Friday, September 09, 2005

RHS EP cover art

Hey Soul Mates,
I'm very pleased to announce that production has begun on our short-run of EPs. I hope that you will all be able to make it to the show to pick up your copy. Here's a sneak peak of the final artwork for the cover.




As I mentioned, the art was inspired by vinyl EP and 45 rpm single picture sleeves from the 60's in particular. One source was very helpful, Merlis & Seay's Heart & Soul. Lots of great covers, some obscure. The artwork for these sides is highly stylized and quite striking. I feel A Talent For Loving is a strong performance. An A-side worthy of the large typeset and top billing, thus its prominence on the sleeve.

We'll be getting the discount tickets for the show at BB's this weekend. So, if you see me on the street and you want a hard copy of the discount for the door, hit me up. Those of you on the Evite, will be placed on the discount list at Will Call at BB's. We are expecting a packed house for this show, so make your plans accordingly.

I'm off to a fashion-disaster birthday party in the deep Valley.
Love, Power, Peace

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Just An Old Fashioned Update

Hey Soul Mates,
how are you? I hope that everyone is doing well.
I've been busy preparing the artwork for our new CD cover. The front cover will feature the splash page picture from our website. The one that we have on the merch. By the way, the mouse pad is holding up to all the use it's getting. The back cover is a little more of a challenge; what to say, what not to say. This CD which we are selling at the show is going to be our demo/calling card for the record industry, so it's crucial that the information be concise, but fun. 'Cause you know we are. I've been studying some old 50's & 60's vinyl covers to capture some extra flavor.

Rehearsal last night was great. We ran down the songs we'll be performing for you at BB's, while having fun with a couple of ideas for new songs and covers. One of the new songs is just about ready. Although, I want to rewrite the lyrics. Doug came up with a really great beat and the attitude of the song became a little more buoyant.

I'm going to pat myself on the back. I've finished reading a book. My reading habit is to buy a book, get 1/3 of the way through... then buy another book. I love books, but trouble is my attention span is kinda short. As a result I've started a lot of great novels. Ha ha. I can plant myself in a bookstore better than a record store nowadays. I'm on the Borders' e-mail list, so I'm constantly receiving discounts and coupons. Too good to pass up a drive up Ventura Blvd.

Mainly, I'm into non-fiction, histories, travel guides, biographies. The book I completed is David Sedaris' latest collection of essays Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. Very funny reading and recommended. I liked his first person stories in magazines, so I figured I'd try a whole book. On my nightstand unfinished are:
Jon Stewart's
America
Zora Neale Hurston's
Mules & Men
Carlos Ruiz Zafon's City of Shadows
Harry Potter 4 (unread; don't ask me what the subtitle is)
Angels & Demons (unread).

Then there are the dozens of paperbacks lining my bookshelves. Too numerous to mention. So, that's why I'm very pleased to have finished a book! Reminds me of one of my favorite movie quotes:
"Reading is fundamental and shit"
- Don Cheadle,
Out Of Sight

I did pick up the latest from the Rolling Stones and Kanye West this afternoon. Kanye's disc is playing now. Gold Digger drives my dog crazy. She is leaping and circling to the chorus. Can't tell if it's the song or me singing along. I'm looking forward to hearing what the Stones have done for their new CD.

All right. I gotta go to work on this art.
Love, Power, Peace