small shiny things

I bet I know how you got here.

2010-08-21T17:20:00.002-05:00

One Thing I'm gonna say is that Small Shiny Things never died. We're all alive and well and playing music in some form or another. At some place or another. A lot of times with each other. We played a couple of times this summer and we'll do it again.

Chris plays with Me (Kev) and Todd Kessler. He's finishing up his masters and playing softball. You'll see him out. Matt has a ton cooking, from radio to playing out and he works with a number of locals. He's also house hunting and he and Nat are expecting. If that wasn't enough, he's starting his practice teaching Voice lessons - I'm not sure how he does what he does, but we try to get out on the bikes and we play at least once a month together. Jay has a pretty full time gig with Mike Heaton. He's also subbing with a few others and doing the real shit out with the Lonesome Stranglers. If you wanna see us all together without instruments in our hands, The Lonesome Stranglers are a good bet for a show we'll be at. RD is busy, too. He's late, but man, he's sorry....no, excuse me: we've beat that joke dead. He's playing with me in Meathawk and Debbie Does Covers in addition to working an absolute ton and finding time for family. Me? I'm just playing music and teaching guitar and mandolin. Always looking to work and hoping to see everyone out.

But that's not why you're here. You came because you got a CD. Here's the story on that, you lovely, small, shiny folks...We recorded this some years ago. We got the artwork started and the tracking done and then we ran out of money for the project and then time as we decided not to be a playing out every weekend kinda band. Matt and I have been talking about this for the last few years, that we put together a pretty good disc. We're all pretty proud. I took it on myself today to start the guerrilla campaign to get those tunes out. Any donations are appreciated, but mostly we want you to hear the songs. The track info is below and I'll be building a page here for the disc when I get a few minutes. (update - did that. Look up above and click the word Illinois. -kt) I threw two extra tunes on there from some early SST roots days. Burn it. Rip it. Hand it out. Here's the disc info:

Illinois.

The Things That We Carry
I Love You in Blue
Lost and Found
KT
Unarmored
Miranda
A Little While
Song
Glass
Matter
Polaroid
Lost And Found

Recorded by Tony Montana @ Spiral Grooves Studios.

If you wanna stay in touch or say something nice you can email me and I'll forward it to the guys.

Thanks,

going to re-vamp

2010-06-24T16:04:00.001-05:00

seems that we have control of the domain name once again. so I'm fixing to get this together and add the pages I meant to before.

kt

there seems to be some rumbling.

2009-02-09T11:56:00.000-06:00

prologue.

2007-11-13T20:06:00.000-06:00

Hey all.

I don't want this to be some big dramatic thing-they always end up feeling like crying into the ocean-but I thought it only fair to say with no fanfare or flair that we're taking a break. A big one or a small one I can't guess.

I don't want to say more because I don't really know more, but if you read this I figure you care a little and you'd want to know that we don't know what's next, but we're gonna find it.

RD says he's sorry. He's late and didn't mean it. Jay says he's sorry and if he's not here right now you can be mad at him. Chris says he's sorry, but he can't go on and his face is a little red. I'm sorry, I'm an asshole. Matt says I'm sorry and I'm an asshole, too.

No sadness, guys. We never sink. We'll see you soon. Somehow we'll get some music to you.

Tomorrow (Monday Sept 17th,) 9pm

2007-09-16T20:37:00.000-05:00

It's a world of possibilities. I'm here getting ready to make a foray into internet radio. What used to cost a ton to get into is desktop now. Tonight I'll be finally able to use all of my skepticism and disbelief to be supportive of Matt's search for a little more to this life instead of feeling like crapping of this stuff. I hate that I feel like I'm down on things when "I'm really very interested and behind him. Jay, too, but I'm even worse and getting my support level across with him.

Nevertheless, tonight I guest on CPIT's radio program and tomorrow at 9 we launch SST Radio. Matt did all the logistic work and put all the time in, much like our podcasts and to a great degree the entire aesthetic that SST is gaining, but I'm tagging along and this will be our first chance to get out some previews of this years work on the CD. Please listen from the link on Smallshinythings.com (which currently is the myspace page). It's down a bit on the right, you need to click in from the Show Info button because we tagged it over 18 so I can say naughty words.

Join us, you can call in and ask a question or tell a story about something shitty I said or something.

See you there.

It's been a long, long, long time.

2007-09-13T18:50:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the neglect here, there's been activity and that is the enemy of this kinda posting shit. Not actual activity, mind you. Not the kind you can look at and see how we're doing.

Just to be sure you haven't forgotten us or assumed we have you, I'm back here-a month or so late-to just give the status report.

The party line on album release is someday.

I know that sucks. Hell it sucks for us way more than you, we know how good it sounds and we just can't share yet. It's gotta be perfect. There will be no whines before their time.

We have no bookings as of this writing. I believe there will be a great big ol' party around Halloween, but details will follow. If you know of some where we should play, let us know. If there's somewhere we've played you wanna go to again, let us know. We really want to get a little spit shine on the show and have an album to get behind. There's some great things a brewing. A little patience, please. Keep watching here for a radio show Matt has spent some serious time on and he'll be gracious enough to let me in on, we'll be previewing some mixes on the disc in progress and getting into more detail.

It will be interactive and I'll send out an email and leave something here to let you know the time. Likely on a Mon or Wed night.

I'm trying to say that this is the regroup and bring out something better time. Can't thank you enough for your patience. Say something nice and I hope to see y'all very soon.

Annual...

2007-08-08T23:51:00.000-05:00

Canoe Trip.

August 18, all damn day. Let me know if you can make it. kt @ Thekevintrudo . com.

Put together, drop me a line.

laugh on, you laughing laughmaster.

2007-08-02T19:18:00.000-05:00

Alright.

This

is the funniest thing I've seen in eons.

W/ Loukeelium

2007-07-22T18:13:00.000-05:00

This is a default post and a second choice and in the interest of destroying symmetry. I do that, you know.

To explain in my tedious way: I have strong filth at the other hole and 180 posts in there to the 80 here. Half to preserve and half to push something off a perch.

Tumble.

Today I could write an ocean of words and my head is reeling and jigging like it only does when the world leaves me slow-eyed and sad. There is enough rattling around in this can for 6 books on 7 subjects, with footnotes and tangents like tree branches. Perhaps a tree is what I need. make it an oak.

I haven't been here in a while and I'm not finding the tempo of this page. They're distinct, you know, if only to me. This is not meant to be so shy, or bold for that matter. I don't talk about the dark things or the dirty things here like I tend to elsewhere. I think this is some hint about myself, but I can't say why or how. I'm in full voice, sorry. This belongs in another room.

Last night was wonder. Yeah we played well until RD busted a nut, but there's a whole lot more moving below these sheets. (Ahhhh, god and groan, I believe some blood is returning to the extremities lately, never talk meat to a guy on a hunger strike and never say sheets to yourself on a....today)

Below the surface. Right. Sorry about that. You can't see me and be grateful. I had to go wipe my brow like an old man. Below. I'm back.

There's been a lot of little pin points where we're turning lately. A lot of adjustments made to find a course. We're on it again I pray. I'm watching us all find the same road from very different starting places and I'm astonished and blessed. If you find this Matt, RD, Bone and Bauler-I love you all a ton.

I mean it. Everything.

So we turned into a whole just this week and it was hard won and well worth the time and trouble. It stopped being five of us and became one of us. That's tremendous and I'm so proud to be here. It's not about where the song came from, but where it's going. Don't look down.

And you, dear reader, should take some moments on some evening and watch it all unfold. I don't know where we're gonna end up. This is a good time to ask. Back to the CD, there's a reason for it again.

We'll be at the Lower Deck for the First time in a long time and We'll be there with Loukeelium. They bring us wonderful places. Come out Friday-It's this Friday, it's the 27th and get there around 8:30 when they start. They're worth it. It's a band I'm happy to play with and proud to know and blessed to listen to. If you don't get it I can't help you. We're in the middle of their opening and closing and we'll do you proud, boys.

See you then. Sorry for the notice, this just came up.

Home

2007-07-04T22:13:00.001-05:00

Fuck this holiday!

And Kev's...

2007-07-01T10:28:00.000-05:00

At The Flea Market!

thanksgiving.

2007-06-22T01:33:00.000-05:00

And it's raining.

Who knew heaven walked on such little feet?

time time time time time

2007-06-17T18:28:00.000-05:00

This is a maintenance fuck. You know, where you're not really in love or you've had some down cycle of interest in everything but you know you'll lose more if you show it? That kind of thing.

Not that I'm not currently in love with this project and the guys I share it with, I'm just dividing time with catching up with friends and meeting some new people and generally trying not to feel without any chemical cures.

