Despite the fact our album hasn't officially been released yet, we're already busy laying the foundation for the next one. We're all really excited about the new songs that are brewing, some of which you can expect to hear on our upcoming tour. This time around, we've decided to have something more concrete to reference when attempting to make our demos so we can experiment with different modes of arrangement and production. With that in mind, every Friday (or so) one of us will be sharing something that is, in one way or another, influencing the process and the way we think about our songs, as well as music and art in general.
Recently I've been exploring the work of Serge Gainsbourg. His music encapsulates one of the main goals I have for the next album, and really moving forward as a songwriter in general; eclectic arrangements informed by forward thinking production.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
"Tales from a Revolving Door" out April 6th!
We're happy to announce that our debut full length album, "Tales from a Revolving Door" will finally be available on Tuesday April 6th. In the meantime, you can pick up an advance copy at any of our upcoming shows.
As with our two other releases, the artwork was done by the wonderfully talented Christina Entcheva. Check out more of her work here: http://www.christinaentcheva.com/
Monday, February 15, 2010
Haiti Benefit Show this Friday!
It's going to be a great show for a great cause. Come out!
Update: We were able to raise $1000 for the relief effort in Haiti. Thanks to everyone who came out!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Home Stretch
It was about 8 p.m. when we were passing through a random town somewhere in western Montana. We were thinking of getting dinner as we drove by a good selection of restaurants but we weren't quite hungry yet and we decided to wait until the next town to eat. Little did we know that we wouldn't come across anything but open prairie for the next six hours. . . so when we got to Bismarck, North Dakota, the soft yellow glow of the Denny’s sign felt particularly welcoming at 2:30 a.m.
The next day in Minneapolis, we got so excited to see city lights after hundreds of miles of darkness that we took a gamble on what locals were calling “the best pizza in Minnesota” and wound up feeling homesick for authentic east coast pie. The gig that night was at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, which is an awesome nostalgic country music bar with a shrine to Elvis on the wall, an old lady sewing in the corner, and Chuck Berry as the house music. Although the couch surfer we were staying with claimed to have acquired his house for free (it needed work and he knew how to take advantage of some government program), it was a great little place and he made us feel at home.
Compared to the previous couple of days, the drive to Chicago was a breeze and we ended up staying at Semaphore studio where we recorded our new album. There was some issue with the couch surfer we planned to stay with and when we met up with Eric, the engineer who did our album, he offered us to stay in the studio. As if things weren’t ironic enough, Owen ends up finding us a couch surfer to stay with the following night named Andre who Eric happens to know from work. We ended up getting comp drink tickets from the club where Andre works and became captivated by the movie Snakes on a Plane, which was being projected above the bar with the sound off. Back at Andre’s apartment we had to maneuver around his various art projects and homemade furniture but once we got settled, he had us in stitches with a hilarious obscure comedy show he found on YouTube.
In Pittsburgh, we stayed with a tight-knit house of film students who cooked us some kick ass ribs and potatoes for dinner and afterward, shared their hookah and one of their favorite films, Natural Born Killers. The next day we spent hanging out at one of the couch surfers’ uncle’s house, which was a state-of-the-art custom-built villa perched on a hillside overlooking downtown Pittsburgh. We had a great time playing pool next to the fireplace, perusing the impressive wine seller, and admiring the view from the ballroom floor. All this put us into a relaxed mood for the last show of the tour and we were happy to get to play for some people at Ava Lounge.
Now, we’re back home after an amazing trip. Come check us out this weekend! We’re playing at the Arthouse in New Brunswick this Friday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday we’re going to be part of an all-day benefit show for Yoko Ono at the Brooklyn Bowl in NY, starting at noon. More info at www.liketrainsandtaxis.com
The next day in Minneapolis, we got so excited to see city lights after hundreds of miles of darkness that we took a gamble on what locals were calling “the best pizza in Minnesota” and wound up feeling homesick for authentic east coast pie. The gig that night was at Lee’s Liquor Lounge, which is an awesome nostalgic country music bar with a shrine to Elvis on the wall, an old lady sewing in the corner, and Chuck Berry as the house music. Although the couch surfer we were staying with claimed to have acquired his house for free (it needed work and he knew how to take advantage of some government program), it was a great little place and he made us feel at home.
Compared to the previous couple of days, the drive to Chicago was a breeze and we ended up staying at Semaphore studio where we recorded our new album. There was some issue with the couch surfer we planned to stay with and when we met up with Eric, the engineer who did our album, he offered us to stay in the studio. As if things weren’t ironic enough, Owen ends up finding us a couch surfer to stay with the following night named Andre who Eric happens to know from work. We ended up getting comp drink tickets from the club where Andre works and became captivated by the movie Snakes on a Plane, which was being projected above the bar with the sound off. Back at Andre’s apartment we had to maneuver around his various art projects and homemade furniture but once we got settled, he had us in stitches with a hilarious obscure comedy show he found on YouTube.
