Seume

Thanks to all who came out to my shows during my short stay in KC. The night at Prospero’s was especially great. Really cool to play to a private gig in an intimate room full of friends after-hours at downtown KC’s best bookstore.

I was also afforded a few recording sessions in Lawrence with Tom Wagner in his studio, Underground Sound, while I was in town. Since experiencing Tom’s craftsmanship during the mastering sessions for It Is What It Is , I’d been looking forward to the opportunity to record with him in his back-to-the-future studio.

Tom runs his own top-notch music equipment repair shop during the day and is a lover of vintage sounds — and seeks out the instruments/machines that make them — so he’s got a museum’s worth of tape machines, microphones, amps, instruments and effects. What wall space remains in the studio is taken up by thousands of records, artwork (some his own… and good) and paraphernalia — lots of Beatles.

It’s one thing to collect, but something else to have an understanding and ear to use it. And Tom is one with his studio.

So, catching some time while he was finishing mixing/mastering a great debut album for his new band, Museum (appropriately), was much valued and appreciated. I was also fortunate to have Museum’s talented drummer/multi-instrumentalist, Jason, around for session work on drums, piano, and Hammond B3. We got in the studio four times over a couple weeks, each time for 2-3 hours.

1st sesh: I recorded acoustic guitar and vocals and Jason drums.
2nd sesh: Jason on piano, Tom on bass, and Jason layered B3.
3rd sesh: Some more B3 and acoustic guitar.
4th sesh: I recorded trumpet and we got a quick mix down.

Everything was recorded to ADAT, we all like the sounds, and feel like there’s a real spirit about it. So I’m looking forward to finishing up the mix in the next few weeks, and then thinking about a short run 7″ vinyl single release. Maybe a split with The ACBs.

At any rate, “All I Have to Give” is the first track I’ve recorded since finishing the album a couple years ago and it was really energizing. Credit Tom and Jason for making it happen in less than 10 hours in the studio. The icing on a fruitful month in KC…

I got out to LA on 4/21, which happens to be the 2 year anniversary of a gig in Venice with my bro Pete’s band, HI-Stereo (and my bday, and Pat from HI-Stereo’s bday!). Here’s the flyer that DJG sprayed up for it a couple years back.

Since arriving, I’ve been living on HI-Stereo’s tour bus with my bro and trying out for the band on keys. I’d intended to stay in LA only a couple weeks and then head north to join friends starting an off-grid community, but the prospect of playing music with Pete and HI-Stereo has me putting that on hold for the time being.

I’ve never owned a keyboard, nor had much practice since piano lessons in elementary school, so I’ve got some good rust to shake off. But hopefully I’ll be able to pick it back up pretty quick and fit in with HI-Stereo’s sound. Their debut album is currently being mixed at Jim Henson Studios and is shaping up real nice. Hopefully, it’ll be hitting your ear drums in a couple months.

The trip out here was pretty epic, and I’ve been told I should share it. So here it goes:

I set out westward in the Wookie — my ‘82 VW Vanagon — as the sun was setting on 4/19. After a few hours on the road, my headlights started flickering, so I figured my battery was quitting on me. Fortunately, I passed a Walmart (where I bought the battery) off the highway right around this time, so I pulled off and prayed this store had a Tire and Lube Dept., as only a select few do. This one did, and though they’d closed up shop, got my battery on the charger, decided it wasn’t any good when an hour had passed, and hooked me up with a new one. SCORE. So, back on the road for a while before spending the night in the Wook at a rest area.

Next morning, I was out in the SW corner of nowhere Kansas when my van started dying on me again! So, I spent a couple hours on the highway shoulder with my dog, Rainer, until I could get a repair truck from the closest town to give me a jump. Got to Meade, KS and got my battery on the charger again. Figured I had alternator problems at this point, even though I’d checked that before leaving town, too.

Wandered around, wondered aloud, saw what looked to be the town’s “biggest” draw — the Dalton gang hideout! — and got back to the shop to receive affirmation that my alternator wasn’t working. While the mechanic searched the area for a new alternator, I crawled under the Wook to check it out. After a couple more hours, I’d found and reattached a wire that’d come disengaged. Alternator situation fixed. 5 hour delay… but only $40. I felt blessed to be back moving again, for sure.

Got just outside of Albuquerque when the overheat lamp started glowing ominously from the dashboard. This is never a good thing… especially in old VWs. In fact, when I bought the van, I was told to keep baking soda around in case this light came on as it may mean the engine’s ON FIRE. So I pulled off the highway and made it to a park and ride commuter lot to check the situation. Happily I did not find flames, so I said a prayer and called it a night… hoping the Wookie’d be ready for an long final leg to the trip in the morning.