This goes with my concept of the ultimate vain website I will put together when I free up the money. There will be a section just to update folks on what I'm doing at any given moment. Maybe I'll start a Where's Kev series of posts here.

Today, at home watering the flowers I planted yesterday. I gotta grow something or I'll bust. Everything keeps dying and I'm a little pissed at the world, but flowers are safe and somewhat reliable. I hand water just to show the world how committed I still am to making this life happen. And it won't happen without y'all. You know.

I say it a lot: I probably miss the hell out of you. I don't want to talk about it. Give me a call and we'll grab a beverage.

My idea of motivational speaking. (la petite mort)

2007-05-16T21:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if I rage against everything looking so dense and moribund or embrace it, and I wonder if it matters or if it's even coherent to think of it on those terms.

Death means something that it didn't before. It's personal and has very real footprints; there is none of the abstract about it. It ends up a little analog to sex in it's own way, universal and somewhat inevitable, but carrying the taboos and finality; gaining build up and traction in its mystery and its significance. After all of this it can only bear a certain decompression of anti-climax.

Both of these natural and simple parts of life wear no ethical connotation except in interpretation. All I know is they both bring us together with some tremendous, loud impact and in doing so only bring remembrances of our very separateness. In a way our absences and our unions share bandwidth. They end up identical in the hard manner in which they remind us of our existence.

That's the bitch, isn't it? Our buoyancy and our burden woven into cogito, ergo sum. I keep finding that this thinking that we claim to have separating us from animals is more of what separates us from ourselves. I don't think we're separate from any other species, genus or domain but in our silly self awareness.

Long story short: forget yourself.

RE: your christmas card with the family picture on the front and the family newsletter enclosed-

2007-05-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

Bucket and I are wonderful, truly great and almost certainly better than you could hope to be. Now I don't mean to brag, and I hope this isn't taken as such but we had a GREAT year! (See attached 2006 tax returns)

The dogs are well. Sarah still has the seizures, but she looks so cute shaking uncontrollably! And 99 is almost human in so many ways! Boog and I are daily grateful that She's barren and I shoot blanks, these pups are so giving and lovely. Neither of the dogs seemed to eat their own frozen shit this winter, either!

I'm peeing so much better that the prostate has almost surely shrunk by now, I see the doctor next Thursday for the ol' fingii up the anii! The bowels have moved regularly every week save the second week of February (too much cheese, ya know, ;P) and if you have your health you have so much!

Bucket moved departments at work! This has been great for both of us, her with new things to hate and me gaining patience not having to hear the same complaints!

My drinking is so much more controllable these days! I haven't peed on anything inappropriately in several weeks! I mean it! People seem to be less angry at me than usual to boot!

It's so nice with winter past! Hope all of you are well!

Love,

XOXOXOX

Us.

2007-04-29T16:46:00.000-05:00

If you're checking to see if there's info here beacause I mailed you-

Friday May 4th
Ernie McCann's
56 & 25
N. Aurora.

Have a nice day.

PAT!

2007-04-25T22:03:00.000-05:00

It's Blurry 'cuz he's so damn fast.

teaser.

2007-04-18T23:49:00.000-05:00

By now most of you have figured out that I use these pages as exercise. Rather the prelude to exercise much of the time; a kind of warm up. See I fancy myself a writer and I can assure you that ego attaches itself to this notion quite well, so I need the audience (or hope thereof) to feel like it's an effective warm up.

Having just outlined the precise phylum of arrogant asshole I am, I continue.

I had stated some grand concept of the diary of an album, but being a bit in debt of attention I abandoned that. I was so very strong out the gate, but interest waned and I ran off and quit like I did little league.

To be fair I have had some more on my plate than typical, but I hate excusing myself and I digress.

We're now a good three quarters of the way through-I hope. We overshot the expected release date and might do it again, but it's really something to be proud of. I always find myself annoyed by interviews with artists who discuss the process and motivations and I have hoped to be vague about these things. They always trade in superlatives and tell you this is their best work when that's really not for them to decide. It's always ends up in some court of opinions that are uninformed to the intentions and can never know how close they came to what they intended and quality being so subjective; well, who the fuck knows.

What I can say is that this is only work in name. It's been fun even through our most extreme arguments and disagreements. It's been our most sincere endeavor and I hope when it finds you it comes as naked and as honestly as it was made.

Whatever you find it to be, "whether worthless or wanted, it's all that we got" and we're getting damned close to what we meant. There is 6 strong backed sources of input and there are 6 distinct voices. We are doing our very best and I can't wait for you to hear it.

I'm impatient with it, not with ennui, but in anticipation.

That said and all caveats aside, we're fininshing bringing in the hired guns (Todd and Pat), we're almost done with backing vocals and clean up and frosting remain before mixdown. Tony has joined the band and plays his instrument(s) well. His production is amazing and I hope he doesn't think that our veto says anything other than "grab a chair, you're part of the furniture".

Now is a good time to ask any questions about it, I'm in a giving mood; just don't ask when. We'll know when it's done and the time will be then. Thanks for your patience.

Lately

2007-04-13T20:44:00.000-05:00

I like to take pictures. I'm not ever going to be a picture taker in any real sense of the moniker, and I guess that's the attraction.

Oh yeah, and

If you click on the pictures you can see all of my amateurish poop. But having lost Kurt this is my "farting around" post

"I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different"

-Kurt Vonnegut

Great Fun

2007-04-13T17:27:00.001-05:00

4-11-2007

2007-04-11T23:45:00.000-05:00

There's a freedom in having very little to say. There's something wonderful in a little silence. Sucks for you, I guess, but.....

.......for me it's nice.

See you soon.

what's up.

2007-03-25T23:19:00.000-05:00

I'm verbose and lonesome tonight. A couple nights not sleeping and I become a little reticent and maudlin. I'm trying not to let that leak into this.

Here's the state of the union. Playing this Weekend (friday) and hope to see everyone at The Venice Tavern. We should be sharing the evening, but I'm not sure with who-there's some ideas flying around. Played a great show with Loukeelium last weekend. I love Liam's songs and I love the folks they bring with. It made for some good energy.

Recording is bountiful. Friends are everywhere and we're getting the vocals put on. That and some good guitar. Cris is awesome and so prepared it makes me cry.

I don't wanna talk anymore. All the things I can think of suck to say.

this is meant to be an interactive experience.

2007-03-11T12:27:00.000-05:00

Now I know you fuckers read this. What? You have nothing to say? Consider yourself on notice.

Also consider this notice of Saturday's show. We're playing with Liam and Luke in a large, clean room with very reasonable drink prices (cheap) and good friends. I hope you come and I hope you dance.

Now tell me how your day was.

Where You At?

2007-03-03T12:16:00.000-06:00

It's odd how this integration works. I'm posting more often here and not the other place (look to your right) and it seems a pretty natural progression. I think we decided for good the name of this thing we're working on. Illinois.

Illinois.

Illinois is the title of the imaginary CD I was working on in my head. Upon proposing the name as an option, these guys I play with all were very protective of this thing I've been playing with for so long. It serves as the finest tribute of their affection for me that they wanted to guard the things I care about. The truth is, Illinois was a side project and a remnant from a time when I needed a side project. I don't anymore and I told them that. This is a pretty big complement that they would let this be my side project and my heart in name, as well.

I still record these demos and maybe I'll put them out as demos and works in progress to be heard at some point outside of MySpace, but who needs it? Maybe there's some curiosity about the process, but as long as I'm a part of SST, it's all I have to give and my name is on it-it's a representation of who I am in the best context, with these people I love. You have all my focus and I want my name to be synonymous with Small Shiny Things. My ego doesn't demand Kevin Trudo to be on the cover of the album if its all over the work inside.

Another great opportunity of love was Tony. He called me yesterday to apologize for being a voice of dissent on Thursday.

The back story: Lately we're having a lot of talks about the choices where guitars work. On "A Little While" there's some phenomenal lead work Bucky's contributing and we have been recording several takes and then arguing out what sticks. I seem to be making some unpopular choices as Tony began to refer to the playbacks as "the stupid take"s. I'm pretty sure he told me I'm tone deaf.

Well, he called to tell me that he didn't mean to offend and while that speaks to his considerable integrity, it's not anything I need. I think it says the right thing that we're past polite. If you love me you never need to lie to me. Loving me doesn't mean you'll never hurt my feelings, it means that I can be ok with it because I know all the good stuff behind it. It means that we have the trust and respect to look for honesty and not just cheer leading. Thanks Tony, I may be wrong and you may be right, I'll just always know you're fucking wrong. But the great thing is that we have a place between us where that's an ok thing and we can both fight about it and disagree, but passionately support each other in our differences.

I fully support an entire room full of people's right to grossly underestimate stupid solo #1. you are all wrong, you know.

