Movie of The Month

Welcome to my latest monthly addition to 28 North Speaks: Movie of The Month!

For this inaugural installment, I have chosen the 1993 classic Airborne starring Shane McDermott, Brittney Powell, a young Seth Green, and a remarkable breakout role from Jack Black.  Now, if you have seen this flick or go out and view it immediately upon reading this blog post, you may ask the question: Ty, is this a fucking joke??!!  And the answer would inevitably be... yes.  Then again the answer would also be, no.  Truth is this: I.  Love.  This.  Movie.

It takes place in Ohio (fuck yah!), albeit Cincinnatti, involves a surfer dude from San Diego (Shane McDermott) who is temporarily transplanted to the midwest to live with his cousin (Seth Green), and revolves heavily around roller blading.  That is correct.  Roller blading.  Not inline skating.  This was '93, we called it roller blading back then.  At least I did. 

For those of you that are unfortunately unaware, the '90's were the peak of human civilization.  This has a lot to do with the quality of the cinema in those days.  I mean, Jurassic Park (also released in '93), Dumb & Dumber, Land Before Time II... tell me those titles don't cry: This is the best it gets!

Yes, this is all meant to be taken with a grain of salt and a chuckle, but I do encourage those that have not seen this quality film to run out and experience it for themselves.  Thank me later.  Or curse me, just watch the movie.

In other news,  we are only two days away from New Year's Eve and our big show at The Rex Theatre in Pittsburgh!  We are so excited to be rocking into 2013 with such glorious performers as The Poogie Bell Band, The Old E Allstars, and The Bridge City Bombshells.  Some tickets still remain and they are only $7!!!!  So grab them while you can, hope to see you there!!

Tickets/info

FACEBOOK event

Ty

Album of The Month

I know.  Where was the album of the month for the previous like three months.  I'm sorry, I've been slacking.  Nevertheless, I am committed to this cause.  For we all need music to inspire us.  Especially when we spend endless hours per day crafting our own songs.  It is only natural to fuel one's mojo with outside sources.  Music being an obvious culprit and of utmost necessity.

Personally, I have been binging on one of my favorite groups of today: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.  This band, native to San Francisco and now based in Los Angeles, is a bit of an "indie-rock" favorite at this point in their career.  I confess I have not seen them live as of yet, but I hear from first hand sources that they an authentic brand of epic.  B.R.M.C. is now in support of their sixth full length album, Beat The Devil's Tattoo, which I am featuring in this post, with a seventh to be released next year.

B.R.M.C.'s sixth record, Beat The Devil's Tattoo, keeps to their previous standard as a journey through luscious lo-fi soundscapes that are fortified by beautiful, traditional songwriting accompanied by melodies that could soothe a lion.  Amidst the droning traditional blues riffs, the stomping thunderous drums, and the quiet serenity of intimate acoustic numbers are the concepts of temptation and redemption, struggle and victory.  It seems as though B.R.M.C. draws from the dregs of both the good and bad in life to concoct a remedy to your anxiety.  You can bang your head and pound your fists to this record as well as lose yourself in a meditative trance.

Please listen to this record and all other B.R.M.C. releases.

Ty

Puzzles! And New Year's Eve in Pittsburgh!!

Apologies for the crappy picture

That's right!  I'm into puzzles!  Possibly you have figured this out already dear reader.

I am very proud of my most recent accomplishment, Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night.  This one was hard.  Really hard.  It is 1,000 pieces, the fourth installment of a puzzle this size for me and by far the most difficult so far.

28 North Puzzle Arsenal

At this point I have completed, with help of course, seven puzzles total.  Four 1,000 piece puzzles as I mentioned before, and three 500+ jobbers.

Now, I know what you are thinking.  You dorky fucking hipster, you think you are so quaint by entertaining yourself with an archaic form of hobby, why don't you do something more productive with your time?!  Fuck off I say to that.  I find the concentration and meditative qualities of doing a puzzle to be very stimulating.  And I am going to keep to puzzles.



Our next puzzle adventure is a very special puzzle indeed.  One of our biggest fans and friend Megan gave us a glorious gift indeed in the 28 North puzzle she bestowed upon us.  I could not have asked for a more appropriate present.

Next puzzle, Thanks Megan!

And on the suggestion of Taylor, no less, we will be looking into getting a second puzzle table going.  Yes, indeed.  There may be even more ludicrous puzzle behavior in store for the 28 North gang.  I'll keep you posted.

Also, we at 28 North are honored and supremely excited to be playing in Pittsburgh this New Year's Eve at The Rex Theatre!  We will be joined by the legendary Poogie Bell Band, the mega funky Old E Allstars, and there will also be sexy dancing by The Bridge City Bombshells!  This is a New Year's celebration not to be missed.  There will be free champagne at midnight and tickets are only 7$!!  So come join us ring in 2013 (it's 2012 right?) in roaring 28 North fashion, nestled in the bosom of the city that spawned this rock 'n roll outfit.  Can't wait!

Get you tickets early!!!

Tickets/info

Facebook event



P.S.  A quick BIRTHDAY SHOUTOUT to my sister Claire and belated birthday shoutout to my dad. Happy Birthday!  Love you guys!

Ty

The Comedy Store

This last weekend we went to The Comedy Store and had the privilege of seeing some fine stand up comedians.  It was a first time for me in the Main Room; it's a great place The Comedy Store, dark and...well it's dark.  Literally, figuratively, that whole thing.  And I like that.

So we got to see some excellent, top of the game comedy including comedians such as Argus Hamilton, Sarah Tiana, Steve Trevino, and Benji Aflalo.

Also got introduced to the comedy of Dov Davidoff that night, he was hilarious.  Extremely quick, witty, and off the cuff.  Now, at a point in his set he asked the crowd what was new, anything interesting going on.  The short silence resulting from no one in the audience desiring to be the object of attention was pierced by Mike proclaiming, "My dog died."  So.  Where does it go from there?  I find the general situation pretty hilarious to begin with, but I'm sure that is not the topic a comedian would necessarily hope to provide comedic banter for.  Of course Davidoff handled it like a pro and said something equally funny and heart felt by asking what the dogs name was and following the answer of, "Joey," with, "I feel like I knew him..."  Which I thought was very funny.  Sorry if that threw you Dov, you killed it.  Dov Davidoff has a FREE podcast you can find here: ROAD DOG PODCAST on iTunes.

