Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Tales From The Road Vol. 14: Killin' In Illinois

This weekend past we had a fantastic blast in the Land O' Lincoln.

Chicago was first where we had the pleasure of tearing it up at Red Line Tap in Rogers Park.  The venue was exemplary of Chicago's charm and needless to say we blew the roof off the place.  We enjoyed some fine folks and tasty eats at the Heartland Cafe which operates next door in tandem with Red Line Tap.  I also tried Malort for the first time, it was... interesting (awful).  I find it odd that after so many trips to Chicago this is the first I had heard of this strange liquor, though perhaps this can be attributed to its rather distinct taste.  Of course I felt obliged to indulge in a local staple and it is fair to say I may not again for a long time.  Good times as always in the Windy City.

Peoria was next on the list of locations to be rocked.  It was a stellar evening at the Limelight Eventplex where the crowd was warm and hungry for a dose of killer tunes.  Peoria is fast becoming a favorite town for us to visit.  The people are outstanding in their kindness and receptive attitude.  It is places like this that give us extra encouragement and the feeling that our mission of rocking faces off is a very much worthwhile endeavor.  We love you Peoria, long live rock 'n roll!

The third installment for the weekend was a return to Macomb, IL and the premier venue of the Midwest: The Outskirts.  Can't say enough about this absolutely outstanding room.  It boasts one of the most beautiful stages I've ever played on; incredible sound and light systems, the food is spectacular, and total professional atmosphere.  We truly get the royal treatment when we play here and it is a pure pleasure.  If you live in the area, do yourself a favor and get here for a show asap!

That'll do for the moment.  Next weekend it's another bender of shows on an East Coast tip.

Til next time,

Ty

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Tales From The Road Vol. 13: Another Midwest Romp

Hello blogosphere, long time no blog.

My apologies.  I know this imagined sphere of blogs which we reside in has undoubtedly felt the absence of 28 North Speaks recently but I am writing to amend said vacancy.

Firstly, please take comfort in that the specific reason for lack of blog-ness is due to fierce, committed musical writings and rehearsal on our part and various other familial obligations which, unfortunately, often must take the back seat in this haphazard caravan through kaleidoscopic terrain that is our life.  Certainly, there are other consumptions of culture which contribute to the quality of our being and of which I should write.  I will make a strong effort to correct this.

Anywho.



We decided it was high time to make a quick revisit to the midwest to debut new material and sate our hunger for performing.

First up was River Beach Pub in Chillicothe, IL.  It's smaller, cozier venues such as these that seem to supply the most grateful and responsive audiences.  We must have played close to three hours.  I wasn't keeping track of time but it flew by and we were pretty attached to the stage.  It was a night of lengthy jams and charming audience interaction.  An attempt was made to play "Heads Up" (awesome game we play on our phones; for iphone and android) on stage which proved difficult, but we tried.  We'll have to devise a better way of making that happen.

Next was a return to Fat Fish Pub in Galesburg, IL.  This show was another example proving the aforementioned theory of smaller venues.  It was a treat to regale the fine folks of Galesburg with our music.  The warmth exhibited by the crowd here was immense and paralleled by the River Beach Pub party.  It was also a delight to be supporting the fine talent of Anthony Gomes.  Hot damn! Those dudes exhibited some tremendous skill and flair.

Finally we found ourselves in New Baltimore, MI outside Detroit for a first time excursion at Diesel Concert Lounge.  The spirit of rock 'n roll is alive and well in the Motor City region, that is for damn sure.  We were pleased to be included on a great bill in this spectacular room.  On top of being a killer venue there was also bowling, a pool hall, pizza, and a wrestling show going on all within the facility.  So yeah, it was basically the best night in the history of Saturday nights.  It was kind of like a big adult slumber party sans pajamas.  Look forward to returning!

Overall, the new tunes got great receptions, we worked out some kinks, stretched out the jams, and had a generally awesome time.  A few more weeks of writing/rehearsal await us with more shows peppered in.  And a lot of exciting stuff to come soon!