At about 1 am, I was freaked out WAY HARDCORE by 2 cops politely shining their torches in my grill and rapping on my window. After I’d let out a primal defense scream and sat up trying to gather myself, I was asked if I had a weapon — I said, yes… my multi-tool perched right next to me (ha!) — and they informed me it was legal for me to be parked there, but that they had to “check on me”.

While I waited for them to run my ID, I had a conversation with Rainer about his lack of guard dog skills, and then talked to God some more for a little peace of mind. After all, my van was out of registration/inspection by a month, and my insurance had also expired recently. These are the calculated risks you take when you ain’t got a penny to spend. Cops came back, nothing was said about my tags etc. (thank the Lord), so I slipped back into la la land.

Next morning, bright and early on my 29th bday, I set out into what’d be 25-35 mph headwinds the whole way to LA. Not good when you’re driving a glorified toaster-oven through mountainous terrain. For many long stints, I was drafting semis for wind block and was still only going 50-55 mph with the pedal to the metal. I had 12 hours drive time (in normal conditions… in a “normal” vehicle) to cover to get to LA, so although I was really hoping for something of a miraculous arrival at my final destination that night, I knew it’d be good to get close without any more problemos.

Amazingly, I pulled into LA that night after 16 hours on the road having passed through some intensely beautiful scenery without any issues. A reminder of God’s greatness. If I was more of a picture/video taker and online chronicler of things, I’d have plenty of good stuff to share more on this trip (and on a regular basis). But, as it stands, I only have some landscape pics I took with my phone while driving and waited a couple weeks to share it all. This is how I dooz it. Click the pic of me and Pete if you’d like to see a few more. (I’ve since shaved the goat but kept the ’stache, bien sur)

Thanks to those who prayed and expressed goodwill for my latest adventure. HI-Stereo’s got a gig this Saturday 3pm on the Venice beach for the Spring Fling Fest, so I’ll make sure I get a post up about it next week. Til then….

There isn’t anything getting ready to come outta your screen that’s gonna hit you right in the kisser. No… I’m pretty sure that technology is sitting next to Smell-O-Vision in a secret vault!

I just wanted to you to be the first to know that there are only 50 CDs left from the first 1000 printed. I’m not mentioning this to talk about my sales… au contraire, mon frere… many of these first prints were given away to promote the album. Part of the process, really.

I AM letting you know because this first batch is special, and not just because it is the first run of the first album (both pretty good reasons for specialness, yeah?). It’s also unique because the next batch will have different track start/end times for “Something You May Wanna Know” and “Will Ya Be My Friend”. (The locusts at the beginning of the latter will be moved to the end of the former. Got that? Haha!)

The track time change is to prep for “Will Ya”’s release as a single, in the coming months. We got a stop animation video brewing for it and everything! Check out the progress here.

So, that’s a small variation, yes. But, it’s just another reason why, if you want to buy a CD, getting it from this first batch is the way to go! Otherwise, they’ll soon be going to radio stations, press outlets, etc… And they won’t appreciate the significance like you.

It really comes down to this. I think this first print is special — I’m biased, I know! — but I thought you might agree and would appreciate the “heads up!”. Especially since it doesn’t come with getting hit in the face by a flying object! Though, you might get your face slapped if your friends find out you didn’t give them the low down too, eh?

The album is packaged in a tri-fold digipak with original artwork by Liverpool design group, Smiling Wolf (album cover photo shot by Alexandra Wolkowicz, of Arctic Monkeys album fame). The insert has all the song lyrics, credits, and a photo of yours truly (uh-oh… fold out!) shot by Chicago photographer, James Exley. All that’s to say, it’s wrapped up pretty.

You can pick up your CD at the Grassland Records Store (store.grassland-records.com). Your support, as always, is much appreciated.

Thanks for listening.

-Seume

P.S. Great show coming up with another great poster, courtesy of the one-and-only DJG.

Carrie a’ Paris told me I needed to write a new blog post… again. Ask and you shall receive!

I’m not gonna doooo, what you think I’m gonna doooo, and try to write a long catch up post. Oh no, mi amigo, forgetting what is behind, I press on for the prize. This is all mustard. But I will say this: My summer was good. I stayed cool. Thanks for the yearbook advice!

It’s turning into fall here in America’s Heartland. The changing seasons stir up obvious inspiration. And the fire pit on PJ’s property is getting stoked. Kumbaya, my Lord…….. kumbaya.