And of course the following comedian Marc Maron, a comedian I had not seen yet was most excited to see, came out demanding, "Where's the dude that said my dog died?!" and proceeded to comment on the ridiculousness of the concept of yelling something morbid at a comedian to make jokes about.  But it went no further than that and Maron proceeded to kill as well.  I have never seen a comedian before that can make you laugh and surprise you with incredible insight like he does.  Almost as if he is providing humor that rationalizes one's own discomforts and insecurities.  Maybe that's just simply what comedy is all about.  And maybe I'm just a rambling bonehead...  So by the by, I am a huge fan of Maron, regularly listen to his podcast WTF, and urge you all to sample it as well.  You can subscribe for FREE on iTunes.  In case you haven't noticed podcasts are mostly free guys, and if you're a digital hoarder like me you will be all over this shit.

Other highlights include Bobby Lee.  That dude is bouncing off the walls hilarious.  Mike and Taylor got to meet him outside after the show as well and got a great pic:

Also got to see Chris D'elia for the third time and he is fantastic, very naturally funny, guaranteed big laughs.

So, if you like comedy, check these people out, go to The Comedy Store (or the corresponding, quintessential comedy club in your city) , good stuff.

Til the next

Ty

A Quick 28 North Rundown

As we all gear up for the Thanksgiving holiday, we at 28 North are very excited about the awesome noise we have been making in the studio.  We have just completed the drum tracks for the four new songs we are adding to our record.  I personally had a wonderful time tracking as I always do.  Recording drums is one activity, for me, that combines the extreme focus that accompanies hard work and the true pleasure of performing a task that you love at your core and for which one possesses sufficient skill (hopefully).

Anyway, as we take a short break for the holiday I thought it would be apropos to step back and paint you guys a brief linguistic portrait of what and who 28 North are at this stage.  It has been quite a few years since Michael Lindner and myself began playing the obvious classic rock and Phish covers along with a couple poorly written originals at the Grey Goose (called something else now) in Aspinwall (Pittsburgh).  A handful of players have come and gone over the years, we have played countless shows across the country (and once in Canada!), we have recorded four full length albums, and we have had a HELL of a good time doing it.  Not that it was always easy of course.

So...28 North.

Michael Lindner - Lead singer.  Song writer.  Killer guitar player.  Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, this fun loving guy has a voice that can explode and soothe equally at the same time.  When it comes to dedication, "Lenner" (Pittsburgheese) is a shining example.  Even if being in a band brought promises of sleeping on floors and scrounging for change all of your life, Mike would still be rocking away on stage.

Taylor Netzler - This genuinely nice guy happens to be a shredding guitar wiz.  He can melt faces at the drop of a dime and then make you feel like a million bucks with his silly banter.  28 North has been truly blessed to have Taylor join the group nearly two years ago.  Growing up in Cleveland, OH, Netzler has rock 'n roll in his blood and is basically a guitar legend at the young age of 13.  (Just kidding, though he does make me feel old, ugh.)

Dom Liberati - 28 North's most recent addition.  When you need a tough guy on your side and one who is also beyond polite AND can play a mean bass, look no further than Dom Liberati.  Dom's thunderous bass lines and deft precision have brought a smooth, powerful, and modern approach to the sub-frequencies of our catalog.  Again we are blessed to have such an inspiring and gifted band member to add to 28 North's sound.

Tyler Bond -  That would be yours truly.  Not much going on upstairs here.....,

...except THIS!

That's right folks.  I finished another thousand-piecer!  The one on the left is my recent masterpiece and the one to the right is the 500-piecer I mentioned previously.  So yes, I'm still into puzzles and I have another 1,000 piece puzzle lined up.  

More to come soon.

Ty

Studio Time, Fall Shows, and Jigsaw Puzzles!

That is right folks, we are working our little behinds off in the studio these last few weeks.  It has been an absolute pleasure to work with producer/engineer Gavin MacKillop (Toad The Wet Sprocket, Goo Goo Dolls, Sugarcult).  We know that our record will be a contemporary rock masterpiece when finished and we are more than excited about how it is shaping up.

Along with putting some polish on seven songs we tracked earlier this year we are going to be tracking four brand new songs next week.  With 2012 being a year full of hidden turns, waves of new experience,  and unexpected insight for 28 North, it surely has culminated in some nifty creative juices that have spawned what we believe to be our strongest works yet.  So...we are totally PUMPED about this record!

In other news we've got shows this month of November in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.

On Saturday November 24th we will be at The Thunderbird Cafe in Pittsburgh, PA 9:30 PM

On Sunday November 25th we will be at Brothers Lounge in Cleveland, OH 8 PM

On Friday November 30th we will be at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, CA 7:30 PM

Oh, and I'm super into puzzles these days.  Taylor, Mike, and I just finished up a "1,000-piecer" last week and I completed a 500 piece jobber with border assistance from Mike.  I'm currently working on another 1,000 piece, I'll keep you updated.

The "1,000-piecer". Titanic theme. No big deal.

Peace

tY

Talkin' Movies

Hello and greetings.

Apologies for the long time no write, a severe case of "blog-bloc" I shall blame it on.

Anywho.

We're talking movies here real quick on 28 North Speaks.  We have now seen a number of movies (five total to be exact in my case) in the last couple of weeks.  They were as follows: 1. Looper, 2. The Master, 3. Dredd 3D, 4. Argo, and 5. Total Recall.  Quite the round up, I know.  The quality of each were as follows, respectively: 1. damn good entertainment, 2. surprisingly awful, 3. surprisingly enjoyable, 4. the best of the batch, and 5. shitty as expected.