I think endorsements are the ticket to traffic beyond our wildest dreams.

2007-02-25T23:28:00.000-06:00

I have made the monumental decision to switch to light strings on my mandolins. I still like the medium gauge on guitars, but I'm finding my playing just a little cleaner with light on the shorter scale.

I'm also taking a step back to smoking Kings. I continue my unpaid endorsement of Winston Lights, but for a little while I will be smoking kings again, altruistically. I am donating my empty packs to This fine company in hopes of free shit. I'd like to donate bottle caps to these guys, but they don't answer e-mail.

Any one else I already use can contact me about endorsements. I'd prefer the ones where I get paid or compensated with free stuff. I'd like to use Ludewig Mandolins exclusively. That was less a cry for free stuff as an intention to buy if I ever can afford the fine, fine work of this really great guy. I hope to see him soon, as well.

After close to a month my NonCast connection has been repaired, somehow after all of their assurances that it was my problem and having set up an entirely new wireless network at home they sent an email to Bucket that the line issue locally was fixed. Next, I call and get this month paid.

Not that any of this is a big deal to any one but myself, but I sure like to let everyone know how I'm doing.

Oh; times at Spiral Groove (Tony's Studio) are outstanding. If you don't get RD in the first few takes it becomes a series of efforts to distract him from realizing he's recording. I don't know if it's red light fever or not. Perhaps it's a natural extension of who he is-eager to please. No criticism tonight, though. Bucky is our very finest. Time like a clock and the taste of someone with extremely good taste.

All in all, the tunes are dressing up nicely. Rick McComb came by last Wednesday and saw the minutia that is our recording process. Y'all better like this thing. We've talked about it way too much and Gail took pictures and there's movies and we're really working pretty hard.

Talk to you as soon as I have a chance. My Dad's pretty sick and it keeps fucking snowing and I have to make a living.

See you March seventeenth-that's when we play with Loukeelium at the Tiger Club. That'll be a night.

On the road, but just me and Todd. Not together, even.

2007-02-16T21:26:00.000-06:00

There's a lot of things out here in Las Vegas. Mostly people, lights and what passes for music. I should update on the last few studio dates and what I remember of the Ernie McCann's show, but I'm a little distracted being in Nevada during the all star game. I wish that was why I'm in town but I'm not one of the cool kids. I guess I'll figure out what I'm doing later on when Michelle gets here, til then I'm just typing without point.

I was here for a very large real estate convention. Keller Williams Inernational-the company RD and I work for. Good stuff, actually. I would imagine it sounds dry, but if you're into this kinda thing (and I am) it's actually a pretty good time. I am, however, a little over loaded with the people factor. Really the only time I get into large groupd is when I know everyone or they me. Like shows. I enjoy a big crowd there. I'm not going to feel bad about it anymore. If there isn't some small amount of Kev adulation involved in the group, I pretty much prefer home or time with a few friends. So while you all long to get to know me, sorry I'm passing out after the show and until the KevWatch.com site is up and running, you'll not get to know me any better.

There is hope, though. We're going to play a few shows coming up next month, both reasonably local, and we're working on April plans as well. And wouldn't it be nifty if we had CDs and various other paraphrenology to hand out then as well? Maybe.

Maybe.

Pictures

2007-02-13T09:17:00.000-06:00

Can I tell you how happy I am with myself? Let me tell you...Matt gave me a camera to use at the bars and such so I didn't have to worry about my own camera. I was thrilled to have a second (really nice) camera but this new camera was with out a flash. :o( Begrudgenly I began looking on EBay for an external flash that I wasn't going to pay $150.00 for. I finally got my hands on one for about $50.00. That was by far the BEST $50.00 I've ever spent. The quality of the pictures I got on Friday night are the best I've ever gotten! I'm so proud of them I can't stop looking at'em. So I will post a few below, giving you the chance to see what I'm most proud of!

9 & 10 & two for the show.

2007-02-11T09:59:00.000-06:00

I miss Gail. She's got a wednesday class and has been very absent of late. We're getting all the guitars down for the CD and It's been a process of re-learning and re-arranging that I enjoy a lot. I enjoy arguing about what will happen. I care about this way more than politics or religion, a little heated discussion seems natural; I just hope everyone else can take this in the intended spirit.

Friday's show was fun. I was intoxicated as always. I seem to get drunk and not know just how fucked up I am until the adrenaline stops. I guess I could apologize for myself, but I'm really only sorry that I didn't help load out. I never do. I should state that I feel bad about that. I don't mind the work, even, I'm just drunk when we play. Sorry for that; again.

See everyone in a week or so. Thanks for coming out last Friday and I hope we all get some drinks and share some songs again. Soon.

7 & 8

2007-01-30T20:19:00.000-06:00

Drama! Finally and it took me over a week to get to it. Matt's a goddamn prick. So am I. I guess it comes down to a discussion about who we are and my feeling that we are greater than the sum of those parts. Maybe not, but I guess I tend to think that the best record of who we are right now is the best we can do collectively.

Either way, in all of this post game discussion we have either settled things or found some ground to call a truce. There was, however, at one point, a motherfucker of an argument. Sorry you missed it. Let me give you the run down:

"fuck this"
"No, Fuck you!"
"Eat the peanuts out of my stool"
"I hate everything you stand for and hope you get ass cancer"
"Well, I hope you do, too"
"I'm leaving"
"Then go"
"I mean it, shit eater"
"If you leave, I'll leave first and then hate you for making me do it"
"I think you hate babies and Santa and Freedom"
"Most fucking likely"

And on and on for a good long while with Tony looking on. Poor Tony.

You know all he ever does to us is say things like "no" and "alright" and we torture the guy.

Things are really pretty groovy all around. I've been quiet with a sad, sick case of the busies. I keep thinking of all the things to say here and then just not saying them. Typing sucks with a smoke in one hand.

I can't pull a thought together to save all the sock babies in my old high school. Sorry. And I'm sorry that I hate your friends' band, Cathy (even with a friend in it). I still do, (and I told Justin) but I shouldn't say it, I guess. Momma didn't raise me right or something. I was just being fussy over an over-crowded bar.

I truly wish I could get away with those kind sobriquettes from our youth. Fussy. Husky. (I'm starting to get a little husky, again.) Just tired. I want to cry to get my way and act like a prick and just say "it's that age." I'm 32. It's a tough age.

None of this is remotely on point, but RD makes his first keepable appearance tomorrow night and I'm looking forward to it. Thanks to these guys for making this with me, for letting me make this with you, for caring as much as you do and for not asking about my father very much. I'm not much of a feelings kinda guy.

Thanks for everyone reading this. Say something, will ya?

While you're thinking of things to say, we said plenty-over here. Disc will follow. Matt is a madman and a dreamer, enjoy his labor.

6

2007-01-16T00:09:00.000-06:00

I'm not gonna say anything about it. Jay's amazing.

Flash...Smile....Duck....

2007-01-15T11:39:00.000-06:00

I'm excited for tonight, back in there taking all the pictures I can find to take....
I feel inspired today....
Hopefully that will show in the final product...

Day 5

2007-01-12T08:32:00.000-06:00

That was easy. More will follow when time allows.

The Second Seal

2007-01-11T16:23:00.000-06:00

So it is Thursday and we are about 3 hours outside of studio time. Looks like day 2 for the bass tracks and Jay is on again. I am excited. This album is growing arms and legs and i hope it out runs us. When we have finished breathing life into this thing, I promise you a record of who we are. This is gonna be as honest as any of us has ever been. I like new things. I broke my finger. Glad I finished the drum tracks......

Day 4

2007-01-09T23:38:00.000-06:00

Apparently the bass will go as quickly as the drums did. I've know Jay for 8 years or so now, and I've never seen him like this. Focused and in the pocket, enjoying himself and full of ideas-I guess he's always like this, but last night was to superlative effect.

So Matt, Chris and I are outside having a smoke and Matt made the observation that we're learning these songs in here and I couldn't say it any better. If you listen to Jay's bass work with the cans off, all alone they sound like they can't possibly work. They zig where they should zag and they just cannot fit into the song, but amazingly they fall into the tunes like puzzle pieces.

Chris made me want to hump him. He owns glass like he gave birth, and I guess he did, but this labor seems to be lasting a long time for him. CB, I understand this pain and the isolation of the ownership and how wonderful these things both are. I can't imagine that any of us will leave Tony's basement the same, and not to make this a big, dumb thing, but I feel like this could be the first time I've been realized as a player and these songs; any thing I've written; are living.

Thanks to Chris and Jay and Matt for owning these and giving them a chance to grow up for the first time ever. I know I'm a cranky fuck and all that, but this is all I've ever wanted. I'm having the best time I ever have with music. I can't wait to share this and if even a small perecentage of the love, talent and focus put into this recording is etched on this hard drive, if those ghosts are able to live on this recording then everyone will hear it.