And now, a scene from Wayne’s World:

She will be mine… oh yes… she will be mine!

I took my Telecaster down to Midwestern Musical Co. in the KC Crossroads a few days ago with the mind to trade her out. It’s gonna be a tough breakup and I wish I didn’t have to do it. It’s me… really. She’s permanently left her mark on It Is What It Is , so I’ll always love her. But it’s time for a change, and all I got is change. I’ve never understood it, but apparently you really can’t have your cake and eat it too.

I’m spending the weekend with an Epiphone, and we’re already taking pictures together. Yeah… It’s like that.

She’s got what I want — a beautiful body and a heart of gold. Golden tuners, anyway. But for real, for real… I really like this guitar. Haven’t finalized the trade yet and it’s only Friday, but come Monday, it’s done dada!

Ooookay…. I just got really tired. Goodnight — star light, star bright.

The month of July is gone… long gone, at this point. Shoot, it might as well be 2010 the way things are movin’. I’m realizing I gotta write shorter updates more often. Trying to mash over a month into one go shorts out my circuits. But the upside is that you can enjoy this less-than-epic prose like a warm glass of milk before hitting the sheets. Set your sails for R.E.M. and wake up a shiny, happy, person.

I spent the first part of the month in Holland with the fam. I’m usually back there for Christmas/New Years, so it was nice to be back with the sun out doing its worst. Almost every day was mid 70’s to high 80’s (that’s mid 20’s to low 30’s for the Celsius world), so if I wasn’t helping out with the renovation of the upstairs at my folks’ place, you could find me on the Wassenaar beach getting baked. The remodeling process was actually a bit sentimental, ’cause the top floor of our row house there was my (and my brothers’) room during the high school years. One of my jobs involved tearing down the ceiling we’d painted to look like a giant American flag when we first moved to the place in ‘97. At the time, it was a way to feel at home; it’s only since then that I think I’ve become a patriot. And swapped the brush for the pen.

For the Fourth of July, by the way, we grilled up some chicken and hot dogs on the back patio. Our house is one of 5 attached houses in a row – a row house, if you will – and we’ve got some great neighbors. Two houses away, our friend Petra and her family were also enjoying dinner outside, heard us (no surprise…), and started an impromptu sing of the Star Spangled Banner. We couldn’t see each other through the hedges, so it was cool to sense the camaraderie with only our ears. Ears that didn’t hear any fireworks that day… the Dutch save those for New Years… and it is CRAZY!

While I was back, I also had the chance to meet up with a few friends from the high school days. I had great conversation and chill time with Dave S. and his wife Marcha in Leiden, aka “Little Amsterdam.”

They recently got a killer pad — after 10 years on a waiting list! — in this beautiful, vibrant, 16th century city. A canal boat parade cruised by a couple blocks over this evening and not even Marcha, who’s Dutch, knew what it was about. The idea of a spontaneous parade gave the night an extra good vibe. Dave and I hope to do some collaborative work together in the future, as he’s a graphic designer and we share similar opinions about a lot of things.

My other HS reunion was with Arthur R., who I call Arturo, and the rest of Holland calls DNA. He’s the producer and 1 of 3 MCs in the hip-hop group L4. Before I hit him up a few weeks before heading over there, I wasn’t aware Arturo was in music, too – it’d been nearly 10 years since we’d seen each other. At that time, neither of us was especially active in music, so it was rad to connect on that level and share our experiences producing and performing music. We linked up a the Zwarte Ruiter (Black Rider) in The Hague and ended up meeting up with the other 2/3s of L4, Stam and Niffy. The night wrapped up with a jam session at a local spot where I joined the fellas on stage alongside the host band. I found a tambo and chimed in with some vocals to suit their free-styles. The place was packed, the atmosphere was right, and it was super dope to do a bit of performing with DNA and the fellas. Click on the pic to rocket over to L4’s myspace.

I crashed on Art’s couch – Dave’s couch got some Seume stankonia, too! — and in the hazy morning, out of the blue, we started putting a track together in the home studio. A few hours later, we were pleased with a demo and called it quits to grab the best Turkish pizza in town, right down the street. Arturo and I got together for one more session a week later during which he and the boys laid down their verses. We’re doing the back and forth online to finish it up and will have it for you to hear soon!

I’ve got another collabo cooking with KC’s best hip-hop ’09 nominee, D/Will. I invited him up to perform our co-produced track during my set at the Pitch Music Awards Showcase on Aug. 6th. The performance got a mention in the Wayward Blog by Pitch music editor, Jason Harper.

