JULY 2, 2008 :: Summer Update
Hi Friends,
Just checking in to see how your summers are going. We're still basking in the glow of releasing our first full-length album in April. For those of you who still want a copy, it's available for purchase just over in the right-hand column of this page. We're working on the iTunes thing, but it looks like we're going to have to be patient. Very patient. A few folks were nice enough to write about the album and the CD release show, so we'll include some links at the end of this email.
We're also making plans for the late summer/fall. It would be nice to play a few more shows while the weather is warm, but we're having a hard time deciding where. So, we'd like to open the floor to suggestions. Do you know of a venue that would be a nice fit for us, particularly in a town, city, or state we haven't played? Michigan, we're looking at you. And Kentucky, Ohio, Nebraska--tell us what you've got.
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. It would be especially nice if you had a connection (a.k.a. "hook up") at the venue, and could help us figure out the details. But mostly, we just want to know where we're wanted.
Thanks, everyone. Here's what people are saying about Two Short Stories:
Also, check us out on this podcast:
Hope you're all well!
Pete and Zach
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MAY 7, 2008 :: How Was The Show Review
HowWasTheShow.com featured a review of our CD Release Show here.
To celebrate Minnesota's 150th Birthday, 89.3 The Current is featuring local artists this week. Check it out here. Support your favorite local musicians and request music here (I would suggest Chris Koza, The Glad Version, Coach Said Not To, Seymore Saves the World, Michael Morris, and anyone else who is great but is under appreciated on the radio).
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APRIL 25, 2008 :: Photos, Video, and Music Blogs, Oh My!
Stacy Schwartz, an excellent Twin Cities music photographer, has posted some great photos of our April 19th show here.
Our friend and musician/artist extraordinaire, Doug Bratland posted this video and these pictures of us playing at Hogan Brothers (4/18/08).
MFR (Minneapolis F*cking Rocks) has a complimentary review of our album here.
And if you missed it earlier, Music (for Robots), had something nice to say about us here.
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APRIL 20, 2008 :: Music for Robots
Hi Everyone! Thanks for coming to our show last night. We had a blast! Thanks also to The Floorbirds and Spider John Koerner who both put on great shows. We hope you're enjoying your complementary Jayber Crow CD right this moment.
Music for Robots, a notable music blog, had something nice to say about us yesterday. Check it out here.
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APRIL 19, 2008 :: Where have all the tour blogs gone?
As you may have heard, we've been on tour for the past 8 days, seeing friends, singing songs, and spending a lot of time in the car. This time out, we've been a little lax when it comes to a Jayber Crow staple: the tour blog. We've had a blast posting video updates from the road, but it just wouldn't feel right if we didn't put something down in print. I'm a little overwhelmed at the task of summing up the past days in writing, however, with all of the smiling faces, diner breakfasts, broken guitar strings, futons, and searches for wireless internet that become a part of daily life when we're traveling around the Midwest. So, as a little exercise in memory, I'm just going to write the names of the towns we've visited and a word or phrase that pops into mind. Let's see how it goes.
Fargo, ND: Human Cannonball
Annandale, MN: Snow Day!
Decorah, IA: Contact Improv
Grinnell, IA: Carrot Cake
Peoria, IL: You know the words better than we do
North Manchester, IN: Save the Firehouse (www.thefirehouse.net) and pass the enchiladas
Goshen, IN: Holy Yoder, Mennonites are Awesome
Winona, MN: Farmer and the Nomad share a Wisconsin Martini
As you can see, this has been an eventful trip. We've just got one show left: tonight at The Nomad in Minneapolis with The Floorbirds and Spider John Koerner (our CD release party!). We'll try to write more before we wrap this one up. Thanks for keeping tabs on us!
ALSO, here's a highlight reel from our performances on the road:
Segment 7: Concert Highlights
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APRIL 16, 2008 :: Update from N. Manchester, IN
We're here in Zach's hometown, North Manchester, IN. We had a great show last night at the high school. Thanks to everyone who supported us there. All the proceeds went to rebuilding The Firehouse, a great music venue here in town. If you believe in live music, donate here.
Though we haven't heard it in person, we hear we're getting some air time on 89.3, The Current. Keep your ears open for that if you live in the Twin Cities.
Talk to you soon!