Looper

Good, clean,  fun.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt was solid, Bruce Willis was standard great.  I enjoyed this movie, it has the right amount of confusion blended with classic action movie violence.  The plot is bound to have holes when you are dealing with time travel and inevitably the story will have its demerits.  But fuck it, what story is ever sealed tight as a drum and with so many matters complicating life in general, what is the difference?  Plus Bruce Willis kills kids in this movie.  Kids!!  Little innocent, defenseless, inconsequential kids!!!  I feel like they took chances on this one and I commend them for that.  Plus the way they make up Jo-Go to resemble a youthful Bruce Willis is hilarious.

The Master

Ugh.  Come on PTA.  I expected a more intriguing story than this.  Sure.  The acting was superb and the film looked incredible (70 mm film) and the music was perfect.  Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman and everyone else involved in making this film deserve well earned praise.  But there was no story for me.  I took nothing from this movie in terms of experiencing anything really worthwhile.  And it is sssooooo long.  But I'll give it another shot some day and possibly unearth the genius that may lie in its strange images.

Dredd 3D

We were so disappointed in The Master that we snuck in to see Dredd to redeem some sort of entertainment for the night.  It turned out to be a gratuitous, dark, decadent, indulgence of the kind we hoped for as blood hungry pre-pubescent males.  And I enjoyed every second of it.  In 3D too!  I cannot lie, it was gut-wrenching to watch bullets pierce through bodies in slow motion and peoples faces being exploded.  Though it was guiltily satisfying.  A visceral experience if you will.

Argo

I liked it.  It was pretentious, sure.  Rife with political commentary directed both towards governmental foreign affairs and the so-oft-self-deprecating movie business.  But it was suspenseful nonetheless and the humor was well placed.  Alan Arkin was absolutely perfect as was John Goodman as always.  Of course Bryan Cranston is involved.  This is a big plus these days.  Cranston certainly delivered and  Ben Affleck was solid and also directed the film.

Total Recall

....

And there you have it.  Sorry, I slept through what most likely were the "important" parts of Total Recall and unfortunately those were probably the ones mainly involving Bryan Cranston (fuck yah!).  Oh well, I'm sure the original is far better and serves a much more fulfilling place in the halls of film history.

Finally, here is a little treat for you: A NEW SONG!

Yep, we wrote this new tune out in Canyon Country and this is a video of us playing the new tune at The Dragonfly in Los Angeles.  Hope you dig!



More soon,

Ty

"Bourned To Death"

That's right, I saw Bourne Legacy.  The fourth installment in a series of movies about a group of top-secret "human-based-machine-government-fabricated-warrior-type-things".  In case you are not aware.  This current release stars Jeremy Renner while the previous three Bourne films starred Matt Damon.  To get to the point, I did enjoy the movie.  I appreciated that it basically side-stepped the previous Damon-based storyline which was left open to resolve.  It was good action.  Fun.

The other one's I don't remember liking much.  They were shot and edited into this crazy rapid pace giving cause to make one feel dizzy though the scene is literally a phone conversation.  This fourth flick seemed not to have as much of that?  I'm sure it did, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

Anyway, so you have The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and The Bourne Legacy.  Now, the question is: what is the next installment going to be titled?  What will it be about?

Here are some ideas:

Bourne This Way: In this one we discover that Lady Gaga is actually part of the original Operation Treadstone and she goes AWOL...

Bourne To Run: In this one Matt Damon infiltrates the E Street Band as we discover Sevie Van Zandt is actually a captain in the New Jersey mafia.

Bourne On The Bayou: Cajun style.  Bourne rents a house in the French Quarter and becomes a hipster restaurateur.

Bourne Under A Bad Sign: The time travel installment.  Bourne goes back in time to infiltrate the origins of American blues music.

Bourne Again: In this one, the religious right has planted their own agent inside the CIA and he must be annihilated.

Bourne To Be Wild: The curve-ball.  Starring Tim Robbins as a secret agent disguised as a wild flower expert.

Bourne On The Fourth of July:  Finally, in this one we get Matt Damon AND Tom Cruise together to see who can run the most.

A quick note, and late to the party as always with my outdated commentary; I titled this blog in equal respect to the theme of word play and the cancellation of the great tv series Bored To Death.  I'm sad that this show did not make the cut.  I mean, Schwartzman, Galifinakis, AND Ted Danson (underrated).  Come on!  It's worth another couple seasons for that trifecta alone!  Be that my opinion as it may, sorry to see it go.  

More rambling soon,

Ty

Adventures in Cleveland

So I got to spend a wonderful couple of weeks back in my hometown of Cleveland.  It was great to visit with the fam and friends and bask in the glory that is Cleveland, OH in late SUMMAH!

And if you haven't experienced this time of year in this fair city, you are missing out.  And if you've got something derogatory to say about Cleveland just keep your mouth shut.  I WILL track down naysayers and forcibly inundate anyone with an unmerited poor attitude towards The Forest City with loads of evidence to the contrary of their sadly misinformed opinion.

Anyway, I ate well.  Really well.

Let's start with Melt.

The Parma, Italy from Melt

Melt Bar & Grilled is a joint that began in my stomping grounds of Lakewood, OH.  It specializes in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and craft beer.  Their fries are also possibly the best I've ever experienced.  On this trip to Melt I got what is called the "Parma, Italy".  This is essentially their take on a chicken parm sammy.  I didn't have the gumption to order "The Dude Abides" for a second time, I included it in a blog a few months ago.  Needless to say, the sandwich was incredible and I could only eat half of it.  I paired it with an Oaked Arrogant Bastard brewed by Stone Brewing Co.  I'm a big fan of Stone Brewing and the original Arrogant Bastard as well, the Oaked was exceptional.

Next up is Joe's Deli in Rocky River.  Joe's is one of those regular places for my family, a taste of home if you will.  They have remodeled and expanded big time in the last year and despite losing some of its charm, the food remains purely satisfying.  First off, you always get the matzo ball soup.  That is a must.  Their forte, in my opinion, are the giant corned beef or pastrami sandwiches.  For this Joe's run I got a hot pastrami on focaccia, opposed to the typical rye bread.  And I must say, the bread decision panned out in my favor.  Focaccia is some good shit, under-appreciated I would even venture to declare.  And they also serve Great Lakes beer, Cleveland's finest.