OK… go catch some Zzz’s.

-Seume

I’ve been in far away, exoctic places — The Netherlands and Wisconsin. This weekend, I’ll get around to filling you in on the details from the vanishing month of July.

But quickly, this.

- The Shadow Box was dope last night.
- I play at 10PM for the Pitch Music Awards Showcase tonight in KC, MO with special guest D/Will.
- Voting for my nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter this year in KC closes TONIGHT. Click below to help take me to soaring heights of popularity:

The Singer/Songwriter category is #22. If you’re unfamiliar with the other bands, you don’t have to vote for anyone else…

I endorse these bands/artists:

The ACBs (Pop)
Moire (Metal)
D/Will (Hip Hop)
Wrong Crowd (Punk)
Levee Town (Blues)

—

I’m off to work on a track with D/Will. See you tonight at the show, or in a few days right here.

-Seume

I’m jumping on a flight to LA this evening to head out west for the show w/ HI-Stereo @ Air Conditioned tomorrow night. This will be the first time that my brother Pete and I are on the same bill and will share the same stage. Big brother Pete has been a big influence in my life, and with music too. He inspires me. Illmatic!

April 21st is also Pat’s (HI-Stereo guitar player) and my birthday! Aaaand, my younger brother Mark is coming out for the night from Chicago! Without Mark’s support, Peter and I surely would not be where we are — wherever that is — in music. I keep a note from Mark framed on my desk, where I spent plenty o’ time while making the album. It says, “Get. It. Done.” Keeping it on the really real, like he doos it. Bro, I couldn’t have done it without you.

DJG once again cooks up a killer show poster that’s now been slapped all over Venice Beach to promote the show. This scaled down image hardly does the all-spray-paint poster justice. See a BIGGER one here. Thanks, DJG, for taking the time to meticulously cut out the stencils and do the 3 color layering (and for the balloons)! It’s truly a blessing to have the best in town at play with my shows. We’re starting a nice li’l pile! Click here to see ‘em all.

And Norris, HI-Stereo’s bass player and resident artist, also put together a sick poster using the pages from his doodle journal. I first saw No-No’s journal — and “doodle” isn’t really the right word… his drawings are mos definitely skilled — during the band’s recording session at 4th Street in Santa Monica a few weeks ago. The 2 pages from that weekend in the studio are the ones you’ll see in the poster below. I’ve suggested that he start scanning the pages and throw ‘em online as a blog so folks the world over can enjoy his work. It was really cool watching him creatively chronicle the events of the day — like the black bird singing (I played this tune in the control room at one point between takes) or the hearse drawn beneath it (there was some kind of funeral situation outside that Saturday) — and I think it’d put a killer spin on the sometimes humdrum blogiverse.

And, today is 4/20. So I’ll take this opportunity to do 2 things. First, say happy birthday to my good friend David Blair — a phenomenal painter. Click here to see some of DB’s portrait work in pyschedlic realism. The first 4 portraits on the page are those of the Fab Four that my brother, Mark, commissioned and has hanging in his crib.

And here’s one that is currently residing as the desktop on my laptop. Thanks, DB, for creating art that motivates. And, thanks for your spirit and music, Bob.

And last but not least, thanks to all my friends at the Dopefiend Network that have supported my music by playing it on their podcasts. Thanks especially to Larz, Esse.B, Jay-K, Dopefiend, and BB at the Bungalow. Be on the lookout for a Esse.B remix of “Revolution Son”. Dirt nasty.

Okay… I’m gonna miss my plane if I don’t wrap this up. Adios amigo.

-seume

I’m posting everyday, man! 3 days in a row? Are you tracking this? Blogathon.

I just received a live recording of a new track I’ve been working on — maybe titled “It Ain’t So” — from Damage, producer and live sound engineer the night of my 2/12 gig at The Pig in Independence, MO. And here’s where I give a shout out to a great friend, and the only person I knew in a crowd of about 10 total in the bar — Brandon. He’s been to more shows than anyone else I can think of, up there with my best boy and soul brother PJ, and he was the only one not to miss this song live. ‘preciate my friends.

It wasn’t the first time I’d played the song live (I think that was last June at Fred P. Ott’s), and I’ve played it a few times since at another great friend, James’ house — my most oft-played venue — but as far as I know, it was the first time the song was recorded. Damage thought the song was (or should be) called “It Is You,” as you’ll see in the URL he gave it. I thank him for running sound that night, recording this track, and finding me online to send it my way.