Keep in touch and don't forget to follow us on all the other platforms where we reside on internet avenue:








More soon,

Ty




Saturday, September 20, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 12: Summer Lovin' Part 2

And we continue our trek through the groovy summer months:

August 5, 2014 Red Eye Bar Kansas City, KS: We found ourselves back in KCK at this truly legitimate biker bar and had the pleasure of playing for the fine folks there.  They gave us a warm reception and we enjoyed visiting with the friends we met last time.  It was also taco night and we got to sign a Harley.  Bonus.

August 7, 2014 House Pub St. Charles, IL: After canceling the last few shows here due to severe winter weather we finally found ourselves back at this favorite Illinois haunt.  It's always a party at this joint and we got a hefty dose of rockin' celebration with some old friends.  Was excellent to return, totally righteous.

August 9, 2014 Three Sisters Park Chillicothe, IL: Here we had one of the highlights of the tour opening up for 311 at this beautiful park north of Peoria, IL.  It was a dream come true to share the stage with childhood heroes of mine and share an epic set with a large excitable crowd.  It was over in a flash but will be forever a favorite memory.

August 14, 2014 Hal & Mal's Jackson, MS: Our first time to the Magnolia State, it was an honor to play at one of Jackson's classic clubs.  The feel of bluesy soul abounded in this place and holy moly it was hot and humid.  We also encountered some genuine southern hospitality and I assure you it is a very real thing.

August 16, 2014 The Hangout Gulf Shores, AL: A triumphant return!  It is one of our absolute favorite towns to play.  Along with enjoying the gorgeous gulf waters and some royal treatment from the wonderful Hangout staff we had another epic performance complete with crowd mingling and dancers on stage.  Cannot wait to get back!

August 22, 2014 Mahall's Lakewood, OH: Back to Cleveland it was a mere month later for yet another energetic show.  The fact that we were asked to stop playing as it was past curfew should indicate that we were having quite an awesome time.

August 28, 2014 Crusen's W. Peoria, IL: We had a killer night in Peoria with friends Royal Bliss and Drugs Delaney in this most exemplary rock club.   A superb stage was available to be rocked and all three bands capitalized on this opportunity.  Had a hell of night.

August 29, 2014 The Afterlife Lounge Algona, IA: First time town for us, we were delighted with this exquisite club that boasted not just a beautiful atmosphere but also Nintendo 64 games on large projector screens.  It was a pleasure to meet some Iowan talent and Mike had a dream come true getting to wrestle on a professional ring next door at the wrestling school.  A very fitting birthday present.

August 30, 2014 Outskirts Macomb, IL: Amidst the corn fields and country roads you can find one of the best stages out there.  And it was here in Macomb that we held a valiant showcase of rock with friends Drugs Delaney.  We would be returning shortly.

September 4, 2014 Grand Bar Chicago, IL: Finally we return to Chicago after having to cancel a few shows due to unsavory winter weather.  Terrible weather in Chicago, who would have guessed?  Anywho, it was an appropriately grand night at Grand Bar and we were stoked to be back in the Windy City.  It was a pleasure to share the stage with Eric Tessmer Band and Sun Fallen.  Hope to be back soon!

September 5, 2014 Fat Fish Pub Galesburg, IL: Sometimes we encounter delightful surprises on the road and Galesburg provided one of these such instances.  A tiny town with a huge heart and hunger for live music.  We were treated to an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd as well some very tasty burgers.  This was also the first in a double header so unfortunately we were not able to stay and witness the massive talent of guitar player Samantha Fish.

September 5, 2014 River Beach Pub Chillicothe, IL: Round two for the night was a return to Chillicothe where we were indulged by another fantastic, intimate audience.  Much thanks to Larry and company for taking care of us and letting us stretch out on the cozy River Beach Pub stage.

September 6, 2014 The Cooler Rock Falls, IL: Once again we encountered a fantastic stage with stellar sound and wonderful hospitality.  The alcohol flowed and a fight broke out but hey, these things happen and it's a biker bar after all.  Unfortunately I didn't even get to see the action as it was handled very quickly.

September 7, 2014 Cochran's Pub Sterling, IL: A short hop over the river brought us back to Cochran's Pub to revisit some fine friends and have another champion set.  It was especially nice to see some folks who had witnessed our show with 311.  Good times!

September 10, 2014 The Ritz Macomb, IL: The small town of Macomb beckons and we were obliged to share another great evening of rock with newly minted fans and friends.  We drank a few, played some pool, and rocked the house.  Great stuff.  Looking forward to a return.

