black lab : : the official band website : : 2011

and now for something completely different

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:00:07 +0000

so, maybe it’s cause we just made an acoustic album — you know, like, pianos and acoustic guitars and nice drums made out of wood and skin and stuff — but I’m hungry for some electro. I don’t mean the cheesy BEP type, I mean good ole’ trip hop, the dark and chilly stuff. dunno why I like it so much but somehow finding a way to integrate it into the black lab sound has been one of my favorite creative moves over the years.

specifically, I’m thinking ‘this night.‘ somehow, that melody and lyric theme works so well with just a simple twisted beat, organ and fake sitar that it’s probably spent more time getting hummed in my head than any other bl track the last ten years.

‘weightless‘ and ‘the window‘ are a few other good examples of this sound — pure, dark, rhythmic, not a lot of filler, just lots of electronically generated space in which to sing. the machine does all the work and all I have to do is relax and tell a story.

so I’ve been thinking, ‘why not a whole album of this stuff?’ I mean, I know I would like it. nothing I love more than letting myself get super depressed, turning all the lights off except the red ones, and running a dark, trippy loop for a few hours while I whine and moan and growl my way to a melody.

andy’s game. he’s got a whole new batch of software he wants to dig into and this is the perfect opportunity. I kinda I like this idea.

what do you guys think?

the big lull

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:34:24 +0000

here I am, sitting in front of my big ass cinema display, my window on the world, feeling dead inside. maybe I should smile and take a picture.

I’m staring a new year in the face (it only took me 5 weeks), a new computer recording system, a new music licensing business, and a new black lab album.

that is, a new black lab album that hasn’t begun to be born yet. not even impregnated. not even erect. just a conversation with Andy and we’re off to the races — except we’re not off yet. we’re just sitting around, fucking with our computers, waiting for inspiration to strike.

but it will strike. I’ve been here before. it always strikes. just going back thru some old demos got me a bit of a chubby. this month’s free mp3 of the month is sweet. I’d like to do something like this. but slower, darker, harder.

anyway, just wanted to say hi. hope you like ‘high up high.’ hope you’re well.

something you don’t know

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:29:51 +0000

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

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:47:49 +0000

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…

merry christmas & stuff

admin — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 19:06:57 +0000

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!