I'm giddy. We're gonna give out millions of these. I mean it.

So, on that note, if anyone finds this and wants to throw a decent paying gig at us, it would help pay the bills and make this happen. I'm starting to think about names for this and how we'll get the art together. I hate money, but we need some. I'm slightly less worried about this as I am about my upcoming perfomances-and I'm shitting bricks on that one.

2007-01-01T11:17:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year

Day 3

2006-12-28T16:17:00.000-06:00

Put the main drum tracks to bed. I have the honor of having made the first big fuck up of the disc that will stay-fortunately it works. After burning the hair off of Ron and Chris' asses for an evening of run through I decided to fuck up the scratch track on Song. I'm glad it did something good and I guess I'm happy to embarass myself if it betters the whole.

I hear more and more of where this is going and I'm excited. All of these arrangements are growing quickly. I thought I had a better grip on the direction this was taking than I do. I'm learning as I go and loving it unfolding.

Tony steped in and saved Song from stagnancy. Matt got stuck on the part and Tony jumped in with Ideas, I guess this is what seperates a engineer from a producer. Thanks.

I think the whole thing got recorded, Matt brought a mini recorder, so look forward to some outtakes and such on out upcoming podcast.

Over all this is pretty fucking cool, growing like this.

Day 2

2006-12-21T08:16:00.000-06:00

Much Tenser. Sweet. I hate that I like tension. I guess it was a tougher night. The tracks swing a little harder and that makes the click a bit harder to pilot; so there was that frustration. Matt and I disagreed some of the time and I know there was some offense taken when Jay fell asleep and the rest of us were trying to do some good work and the support was not available.

Tony is awesome, amazing focus and ears. Focus tends to sift the good from the great, and Tony (Montana-the engineer and producer) has been forward with his thoughts on the performances without being at all offensive. His concentration is unparalleled. He's hearing everything.

We're changing a few arrangements in studio, which takes a shitload of skill and talent and I think Matt's rising to it amazingly. I had one change to make (the end of Miranda) and I blew it on the scratch, so my hat's off to the Matt.

RD got in front of the red light last night-rose to it amazingly. We forget that he's got great time. Sorry RD.

Chris is Chris. you can count on him. I've never seen anyone so comitted to hearing everything. I hope Gail got pictured of "The Chris Playback Face."

Talk to y'all next week.

Day 1

2006-12-18T20:30:00.000-06:00

Went very well. I actually expected to have more trouble with the click track than we did. I figured that Unarmored would be a bastard with the click and it was. In the second verse it turs the downbeat around midway through and I kept hearing the down in the "wrong" spot and sweating where the hell I was, but we made it with very little worry.

It's nice how flensing these songs tends to really reveals the nature of the song. I'm hearing which songs need a little less clothing. I hear KT opening up into the stark naked wound that I want it to be. Of course Matt played directly to the songs, laying down a great skeleton. 3 Tracks framed-KT, Unarmored and "I Love You in Blue". The latter will be symphonic when dressed and I look forward to hearing it.

No Drama, very little gas, no drunken arguments. Sorry, I'll try to pick a fight with Matt Wednesday and make this exciting.

The revolution will not be televised.

2006-12-17T11:31:00.000-06:00

In about a half hour our album begins. I'm excited, but not looking forward to it in any traditional sense of that phrase. I'll be chronicalling the progress here and I expect to be honest and naked about it. I hgope not to piss anyone off, but if I do, I do and I still want the story of this out.

I anticipate some struggles and some fighting and something wonderful at the end. I'm prouder of where we're at than I've ever been with any project I've been involved in. I have more hope for this than I've ever had. And more worry. And I'll keep you in the loop.

So, I've recorded before, but this is a first for me.

Something I hope to end up proud of and an honest recording of who five people were at one point in their lives.

KT

Tiger Club Aftermath.

2006-11-24T20:49:00.000-06:00

It was everything I hoped and a few more things I can't remember.

Drunks.

2006-11-22T16:23:00.000-06:00

Tiger Club tonight and an unseasonable warm November.

Oddly it's a show like this that I get tremendously excited about. We can do about anything we want. Marky always takes care of us like we're kings and it's not every week we're famous again. I look froward to a great group of folks showing up for revelry and cheap drinks. I pray everyone is safe this evening and I hope to see everybody there. I think there should be some folks I've not seen in a long while and old friends are always happy spots in life.

As for the rest of things currently going around like a cold, We've got a show at Doug's in Aurora on Dec. 9th and a benefit in a very subordinate role on the 15th. I guess I'd get more details out if I gave a shit about it, but I'm pretty anti charity and I don't even know the cause. Maybe it's a good one. I don't fucking care. Maybe it's the situation that annoys me Either way, We'll see you around at some of these, I'm sure. Oh, yeah, very, very not least We'll do a New Years thing @ the Venice in Batavia the night before New Years Eve. That aught to be straight. I'll get the details out on that as they come in.

I feel like rabbit shit today. There's something wrong with the whole lower GI and perhaps Sam Adam's Winter Lager played a role in that. It was Gail's birthday and therefore excuseable. I'm never sorry I had a good time. If you're not down you could be. Come out and let us know you exist still and we'l let you know our personal appearance schedule (drinking venues). The place lately is Tavern downtown as shitdicks took over our bar. Sorry for the vulgarity, but I invested a lot of time and consumption and money and now it's just a place all the drunks go to get drunker.

You know, you can be a drunk and not turn into something mindless with bad breath and nothing to say. Work on it or you'll never be down. Enjoying life requires a certain awareness of it. I've no love for those numb and dumb drunks. Bring me poets and painers and people making this place better or prettier or interesting.

Which begs me to just say it:

We're getting old. We're slowing down and breathing harder at the top of steps. We're tired and we worked all day. We have lives out side of bars and loves to tend. It doesn't mean we need to fade out completely, you know. The people that have made our lives worth living are still as important as ever and still sometimes aching for some connection. I know I don't look for it in some stupid girl anymore, or at the bottom of the glass. I'm older and slower and smarter. I know where's it's at and where to get it. Always in each other. The physical connections aren't as important as our true bonds. Come out sometime and let's reset them.

I'll say it one more fucking time. If we haven't spoken (or even met yet), I probably wish we had.

Kev

here i go again

2006-10-18T23:31:00.002-05:00

caring about things i'd be better not to. worrying. too lazy and tired tonight to use the shift key.

we done good last night. i was not at a personal best, but perhaps i'm just not used to being absorbed so completely into a greater sound. it would do me well to be less seperatist. chris became a man. ron lost his car. gail needed to be talked into the hanger. matt & nat were home and naked by 2:30. i dunno 'bout jay or todd or me for that matter. gee, pat was in fine spirits. good to see you, brother. phil stopped out. yeah. nice. nat brought her sister and please go check out Bus (formerly big pretty and the red rockets).

LUCAS!

self actualization.

2006-10-15T15:45:00.000-05:00

Two, two weekends off, ah ah ah ah ah. That was a literary impression of the Count from sesame street. This is one of my very few impressions. I used to sing Billy Joel songs as Fozzy bear, but that was way immature. I could do beaker from the muppets and Howie Mandel's Bobby.

That's kind of fucked up, all my impressions are from children's shows.

.......................................................

2006-10-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

Dear fuck shit. A weekend off is pretty well needed. I may even stay off the sauce. What the world needs now is not Kev stumbling through bars with a belly full of beer. But it's Friday night and I'm here kinda lonesome and pretty blue and very bored. Beer beckons and I'm not the strongest at resisting thirst. But I just found out I have a good heart and Iall this shithead nostalgia may, in fact, indicate some sort of decent part of me.

Alright enough with that crap. I read it back and it's starting to sound like an alchoholic William Carlos Williams.

this is just to say

I drank that tecate

that was next to the lettuce. Sorry,

but it fucked me up and tasted

groovy.

So cold, so effective.

See y'all in a few weeks. I just got word that after 15 years I'm gonn get to play a show with Liam and his merry whatevers. I know Matt's done it a few times, but I never have and I'm excited. Of course this means theyure getting the album out after way too long. Date's not solid, I'll get it here when it is.

There is something wrong with me

2006-09-26T19:23:00.000-05:00

A full 2/3rds of these pictures I do not remember. It sure looks like a good time.

News.

2006-09-17T21:17:00.000-05:00

I'm writing because I just sent out an Email with this address on the bottom and I've not put anything up here in weeks that was even remotely related to SST, except that I'm in the band and it's all related to me. Wonder why I think that my thoughts will be interesting?

