjoy vistiting the Westside of Los Angeles we are playing a show this evening at a lovely venue called The Stronghold (1625 Abbot Kinney Blvd. Venice, CA) we love this place and we are thrilled to be playing. We go on at around midnight BUT it's normally just a donation to get in and I believe there is some sort of free alcohol situation but don't quote me if you do decide to join us.

We will also be playing a FREE show this Saturday April 10 at The USC Springfest Festival Main Stage at 2:45 PM. There are loads of other artists playing including Sr. T-Pain himself and we are always excited to be playing outside so you feel like hanging Pre-Coachella (which I unfortunately can not attend this year and was debating disguising myself as a police officer to make my way in) this should be a mice one.

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Sorry I don't have any visual stimulus this post and if you have made all the way through this ramble then I feel I should tell you that the video now on the top of the page was given to us by the kind people at the Fader Fort in Austin and we thought we would share it with everyone.

Enjoy the sun, it's nice

-Matt

Incredible night at The Bunkhouse Las Vegas with Kid Theodore. To Everyone who helped out with gas money, you are the most amazing human beings we love you

Neet O

Finally the opportunity to blog blog has smoothly struck, I write from the Schwartz residence here south of Tucson on a lovely Arizona morning after nearly 14 hours in the van yesterday. Tonight: The Bunkhouse Las Vegas with Kid Theodore.

Our first trip to Austin went incredibly well and we sincerely thank all of our families for helping make the trip a success, all of our new friends in Austin helped introduce us to an incredibly receptive town and we can not wait to return. MANY THANKS!!!

pet area-somewhere on the 10 between Austin and Fort Stockton

Levi's/Fader Fort

although I look very upset in this photo I was actually quite happy-this is after we did a quick last minute interview at east village radio-everyone there was very very nice they broadcasted the entire week

Drew-"Fort Stockton" Burrito-Dinner
Julios tortilla chips-a Texas Staple
Drew-Happy Belly
Motorhead stage set-up at the outside stage at Stubb's-Marshall Stacks

Stubb's BMI Howdy Texas Party

Boredom in Van=Red photos of everyone looking very

Day 3-of these days that is

THIS PLACE IS TOO OVERWHELMING

BLOG TO COME SOON....MUST SLEEP NOW EARLY MORNING YET AGAIN TOMORROW. SO MANY SHOWS....SO MANY PEOPLE. PICTURES TO COME SOON.

Day 1-of these days that is

Tuesday March 16 2010

12:30 AM- Leave U.S. Border Patrol station after 5 hour stay....learn both singing and "Marco Polo" playing is prohibited while in the cells.

12:31-3:59- Mindless driving on the 10 East.

4:00- Somewhere in West Texas I tell Drew who is keeping me company in the front seat that I'll drive for another hour then he has to take over.

5:00- Switcheroo

5:01-9:00- While Drew and I are passed out in the back two rows Nick and Mike finish the drive to our hotel just outside of Austin.

9:05- I innocently scare the kind woman behind the front desk at the hotel when I stumble in looking like a crazy person....Nick and Mike eat breakfast....Drew and I close the blinds and pass out again. Never underestimate the power of a mattress.

9:30-Noon- Listen to The Bowerbirds, fall asleep very quickly, somewhere in a dream remind myself that their new record is indeed as amazing as I knew it was when I was conscious.

1:00 PM- Depart for Austin, we stopped here for gas once, but this is will be our first time setting foot downtown. The clouds proclaim their emphatically peaceful presence over the traffic that has gathered on the freeway around Exit 234.

3:00- Drew and I eat some delicious sandwiches at Stubb's BBQ...we discuss how irritably well we have eaten since we left Los Angeles...get the pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw if you are ever at Stubb's (Nick told me the potato salad was better, but I'm a sucker for cabbage)

5:30ish- Watch Caitlin Rose (Nashville) play an amazing set...Motorhead was next door sound-checking very loudly but she still sounded great.