Pastrami on focaccia from Joe's Deli

Now it is time for some Korean.  Not sure if any of you faithful readers enjoy or have even tried Korean cuisine.  It certainly is distinct as with most other Asian styles of food and it tends to be spicy as foods from this region of Earth are wont to be.  I had a great dinner with dear friend and 28 North artist, collaborator Alex Kelly and his lovely fiancee Beth Whalley (owners of Proximity Art Gallery in Cleveland).  We went to the unassuming Seoul Hot Pot in what most people refer to as "Asia Town", just a few blocks from Proximity on Payne.  Seoul Hot Pot does not have a web site; if you know about it, that is because someone told you about one of Cleveland's best kept secret places to eat.

Dak Dori Tang

I love Korean food.  It's hearty, it's spicy, it's mysterious.  I chose to get the Dak Dori Tang, a chicken stew that arrives looking like a pot of hot lava with scrumptious chunks of chicken on the bone and veggies.  Despite it's look, the broth is not painfully spicy as I anticipated and truth be told, I have no clue what the base of this bright red broth was.  Doesn't matter, it was great.  Beth got the classic Bibimbap, you cannot go wrong with this stuff, it is simply delicious and for me it is very indicative of the Korean taste.  Alex got the Bulgogi which is another classic Korean dish consisting of marinated beef, chicken or pork.  And of course we shared a bunch of Kim Bap which is like crack food,  impossible to stop eating.  It is basically a sushi roll with cooked beef instead of raw fish.   So if this sounds good to you, look into a Korean restaurant or hit up Seoul Hot Pot if you are in the Cleveland area.

Briefly I will tell you about a piece of pizza I had from Danny Boys in Rocky River.  It was a mac 'n cheese pizza.  Wow.  This pizza blew my mind.  Not only was it mac 'n cheese and pizza combined for the most righteous of results, it was topped with POTATO CHIPS.  That is correct.  Potato chips.  And boy oh boy did that work out, totally and completely satisfied with this one.

Now I will tell you about Corky & Lenny's.  I had never been to this famous deli way over on the East side, not surprisingly (as any Clevelander knows) for West Siders stick to the West Side and vice versa.  But regardless of our petty rivalry, Corky & Lenny's is a deli institution of the highest order.  I made the choice decision of ordering beef and latkes, a corned beef sammy between two potato pancakes.  Two words can sum up my feelings after eating this incredible sandwich: Nap. Time.  Holy cow this place rules and all the hype and tv coverage is well deserved.  I also had the kreplach soup which was absolutely perfect and some sweet cheese blintzes.  Mmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuuuuuuugggghhhhhhhh........the best.

And of course I had to have some Malley's chocolates.  My personal fav are the chocolate covered pretzels.  Simply the greatest.

Til next time,

Ty

Dragon Tattoos, Breaking Bad, and Rayland Baxter

So a few random things on my mind.

Just finished the final book of the "Dragon Tattoo Trilogy" by Swedish author Stieg Larsson (very interesting guy, sadly died before any of his "Millenium Series" books were published).  I certainly enjoyed The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (the final installment of the series and apparently the highest selling book in the US in 2010) and the entire trilogy for that matter.  Sure, it's a trendy book and therefore it is easy to read.  It's dark, it's sexy, it's referential...everything a trendy book should be.  You may even say it could fall under the "Summah Reads" category.  And of course I'm late to the party as always, these books are way passed the trendy realm.

But nevertheless, the trilogy is a wild ride of suspense and mystery.  Of course, I have seen the American-produced movie version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo directed by David Fincher (one of my personal favorite film directors).  But I have not seen the Swedish-produced film versions of the trilogy, so that is next up on my list and I will have comments on that for you I'm sure.

So.

Breaking Bad.

Best show on television.

Again, late to the party, I just caught up with the current season and it presently occupies a disturbingly large fraction of my limited mental capacity.  This show is so f***king good.  I don't know how else to say it.  So if you're not into it, get into it.

Finally, Rayland Baxter.

I literally listened to his song "The Mountain Song" seven times in a row today.  It was during a beautiful late afternoon drive in the Cleveland Metroparks from Guitar Center back to Lakewood.  Maybe it was just the environment but it was a magical drive.  I mean, it was perfect.  This song embodies all that a great song can, it brings goosebumps to the back of my neck, it just says everything so perfectly.  The kind of song that gives you cause to roll down the windows, put your left arm out to flow leisurely through the wind, and smile.



So please enjoy this tune and look him up.  His debut album Feathers & Fishhooks was just released this passed week (hey, I'm not actually late to the party on this one!) and it is really great.

(#WayTooManyParenthesesInThisBlog)

On another note, I got stung by a bee last week for this first time in many years.  That sucked.

Til next time,

Ty

Album of The Month: Langhorne Slim - "The Way We Move"

Time for another edition of Album of The Month 28 North blogspot stylee.

For this month, I am choosing Langhorne Slim's The Way We Move.

What to say about Langhorne Slim.  He's a truly distinct presence in the music world.  Hailing originally from Langhorne, PA with a wailing voice and infectious intent, Langhorne Slim has got some serious mojo brewing.  With four LPs and two EP's under his belt, Langhorne has become a staple in the "indy-folk" movement.

His fourth LP release, The Way We Move, was released earlier this year and Langhorne is currently supporting it on tour.  Sadly I missed his show at Troubadour this month and thus, I will commend him with Album of The Month.

I must admit, this record may be Langhorne's best effort yet, it has everything.  It has the horns, it has the groovy stylings of the Fender Rhodes, it has the delicate bluegrass picking of banjo player David Moore, it has the thwapping, thundering swing of drummer Malachi DeLorenzo (son of Violent Femmes drummer Victor DeLorenzo), it has the thumping, bouncing bass lines of Jeff Ratner, and of course the beautiful, heartfelt song-craft and raucous hollering of Langhorne Slim.