So I figure I'll update on what's going on in our world. We've been playing back up to Todd Kessler. It's a hootnanny and actually challenging on many levels to take a more subordinate role than we're used to. It' s easy to get spoiled when you're the best band in the universe-well according to my sources we'll be the best band in the universe. I don't go for all that prognostication shit, though, I believe in positive thinking and I will maintain that if you're drunk enough, we're the best thing ever.

Have I ever mentioned here that I adore alchohol? I can make myself pretty or prophet given enough of the hooch. I have drunk myself pretty many a time. This just might be redundant, but I think everyone should go out and fuel the economy with a Replacements album purchase or two. I recommend Tim or Pleased to Meet Me, but you use your discretion.

We talk an awful lot about recording. I dare say, we are better at talking about recording than many bands with talent or budget. I think we could be the best at this in our genre. I hope I'm not boasting. When we record I hope to lock ourselves in a studio for six months to a year and emerge with a masterpiece of excess and art.

I like Jim Beam, but alm ost anything will do in a pinch.

I don't think I could ever truly love someone who didn't like Tom Waits. I think I could fuck them and not call them again, but not really love them. I may have once fallen for a girl that didn't get him, but that for sure explains why that's over. I doubt it had anything to do with my lack of ambition or income. I know they say that these things are factors, my lack of interest in them as people or my drifting away, or the suspicion that they have to compete with Sam Adams and Jim Beam for my affections; but these are trifling. Poor polemics. The true issue was a decided lack of appreciation or the great Tom Waits.

We're playing a few shows in the next few weeks and you can look forward to swagger and swill at both The Lower Deck in Aurora on Sept. 22 and at the Venice Tavern in Batavia the following Friday, Sept. 29.

I just got a new computer and this is so nice.

Bye.

I wish I was prey.

2006-09-16T00:22:00.000-05:00

Alright. That was fun. I'm better, now. By the title of this I mean to say that it would be very cool if I had some romantic past or eyes on the sides of my head.

open letter, immature and in the wrong place.

2006-09-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

I don't currently have an amp. Now, I should have an amp. I play guitar after all, and I think I put in some sweat equity on a few amps, but I don't have one.

There are amplifiers out there that are unused and could be that I feel I have some share in. I'll never see that beautiful tool again. That is neither here nor there except that over the last week getting an amp has become an obsession. I'm not playing the guitar with SST at this time, so it's definitely not a need. RD and Jay and Chris are extremely generous letting me borrow theirs, so I can fill in any pick up that comes along, but there's a part of me that really wants this piece of equipment in order to be a man again.

Let me explain and if this pisses anyone off they can rest my nuts on their chin and breathe deep of some asshole. Shit, check it out while you're down their because the only cat this will piss off is a damned expert on assholes. And I'm not naming names. After years of earning the money that paid for that amp (and someone's' rent, food and beer while the rest of us found our own way) I was told that I could buy that amp for $800.

Apparently there was money still owed on a large amount of equipment. I figure you can deduct your living expenses from any amount you're still paying and I'll deduct the few grand I got in 15 years and I'll bet it's not quite a wash. Don't fucking kid yourself, you are not paying for that equipment and you are not entitled, you're digging out the (over) three years you lived on our sweat and I doubt that washes, either.

Hell, take out the blame we all wore at some point for things going how they did. Take out how I felt and what I gave and the loss of my friends over all kinds of slander and isolation because I stopped having that dream, Later than Pat but before the rest-nevertheless, something everyone went through at some point. I put in my songs and as many years as anyone (and as for songs, mother fucker you can have what I did because I have something you never will and that's the ability to get more on my own. A future. Not to mention you can only own rights and publishing and the shame of having something that doesn't belong to you). Take out how much I doubted myself because this did fail.

Deduct anything you want. Add in any contributions you made-and there was a lot. In the end, you tally everything up and I guess we're jake. You've paid for your isolation and your loneliness in full. Enjoy it. Enjoy that and all that shit and all the tools to make music (not cash) and park it & make it useless like you have all of your emotions and the people who care for you because you'll never see a dime from me. I'll be damned. We're square and I'm done. I'm not even mad anymore, it's just I know what your absence is worth.

And I want an amp badly, a decent 50 watt or better tube amp I got without you.

if only you were lonely.

2006-08-26T19:55:00.000-05:00

This is a blog where people send their secrets on a postcard and they get posted. I love the idea, and I have a few secrets, but I'm way too lazy to send shit on a postcard. I guess someone is already doing this, but if anyone wants to send their secrets to me here I'll post them. Or you could post them here anonymously, I'm not into the whole art project thing, I mostly just want to know people's secrets.

There's a Dwight Yoakam song about this.

2006-08-17T10:28:00.000-05:00

I'm struggling. I guess I always am, but it's a steady pulse and it's pretty insistent in it's whisper. I wonder if there's another town where I'd make sense. Someplace with muted colors and bluffs. Nothing spectacular, but a quiet, vernacular beauty that creeps up on you. The kind of thing you see in movies where the girl has loved this guy for years and he one day notices that she's amazing and she understands him perfectly.

Or not. I have faith in movies like I believe in god. To the uninitiated, that means I think it's all hogwash. But, see, that's another issue I struggle with. My faith in a thing or lack thereof is always going to be a condition for assesment of my own worth. If I belive in me and I don't belive in god, or if I think that synchronicity is serendipity and fate is mostly a long series of decisions-If I cease to believe the new age mantra of "everything happens for a reason" and I don't think that drugs are bad and that sometimes babies gotta die, am I a shitty person?

Sometimes that seems an easy yes. But let me tell you:

At the center of it all, at the center of me is a place that no one touches. I am best in my silences and that space in the center is outside of your good or evil; it's gentle, it's hurt, it's brave and it just is. I know that no matter what I do or where I go, that part of me goes with. That part of me carries everyone I've loved or who loved me, nothing mars it and nothing erodes it.

Think about me anyway you want to: I know who I am.

There's the Nietzsche quote to the effect of "show me a man alone and I'll show you a god or a monster." It's the sorting it out without the feedback that's a bitch.

My Therapy

2006-08-10T09:57:00.000-05:00

So if you've never been to a Wednesday night practice at Jay's house I would strongly suggest that you pay them a visit. The collaboration between Todd Kessler and Small Shiny Things blows my mind most nights but last night was a Goosebump maker. I never in my life thought that I could hear 1000 times over sound like it did last night. Hearing every guitar, key and drum, every rhythm, feeling the song travel throughout your body. You may think I'm exaggerating, rereading this it sounds like it, but I exaggerate not. That is exactly how I felt. Such musical minds collaborating on songs makes for such amazing music. The harmonies alone that Kevin, Matt, Todd, Jay, Ron, and yes even Chris make for a sound that's comparable to eating your favorite desert on a beach in the arms of someone you love. That's my comparison anyway.

Wednesday nights, at least for me, are therapy. They center me and reestablish the feeling of friendship and family. The feeling that no matter how lonely, depressed, or sad I am...I have Wednesday nights and that fixes me. Maybe it shouldn't, maybe it's too much to ask of the guys but it's what I need and I think they get it, I believe they understand why.

So I guess I think everyone should have the experience of Wednesday nights at least once. If you don't have fun or think the same way as me...I'll pay your gas money to get home.

"Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?"

2006-08-04T23:10:00.000-05:00

"The same thing we do every night, Pinky: Try to take over the world."

Now with 40% more Gail...

2006-08-01T14:45:00.000-05:00

“Now with 40% more Gail”
I love it. Jessi says that I only like it because it has to do with me. Hell yeah, everyone likes some positive attention and of course we’re talking about me which means I like LOTS of positive attention. But it does put some pressure on me. Will I disappoint anyone with what I write? Now this comes with the knowledge that I have full freedom and really no limitations. I tend to create my own limitations though. I’m really excited about the things that are happening lately. I have the most amazing idea for some “Small Shiny Jewelry” and a multitude of other ideas floating around in my head. Intrigued by the “Small Shiny Jewelry”? Good that’s the point. I just really hope that my vision translates in person. What is in my head doesn’t always turn out the same when I make it although usually evolves into something better or equally as good.

Well I guess that’s all really, I just wanted to share my excitement over things to come. I just can’t wait to start creating what I’m visualizing in my head. Tonight…Yes I will start tonight.

Thank you to Kevin for getting me involved, always including me, and putting up with me!
Y'all are Faaaaantastic! And I plan on having some fun with it all!

for all the horrible shit I actually say, there's always a lot I'd like to say, but don't.

2006-07-31T00:29:00.000-05:00

I think that for all of the snobbery of playing in large cities, they have one thing figured out; It's pretty unnatural to expect anyone to listen to one band for 4 hours straight. That's not that terrible a thing to say, but I think it should be said. Especially when that band is playing a bunch of tunes you've never heard before.