6ish- Watch Rey Fresco (Los Angeles) play an amazing set

6:30- Have the good fortune of playing our first show in Austin at Stubb's BBQ-yeahhhh!!!

8-9:30- Wander around Austin looking for shows/beer/food. This place has what seems to be an endless amounts of venues. Good Pizza. Good Chips too. "ritas".

10:30-Midnightish- Hang out at "Rusty Spurs" watch Foster The People play outside on the patio.

12:30 AM- Collectively realize we need to get some sleep-on the way back to the van run into Britt Daniel-no big deal--he gives us veteran tips on how to sneak into his show tomorrow night-now we comprehend that this time of year in Austin is fucking insane-we are thrilled for what lies ahead.

-Matt

Hello there inter web. I write from my phone here in downtown austin, we got in at 9 this morning after a long stop with the border patrol last night, more soon

Ah Ha Fa Fa

We have had a very enjoyable last 48 hours since we left Los Angeles en route to SXSW . We carry on this evening with a show here in Phoenix, Arizona.

Things...

The Troubadour last night was an unbelievable treat, it had been quite a few months since the last time we were fortunate enough to be a part of a show there. We realize the time was strange and we sincerely appreciate everyone at The Troubadour helping us out and especially those of you that were kind enough to spend the early part of your Monday night with us.

This Thursday we will be departing for Austin, which we are anticipating to be one of the most awe inspiring experiences of our time together, we begin our trip with a show in Las Vegas at The Bunkhouse as part of The Neon Reverb festivities happening all weekend. We will be sharing the stage with our friends Kid Theodore who we were fortunate enough to meet last week in Long Beach and we anticipate it to be a remarkable night.

-Here is a nifty poster for the event-

Plenty more to come in the next 12 hours. Thanks again we are incredibly excited for the upcoming weeks and hope to plan another Los Angeles show towards the end of March. The last week here in town has been great.

KSCR-RAD-THANKS-

Oh Mew Sack

wish we were here

but we were indeed here...although it does not feel as though it was real

Tuning An Electric Piano

One of the greatest instruments to have ever been made is the Wurlitzer Electric Piano. Its complicated approach on amplifying the sound of a key striking a tine is unparalleled and nearly untouched. Quite possibly the most intriguing intricacy of this instrument is its innate ability to lose its tuning. Many things can cause this phenomenon...such as: hitting the keys too hard or jarring the instrument with a tough bump amongst many other things. Placing all these unique factors on an instrument can take it's toll and truly require an expert hand to salvage maintain its unscathed state. I was in a very un-unique position as the owner of one of these fine instruments when one of my keys went a bit flat a couple months ago. I at first ignored the problem and continued to play my parts as normal....as the problem persisted the note continued to get further and further out of tune. Following this I was forced to find different ways of playing many songs and this was a bummer.

Today I had the great fortunes of visiting one of the great keyboard technicians ever, he has built himself an incredible space with awesome help and is the deepest lover of vintage keyboards I have ever met. Watching my instrument get worked on was an unbelievable thrill and I wish that I had a comparable level of expertise .

Earlier today I was very concerned about being forced to play out of a computer this evening in Long Beach at one of our favorite hangouts-the one and only DiPiazza's. Instead I am thrilled to be fortunate enough to have the help of a really talented technician of sound. Thank you Mr. Rich

Also we have been working on a very interesting set for our show tomorrow evening at The Hotel Cafe. We will playing a couple songs that our very important to us that we seldom get the opportunity to play. If you are up to the challenge of staying out late...we would love to share the evening with you.

-Matt

Grey's Graze

Every time we have a show on a college campus it seems to be a significantly unique experience, this last weekend in Berkeley was certainly no exception. Seeing as how we are all on an indefinite hiatus from our academic studies, it always feels incredibly refreshing to be surrounded by people and friends who are so motivated by learning....and having a great time. I've been wanting to share this journey up north with the keyboard for the entire weekend and sitting here in bed after finally taking off my "72-hour socks" I feel the best way to represent the trip is through a good old fashioned itemized hour by hour list. Enjoy....

