The Devil Roams The Northern Plains

I have been thinking about the career of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Also swapping stories with my music bros around the map in such. You may think they were this hippy band that had the anonoumous singles about, which is somewhat true, but there is more. You probably know about this already. I always seem to give a disclaimer before i type something i care about.

John Fogerty and co. are fucking rad. It took many years/decades for them to get theirs for these amazing songs they gave us. you know that? It seems weird to think about it that way. True tho. And not even all of that cheezy shit im sure comes to your mind at first about CCR. The "B" sides (a term the squares use for the material that didnt sell as much) are super rad. They covered rad Motown songs in a fashion that was all their own. Get down people this is CCR!

Maybe it is because April and I have been driving a shit load lately and seen all of this weird shit all around the country that I address all of this gigantic bands career. I heard John Fogerty hitch hiked back to SF from woodstock after playing woodstock at 2 a.m. Imagine that. I know I know you are going to say..."that was back in the sixties". and such like, but fuck man, that is like 3000 miles. Whatever. You will never get it if you dont already.

Fuckin snow!! I have driven through so much snow and damn mountains on this tour than i can remember. seriously. one morning i got up at 6a.m. and hit it up because i knew that i would have to drive 35 mph for about 100 miles to pass the storm. fuckish! whatevs.

GHOSTS. Ghosts are everywhere. Things have been going good, but some ghosts have been coming about lately. We usually solve this by driving roughly 300 miles away from the last sightings. We can love you though. Through all of this.

There was this night in tulsa where I totally lost it. This was a first for me and I kind of am afraid of admitting this. Everything was totally black and i could do nothing but hang around the room and compress all of this with a pillow upon my face. This will kill our record sales one day. (type an emoticon that will make this seem light hearted here)..

I want people to know what it is like for most musicians/bands on tour (not the rock stars of the `80`s).. Drive mostly. We have friends, lots in most cases, but we can only see them in 5 min incriments between 500 mile drives on the average. Most of the time we have no fucking idea where we are going to stay. We hit up motels in the middle of nowhere when it is late and get no dinner because of this. Not complaining, just saying.

Last night was fucking rad and you were hells of drunk and into it, but tomorrow will most certainly be us, and only us, fending for our own over a shitty amount of money for something (a show) we did all we could to make the best we could through the internet or our bros helping us get you there. Its a fucking emotional roller coaster that many a shrink makes a career from well after the fact.

Im not writing all of this for you to feel sorry for us. We are a product of every decision we ever made. We are quite happy here.

Today I gave April my Grandmothers ring. I was waiting for what i dont know but it seemed time. Tell her she looks great when you see her because she always does. She is my best friend.

Seattle

Notes from Nashville

The most important thing is that our LP (the vinyl) will be at the hotel when we reach Austin. I am so happy for that day to come. Then you can have one, but only after I get mine.

This band named The Big Sleep played w/ us in Atlanta. They were great. You probably already know them. Im listening to their new album now as I type this. Its nice to hear people trying to make new music. The world needs that right now even if the majority does`nt know it.

To all my Seattle bros that received the text earlier today: I am, as always, prone to looking like an unorganized idiot. IN FACT the Seattle show is in 2 mondays from now, NOT next monday, as per my text.

April just told me that our show at The Empty Bottle in Chicago just got confirmed. Thats a few weeks from now tho.

We have tomorrow off so I am going to go check out all of the pawn and vintage music stores here. Ive always heard they are some of the best and have never had the time to go. Again, if anyone out there wants to trade a Travis Bean for a `77 Les Paul Custom I will totally push the sale in your favor.

All of my love to you.

A Passage To Bangkok

So, here is Thad and me during the BLX/Thad Sand`s One Man Band sessions. This guy plays drums, guitar and sings all at the same time.....and it does`nt suck. Its really really good. The split is in the works now, as both bands are finished w the recordings.

Next, we do a split w/ heavy hitting righteous awesomeness bros in TOMBS (Brooklyn). This band (BLX) is really fun to be in.

See you on the road next month.

AP/OVERANDOUT

Cherokee

The song "Cherokee" is in the deck at the studio. We just have to go back and mix it. The Korg makes it`s first appearance here. IT WILL MELT YOUR PRETTY LITTLE FACES OFF!!!!! We`ve already burned through a set of 2/15" w it. Ebay has been the hang out lately.

Also, there is a really tight show coming up here in BKLYN w/ Blx, Tombs, Austerity Program, and Young Widows at Death By Audio. Talent to burn here on this one folks. Jan 23.

This time out on tour we will hit up New Orleans.

Update

Lots of Bauhaus lately. Reverb, flange, and echo. It was 18 degrees today.

Fed the cats. Re-up.

About last year....we are so proud of you.

If you come to Brooklyn stop by Brooklyn Label. Esp on Sat Sun & Tue. The music is way better on those days. Good company for people like us.

The Black Arts Of Black Horse

BLX 1st LP is enroute to the plant. LP/CD and available everywhere digitally March 4 2K8. Above is the cover. We like it.

Track Listing:

Shake Shake Shake
Lapdance Technician
Hey Sailor
Ink On My Scars
We`re All Gonna Die
Make My Country Bleed
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Sunrise, Sunset