But this suburban thing sucks in many ways. I hate that all the places we seem to play want cover bands and fucking tribute crap. That's just too easy-to take songs someone else sweat over writing and arranging and working their ass off to get in front of a few folks and convince them that they were worth hearing, steal the fuckers, co-op them and sell them like they're something they have a right to. Either write, interpret or shut the fuck up. I'm at a point where we should play a few things recognizeable just to keep things accessably, but taking someone else's work and making a living of it is cowardice, an ability to imitate I'm sure is talent on some level, but nothing I aspire to.

If you want to hear someone else's songs the way they play them, go buy their album.

I hate churches, but this is a bit much.

2006-07-23T23:11:00.000-05:00

The skyline farm will be gone tomorrow morning. I can't say how it makes me feel, but it's not good. I have a lot of memory invested in that place and that's no where near what some have. I guess a part of me is glad that it's one of the few places that will be destroyed before all the good things ran out, but we had some amazing times and I know that the fucking church that will soon stand on that land can never come any where near the kind of living and glorification of life that we did there. Embalm it if you must, but we know, we remember what life if for and how to do it. Y'all can talk about it, but don't fucking bother me-I got some actual living to do.

Let's find another place and invest in it like we did there; nothing can deprecate the memory we have.

Times W/ Todd

2006-07-10T21:15:00.000-05:00

Are great. Is it my fault we're tacit of late?

pity not this busy monster

2006-06-03T01:10:00.000-05:00

And, you see, ever the yin to Jay’s yang (and you should see Jay’s yang), I absolutely hate this time of year. I try to avoid everyone all April. I’ll tell you; that keeps getting easier and easier. All of the inner turmoil of my early 20’s evaporated (thank god) and the tantrums and pigheadedness that remain have lost their boyish charm. I’ve been lucky enough to face this reckoning. But April’s long gone and then May and now June and now Jay gets to ride and I just sit and sweat and bitch about it. I’m riding this curve into summer fat. Don’t send me any pictures of myself until I do some sit-ups.

And speaking of my capricious youth, I’m sliding into my 30’s pretty easily. I was sitting on Greg and Krista’s back patio last weekend listening to their neighbors fight and realizing that if I never have some passion that makes me lose my head ever again I’ll be ok with it. I’m letting that part of me that felt like rage and excitement was a good idea die a slow, natural death. It’s very cool with me. I’m drinking iced tea at an alarming rate. I’m thinking about sit-ups and not doing any. I’m writing some songs and blowing my breath into some old ones. To be honest it’s not just my breath. Thank you Matt McCain and his patient and lovely bride for joining us these days and putting the piss back in “wicked pisser”. Of course the rest of the gents bring the amazing things they always bring.

My birthday’s coming up and some of my usual shithead nostalgia is bugging me. All those parts of me looking backward and wondering can get solidly in the way of my forward motion. And the velocity is a comfortable disease. I’m excited about the directions we’re taking and a couple of other projects on my plate. It’s the summer party tour for us, Pat Goode has approached me with some things to do, I still want to record “Illinois”, The folks in Pawnshop might have a couple of nights for me to join them and I love work. If you didn’t make the last show at the Venice, Pawnshop does this ska rock thing amazingly and you missed a very cool thing. I’m sure we’ll get together with them again and I look very forward to doing some stuff with them-if they’ll have me.

Fuck it,

Goodnight. I’ve been ambitious enough for on day.

Recieved this in my inbox today. Made the day a good one. Quote:

2006-05-21T12:42:00.000-05:00

Sounds like you'll be keeping yourself pretty busy this summer. My friends and I have followed your band for a long time (since 5YJ) and like the new direction you guys are pointed in.

The music always takes us back to a simpler place when it wasn't as hard to be understood.
Things were what they appeared to be back then and time looses truth in translation and perspective.

Thanks for keeping it real for us.

Have a great weekend.

(Reprint) Optimism

2006-04-30T22:40:00.000-05:00

Last night was a really good time. We were five year jacket for an evening, but I guess we always are. And we're small shiny things, too. It's almost like we all belong. I'd like that.

In my book we all belong. Fuck all the other books-I'm writing a good one.

If you came, thanks. If you came and took pictures send 'em to me at smallshinythings at yahoo dot com. Hell, send me random pictures, like you and your aunt at the zoo. I love that shit. Everyone reading this should send me a picture. Hopefully a few naked ones and a few of people having sex come.

2006-04-23T09:46:00.000-05:00

Mad Max is on the history channel. Either I'm unclear on the concept of the history channel or I'm very afraid.

Sorry, no time for wit or wisdom.

2006-04-08T19:40:00.000-05:00

Upcoming shows:

CASA Kane County Benefit @ me & Bucky's office (Keller Williams Fox Valley Realty) April 21 from 5:30 to 8:30

The Venice Tavern in Batavia April 22 starting around 9:30

The Tiger Club, somewhere on Hill Ave. Aurora April 29th. Actually not small shiny things as such, but five year jacket. Remember them?

More stuff in May. But I thought Tom should be able to fill in his date book. Big kisses and hugs to everybody.

Oh, by the way,

2006-04-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

Our website slowly and regularly is updated, the most recent metamorphosis being about two days ago. Feel free to check it out.

Also, watch this space for a poorly-executed tirade about piece-o'-shit basses and our efforts to bend them to a collective will. Successful or not? Wait and see, cousins.

Scratch that. I am as crappy a mandolin player as I thought.

2006-03-26T18:22:00.000-06:00

Went and saw Nickel Creek last night. Holy motherfuck. I've seen them before, but they're in amazing form. The Ditty Bops opened. Go buy everything they sell and some tickets to see them, as well. Great night of music. You should hear Chris go on.

I'm not as crappy a mandolin player as I thought.

2006-03-25T12:48:00.000-06:00

Jay and I went out to the Northern Illinois in Naperville bluegrass thing last night and sat in with some very talented folk who had the distinct pleasure of handing us our own asses. Well, my ass, anyway. Jay is the lizard king and can do anything. Actually, I felt pretty good about what I did and I got to put my hands on a few instruments worth over $20, 000. I still like my shitty little utility knives, but I have my eye on a beauty of a straight razor from Dale Ludewig. He's a great guy, too. I hear there's a jam at the House in DeKalb that I just may need to crash soon. It's about damn time we learn some actual bluegrass.

On a side note, The website's down pending our renewal of the thing. Years just keep racing by; does anyone remember when summer vacation took forever? It's just so easy to watch these minutes accelerate and forget just what everyone of them is worth. Breathe deep, y'all, and go give somebody a hug.

April 29, 2006

2006-03-19T09:59:00.000-06:00

The next chance you'll have to see us we will not be small shiny things for the evening. We'll all be there, but we'll be doing the monkey dance under the moniker of Five Year Jacket. Hope to see every one and some folks we've not seen in some time. I'll Email you. Hopefully
I'll be funnier then.

Thanks, in brief.

2006-03-11T10:32:00.000-06:00

First I need to send out the very biggest thank you imaginable to Abby Eggleston for all of the wonderful work she's done. All of the posters and pictures we've been using are from her head and well beyond our stupid visual imaginations. Abby, you're wonderful and we appreciate you more than we can say. I just wish we were a little prettier subjects to better highlight your talents.

The Growlers, Maria Sharpe-McLary, Todd Kessler, Sarah, Matt & Nat, Gail, and the rest of the band gave me about the best night a person can have last Wednesday. I wish I had recordings and pictures, but I think that Jay said it right to me when he said that the rafters in his house will sing the memory of that night until they tear the house down. That night's gonna move in me for a long time and I'm afraid that pictures would be a sad testament to the evening. Thanks to everyone who came out and let's do it again soon.

2006-03-05T17:46:00.000-06:00

disclaimer.

2006-03-04T19:39:00.000-06:00

As an after thought I realized that I shouldn't be cruel to a band I've only heard samples of on their website. Please go and visit and make up your own mind, It's just that I hate all of these shows and glorified Karoake groups we have out here. If you find this, Covergurl, it's not about you, You guys might be great, not to mention the market drives decisions when you make a living at music-which I believe y'all are, you have to give 'em what they want. I'm not really upset about the band, but that the first thing I hear is that you're hot. I really hope there's some market for us ugly cats . Like the 'Mats put it; "we're not much to look at so, close your eyes and here we go.."

So, I'm sorry, but I'm not taking it down unless Bill or the band threatens legal action. I'm not that great a songwriter, but I'm trying and I don't want to be remembered for the covers I did. I wish there was an audience for aspirations of art and challenges to our definitions or that out here in the suburbs. It's a little funny, but I am serious. Covergurl, let's have lunch (and not just Jessica, but the musicians who are most likely extremely talented but forced into that shadow) and write some songs and get drunk and trade those songs that move us, not just the ones that sell. Let's get some beers and show the whole damn burb's what those instruments are for.