And holler he does as though his voice was meant to be a powerful battle cry for life.

For life just to be life.

To continue on through whatever happens to us.  And it is about US when you're listening to Langhorne Slim.  We work and suffer, but we've got each other.  And that's the point of music, to bring people together, and Langhorne delivers.

So cheers to Langhorne Slim!

Find him here online: www.langhorneslim.com
Find him here on iTunes
Find him here on Spotify

For those of you hungry for some fresh 28 North, here's a little intimate vid of Mike and Ty singing Monster at One Gun Ranch in Malibu, CA:



Ty

Phish, Justin Bieber, and Pittsburgh!

That is right.  We went to see Phish.

Now, I understand that Phish is a loaded topic in the music world, it's a love/hate kind of thing.  And by my ambivalent nature I have claimed to have such a relationship with Phish and their music.  But the truth is this:

I love Phish.

Sure, the scene is a conglomeration of hipped-out-crunchy-adventure-party people, the music is weird, and maybe you just don't get it.  But the fact remains, in my opinion, that Phish continue to be the most fiercely unique phenomenon in music.

No one plays like Phish.  No one has a more loyal fan-base than Phish.  No one consistently sells out arenas across the country for as long as Phish has.  No one else has played nine festivals for tens of thousands in which the only band playing was themselves.

It may not be for everybody but I certainly love Phish.  I guess the point of this post is to essentially declare myself a Phish fan.  However you choose to judge me is your own prerogative.

Btw, you can actually see me in this picture from the concert at Long Beach Arena, can you find me? (Hint: I'm wearing a yellow shirt):

You can check out some sweet video footage from the Long Beach show we attended on YouTube here.  If you're into lengthy improvised music you will enjoy this:


Also, even more importantly, Justin Bieber was at the show.  You can read about it here.  Apparently Bieber had a hankering for some mushroom chocolates and glow sticks.

In other news, we are super-psyched to announce that 28 North will be returning to play a show in Pittsburgh!  It's been far too long so we are extremely excited to be playing at Thunderbird Cafe on Saturday September 1st.  It is going to be an epic evening, mark your calendars Pittsburgh!

More sooooooooon.....

Ty

TYENCE!

Throughout our travels across this beautiful nation we inevitably have run across an abundance of wildlife, whether it be insects, plants, or dog-based critters.  I myself am very fond of discovering new types of plant and animal life, I enjoy taking pictures of them and reading about them and basically being a bona fide geek.

I call this section of the blog: TYENCE.  For the kick-off TYENCE edition I'm going to cover a few different weird bugs I've run across in the passed few years.

I'll start with one of the insects I found most interesting, the Velvet Wasp or Velvet Ant as it is referred to occasionally.

I stumbled upon one of these at a campground in North Carolina.  I had never encountered one of these insects before and it was quite a sight.  It's a terrific bright red color and looks like a giant ant, the size of a large wasp.  The female Velvet Wasp does not have wings while the male does.  There are roughly 3-5,000 species of this insect and it typically lives in very warm, dry, sandy climates.  Most commonly it is found in the Southwest in North America, but apparently there was at least one in North Carolina.  So I came across a female and fortunately I did not attempt to pick it up, apparently it has a devastating sting and is even nick-named the "Cow Killer".  Yikes.  Here's some footage of its stinger.



Another of my favorite rare insects to stumble upon is the Praying Mantis.  Hands down, in my opinion, the Mantis is THE coolest.  How bad-ass is a Praying Mantis?  The answer is very.  And how ambiguous is its name?  Is it "Preying" or "Praying".  They are both applicable and sound exactly the same.  Whoa.  The Mantis is somewhat elusive in the States, at least I have very rarely stumbled upon them.  There are about 20 species that are native to the U.S. and two (the Chinese Mantis and European Mantis) were introduced specifically to control unwanted pests that were damaging crops.  So the Mantis is like the Enforcer.  Totally bad-ass.

Here is one I encountered a few years ago in Atlanta.  It happened to land directly on my shoe and remained for a few minutes just hanging out.

I also came across a little baby mantis a few weeks ago at the studio.  Never seen one quite so small and adorable.

So there you have it.  The first edition of TYENCE evah!  Hope you enjoyed it and I apologize if you are creeped out by bugs 'n at, but hey, it's not that serious.  Really this is just a chance for me to post some goofy photos.  Anyway.  Don't forget we've got the Viper Room show next Monday, August 13th, it will be a kickoff party for the Sunset Strip Music Festival and it is guaranteed to be a hell of a show.  Hope to see you all there!  Facebook event page


P.S.  The link to Alex Kelly's website in my last blog post was not current, so in case you did or did not visit his site, here's the site I strongly encourage you to visit: www.harvardink.com.  He's got a kick-ass post about a reupholstery project he's doing, great stuff.

Til next time,

Ty

The Master Has Arrived!

That's right folks, the master audio of our latest record has arrived in our hands!

And we could not be happier, it's been a long, tedious process but we have achieved what we set out to do from the beginning: Create our best record ever.  In honor of this moment here is an exclusive behind the scenes of making "World On Fire".



Very soon we will have the first single available, we'll do the video, and the record will move and rock the masses for all of history.

We are currently in the process of completing the art work for the record with our brilliant, dear friend Alex Kelly.  You can find samples of his work at harvardink.com.  You may recognize some of the art as pieces we have used in the past.  It is an honor to have Alex as part of the team and an enormous pleasure as he is one of our best friends.  And if you are in the Cleveland area, please check out the Proximity Art Gallery which Alex runs with his fiancee Beth Whalley.  It's a beautiful space, always with an amazing show.  Check out the website at proximitycleveland.com/home.

Oh, and I did choose my Summah Gum.  I'm going with the wildcard, I did not include it as an option in my Summah Blog, but sometimes life throws a curve ball.  Either way, I am excited to announce that my Summah Gum is...

Wrigley's 5 Prism.  It's watermelon flavor and it is delicious.  I hope everyone is still havin' a summah out there and enjoying themselves.