But, aaaaah, after all that… here’s the live cut of “It Ain’t Me” … hope you enjoy it.

Since that performance, I’ve written some more lyrics that I really like for the second verse (instead of re-singing the first, as I did 2/12). Here’s one of the new lines:

The story’s told,
The sun grows old,
Burns red with a heart of gold,
And casts a rose upon the ground.

To further commemorate this momentous 3-days-in-a-row-blogathon, I’m attaching some nice visuals related to the work-in-project video for “Will Ya Be My Friend”. First, is one of my favorite collages (by DJG) for vid background consideration. In case you missed checking out the whole set of collages from yesterday’s post… second chances are yours by clicking the pelvic bone — or anywhere else on the image

And I thought you might be interested in seeing some of “Will Ya Be My Friend” film director, Philip Cheaney’s previous work, too. It’s one he did for The Winston Jazz Routine’s song, “A Ghost Beneath The Tower.” I think you’ll dig it.

If you want to be the first to know if the blogathon goes for 4 (nope…), you can subscribe to the feed right here. And soon I’ll be sending out a periodical newsletter — once or twice a month. If you wanna get that, click on “Subscribe” on the main site and enter your name and email address. Pretty easy. And don’t worry… it’ll be just as easy to unsubscribe.

Or will it?

Hahaha.

?

Okay… yes. It will. And so with this post, after the P.S.

P.S. Biscuits and gravy from Corner Cafe in Riverside, MO is the best around. Even when they’re leftovers. Especially when your roommate hooks ‘em up. They were delicious, brother… just delicious.

New look blog. Cheers to my friends at Smiling Wolf.

Also, wanted to give you a little update on the music video project with DJG and PC. The lucky song picked to take on imaginative visuals is “Will Ya Be My Friend”, and we’re currently story-boarding and coming up with lots of animated ideas. The other day, I met Danny at his place around 7:30 am — you can’t be as prolific as he is without being an early riser! — to dive into the magical world of make believe. The video-in-the-making, like our meeting time (for a couple of artists, anyway), is anything but conventional… Just like kids waking up early for Saturday morning cartoons, we’re keeping it play time.

Danny, by the way, gave me a nice nod at The Record Machine, listing davidseume.com among his year end Best Of for Kansas City related internet places of interest in 2008. I’m a little slow on the draw with this one, but thank you kindly, D.

Here’s another late post: “Revolution Son” was played on an episode of PodcastForPeace. Cheers to them for including the track… All we are saying, is give peace a chance.

Just finished reading “The Watchmen” graphic novel. It’s a masterpiece. Looking forward to the movie now, as I’ve heard that the loyal fan base is embracing it. It’s gotta be spot on, if that’s the case, cause the comic is way hardcore.

Right… I got a wicked case of heartburn. Gonna go drink some water and maybe cast off to never never land. The weather outside is frightful in KC, so the time is ripe for some catch up on sleep.

Think I’ll be back tomorrow. See you then.

I recently watched (twice) the movie, “The Wrestler”. If you haven’t seen it… I recommend you rectify that sitcheeashun. It’s brilliantly done. Mickey Rourke’s performance is tremendous, as is Marisa Tomei’s (and she’s looking smoking hot), and Evan Rachel Wood is impressive, too. The script, the dialogue, the cinematography (not real sure what that means, but I know what I’m trying to say), the beginning, middle, and end… it all adds up to something really special. Really real. Human.

For a proper write up on “The Wrester” from a new friend who’s proper cool, check out what DJG has to say. To discover more of DJG’s world, visit his lovely website. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when you end up losing track of time. And likely finding time’s tracks.

By the way, DJG and I are in the beginning stages of concepting out a music video. I’m very excited to be collaborating with him, and artist/director Philip Cheaney, on this project. This will be my first really “new” creative project after nearly 3 years of working on the album. The thought alone is like the smell of an outdoor wood fire at dusk on a crisp Midwestern day.

Spirit-lifting. Invigorating. It’s like Truth in the midst of lies. It feels Good.

The ideas we currently have in mind for the video will be time consuming. And we’ve yet to settle on which album track we’ll use… Which song do YOU have in mind? For the more immediate future, I’ll be uploading live footage from this coming Saturday’s show to the video player. Should be ready around Valentine’s Day.

From: Seume

To: You

After all, it is my (assumed) ancestor Johann Gottfried Seume who is quoted thusly:

Musik ist der Schlüssel zum weiblichen Herzen.
(Music is the key to the female heart.)

Thanks for reading. I’ll have a poem for you next time…

Show Poster by DJGDESIGN.COM