In Pittsburgh, we stayed with a tight-knit house of film students who cooked us some kick ass ribs and potatoes for dinner and afterward, shared their hookah and one of their favorite films, Natural Born Killers. The next day we spent hanging out at one of the couch surfers’ uncle’s house, which was a state-of-the-art custom-built villa perched on a hillside overlooking downtown Pittsburgh. We had a great time playing pool next to the fireplace, perusing the impressive wine seller, and admiring the view from the ballroom floor. All this put us into a relaxed mood for the last show of the tour and we were happy to get to play for some people at Ava Lounge.
Now, we’re back home after an amazing trip. Come check us out this weekend! We’re playing at the Arthouse in New Brunswick this Friday at 7 p.m. and on Sunday we’re going to be part of an all-day benefit show for Yoko Ono at the Brooklyn Bowl in NY, starting at noon. More info at www.liketrainsandtaxis.com
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Anniversary
Yesterday we celebrated the two-year anniversary of the current lineup of Like Trains & Taxis. Although completely unintentional, I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than by setting two band records. The first was playing a show in Seattle, which is the farthest from home we've ever played—and the second was playing our eighth consecutive show, which is the most shows we've ever done back to back. I think of these coincidences as an auspicious sign of what's in store and, as we start to head east, I am reminded of how lucky we've been so far.
The people we stayed with in Scottsdale, AZ took us to dinner at the restaurant where one of them works and we were treated to nachos, mixed shots, and an audacious pink tower of cotton candy. The two lovely girls came out to support us at our show and even made breakfast in the morning.
We met up with some old friends at our show in Long Beach, CA and in L.A. we rode beach cruiser bikes alongside the Pacific while admiring shorefront houses with their enormous tinted picture windows and stylish outdoor patios. After a breathtaking drive north through the mountains and vast windmill farms, we arrived in Berkeley to give an intimate show at a local student's house / D.I.Y. venue. Playing in his living room for a handful of attentive listeners sitting just an arm's length away reminded me of what music must have been like before it was turned into a billion dollar industry.
The next morning, we left early to tackle the ten hour drive to Portland where we played two shows in the same night. Now, without a moment to digest the whirlwind of recent activity, we press on toward Minneapolis. It won't be long now...
The people we stayed with in Scottsdale, AZ took us to dinner at the restaurant where one of them works and we were treated to nachos, mixed shots, and an audacious pink tower of cotton candy. The two lovely girls came out to support us at our show and even made breakfast in the morning.
We met up with some old friends at our show in Long Beach, CA and in L.A. we rode beach cruiser bikes alongside the Pacific while admiring shorefront houses with their enormous tinted picture windows and stylish outdoor patios. After a breathtaking drive north through the mountains and vast windmill farms, we arrived in Berkeley to give an intimate show at a local student's house / D.I.Y. venue. Playing in his living room for a handful of attentive listeners sitting just an arm's length away reminded me of what music must have been like before it was turned into a billion dollar industry.
The next morning, we left early to tackle the ten hour drive to Portland where we played two shows in the same night. Now, without a moment to digest the whirlwind of recent activity, we press on toward Minneapolis. It won't be long now...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Pass here and move on . . .
I just listened to the Simon and Garfunkel song "America" so I'm feeling the spirit of cross country travel and I figured I'd take a moment to catch you up on the past few days. The people we stayed with in Lafayette were super cool and they gave us a good taste of the local flavor by getting us fried shrip po' boys for dinner and syrup drenched buiscuits for breakfast. We talked about creole traditions like chicken chasing and about the french music festivals they have in town. Learning the difference between cajun music and zydeco music was only a matter of listening to the sounds floating in the air. Fast forward to Austin where we enjoyed some authentic bbq the first night and the best blackened catfish and collard greens in recent memory the second night. In between, we took a peak into the local indie music scene and followed some friends to a raucous high energy show at a local record store. Later we ened up at somebody's house, drinking mexican beer and watching people dance to Creedence and Steely Dan in the soft glow of Christmas lights strung along the cieling. Last night, our couch surfing host in Las Cruces, New Mexico took us for a hike to a waterfall in the surrounding mountains and the stars were so bright that we felt we could reach up and touch them. As I write this we're driving through the badlands of New Mexico on our way to a show in Scottsdale and I'm reminded of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by the dusty ramshackle roadside towns and the rugged mountain terrain all around us. Full speed ahead.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Pollifax
A few weeks back we played a few songs for Pollifax's "The Wanderer Sessions." I love what Christine and Kevin are doing and we had a great time hanging out with them that night.
Check it out:
In their own words:
pollifax is an online publication founded by christine tran and kevin olitan to feature the creative works of artists in its home community of new brunswick, new jersey. the publication would like to create a space for which to showcase the creative talents of the town's artists, writers, and musicians. amidst issues of finding and keeping proper spaces for artists, the founders created the site as a medium for local talent to be showcased to the world; a medium that is completely immune from the threat of being turned into a pizzeria.
http://www.vajrtennis.com/pollifax/
Check it out:
In their own words:
pollifax is an online publication founded by christine tran and kevin olitan to feature the creative works of artists in its home community of new brunswick, new jersey. the publication would like to create a space for which to showcase the creative talents of the town's artists, writers, and musicians. amidst issues of finding and keeping proper spaces for artists, the founders created the site as a medium for local talent to be showcased to the world; a medium that is completely immune from the threat of being turned into a pizzeria.
http://www.vajrtennis.com/pollifax/
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