Talk to ya soon.

Ty

SUMMAH!

That's right, this edition of blog is a SUMMAH FEATUH (feature).

Well folks, it is nearing the end of July, we are well into the Summah season.  I hope you have all been enjoying 2012's time of fun and sun.  And just in case you haven't, I will do my best to inspire you to go out and have some summah fun, via this blog.

Now, before I get started I must give credit to the singular champion of Summah, THE, Howard Kremer.  In case you have not seen his wonderful tutorial on YouTube, please take a moment to hear some words from the master:

Now, as you may have absorbed from the above video, it is important that one must pick out a "Summah Gum".  You proceed to "chew this gum aaaalllll Summah long, that is your Summah Gum.  As long as that gum is in your mouth you know it's Summah."  I know it's late in the Summah but I unfortunately have not made a final decision, so I've narrowed it down to three possibilities and they are as follows:

Trident Splashing Fruit:

Orbit Wildberry Remix:

Wrigley's 5 RPM:

So stay tuned to see which one will conquer the others and have the honor of being my Summah Gum.

Now, I've made a Summah Playlist for all to enjoy during these Summah months.  You can find it here on Spotify.  Here are the selections and a little synopsis on each tune:

1. Allah-Las - Tell Me What's On Your Mind

I had the privilege of seeing these fine gentlemen perform at the Troubadour and this song particularly sucked me in.  The Summah vibe is strong with this one with a retro surf rock sound and a jangly-fun-in-the-sun type of attitude.  Check out the video to get a better idea. 

2. Hacienda - Natural Life

One of my personal favorite bands, this tune has a great message for all the Summah enthusiasts out there as Summah is undoubtedly a magical part of nature.  This song's Summah vibe is off the charts.

3. Blitzen Trapper - Country Caravan

Many people like to take trips in the Summah, some may do it by "caravan".  That is why I chose to include this delightfully bouncy track about traveling by caravan.

4. Dr. Dog - Nobody Knows Who You Are

Summah time is a time for parties, and this track makes me think of partying, so it is thus included.

5. Buena Vista Social Club - Amor de Loca Juventud

Many nations across the globe have the great fortune to have never ending Summah seasons, one of these places is Cuba, where Buena Vista Social Club was formed.  The song is also about the love crazy emotions of youthful persons.  And we all know that Summah is a time for lovin'.

6. The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling

The content of this cut may not have much to do with Summah, but it is my personal favorite Summah Groove, something about those fuzzed out guitars...

7. Blitzen Trapper - Astronaut

I know, a repeat artist on a playlist is poor form, but just listen to this tune and tell me the groove at the 1:25 mark doesn't just ooze that Summah Vibe.

8. Deer Tick - Axe Is Forever

From what I can understand from the lyrics in this track, it's a bit about fuck school and the conventional life and all that, and Summah ain't no time for school and that type of shit, that's for goddam sure.  Plus for me there is not a Summah without Deer Tick.

9. Bob Marley - Small Axe

It's certainly not Summah without a little reggae and what better than some Bob Marley.  This is one of my personal fav Marley cuts.

10. Darwin Deez - Radar Detector

This is just a fun song that brings a smile to my face and Summah is definitely a time for smiling.  Plus the song mentions Los Angeles which is most certainly a Summah destination hot spot for many.

11. Howard Kremer - Take Your Back To School Sale and Shove It

Last but most certainly not least we have the Grand Champion of Summah himself Howard Kremer.  He just recently released his "Have A Summah" album, you can find it here and on iTunes, and I strongly suggest you check it out along with his free podcast Who Charted.  You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here.

So there it is, my Summah Playlist, I hope you all enjoy.  So get out there, have a Summah, and I'll talk to you soon.

Ty

Album of the Month

Apologies for the lack of blogging in the last month.  Let's just say I've "had blog-bloc".

Much has been happening for 28 North recently.  The record is 90% complete right now and it's fitting to be a revolutionary album of epic proportions.  We've also had some great shows at the Roxy and in Ventura, which is becoming almost like a second home to us, we love it there.

So last month was lacking our Album of the Month selection so I will have two coming up in the next few weeks to make up for it.

For this edition I'm going to feature Maps & Atlases' recent release "Beware and Be Grateful".  This Chicago-based quartet comes from an indie/math-rock background.  With their last two full length albums M & A has blended intricately complex musicianship with ultra-pop sensibilities and very sensitive, personal lyric content.

"Beware and Be Grateful" begins with the hypnotic guitar pulsing of the master soundscaper guitarist Erin Elders that is commonplace in most M & A cuts.  The song "Old And Grey" continues to build with the swirling layers of singer Dave Davison's luscious harmonies, the brilliant tribal drumming of Chris Hainey, and the masterfully nuanced bass lines of Shiraz Dada.  This first tune travels through the sentimental musings of a terminated relationship and culminates with a very exposed Davison bursting with Eastern-tinged melodic embellishments that are nothing short of heartbreaking.

The record continues in this vein, displaying much musical prowess and a keen sense for concocting subtle intricate layers that form beautifully complex atmospheres.  This is a very dense album that provides much to fascinate and ponder.  It comes highly recommended by yours truly, hope you enjoy.


Maps & Atlases on iTunes

Maps & Atlases on Spotify


-Ty

Pacific Crest Trail Part 2

So, continuing with my reflections on the Pacific Crest Trail...

When trekking on this ole dusty trail, one will encounter several examples of the desert animal and plant life.  I've seen plenty of lizards, rabbits, squirrels, etc.  The usual suspects.  There are also snakes and tarantulas out there without a doubt.  I haven't seen any tarantulas, and though I have a slightly masochistic urge to stumble upon one, it's probably better that I haven't.  And I've only seen two small snakes since being out here for nearly a year.

For a time there was also a stream that ran through a sandy area that leads to the PCT which you can see in the background of the picture at the top.  Abruptly this stream appeared last winter, and abruptly, it has now disappeared.  This makes me sad as it provided a very peaceful, meditative scenery and the soothing, trickling sound that streams are wont to possess.  Why this stream has disappeared and why it appeared in the first place remains a mystery to me.  Rest assured, I will be investigating.