September 11, 2014 Crusen's W. Peoria, IL: For the penultimate chapter of the summer tour it was back to Peoria for a marathon evening of celebratory rock with all the fine folks that came to join us.  We got a bit rowdy and indulgent on stage; booze flowed, song lengths stretched, and mingling with the crowd commenced.  Suffice to say, we had another great night.

September 12, 2014 The Back Bar Janesville, WI: Lastly, our final show of the tour found us in Wisconsin.  Back Bar is a killer venue with a lot of history.  The walls are soaked with the music of countless great bands and the foolery of past decades.  First-rate sound and lighting systems and a rapt audience provided for a sensational concluding show.  It was the cherry on the sundae of our summer tour.

And alas, we are caught up to the present.  For the next couple months we will be rehearsing and writing material with a few shows thrown in here and there as well as some little extra nuggets of 28 North doodads and whatnot.  Keep in touch!

28North.com

Facebook

Twitter

Til next time,

Ty



Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 11: Summer Lovin' Part 1

Okay, okay.  I know.  It's been a while.

We have been busy, busy this summer.  And when one is having a SUMMAH, as is appropriate and necessary, there is certainly no time for blogging.

Unfortunately, the glorious days of the celebrated season are coming to a close.  As we left it we were in Ocean City, Maryland last.  Let us do a brief catch up in two parts.

June 4, 2014 Slippery Noodle Indianapolis, IN - A favorite venue of ours, we have been coming here for years and it was a pleasure to return.  We had a beautiful bluesy evening with a warm crowd in this stellar room.  Indy is always good to us.

June 7, 2014 Evening Star Niagara Falls, NY - First time for us in Niagara.  We had the pleasure of sharing the bill with 7 Horse and Black Heart Suicide in this old school club. Great sound and great people.

June 8, 2014 Hartwood Acres Pittsburgh, PA - This was a milestone gig for us.  The Hartwood Acres shows are a classic Pittsburgh summer pastime and it was an honor to perform on this magnificent outdoor stage.


June 13, 2014 120 Tavern Marietta, GA - Just north of Atlanta we had an excellent show with some stellar Georgia musicians in this wonderful sounding room.

June 14, 2014 Brewhouse Rome, GA - Another evening shared with some great Georgia players in this charming town.  We enjoyed walking around town meeting the kind folks.

June 16, 2014 Mellow Mushroom Oxford, AL - The classic argument for pizza tends not to include the south very often.  Well, they have some tasty pies at this joint which you'll find all across the region.  We had a very nice, cozy acoustic gig here.

June 18, 2014 One Stop Asheville, NC - Another first time town for us.  I have always heard about the thriving music scene in this town.  And sure enough, as we began to play the hippies started to turn out and turn about.  Had a very fun time getting funky with the Asheville folks.

June 19, 2014 Scruffy City Hall Knoxville, TN - We had a grand time performing in K-town.  It was fun walking around Market Square where there was plenty of action and live music.

July 2, 2014 Butler County Fair Butler, PA w/Bret Michaels - This was a massive gig for us performing for a crowd of thousands that came out to support their hometown boys Bret Michaels and yours truly.  Totally epic.

July 12, 2014 Deutschtown Music Fest Pittsburgh, PA - Another fantastic outdoor festival gig.  Cradled in Pittsburgh's historic Deutschtown on the North Side, this is a wonderful festival in its second year and we were proud to be part of it.  I also ate a burger on a donut bun prior to the show.  That's right, a donut bun.  It was everything I dreamed it could be.

July 19, 2014 Manchester Community Block Party Pittsburgh, PA - Who says you can't have an outdoor block party with live music in the rain?  Well, we say you can and we emphatically did.

July 22, 2014 Mahall’s Lakewood, OH - Our third time rocking this sweet venue and it was another triumphant evening of rock.  We have had many spirited shows in Cleveland and this was no exception.


July 24, 2014 Mainstreet Toledo, OH -  First time to Toledo at this rock club with a lot of history.  So many great acts have performed here over the years in their early stages.  Bands such as Smashing Pumpkins and Foxy Shazam.  We are proud to be included in their company.

