On the Asses of Cats

For you regular readers of this blog (all two of you), you've probably noticed that over the last month or so posts have been short in frequency as well as shallow in content. Sigh.

Basically, as I alluded to in a previous post, things have been completely crazy and finding the time to think through and write anything substantive has been a challenge. So what you get is a couple of song lyrics, a couple of advertisements, and a couple of promises to write more which, honestly, are meant more for me than for you... because I think I get more out of these little exercises in wit (or lack thereof) than anybody else. Is that selfish or self-deprecating? I can't tell.

I'd like to say that this recent spate of posts is a pseudo-post-modern-Camus-ian (!) attempt to portray a fragmented, unconnected world but... hold on, I think the Bullshit Police are at my door.

The recent story is this: Since New Year's, my weeks have been end to end nuts and so have Gina's. It seems like even the cat's really busy... sleeping and licking her ass. Too much information. Well, I call them as I see them.

Anyway, my schedule is settling into the following:

Monday: work downtown;

Tuesday: workout at 8:30 am, rehearse with BRB from 9:30 am until noon, teach from 3:00 to 9:00 pm;

Wednesday: work downtown;

Thursday: workout at 8:30 am, rehearse with BRB from 9:30 am until noon, teach from 3:00 to 9:00 pm;

Friday: work downtown;

Saturday: teach from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm;

Sunday: watch Bears get their ass kicked, go on 12 hour bender to cope. Okay, so that last part only happened once (thankfully), but this Sunday, for instance, we spent the bulk of the day installing new light fixtures, switches and outlets in out recently rehabbed front hall. So there was little rest.

When you mix in the fact that we've been sending out and following up on all these press packs for the CD release... things are just plain crazy. The fact that we don't have rehearsal this week because Barret's out of town for a gig is actually a blessing in disguise I think... gives me a couple of hours to get some things done.

I also shifted my gym visits to Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, which will not only give me an extra (much-needed) day of working out, but also make my Tuesday and Thursday mornings that much less hectic. Blah, blah, blah.

As busy as that sounds, Gina's schedule is even busier. She's working at Gary Lee from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm, and then heading down to The French Pastry School for class from 1:15 to 7:15 pm. So far, school seems to be going great and the results she's brought home to taste-test have been... nothing short of incredible. This week: croissants. Mmmmmm. I'm like a French Homer Simpson.

So that's the score. A lot of encouraging things already in 2006... obviously Gina starting and enjoying school and learning to manage her schedule for the next six months has been huge. And on the music front... a lot of positive things already with the album. We've been contacted by a couple of publications already about running stories on us, both in print and on-line. Our guy at Insomnia Radio has told us he'll spin it. On Wednesday, February 1, at 5:00 pm CST we'll be doing a live in-studio interview at Fearless Radio, Chicago's best little internet radio station. And we've also received some indication that the crown jewel of Chicago broadcast radio stations, 93.1 WXRT, is going to spin the disc in the next few weeks. Nothing definite yet but... we're crossing our fingers.

It would be huge. More news as we get it. Add in the fact that our manager has been getting the disc out to labels both big and small for consideration and... it's been a busy, productive month for us. So here's to thinking positive thoughts about 2006.

And working our asses off.

And licking our asses.

Whoops. Damn cat.

jbg

Look Alive!

Look alive! The light is shining in your eyes But the way is clear Can't you see? That love can cure this misery And wipe away the tears But it all comes back to you But it all comes back to you

jbg

Hey Sportsfans!

If y'ain't in Chicago and coming to our CD Release party on February 4 , get yer copy of Bottle Boy through Awarestore. It'll ship the week of February 7, the official release date. If you don't like it, it'll make a nice coaster for your hot or cold beverages.

jbg

Skeletons, skin and sky

On my knees in the surf The waves are my church The night is the light when I'm blind Understand that I need To sing while you sleep While you breathe, while you bleed, it's all the same Skeletons, skin and sky Most days I just get by Why does it have to go away? The dreams of the years Are the seeds of our fears And we cry til our eyes disappear The night becomes sure With skies black as dirt It's the daylight that makes our hearts hurt Skeletons, skin and sky Most days I just get by Why does it have to go away?

jbg

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Yeah I know. I been missin'. As I wrote a couple of months ago, the activity in this blog is indirectly proportional to the substance in my life. So draw your own conclusions about the last two weeks. Read: there's been a lot of shit going on. Most of it good, all of it time consuming.

On the music front, I continue to believe this is going to be a big year for Burn Rome Burn. We spent last week finalizing our CD release party (Saturday, February 4, 6-9 pm, Martyrs', Chicago, IL), our CD release date (Tuesday, February 7), and online distribution (awarestore.com). We also got about 30 advance copies and press packets to all the Chicago media types as well as some national on-line zines, radio stations, and podcasts.

Barret and I spent all of last Thursday on a "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" around Chicago, doing a guerrilla press drop. I drove, he ran. Good times. Heck, we were actually included as one of the 2005 listener favorites over on Insomnia Radio. Check it out if you can... the guy who runs it, Jason, is extremely cool and passionate about what he does. More good times.

Anyway, we're pushing forward. The next step will be working on digital distribution through CD Baby and working with our agent to start shopping the disc to labels for wider distribution. And hopefully get out on the road a bit more as the year goes on. Package that with our biweekly morning rehearsals and all the other usual work and it's been pretty damn busy around here.

Hence the lack of words here. But I'm fixin' to change that. Starting now.

Happy New Year.

jbg