I actually had this conversation.

2006-03-04T19:27:00.000-06:00

On 3/2/06, Bill Artlip wrote:

Let me know if anyone is interested in seeing Covergurl. I have the night off. The lead singer Jessica is the one from Rockstar INXS last year (Note: Kevin's band is not playing anywhere tomorrow. And if they were, I'd still go see Covergurl. I know talent, when I see talent... or maybe I see she's prettier than Kevin, but whatever it is that I see it becomes more clear after every Payton beer.):
Friday, March 03 Flyer
Walter Payton's Roundhouse Route 25 (205 N. Broadway) * Aurora, IL
______________________________

Kevin Trudo wrote:

I'd rather eat my own stool. And after that GARBAGE Email, I know that your ideas of talent are (euphamistically) completely wrong-headed and fucked. You'll get yours.

K
_______________________________

On 3/2/06, Bill Artlip wrote:

Someday you have to give in and see this band with Jessica perform live. You're in denial. Jessica will beguile you. Don't live in fear or you're only letting the terrorists win.
And yes, I hope to get mine someday. I'm due. Bring it on.

_______________________________

On 3/3/06, Bill Artlip wrote:

So far Melissa and some of her friends may go, along with Craig, Tom, his sister Amy and Ed. Kevin is giving me shit, but I'm still trying. He's being funny. He wants nothing to do with her after all the times I told him how he has to see her. He wouldn't even turn on INXS Rockstar when I'd call during her performances. I'll call you when I'm on my way. My cell is xxx-xxx-xxxx.
_________________________________

Kevin Trudo wrote:

Bill,

I was thinking how nice it would be to go somewhere close and see some old friends and have a nice time. I haven't seen Melissa in a coon's age, but then I realized I'd have to enjoy my evening with the soundtrack of Covergurl. Bill, I love you and all, but you must be clouded by horny to enjoy even a bit of the death of all artistry in music that is the coverbands and endless reeling stream of looks over substance we endure in this vapid post American Idol world. I WILL NOT contribute money to watch pretty boys and pretty gurls (sic) play uninterpreted schlock for apathetic, indiscriminating drunks. Apparently all semblance of artisry or the endeavor to be any more that very attractice carbon copies of great things (although judging by the sample set list at their website from a year ago when I checked it out upon your first reccomendation-the imitations are not evn of great things, but-like paintings of turds-copies of inferior material) is all we have left and will be the artifacts they dig up of our white washed and inoffensive culture in a few thousand years. We were not great artists, or even artisans, but we had bitchin' tribute bands and some great white guy blues.

Fuck the suburbs and feel free to forward this if any one things I'm Captain Poopy Pants for not coming.

Kevin

______________________________

And then Bill responded all mature and such, but fuck you, Bill-the damage is done.

The eighteenth.

2006-02-11T17:20:00.000-06:00

The First rule of Tiger Club is you do not talk about Tiger Club.
The Second Rule of Tiger Club is you DO NOT talk about Tiger Club.

Thanks Bill.

Wednesday.

2006-01-18T21:19:00.000-06:00

Interestingly enough I find our guest book at the website has been rendered useless by spammers. Feel free ot leave any and all comments here because we'd still love to hear from you. Looking forward to playing some shows and looking for some kind folk to help out getting us booked and helping us grow, please let us know if you can help out and what your talents are. I can think of about a half dozen things you can do to help out with little effort or time invested.

1. Ask your favorite pub to have us there. Ask a bunch of times. They probably haven't heard of us yet, so get some friends to ask, too. Then let us know that you planted that seed and we'll follow up.

2. Call College stations and request us. Most college stations have less format restrictions (less payola) and ergo more freedom to play what they want. Again, let us know and we'll follow up.

3. Come see us play. Pay the cover. It's usually the price of the first drink and it translates into our paycheck. When we have money, we can do a lot more. Also, the more drinking folks that show up the easier it is for us to get good bookings in places we'd all rather be at. So (here's an easy one)

4. Drink more at shows. But please be safe about it. I mean it.

5. Tell some friends, family and coworkers. Burn a couple of CDs and give them away. If you ask we'll give you some to give away.

6. Visit the website. Lots of traffic there helps us with our press kit and, again, gets us into better spots.

7. Link to us from your own sites. We don't care if you ask our permission or not.

I think we got a good thing going. I don't want you to bullshit anybody, just if you feel good about us, tell somebody. Some folk won't dig what we do, but some will. One last thing -

8. Keep in contact with us and share your own talents with us. We are happy to post your writing and artwork or whatever. We'll link to you. The biggest and best reason we do this is to keep meeting great people. We don't want to get rich, just be able to support our doing this.

Yeah, all the meeting people is the best part. I think there's a whole lot of assheads in the world, but we seem to keep being blessed with meeting the true cream of the human crop.

So give us a reason to keep doing this and say hello. Otherwise we can just stay home with the good folks we already know, and that's fun, but this is just a little more so.

2005-12-25T13:12:00.000-06:00

Merry Fucking Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I hope anyone finding this is havin a safe and warm holiday.

Who knew?

2005-12-12T09:14:00.000-06:00

We played the Keller-Williams holiday party on Friday. It was a complete blast. Much alcohol was had. Many people danced. Ron and I and a wonderful lady whose name escapes me for the moment jammed out to "Sister Golden Hair" in a back hallway by the bathrooms. We learned how to play Christmas songs in the set break 5 minutes before we got up in front of people and played them for real. Marissa taught Ron and I how to play "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," then grabbed a mic and knocked it right out of the park. To finish the evening off with a bang, I grinned a picket-fence grin, went "Uh-hee" and ripped the E-string right off my bass.

Thanks, everybody, for having us, and for your kind words, and for some genuine holiday cheer--a thing I of late had been thinking had to be bought. Tell ya what, campers--holiday cheer given freely is a hell of a lot more quality then the stuff you buy.

Also, we learned (at least, Chris learned) that the Dragon does not cotton to drunk people. Chris came back in after trying to start it for 5 minutes, totally defeated. "It needs the owner's touch," he said. He'd have gotten it going eventually.

Merry and happy, everyone.

Well, it's about time...

2005-11-29T11:58:00.000-06:00

...for some thank-you's.

Thank you to Rick, for jamming with us and for your laughter and enjoyment. It means a lot, brother.

Thank you Theresa Marie Stevens (I love that whole rhyming thing) for joining us at practice and for your talents with photography. I hope you won't mind if we post a few pictures here. They're really great pictures, folks.

Thank you Sarah and Alex for your presence as well. The more the merrier, always.

Thank you Matt and Pat, for playing with us and making us that much more whole. We sincerely hope you both know how much you are loved, missed and appreciated. We also hope you'll jam with us soon and often.

Thank you, Brucki, for your continued support. It's nice just to know you're there to lean on.

Thank you, Jeff, for allowing us to use some server space for our website. Oh, and thanks for the website, too.

Thank you Greg and Krista. Just...thanks. You guys rock.

Thank you Cath, and Gail, and Mares, and Nat, and Eric, and Brian, and John and Jacob, and everybody else who showed up on Friday. You all know I play with my eyes closed, so if I don't mention you here, it's because I didn't see you. That has no bearing on how much we appreciate you being there.

Looks like we're gonna ride this strange torpedo all the way to the end, wherever that may be. After Friday night, we're all feeling like the trip will be longer and farther than even we thought. We hope you'll join us. There's always room in the Dragon for one more.

Come on out some Monday night and let us know what we're doing wrong (or right; trust us--we like praise much better than constructive criticism). Bring beer. Call one of us first so we know you're coming, but don't ask--just tell us and we'll make room on the couch. You'll have to fight Fender for a spot, though. (Don't worry--he caves easily.)

for the love of....

2005-11-22T16:03:00.000-06:00

in the interest of brevity and a certain commitment to economy of words, for once:

We're playing at the Lower Deck (Martini Bar) Friday Night (Nov. 25). Come on down, I assume you know where to go.

...fear of losing "Street Cred"

2005-11-18T21:11:00.000-06:00

It occurs to me that I rarely give my best here. Most of the time my personal posts are left hanging in other galleries and I'm not sure how fair that is. I've been in a really pensive mode lately, and if you're a dual subscriber that means more than it does otherwise. I spoke today with a person who's always been near, always been available and always been kind. I've shit on her in the past for it. I'm not yet the guy I hope to be. I finally took a few minutes to hear everything she was saying and find out that the kindness I mistook for obligation on my part was always a gift on her part.