July 26, 2014 Leilapalooza Battle Creek, MI - Cereal City they call it; essentially all the cereal you can find at the grocery store is manufactured here.  And they put on a pretty sweet summer music festival to boot.  Held in a gorgeous public park, we were initially slated to play under the canopy of massive pine trees which would have been cool enough but a last minute change put us on one of the larger main stages.  An excellent time was had by all.  We were also introduced to new friends in Drugs Delaney with whom we would be sharing the stage with for several shows in the near future.

July 30, 2014 Whiskey Dixx Des Moines, IA - Back to Des Moines, we had the pleasure to spend some time with one of our favorite radio dj's Ron Sorenson at KFMG before heading to Whiskey Dixx where we had a rocking show with Drugs Delaney in this classic, appropriately whiskey-soaked rock club.


July 31, 2014 Cochran’s Pub Sterling, IL - Next we found ourselves in the small town of Sterling, IL where we had a great time with some wonderful folks that took care of us very well.  We would be returning soon.


August 1, 2014 Freakster’s Roadhouse Pontiac, IL - A few hours south brought us to Pontiac, IL at this remarkable venue.  It was a memorable night of incredible music as we shared the stage with the superb talents of Dory Drive, Crobot, and Drugs Delaney.  We look forward to returning to this marvelous club.


We will take a quick respite at this point and finish off the remainder of the summer tour dates in the next installment.

In the meantime, check out our latest single "Los Angeles" which is gaining steam on the radio all across the country!  Check it out here and request it at your local radio station!

Til next time,

Ty

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 10: Back to Ocean City

It wasn't long until our return to the East Coast for a flash bang visit to the Ocean City, Maryland area.  Specifically for the Mayday Playday Festival in America's coolest small town: Berlin, Maryland.


We had a hell of a good time hanging out with the lovely folks of Berlin, participating in their quaint local activities and mercantile offerings.

Fortunately we got our set in before the weather got too bad.  Big thanks to DJ BK and Ocean 98 WOCM for sponsoring the festival and supporting us!  Check out a video from our previous visit to the Ocean 98 studio for the Live Lixx performance series:


After Mayday Playday we made the brief drive back to Ocean City for our second show of the day at Buxy's Salty Dog Saloon.  It was a pleasure to play at the Pittsburgh themed venue and we had a great time.  It was nice getting to stretch out with a couple of sets, and we ended up rocking a few people to the point of exhaustion.



For now it's back to writing and rehearsing in preparation for our summer tour.

'Til next time,

Ty


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 9: Ala-BAMA!!

First off, my apologies for the tardiness of these blogs.  Yes, they are coming in a few weeks late but nonetheless comprehensive and I promise to improve upon my immediacy.

Anywho, let's catch up.

Alabama.

Or as my favorite movie character did say with flaunting emphasis, "Ala-BAMA!!!" (Forrest Gump obvi).

It was a legitimate pleasure finding ourselves in the Yellowhammer state (Wikipedia).  Our first stop found us in what has historically been called the "Pittsburgh of the South"; Birmingham.  It was dubbed so for its strength as an industrial town; producing a lot of steel amongst other products in its time.  (Too many semicolons?).

Birmingham fit like a cozy shoe for us rust-belters.  We were hosted by the excellent Birmingham Mountain Radio for an intimate interview/acoustic performance prior to our show at The Nick with The London Souls.  A righteous night it was of grungy, gritty rock and roll in one of America's great dive bars where attitude will eternally thrive.  Sharing the bill with a true blues rock revival outfit in The London Souls was certainly a thrill.  We hope to repeat the experience!

Following Birmingham was a stop in Auburn where we visited our old friend Wild Man Steve to perform and chat on his wonderful radio program: Wild Man Steve Radio!  Without a doubt it is always about the music there which gave us some solid inspiration for another greasy night in Jacksonville, Alabama where we rocked Brother's Bar.

From here we had a very welcome, extended stay in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  All I can say is, "When do we come back?"  We had the absolute privilege of rocking the glorious outdoor stage at The Hangout, part of the Countdown to Hangout Music Festival series sponsored by Mobile's WZEW.  And what a time we had.  Little did we know coming into this gig that we would be performing an hour and a half past curfew due to the crowd's intense demand that night and the following three days as well.  We felt right at home in Gulf Shores and enough thanks cannot be given to The Hangout staff, especially Chris Swinney,  Tim Camp at 92 ZEW for making it all possible, The Southern Rambler, and Stephanie Drake Photography for their fervent support.




