something you don’t know

hi folks, happy new year!

we’re psyched to present our new video for “something you don’t know” from two strangers, directed, shot & cut by scott chestnut. usually we would be putting out something for unplugged about now (and we will, I promise) but, you know, things around here don’t always follow the schedule.

anyway, I love how the video shows an important part of Andy’s and my working process, how we hammer things out in our separate studios in separate states before coming together.

meanwhile, I had a great time in europe — thanks to everyone who made it out to the Freiburg show. it was bitchin’. I’ve been thinking about doing house concerts or something over there when I go, cause it’s so much more fucking fun to play to people when 1. they’re paying attention 2. it’s not in a small club with half the people having a conversation, and 3. not amplified.

I guess I’m just a big baby. but I want what I want, you know?

ok, see you soon!

european vacation

I’m off to France and Germany e for a little vacation time and I wanted to mention a coupla things.

one, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

two, I’m playing a show in Germany so if you happen to be in Freiburg  this friday (and I know a lot of you will be) please stop by: january 6th, 8.00 pm at Jos-Fritz-Café, wilhelmstrasse 15/1, 79098 Freiburg. phone: 0761 30019.  be sure to say hi — would love to see you there.

three, check out this excellent video made using “pictures of people” about the Ontario Homebuilder’s Association going down to the DR to build some homes for people (now there’s a missionary organization I can get behind). congrats Spencer!

hope you’re all well — hope to see you soon (via hot webcast action!) in january…

p

merry christmas & stuff

hey all, hope you’re having a great holiday. just want to give an end o’ the year shout out to everyone who discovered us this year (via House MD, Pretty Little Liars, or a friend or relative turning them on) as well as everyone who supported us by buying a cd or t-shirt or itunes download or whatever.

in the highly unlikely event that you wake up tomorrow morning having forgotten to get a gift for someone, the perfect christmas quickie is always the sweet gifting of a black lab album on itunes (for example, our new acoustic album, black lab unplugged). just click here to go to itunes, then click the arrow next to the big Buy Album button on the left, go down to Gift This Album, then enter the name and email of the person you’re sending it to. you can even enter a note and stuff to let them know you’re thinking of them.

k, that’s the end of my holiday shopping advice. if you’re bored over the weekend and surfing around, click on over to alternative addiction and vote for “tomorrow” on their top-20 countdown.

thanks again everyone. take care!

p

ustream live webcast #1 available

hey, thanks to everyone who tuned in for the webcast tonight. the recording went well so check it out here.

sorry to all the euro-peeps out there for making it so late. we’ll do an earlier one again soon. I thought it was pretty fun and between people’s twitter/fb comments and the chat not sterile at all. I would have preferred having you here in person but this seems like the next best thing.

I answered questions that people had sent in (special prizes forthcoming) and then played three songs, ‘gates,’ ‘dying just to hold you,’ and ‘tomorrow’ from our new acoustic album, unplugged.

check it all out right here (or go directly to ustream and see it bigger, tho not higher quality) and let’s do it again soon!

it’s a black lab christmas!

hey all, this is the last week to get your orders in for black lab’s new acoustic album, unplugged, before christmas. unplugged is the perfect gift for discriminating friends and family of all musical tastes — just great songs and classic arrangements. order now and we’ll get yours in the mail within 12 – 48 hours.

and don’t forget our 5 CDs-for-$45 deal on unplugged when you need a silver bullet to handle all your gift needs; also, unplugged is now listed as a 3-for-$30 CD (I had forgotten before — sorry about that). and you can always pick it up (or gift it from) iTunes.

the support we’ve received for the album from you all so far has been amazing, and to say happy holidays (and thanks!) I’ll be doing a live webcast performance from my studio this wednesday evening over at our ustream channel . I’ll play some songs and answer questions sent in via twitter & facebook.  you can submit questions and song requests both before the broadcast and during, and I’ll be giving a free copy of unplugged along with some exclusive black lab collector’s paraphernalia to random people who submit questions. we’ve got all kinds of interesting stuff lying around here so get in on the fun.

the broadcast will be this wednesday, december 14, at 6pm PT/9pm ET and will run for about a half hour. if you can’t make it during the live broadcast you’ll be able to check it out in recorded form afterwards (but it won’t be as much fun as having you there live).

so, think of your best questions and song requests and send ‘em to us. here’s how:

on facebook, post your question on your wall and be sure to tag us so we see it by adding @blacklab to your post. on twitter, post your question and then add my handle (@paulblacklab) to the end of the post (not the beginning). this way more of your friends and followers may see some of your posts, get curious and come over to check us out. and don’t forget to use the hashtag #blacklablive.

getting people to come and check us out is what it’s all about, so we are also of course now up and running over at google+.  it has some pretty cool features and we’re planning some hangouts over there in the future so get registered if you’re not and stop by and say hi (it’s a bit desolate over there & could use your friendly face).

thanks again to everyone for buying the new album (as well as past albums, t-shirts, etc) and keeping us in the business of making music. 2011 marks one more year of us keeping our heads above water and it’s all because of you. your purchases, gifts and the energy you put into making your friends aware of black lab means the world to us.

hope you and yours have a great holiday season and a happy new year.

love,

paul & andy