Thursday February 18

3:00 PM-decide to pack the van and hit the road-debate about traffic for about an hour

4:00-5:00-debate some more about which freeway to take-decide to head to the market and buy bread

5:00-5:45-somehow spend forty-five minutes at the market buying bread and meat

6:15-finally on the 405.....traffic sucks

8ish-start listening to the Beatles somewhere on the 5 freeway(arguably the straightest road man ever built)-Let It Be-Magical Mystery Tour-White Album-spend most of this time cutting out some new Neustadt bookmarks.....

9:45-tricked by a very bright sign advertising cheap gas....find out it was for diesel-Listen to "Yellow House".....twice

11:00-12:45-restlessness sets in-evangelical radio station turned off-smell of manure-strange silence in the van

1:00 AM or so-arrive in Berkeley-even in the middle of the night its beautiful

2ish-fall asleep on the floor of Sarah and Camilas room-they are awesome hosts

Friday February 19

10:00 AM-wake up to find out the show has been moved inside due to the rain that never rained

11:00-find cheap coffee and bagels-mmmmmm!

11:30-park the van and are greeted by incredibly friendly people offering to help us unload our gear-we feel very weird about this-they insist-they are very nice

Noon?-finish setting up on the floor in the new makeshift venue "Naia Lounge"-earliest show we have ever played-the small group of people there are one the nicest most respectful audiences-meet lots more friendly people

Setlist-2/19/10-Naia Lounge-Berkeley, CA

secret mirror

2:00 PM-lunch/rendezvous time at Cafe Mattina-very large and delicious salads-mmmmm

4:00PM-3:00 AM?-forties-friends-new friends-top dog-premature sleep-sleep

Saturday February 20

10:00-11:00 AM-watch our men's curling team take on sweden-curling rules

11:30?-treated to brunch-question why are our hosts so nice and hospitable????

2:00-3:00 PM-drew, nick and i get the oil changed in the van at "Oil Changers"-feels like a nice visit to the doctor

3:00-3:30 PM-go to a music store-play lots of old pianos-wish i had twelve thousand dollars to buy one

???-debate going to san francisco-decide to stay

7:00 PM-4:30 AM-van becomes makeshift taxi-"Pet Sounds"-sushi-friends-thumper-party-walking-winter feels crispy-realize that we have fallen in love with Berkeley-debate moving-sleep

Sunday February 21

11:00 AM-walk to top dog for a healthy breakfast

rest of day-somehow delay our departure until nearly four in the afternoon-drop our friend atticus off at stanford-listen to the new spoon record-talk about how brilliant the new spoon record is-resume travel on the 5 freeway-buy chips and sodas-might be the first time we all gave in to gas station fare-don't regret it-

Midnight-unload the van in Venice

........the dramatized version of our weekend, a really amazing couple of days spent with really great people that we thank very much for helping us with a very enjoyable show and certainly an enjoyable time.

Val in Tines

ZOMBIE PROM

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13 8:30 PM

THE ROXY

Links, Chasing Kings, Young The Giant & Saint Motel

If you plan on coming to the show it may be a good idea to click HERE to purchase tickets and save a couple of doll hairs.

Many thanks to Kat at KROQ for playing Empathy last week we really appreciate it.

1400

Over the course of the last week we have had the pleasure of playing two amazing shows with two of the most generous and talented bands around. Saturday night was spent in Provo, Utah on a seemingly perfectly chilled evening nearly a mile above sea-level. The locals were some of the friendliest music-lovers we had ever met and Corey at Club Velour had really put together an impressive and homey room(kinda reminded us of The Smell!!!). Sunday was spent waking early....1PM at the home of Andrew from Imagine Dragons to a most magnificent breakfast/lunch. As we hit the road we were encountered by some very intense snowfall....then watched the Super Bowl at the only truck stop in Utah that served chips and salsa, sitting on the floor surrounded by enthusiastic truckers and anti-freeze boxes. We finally crawled into bed here in Los Angeles on Monday morning as the sun was rising....Utah....Surreal.