The stream was also home to many tadpoles which I was excited to watch develop into frogs.  Unfortunately, this will not be so and maybe for the better as the croaking of frogs is already quite prominent in the evening without the addition of hundreds of annoying frog progeny.   Regardless, I'm a bit sorrowful that these infant frogs' habitat has vanished inexplicably.  Here's a very brief and shitty video of the tadpoles just to prove I'm not lying:

So I got my hands on a Go-Pro cam, which is a tiny video camera which can be strapped to one's chest.    In the previous blog post I spoke of using one of those "strap-on" cameras (please, don't even go there) to get some better quality footage of the trail scenery.  I did a quick run with it to test out how the footage would look and there are definitely some adjustments to make.  But it's a much nicer camera than an iPhone and the footage will be infinitely more stable.   So I'm gonna get that done and it will be very cool.

I hope you enjoy my amateurish ramblings on the great outdoors, I certainly enjoy experiencing and writing them.  If you'd like to see some more pictures of stuff from the Pacific Crest Trail you can find some here.

Until next time,

Ty

Pacific Crest Trail

Apologies for the lack of blogging recently.

Let's just say I've had "blog-bloc".

Tee-hee.

Anyway, I've got a little something special for you all.  As you may know, we have been stationed in the Los Angeles area for slightly under a year.  We spend plenty of time running around this sprawling town but our actual residence is in Acton, where we get away from the hullabaloo that is L.A.  It is absolutely gorgeous out here in what is appropriately dubbed "Canyon Country".  In fact, right in our backyard is a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail which runs from Mexico to Canada straight through the three west coast states, you can read more about it here.  I like to take hikes on this rugged and challenging trail.  I even made a short video which captures a small piece of the treks that I embark on.  I apologize for the shakiness of the video, I literally was walking and holding my iPhone in front of me.  But I feel the lack of professional camera operation adds to the charm.  The background music is a sample of a couple tunes from our UPCOMING ALBUM  "World On Fire".



I hope to do another more in depth video of my Pacific Crest Trail hike with one of those iso-cam thingies that strap to your chest or face or something.  It'll be fun.

I'll have more on my backyard ramblings soon.

To be continued...

Weekend Wonders

I know I've been shortly absent from this blog site in regards to my updating.  And I apologize to those of you that may actually read this blog.  If in fact you do read my blog, please feel free to comment or email me at 28northband@gmail.com with any concerns or comments.  I'll be happy to absorb any feedback or hate-mail or strange requests.  So please feel free to drop me a line.

So.

Weekends.  We all have them.

Sometimes they are epic, sometimes they pass without the slightest inclination of anything happening.

Regardless of all that, I'd like to share with you a few things we did last weekend.

We were semi responsible adults last weekend as we decided to actually cook breakfast for ourselves.  This meant pounds upon pounds of what I like to call the magical fruit and what is known to most of the general public as....

Bacon.

That's right folks, we love the stuff and here is an example of what happens to our bacon when left unchaperoned:

We also went to Malibu last weekend and had a nice relaxing time at the beach.  I didn't actually take any pictures or videos at the beach but I did get this footage on the way there.  Please excuse my terribly sophomoric content, I can only hope that you, dear reader, can find the humor in the quality of my subject matter.


So that's it for now.  I'll have more fun stuff coming at you soon.

-Ty

Bands On Bands

Since we have been living in the LA area for a while, we have met quite a number of other bands.  It's only natural when you are in the city that is the Mecca for entertainment.  One of the incredible bands that we have become great friends with is Oh No Not Stereo.  We decided to show each other some love by doing a "Band On Band" blog post.  Hope you dig!

Los Angeles-based, high-energy rock quartet Oh No Not Stereo have been pioneering LA’s independent ‘D.I.Y.’ music scene since 2003.  Originally founded as a duo by Skyler Nielsen and Mykul Lee, the bands legacy continues to grow to this day, after 5 self-released albums, and over half a million miles of touring under their belt.

Download free ONNS music by visiting their landing page here.

Create your personal music video edit!  Like ONNS on FACEBOOK  Follow ONNS on Twitter

Questions from 28North, to Skyler from ONNS-

What’s the meaning behind the band’s name?

I was in a serious ATV accident when I was 11, and lost the hearing out of my right ear. When we started the band as a duo, we chose the name based largely on my disability.. however, by performing as an “unconventional live-duo”, the name took on additional meaning as we noticed how many sound-guys were refusing to mic up more than one amp at our shows, because in their heads, if there is just one guitar player, we wouldn’t need more than one amp.  So we tip our hats to those ponytail-having fucks that, in the end, only helped pack additional integrity and meaning into our band name.

Who are your top three fav bands from the 90’s?

Nirvana, Silverchair and Local H.

What’s the meaning behind the “All You” music video and how did you shoot it?

That video was our exercise in ‘rotoscoping’.  We shot it in a dry lake bed, 50 miles outside of Palm Springs.  We borrowed a super-nice RED camera from a friend, and rented a motor for the tripod.  Every take, the camera would move in a circle at the same speed, and end up in the same place at the end of the song.  (There were something like 4 revolutions in total..)  We practiced a few times, and then started to realize where we needed to set the drums, and where we needed to quickly change wardrobe, etc.  The shoot was a giant math problem, and a really great exercise in production flow.  My ode to Stevie Wonder at the end is bound to get ripped on in the next season of Beavis & Butthead.. MTV licensed the video already!!

Where’s your fav place to shop for clothes?

I make my own clothes most of the time.. or my next favorite thing to do is collect band shirts from my friends, and help them represent :)

Questions from 28North, to Mykul Lee from ONNS-

What are your top three favorite venues/cities to play?

Shepherds Bush Empire in London, Mr Smalls in Pittsburgh, Triple Rock in Minneapolis.

What’s your favorite 90’s sitcom?

Perfect Strangers.