I thought she was weak at times, but I can't think of a strength that runs deeper than staying stubbornly kind in the face of cruelty and staying put when told to go away. I didn't really want her to go, either. I said I did, but I'm a liar, sometimes.

I still can't be completely open here. I don't want to indict her for anything and I'm really serious about protecting her, now. And not knowing who reads this, I can't name her or let out too much. I sometimes prefer a little privacy, but not enough not to post and not so much that it leaves me lonely. I get lonely pretty easy. When I do I bite like a snake and I hope I can be forgiven.

So that's all. A little baby step toward the nudity I've been seeking for a long time.

Wait, Ive got one more footprint to make.

I hate my height. I wish I was taller. I hate my weak chin and I hate my forehead and the big crease through it. Does that explain my boots and my beard? On some other, more beautiful planet I'm pretty. I wish I was beautiful. In some parallel universe I'm really good looking and not just to Bucket. In another life people can see the things I like about myself as easily as the nose (I hate) on my face.

step.

Please love us.

2005-11-15T20:55:00.000-06:00

I just got through explaining how pathetic I am at my other blog - don't ask, seperation of blog and state - but if anyone come by here you could join the Yahoo! group at the right side of the screen and make me feel a little less dumb about starting it. We seem pretty popular over at the MySpace. That's pretty cool, right?

Last night Pat Goode came by practice and sat in. I forgot just how much I love the way he writes and plays. I fucked around and played a million dumb and poorly chosen notes trying to make him like me. I do shit like that, you know, then he jumped into Sweet Georgia Brown and made me feel dumb.

We should have recorded it.

I'm getting to the point where I really think we should go play a show. I'm gonna need the money here real soon. Oh, and it feels good.

But you do get worried that nobody will show up. All that frail artistic ego and shit. So half of me really wants to get all the work we've done out in front of folks and half is just plain scared. You practice and write and it's a part of you, your time and your thoughts, and if that tree falls in the forest and nobody gives a shit, well, it hurts.

But we're only slightly smarter than car speakers and we go out and invite the disappointment again. Hope to see you soon while we do it.

Jay just gets so tired.....

2005-11-06T12:40:00.000-06:00

Hey. It's been awhile.

2005-10-13T08:40:00.000-05:00

Ah jest shewed up t'say HEY.

I also just showed up to attempt typing in an accent. Or maybe not really an accent--maybe more of a regional patois. How'd it come off? Too affected? Too stuffy?

Anyway, come on out to my house some Monday night and hang out with us. We were kinda rude to three or four guests last week; not intentionally, but the effect remains the same. We'd like to not do that to anyone anymore. Please come over.

Hope to see you there.

'Nother Bummer

2005-09-27T17:59:00.000-05:00

Some old friends of mine are not doing the thing they do best together anymore. Whatever has passed between all of us I hope that you know that I wish y'all more joy than I can think of or write in any song or on any blog. I hope that time fixes up whatever pain you still have. I hope that the rest of your lives are productive and full. I hope you share the things you have and that you are. I hope to see you all again and talk like friends.

I hope that you know that the news of your parting was giant and sad to me. However I've felt at any time in our histories, my anger has never eclipsed my love for everyone of you.

Truly a bummer.

2005-09-15T00:43:00.000-05:00

It has been brought to our collective attention that, inconceivably, the spammers have moved into the territory of blogging. I can't believe this--it's like coming home from work and finding a telemarketer sitting on your couch.

While finding a telemarketer on your couch would be welcome for the sole reason that now you could actually get your hands on the son of a bitch, we are afforded no such opportunity here. Thus we are reduced to our one remaining option, and that is to disable the anonymous comments. Please, please don't think for a minute that we don't cherish your comments, and we hope that the fact that you can no longer post anonymously will not deter you from checking us out and throwing a little shit our way from time to time.

I guess this is progress, huh? Some call it that, anyway.

Peace, love and understanding to all.

Copy of an Email I just sent to Ron.

2005-09-14T16:37:00.000-05:00

Here are some links to catch you up on pop culture:

http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/12491/

Above is the more cowbell skit. Takes a while to load.

http://www.milkandcookies.com/links/31791/

This one is the star wars auditions I talked about. Kevin Spacey as Chris Walken.

http://www.astralwerks.com/fbs/woc/

Speaking of Mr. Walken. I told you he's a hell of a dancer. Interestingly enough he was on the boat when Natalie Wood drown. OK. Sorry. Go back to work.

(Repost) Looking for Input

2005-09-11T23:26:00.000-05:00

I need suggestions. Small Shiny Things is going through some growing pains. I guess not pain yet, but I do anticipate some. We're gonna get all plugged in for shits and giggles. The idea is to be able to do that, too. What I want is anyone's ideas on what songs you would like to hear a band (this one) play.

Any other (sincere or at least funny) ideas will be thoughtfully considered before being summarily rejected.

We'll still do what we do, but change is good.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

At any rate, I figured if any one of y'all is gonna come listen it seems fair that you have some input.

Canoe trip, Sept. 4, 2005

2005-09-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

Today I weather the aftermath of a great time. I wonder why great times so often come with a period of penitence and recovery. At least I don't have the hang over that's always accompanied canoing in the past. No, I'm only enduring the microbial attack on the length of my gastro-intestinal system that serves as coda every year. I will spare detail, but to put a point on it, it would be irresponsible to stray too far from my rest room today.

I couldn't have wished for a better group. Cliff jumping was minimal. Bill has never fallen out of his canoe before and I've never been rammed as hard. (Although Cheryl was behind it-it's not what it sounds like). We were rather adult this year, enjoying hummus and bagel chips with the steady intake of beer. I don't think we've spent so much time tied together shooting the shit in a long time. I know we've never come home with beer before, a testiment to our rather surprising foresight. Four of the group had never been on the water before, but I think everyone did an outstanding job and from where I sit, it was the best time in a long time.

I like the metaphor of everyone kinda slowly drifting and tied to each other. I rarely get to feel that close to people and I didn't want to seperate at the end to get back into dock. Thank to everyone who carved time out to be with me and Jay on sunday, and on such short notice, I sometimes don't have any clue how I'm gonna get y'all back for all the good feelings you give me. I never have a clue, I guess. Thanks to everyone who helped plan it -Greg and Krista, Cathy and Bill made it great. I missed those of you that couldn't make it, but you missed more.

But next year everyone uses "port" and "starboard".

Sept. 2, 2005 - Walter Payton's roundhouse

2005-09-03T11:35:00.000-05:00

I think I speak for every one in that we got to play the fastest 40 minutes of our lives last night. Great crowd, good sound and just a generally good time. We were relaxed and I think played well. I met a lot of new people, but didn't really get a chance to talk to those friends I already know. Reminds me of a time I haven't seen for quite awhile. Bittersweet, but to those of you who probably read this, sorry and we'll sit down one of these days and do some of that catching up shit. Sunday? On the river. Looking so forward to that.

Either way, Mike and Joe turned out to be great guys and players as well. I like that they were as open and interesting as their reputation would normally preclude. I hope to see more of them in the future. Any one who just found this, welcome and leave a message.

In short, I had more fun than I've earned and hope you did, too.

Also..

2005-09-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

If you would like to recieve Email about where we're gonna be or what's going on, leave your address at the website or here or write me at smallshinythings at yahoo dot com. I posted this morning and have been getting phone calls and mail and your comments here and it makes me feel great. I'm hoping y'all take the songs at the site and tell a friend.

Ahh. This is nice.

2005-08-31T01:10:00.000-05:00

Well, props be to Kevin for the set up. I shall reap the benefits of his labors by posting like a mad bastard, but I shall suffer none of the consequences. Life is grand. That is, it was until I got gas tonight on the way home and paid three freaking dollars for one gallon. The end of days is near.

Well, none of that has any relevance here. Please come join us on Friday at the Roundhouse as we open for a great local act, the inexorable Mike and Joe. Be nice to them and maybe they'll let us play with them again. Oh, and, should you get the time and/or the inclination, wouldst thou perhaps whisper a silent prayer for my index fingers, neither of which has any skin where I need it most. A temporary condition, to be sure, but no less inconvenient.

Woo!

Aug. 27th, 2005 - Heritage Meadows Block Party

2005-08-29T11:57:00.000-05:00

Saturday was laid back. Turns out the block party was for the block, who knew? Well, I guess we shouldn't have invited you, but thanks to those who showed. Chris got tied up with obligations, but Rick McComb showed up with congas and added a different dimension than we've grown accustomed to. Rick, you're the shit and thanks. We mostly played a lot of other people's tunes and seemed generally well recieved. We may have booked New Years out of the deal. We missed Chris exponentially. Talked about teeth on the break. Not even the mandolin that likes me wanted to be in tune.

On another good note, the sound was fantastic. Looking forward to Friday. Hope everything goes as well.