Read more about our experience in Gulf Shores here: Southern Rambler InterviewStephanie Drake Blog

On our way to the final stop on tour in New Orleans, we had a quick visit to WZEW 92.1 in Mobile, Alabama for a very pleasant performance and interview with 92 ZEW's own Tim Camp.  After a necessary chow down session at Mobile's famous Dreamland BBQ, we were on our way to The Big Easy.  As always it was a magnificent occurrence just being in the city that birthed jazz and boasts a funky character unlike any other in our great nation.  Our show at Checkpoint Charlie's was certainly a treat.  Although the visit was unfortunately brief it was utmost enjoyable.  Until the next time through I shall have to be content to dream of gumbo and brass bands.

But for now, it is time to make our way back to our temporary homes until the next run.

Til then,

Ty

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 8: Southern Ramblin'

From Towson, Maryland we had a brief intermission in Virginia Beach on our way south for some rest and work on new songs.

Afterwards we continued to Columbia, South Carolina where we visited 92.1 The Palm WWNU.  Mike Allen was a very gracious host to us and executed a splendid interview.  A class act for sure and we appreciate all the spins we have been getting from The Palm.  We look forward to a return visit!

In Columbia we also had the pleasure of experiencing the classic Southern staple of "Meat and Three".  For those of you that aren't hip to the aforementioned, Meat and Three refers to a portion of meat (who saw that coming?) and three sides of vegetables.  Nowhere like the South to get yourself a  robust meal.

Following Columbia was a stop in Atlanta, Georgia.  Good ole Hot 'Lanta, always a great place to be.  We did an exquisite in-depth interview at East Atlanta Village Radio with the lovely Margot Chobanian.  They were kind enough to accommodate us for an hour long program in which we were interviewed and performed a number of acoustic renditions of songs from our new record World On Fire.  Thanks so much for having us EAV!!  You can check out the program here.

Our trip to Atlanta was completed with a rockin' show at the legendary Smith's Olde Bar.  It was a thrill to play this classic venue once again and we were fortunate to share the bill with the wonderful talents of Alex Guthrie and Hoosier Daddy.  Great stuff gents.

Next up it's Alabama baby!!

More soon,

Ty

Monday, May 12, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 7: East Coast Extravaganza Continues

Next stop from Ocean City on our Spring Tour was a very pleasant visit to the studio of WRRW Revolutionary Radio in Williamsburg, Virginia.  It was a treat to be featured for a full hour of 28 North, quite a rare circumstance and we are very grateful for the opportunity.  You can check out the show in Podcast form here at 102.5 WRRW's website.  Much thanks and appreciation to Ed for hosting us.

Afterwards, we jetted up to the Baltimore area where we had another fabulous in-studio experience at Towson, Maryland's 89.7 WTMD.  It was truly a fantastic privilege to be featured on WTMD's Live Lunch concert series at the station's handsome state of the art facility.   Much thanks to Scott Mullins for having us!  And ye citizens of Towson should relish in the benefit of this beautiful studio which the station so generously puts on free lunchtime concerts weekly.  Also, it was delightful to share the bill with Baltimore's own Super City who performed a fabulous set.

Our visit to Baltimore was capped with a superb sandwich experience at Potbelly's.  Delicious.

This then concluded the East Coast portion of our Spring Tour and from here we will be traveling southwards.

More soon,

Ty

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 6: Ocean City Baby!

For the initial portion of our Spring Tour we spent some time on the East Coast.

The first stop was lovely Ocean City, Maryland where we had a wonderful visit to the Ocean 98.1 WOCM studio.  They took us in and gave us the royal treatment straight away, drinking beers and chatting it up like only the beach towns know how to do.  DJ BK welcomed us in a very lively interview and let us rock out live in the studio.  And a beautiful studio it was; directly upstairs from the bar and displaying a beautiful view of Chesapeake Bay.  Looking forward to a return visit for sure.

We then proceeded to play a show at the elegant Fager's Island which boasted a magnificent sounding live room and marvelous food to boot.  Crab cakes, crab cakes, crab cakes.  In the word's of The Who's Roger Daltrey, "The best I ever haaaaadddd!".  That's one thing Maryland undeniably has reign o'er... Okay enough with The Who ref's.