Segment 6: Jayber Crow's Guide to the Farm
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APRIL 14, 2008 :: Update from Grinnell, IA
We had a really fun show last night at Bob's Underground Cafe at Grinnell College. Thanks to everyone who came out! The evening was topped off by some incredible carrot cake made by some new friends.
Before we left Grinnell, we had to ride the yellow bikes found around campus. Communal bikes -- what a great idea!
Segment 5: "Grinnell, IA"
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APRIL 12, 2008 :: New Video Segment
Hey folks. We're currently in Grinnell, Iowa, enjoying some sun for the first time on tour. Here's another video update from yesterday on our way down to Decorah.
Segment 4: "Chatfield: Home of _______!"
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APRIL 12, 2008 :: Tour Update and Videos from the Road
Hi Everyone! Our CD, Two Short Stories, is now available for purchase. If you'd like to buy one, click on the "Buy Now" button to the right and we'll send you one in the mail ($10 plus $3 for shipping). It is also available at Treehouse Records in Minneapolis, and Cheapo's throughout MN. Soon it will be available for download on iTunes and our MySpace page, but we're still working out a few details with that.
We are currently on day three of our tour. We had a great time in both Fargo, ND and Annandale, MN. Thanks to everyone who came to the shows!
If you'd like to see what sort of shenanigans Zach and Pete are up to, check out the videos below. We've never done video updates before, but we thought we'd try something new. We'll keep posting as the tour progresses. Let us know what you think of them!
Segment 1: Hitting the Road
Segment 2: Circus!
Segment 3: April Snow
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APRIL 8, 2008 :: New Song of the Week from Two Short Stories!
We just posted another installment of our song-a-week series before the new album comes out. The song is called "The Panic of 1837" and we hope you like it. Check it out here.
We'll be heading out on tour Thursday with Two Short Stories in tow, starting with our first-ever show in Fargo, ND at the Red Raven and ending up at the Nomad in Minneapolis, MN to play a CD release party with folk-duo The Floorbirds and the legendary Spider John Koerner! It's been a long time since we were last on the road, and we're so excited to see all of you again. You can keep tabs on us during our tour at jaybercrow.com, Myspace, and Facebook. We'll be posting tour blogs, photos, and other fun stuff.
Also, we're happy to tell you that MPR's The Current (89.3FM) played a song of ours on their Local Show this past Sunday night. We've also been informed that a song off the new album will be going into their rotation, as well. You can listen online at mpr.org
Thanks, everyone. See you soon.
Pete and Zach
P.S. We're having a heck of a time finding a place to play in Peoria, IL. We've got some good folks looking into it for us, but if any of you would like to host a Jayber Crow show in your house or apartment (or know someone else who would like to) please email zach@jaybercrow.com.
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APRIL 1, 2008 :: Song of the Week from Two Short Stories!
Click here to listen to "The Limited Voice of the American Crow".
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MARCH 25, 2008 :: Song of the Week from Two Short Stories!
To celebrate our upcoming release, we are posting a song from Two Short Stories each Tuesday leading up to our tour. Click here to listen to "Saint Anthony," a song that tells the tale of the Mississippi River over the past 11,000 years.
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We're happy to announce the release of our first full-length album, Two Short Stories. It will be available for purchase on our Midwestern tour, April 10-19. With Earth Day just around the corner (April 22), we're pleased to say the CD will feature biodegradable packaging made from 100 percent recycled kraft board and printed with vegetable inks.
Two Short Stories
Freeze and Thaw
1. Saint Anthony
2. O City!
3. Waiting for Ruth to Come Home
4. Freeze and Thaw
5. O My God When I Drop Dead
What Is This Wilderness?
6. Devil and the Desert
7. The Limited Voice of the American Crow
8. Panic of 1837
9. Song of the Jack Pine
10. Love Song for a Prairie Fire
11. Drinking Song of a Germinating Seed
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March 17, 2008 :: Tour Dates, Album Art
Hi Everyone,
Check out the cover art for the new album (above). It’s an original woodcut by Jane Becker Nelson, and we’re pretty excited about it. There is an equally-exciting woodcut that will be featured on the back of the album, but you’ll have to wait to see that.
We’ve got new show dates posted (to your right). We’re still working on some of the details, so check back in a little while.
Also, we’ll be putting up a track or two from the new album in the next week or so. So, stay tuned for that!