Who are your current top three fav drummers?

Levon Helm, Jim Keltner, Buddy Rich.

What’s your fav cereal?

Jeffrey Dahmer 

Questions from 28North, to Jussi from ONNS-

Where are you from originally?

Saarijarvi, Finland!

What kind of guitars do you like to play?

I love playing ESP and Gibson guitars.

What’s your favorite place to eat in LA?

Favorite place to eat by far is Fogo de Chao!  Can’t beat a Brazilian, all-you-can-eat BBQ!

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you on stage at a show?

I think when we were in NYC playing and half of the show my amp was turning on and off for some reason.  It was quite embarrassing, to say the least.

Well, you probably know who we are at this point, but here's a quick rundown:

28 NORTH is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  In my opinion, they sound like a really solid mix of 70’s and 90’s rock.  Sonically imagine The Allman Brothers-meets-Kings of Leon.

28 North have currently re-located to Los Angeles, where they’re working on their new album with Grammy Award-winning Producer David Kershenbaum.

Like 28 North on FACEBOOK  Follow 28 North on Twitter  Subscribe to 28 North's YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Questions from Skyler/ONNS, to Taylor/28North Guitarist-

Do you come from a family of musicians?

My great-grandmother used to play piano and accordion for me when I was really young, but no one in my family ever played music professionally. My younger brother began playing drums when I picked up guitar, and I think that’s one of the reasons we both excelled quickly. We always had a healthy kind of musical competition with each other.

Who first inspired you to shred?

I had always loved music growing up but never really had any interest in playing an instrument until I was 12 years old. We used to have this crappy old acoustic guitar in my house kind of just as a decoration. I remember my uncle coming over one day and picking it up and playing the riff to Slayer’s “South of Heaven” and I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever heard in my entire life! My mom bought me an electric guitar soon after and that completely consumed my life. When I was 15, I was lucky enough to start taking guitar lessons from guitar virtuoso Neil Zaza. That’s when I really started getting into guitarists and bands like Yngwie Malmsteen, Symphony X, Paul Gilbert, Van Halen, and Mattias IA Eklundh.

What’s a venue you’ve always wanted to play?

It’s a no brainer… Madison Square Garden!! I wanna pack that place!!

Questions from Skyler/ONNS, to Tyler/28North Drummer-

How’d you get the nickname ‘Titanium’? 

Well, first I need to explain that it’s actually a joint nickname shared by Taylor and myself.  It consists of equal parts of our names (Ty=Ti and Tay=Ta in the nickname) with a touch of awesomeness.  The name was initially conceived by Mike and his mom Jodi.  One of them happened to ask, “Where’s Ty and Tay?”  Immediately the connection was made and our nickname “Titanium” was born.  Fortunately it’s a rather cool nickname and is fitting of our steely cool personas, haha.  It’s become a commonly awkward point in conversation when Taylor and I introduce ourselves one after the other.  People sometimes think we are fucking with them when they hear our names are Taylor and Tyler in rapid succession.  So Titanium is very convenient for us.

Who do you consider three of the best drummers in the world? 

That’s a very hard question, there are too many to name!  But as far as living drummers today, I’d say my favorite all around drummer is Vinnie Colaiuta, he can literally play anything, and he does with so many different artists.  Another current fav of mine is Keith Carlock who conjures fire with even a simple and basic pattern.  He’s a more fusion-oriented cat and has a unique technical and ergonomic approach.  Thirdly, I would have to say Glenn Kotche from one of my absolute favorite bands Wilco.  Glenn’s orchestral and detailed approach to the drum kit is unparalleled in my opinion.  He may be the most clever drummer to ever grace a stage and at the same time he grooves and drives a band as well as anybody. 

What’s your favorite thing about being a drummer?

My favorite thing about being a drummer is just playing.  I can’t think of any activity I love more than just sitting behind a drumkit and zoning out, letting my hands, fingers, and entire body succumb to the beauty of the drum set.  I also enjoy drummer jokes, always funny….and true (tears).

Questions from Skyler/ONNS, to Michael L/28North Singer-

Who do you think is the greatest frontman of all time?

Thats such a tough question, there are so many.  If I had to pick one, it would probably be Mick Jagger.  Stock answer? Perhaps.  But he’s been the man since he started.  He is in the Rolling Fucking Stones.  They are an anomaly of awesomeness. He can make anything interesting and make anyone have a good time.  That is what being a front man is all about, keeping the focus of the audience by being larger than life and also connecting people even if they don’t necessarily want to connect.  Making them forget their worries by shifting the focus on to YOU.  Who does this better than Mick? Nobody.

What’s the coolest (and most inspiring) music video you’ve ever seen?

Without a doubt, Guns N’ Roses - November Rain.   I was 15 when I saw this music video for the first time.  I was a pony league baseball player searching for a purpose. Slash on the piano in the desert was all I needed to see to know that I wanted to play the electric guitar forever.  I recently met Mike Clink, producer of Use Your Illusion and told him this story.  If it wasn’t for November Rain, I wouldn’t play the electric guitar. Safe to say the video inspired me!  

Hottest chick in the world is ____.

Right now, I would have to say Emmy Rossum from Showtime’s ‘Shameless’. I love that she is angelic and demonic in the most perfect of ways. And yes, I’m friends with her on Facebook.

Questions from Skyler/ONNS, to Jonathan/28North Bassist-

Who first inspired you to play bass?

It wasnt any particular bassist, but more the role of the bass in Hip Hop, My first musical love. The elementals of bass, drums, & conscious vox really spoke to me. 

Three of your biggest bass-playing inspirations?

This is easy. Jaco Pasotrius, John Paul Jones, & Jesse Murphy (he played with John Scofield and Brazilian Girls). Three J’s? Yes please.

What are your thoughts on bass players who hold the bass like a shotgun?

Well, at the end of the set, to proverbially ‘spray’ the audience with rock energy, it is an acceptable gesture. However, spending the duration of your set with your instrument in the firing position is tawdry. There is a difference between music and musical theatre :)