Fortunately it won't be long before our return to the Ocean City area as we will be performing at Ocean 98 sponsored Mayday Playday on Saturday May 10!  Cannot wait to have a blast at this killer festival in America's coolest small town of Berlin, Maryland!



We shall continue the adventure in the next installment.

'Til then,

Ty

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tales From the Road Vol. 5: Whirlwind Weekend

We continue our adventures on the road with a rapid trifecta of shows at a trio of our favorite stomping grounds.

First, we start at The Grape Room in Philly.  Good ole Philadelphia.  The city of brotherly love as they say.  That and cheese steaks, funky sounds, and brutally curt sports fans.  Love the place.

We had a fantastic show in "The Yunk" (Manayunk; Philadelphia neighborhood) and we greatly appreciate the dedicated, loyal fans whose unfaltering support always brings out the best in us.

After a late night cheese steak we quickly zipped over to Cleveland for a fabulous homecoming, for some of us, at Mahall's (pronounced May-hallz for the uninformed).  As always, the crazy Cleveland crew was rowdy and rambunctious, providing us with the special brand of energy that makes our shows in the Rock & Roll capital a truly elevated experience.  Thank you Cleveland! (Reference to Spinal Tap always intended).

The following day we made the short trek to Pittsburgh for a second homecoming show in Market Square downtown to headline the first ever Dream On Festival.  This wonderful event was put on by Omicelo and DreamCream Ice Cream.  There was excellent music, beautiful people, elegant downtown Pittsburgh, delicious ice cream, dreams... what more could you desire?  Needless to say we had a blast rocking out for everyone there and we look forward to the festival's return.

Up next on the calendar is a three week tour that will have us traveling first to the East Coast and continuing to the Deep South.  I'll be chronicling those adventures for you all in the next couple weeks.

More soon,

Ty

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 4: Rising Up in Phoenix

We wrapped our early spring tour in sunny Phoenix at the Liquid Sol Festival.



After the intense challenges of the past few weeks this show was a very satisfying conclusion.  We enjoyed the marvelous weather in the grand company of superb talent such as Cracker, Blind Melon, Tonic, Buckcherry, Everclear, Gin Blossoms and many more.  I would have titled it the "Heroes of the 90's Festival" but hey, I didn't get the call from their marketing department.  Their loss.

Anywho, the day was spent in relaxing recreation, taking in the vast assortment of musical acts amongst the three stages, enjoying the sunshine.  We had a great time is what I'm trying to say.

It was especially fun sharing the VIP stage with new friends Royal Bliss and 7Horse; two very talented young bands that we hit it off with.

The festival was brought to completion by The All-American Rejects and the fantastic headliner Train. Those dudes can really play, totally owned that crowd.

Oh yah, and we met Flavor Flav.



Boom.  Total victory.

Suffice to say our early spring tour was a success.  I think we earned a brief respite from the road.

But believe me, it won't be long...

More soon,

Ty

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 3: 28 North by Southwest

Aaaaahhhhhh, the warmth and beauty of Southwest America.

New Mexico.  Truly the "Land of Enchantment" as they say.

Our sad departure from Colorado was brightened by the notion that we were moving south into warmer climates and we would be crossing the figurative finish line in shorts and t-shirts.  Awesome.

On the way to New Mexico

After three wonderful shows and visiting some lovely friends in Carbondale and Denver, CO, we were on our way to Taos, New Mexico.  A first time for us in said town, Taos' pastoral surroundings were quite stunning.

Backyard at KTAOS

We enjoyed visiting the elegant and environment-friendly KTAOS Solar Radio complex.  This fabulous facility boasts a solar powered radio station, bar/restaurant, and performance venue along with a grand view in the backyard to boot.  It was a privilege to be interviewed on the air at KTAO 101.9 and also perform an acoustic show at this fabulous locale.  We look forward to returning!

Next stop was a quick visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico where we had a very pleasant interview at KBAC 98.1.  Can't thank Ira and all at KBAC enough for taking us in on such short notice and giving us spins for our single "Call Me Up".  Another friendly and accommodating destination we look forward to visiting again!