Zach and Pete
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February 28, 2008
Hi All!
We’re almost done mixing the album, so we figured it was high time we filled you in on what we’ve been up to. We’ve decided to call the new disc Two Short Stories. It’ll have 11 songs that play one-after-another like a regular CD, but—in our minds, and in print—they’re divided into two sections:
Freeze and Thaw
1. Saint Anthony
2. O City!
3. Waiting for Ruth to Come Home
4. Freeze and Thaw
5. O My God When I Drop Dead
What Is This Wilderness?
6. Devil and the Desert
7. The Limited Voice of the American Crow
8. Panic of 1837
9. Song of the Jack Pine
10. Love Song for a Prairie Fire
11. Drinking Song of a Germinating Seed
We’ll keep you posted as things progress.
Zach and Pete
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February 23, 2008
Hi Everyone!
We've been really busy getting the mixes ready for our upcoming full-length CD (which is sounding great so far!). We're also in the early stages of getting the artwork made, writing press releases, setting up a tour, looking into biodegradable packaging, and doing everything we can think of to get this record off the ground.
Check back soon for some new songs, information about our tour, and everything else related to this disc. We expect it to be ready in early April!
Until then, check in with us and/or listen to our other music at facebook, myspace, and virb.com. Also, we've been noted in the following blogs recently: MFR's Literacy Mix, and The Late Greats.
Be in touch!
Pete
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December 11, 2007
We made a really short video with a few clips from our recording. It turned out to be a little more serious than we intended, but that makes it kind of funny.
December 7, 2007
We are setting off to record our first full-length album! We'll be recording at Pete's extended family's farm in Hutchinson, MN. Check in with the myspace blog while we're away (which is accessible to read by anyone). That's the easiest way to stay in touch while away from home. Maybe we'll even post an in-progress song. We can't wait to share it with you.
Talk to you soon!
Zach and Pete
November 14, 2007
Hi everyone,
We're getting more and more excited about heading into the studio next month, and, amazingly, we're not the only ones.
Before we start recording, however, we've got to raise a little money to fund the album. That's why we're doing away with shipping charges on our EP, The Farmer and the Nomad. For the rest of 2007 you can purchase the CD for $5 and we'll take care of getting it to you. If you've lost or worn out your copy, or would like to give one to a friend or family member (yes, that season is almost upon us), now is as good a time as ever to purchase a copy (or more!). To order The Farmer and the Nomad, send your request to zach@jaybercrow.com
Also, we have a digital music store on our myspace page for those of you who would like to download the EP in digital form.
Once the album is out we'll hit the road again. We're really looking forward to seeing all of you. It's been too long!
Zach and Pete
November 10, 2007
Progress
Zach was in Minneapolis last weekend and we were surprisingly productive. We rehearsed, cooked, socialized, and took a field trip to St. Anthony Falls for some song research. Next weekend, I'll travel to Indiana for another round of practice and fun.
The material for the upcoming album is nearly complete and we plan to be in the studio the first week of December. As the recording process picks up speed, we'll be making more posts to our myspace page and this website.
TTFN,
Pete and Zach
SHOWS
We're working on setting up some Summer shows.
MUSIC, PHOTOS, BLOG
facebook
virb.com
myspace
DISCOGRAPHY
Two Short Stories
Freeze and Thaw
1. Saint Anthony
2. O City!
3. Waiting for Ruth to Come Home
4. Freeze and Thaw
5. O My God When I Drop Dead
What Is This Wilderness?
6. Devil and the Desert
7. The Limited Voice of
the American Crow
8. Panic of 1837
9. Song of the Jack Pine
10. Love Song for a Prairie Fire
11. Drinking Song of a
Germinating Seed
The Farmer and the Nomad E.P.
1. Words of Our Waking
2. The News about Michael, Married in Mexico
3. Utah
4. Eugene, Oregon (Manifest Destiny)
5. Of Indiana (the shallow roots of corn, the perennial blossoming of peonies)
6. The Farmer and the Nomad
To purchase a copy of The Farmer and the Nomad, click on the button below, fill out the order form, and we'll mail you a copy. You will be directed to a PayPal page.
Our CDs are also available at Cheapo, Treehouse Records, and The Electric Fetus.
CONTACT
zach@jaybercrow.com
pete@jaybercrow.com