Set List-2/6/10-Club Velour-Provo, Utah

The Current State Of Our Future

This Town

I Was Told

Sleep

We All Fall

Dark Sunglasses

Empathy

Maybe It's The Distance

Last night, Thursday marked our first trip to Lake Forest in support of Regrets and Brunettes in their month-long residency at The Gypsy Lounge. The evening was great and we had the pleasure of meeting both Arrows and The Monthlies who played amazing sets.

Below are some photos from the 1400 miles crossed.

Utah-Super Bowl Sunday-searching for television

Arizona/Utah border-The most beautiful rest stop

Mike-nuff said

this is our friend Alex-our weekend tour manager-also likes to read-he is working on a short story about the trip-i will post it as soon as it is done

early morning-Andrew and Brittany from Imagine Dragons

Andrew's mom made us literally the best homemade pancakes and syrup we have ever had

!!!!!!!

We will be heading to Provo, Utah this Saturday February 6 to play a show with our good friends Imagine Dragons. We have never had the pleasure of spending anytime in Utah and to celebrate we have put together a very unique set with a couple of new arrangements that we are thrilled to be playing.

The rain here in Los Angeles seems to never end on days like this....it reminds us of the other coast, very strange. This winter has certainly proven itself worthy.

More blog blog soon- including a very special burrito recipe from Mike.

Fursday

Hows Beach

I'm in Love and can't help it......thank you NPR. Thank you Beach House for re-recording one of my favorite songs. I await you in the Desert in April.

Happy Duesday

Sly and The Family Stone are playing Coachella.....this is the best news I've heard in a while

Also the cool kids over at the Deli Magazine have included us in their 2009 readers poll and are strongly urging us to urge you to vote HERE.

Rain like this:

Happy Chewsday

Happy Chewsday

The ever so cool Keyvon over at Indienation and Glodenbloggen sent this over from our show at 3 Clubs. Enjoy!!!!

And in case you have never spent any time in Los Angeles in mid-January, the weather is the strangest most unpredictable weirdness ever, it seems to be the one time of the year where the buildings do not look like they are floating in sepia tone, it makes it very difficult for natives to recognize pictures of the city.

Hello New Decade

It is indeed 2010, or is it twenty-ten, or wait is it maybe two-thousand and ten....in any case the "best of lists" are over, cookies, champagne, drunk uncles, down time seem like things of the past and to celebrate all things celebratory coming to an abrupt end, we will be playing a FREE 21+ show tonight (yes it is nearly 2 in the morning and I am ferociously blogging) at 3 Clubs with Aushua and Cat Party. Our friends at Futuresounds put the whole evening together and we are thrilled to be included.

As for other things Chasing Kings the folks over at Campus Circle gave us and the ever so cool Sea Wolf a nice live review in their latest publication. We had an amazing time at the show and everyone in Sea Wolf could not be any more friendly. Thank you to everyone who showed up early we really appreciated it.



Campus Circle Live Review

Roxy Photos: Courtney Coles

This one below is a special tribute to Mike Gold as he was not included in the photos from The Roxy. Not only a cool hat but the coolest looking merch-booth worker of all time.

Decent(ember)

I apologize for the delay between posts. We have forgotten about our wonderful magnificent little blog here and would like to fully return it to its glory. I would also like everyone to know that your comments can now be seen by the entire world with little effort.....so novel.

We will also be playing in support

of Imaad Wasif and Sea Wolf

this Thursday December 17

at The Roxy. See you soon.

Tell a Friend.

-Matt