We found ourselves in Albuquerque for the night where we proceeded to stuff our faces at a killer buffet and have a nice rest.

The next day we were off to Las Cruces where we completed our trifecta of New Mexican radio interviews at Rocket 99.5 KXPZ with the genuinely soaring radio personality of Ricky T.  Immense thanks to Ricky and all at KXPZ for having us!

28 North w/KXPZ'S Ricky T
And later that night we proceeded to strap on the "ole rock boots" (sorry for that) and jam out at Las Cruces' El Patio.  We had a great night rocking out with some old friends and new fans.  Again, we look forward to the next time we can swing through!

This concludes our delightful New Mexico run and brings us to the home stretch.  In the next installment I'll wrap up this story of our most recent tour in Phoenix, Arizona where we rock the Liquid Sol Festival.

Talk to ya soon,

Ty


Thursday, April 3, 2014

Tales from the Road Vol. 2: Z. Z. Top.

ZZ Top.

That's correct folks.  The men, the myth, the beards.

We had the high privilege of supporting the classic rock veterans for two nights in beautiful Colorado.

First was The Belly Up in Aspen, 8,000 feet high in the Rocky Mountains.  To play the remarkable Belly Up for a second time was a treat in itself let alone to share the bill with rock 'n roll legends.  It is a rare treat to experience the level of professionalism and shear quality of sound that The Belly Up provides and to couple that with a sold out, packed to the gills club was truly a magical event.

We had the privilege to hang briefly with possibly the coolest human being in existence after the show: Billy Gibbons.


The man is simply cooler than cool, chatting at the bar with the lucky few that could stick around after the show, and what a show it was.  The energy was positively palpable and the extensive catalog of hits impressive to say the least.

The very next night was quite another treat, playing the Paramount Theatre in downtown Denver.


The sold out (and baked out) crowd was chomping at the bit for some tasty grooves and gave us an extremely warm reception.  And it was an honor to witness mere feet away from the side of the stage, these smooth, stylish gents own the crowd with their musical prowess and charisma.


Suffice to say, after the turmoil of the previous week, these two glorious nights were something special and a welcome respite from the travails of the road.  Sometimes, I guess you got to endure a little suffering to get to the sweetness in the center.

Up next we continue our journey in the beautiful, warm (thank God) Southwest.

More soon...

For now I'll leave you with this fun pic.

A winter celebration

Ty

Friday, March 28, 2014

Tales From The Road Vol. 1

So. It's Cold.

Really cold in the midwest that is.  We chose a poor time to schedule some dates in this frigid region once again.  Alas, we had some exceptionally trying experiences along with some kind hospitality from good folks and witnessed extraordinary portions of this country that we have never visited before.

So, our Northbound (old days tease) journey had us stopping quickly in Las Vegas (not for me), Salt Lake City (also not for me), and into Douglas, WY (where it gets. f***ing. cold.)

Of course we failed to winterize the RV properly.  Of course it is one of the worst winters on record in the region of the country we are traveling in.  Of course there happens to be record lows in nearly every town we visit.  Of course the alternator breaks.  Of course the freezing weather aided in the worst accident we have ever experienced on the road; our van in tow becoming unattached at full speed on the highway and slamming into the rear of the RV causing substantial damage and miraculously avoiding any other likely catastrophe.  Of course once the heat is finally functioning in the bus we proceed to attempt (and fail) driving through the winter storm Titan in the dark of night.  And of course, finally ole Harvey has decided to stop running in Northeast Missouri.

But...

We survived.  (First of all).

A round of whiskey in Deadwood, South Dakota





We saw Mt. Rushmore.

Standing in order of our respective, coordinating presidents


We saw beautiful landscapes across a vast piece of this amazing country.

Lake in South Dakota


We met wonderful people everywhere we went.


We had a SPECTACULAR time in Des Moines, Iowa.  Not enough can be said for the warm reception, hospitality, and support from Ron Sorenson, everyone at the wonderful KFMG 99.1, the folks at Hotel Fort Des Moines, the fantastic restaurant Django, and all the lovely citizens of Des Moines.  We were blessed to have the fortune of our path crossing with all of you.  Thank you!


We also had a SUPERB show in Kansas City, KS at the Red Eye bar.  The warmth and hospitality and downright enthusiasm we encountered was a treat.  Again, enough can't be said for taking us in and showing us a great time, we will be seeing you all again very soon!  So much thanks to Kim, Tophat, and the whole crew!


Oh yah, and we're on our way to open up for ZZ Top in Aspen and Denver, Colorado.  No big deal.  Much more soon...

Ty




Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Oh Yah So We're Going On A Tour!

We are hitting the road for a rigorous tour through the Midwest and Southwest in support of our latest single release "Call Me Up" which is currently getting radio play nationally!!

We are very excited to kick off our road trip on Friday February 28th playing the Birthday Bash for KFMG 99.1 in Des Moines, Iowa.  "Call Me Up" has really taken on across the country and we are thrilled to be playing some new towns.  Places like Milwaukee and Kansas City.  We are beyond excited to visit and share our music.  We will also frequently be visiting radio stations when possible for performances and interviews, so be sure to keep up as new dates and info are posted.

You can find all the tour dates/information at 28North.com and you can also follow us on FacebookTumblr, and Twitter.

This first stretch will be culminating in Glendale, Arizona for the Liquid Sol Festival on Saturday March 15th!



This will be a killer show without a doubt!



On this tour there will be limited copies of our new record World On Fire available exclusively at our shows.  Of course t-shirts and all that will be available as well.

Get a sample of World On Fire at either 28North.com, Spotify, or Soundcloud.

And check the tour dates at 28North.com and mark your calendar!

More to come soon,

Ty

Friday, February 7, 2014

Spotify

Hey all.

Wanted to address a subject that pertains to both music consumers and creators.  That is Spotify.

For me the consumer, I love it.  It is an incredible service and tremendous resource for both my pleasure and edification.  Boom.

For me the artist, I remain skeptic of its fairness in compensating artists.  That is merely my uneducated, sensitive musician, knee jerk reaction and I'll shove that aside.  Has business anywhere ever been a fair game?  No.

PROS

-Tons of music to stream, seemingly endless.  And this implies a vast plethora of further pros: learn about new artists you might enjoy, listen at your own convenience and leisure on your phone anywhere, etc.

-It is $10 a month, great deal for anyone spending more than that monthly like myself

CONS

-It appears the payout may not be so beneficial to the artist, we've heard from a few: Thom Yorke, Grizzly Bear.  It's hard to tell on this one.  How much money is Spotify really pulling in?  Does anyone really know?

I've read a few things and it remains unclear to me if Spotify's payment methods are unfair.  It seems a bit complicated, not so cut and dry as with terrestrial radio royalties. 

Pertinent articles: Spotify Artists, Spotify Explained, Ars Technica article, Wall Street Journal article, Hypebot article, and I'm sure you can find a myriad of similar minded articles.  Please feel free to chime in with comments if you want to get a little convo going, we would love to here from you.

Nevertheless, I personally will continue to enjoy Spotify's service and you can too!  You can even listen to some fresh 28 North on Spotify! (Why I'm really writing this blog).

Check out our latest single "Call Me Up" on Spotify here.  Also get a sneak peak of our latest album World On Fire with the track "Monster" also available on Spotify.  Remember you can get World On  Fire exclusively at our upcoming shows on tour this spring.  Check out the dates here and call your local radio station to request "Call Me Up" nationwide!

Happy listening!

Ty


Tuesday, January 28, 2014

"Call Me Up" Officially Released & Viper Room Thursday 1/30/14



So folks, my apologies, it has been a while once again.

But here we are, back in Los Angeles, doing the thing we love most.

We are immensely proud and excited to announce that our first single "Call Me Up" is officially released today to radio stations all across the country!  You can download it on iTunes or listen on Spotify or call your local station to request the song.

You can also come celebrate with us this Thursday January 30th at The Viper Room in LA.  We are honored to be pumping the release of "Call Me Up" with The Memorials, the extraordinarily talented LA group featuring drumming wizard Thomas Pridgen, at the legendary Viper Room on The Sunset Strip in fabulous West Hollywood.  You can get tickets to the show HERE.  And you can pick up an exclusive copy of our latest album World On Fire with the single "Call Me Up" only at our shows.  This could be your last chance to grab one in LA before we set out to conquer the world on tour!  So do not miss out on this one!