I’m clearly not a good updater, because I don’t end up doing it. But here I am now, anyway. Life has taken place amidst diverse backdrops these last several months: Austin, TX — Kansas City, MO — Venice Beach, CA — NYC — The Netherlands — Bastogne, Belgium — Davis, CA — and Wheaton, IL for good measure. I haven’t stayed in any one spot longer than 3 months this year and it’s mostly been a few weeks here or there.

I’ll save you — and when I say “you” I mean “myself” — the expense of the detailed chronicles (though it’s probably safe to say my atrophied memory wouldn’t allow for that anyway). At any rate, it’s been great. You can see some sparse, mostly travelling photos here, if you’d like. Sadly, it may be a while ’til the next road trip. After two great years and several thousand miles, the Wookie has taken its final resting place in Chicago after a broken crankshaft bolt dealt a deathblow. RIP Wookie. I will miss you, comrade. Though, I kept your windshield, so I hope to still see a part of the world through you down the road.

OK. Despite it being quiet ’round this site for a while, the kettle’s been brewing at Grassland Records and it’s warming up for a good whistle. You’ll start seeing new life in the next several days. And that life is born of a sheriff. A new sheriff that has come to Grassland Recordsvilletown. And his name is Jacob Fulton.

Jacob is known more as an artist and photographer than a law-man, but if he was more of a law-man, he’d be one from the wild west with a big beard or mustache. At least in my mind. And whilst we’re in my mind, let’s continue the journey.

I should let you know that Jake and I are riding a couple mighty steeds, high-speed on a bad ass ol’ wooden wagon. Stay with us now… we may be going somewhere. You see, being the town’s original sheriff — familiar with the surroundings — I’m holding the reins in our pursuit, but Jake’s crackin’ the whip and itchin’ to grab the leather straps that command dual horse power. Glancing to my left, I see the readiness in his eye and smile to myself.

It’s gonna be a good ride.

If you got lost in that metaphorical dust trail, don’t worry… I did too. So I’m gonna spell it out clean. Jacob’s joining up with Grassland Records and we’re excited to have him. He brings many talents to the table, of which you’ll sample right below here. Jacob picks up where I leave off, and we see much that can be accomplished working side by side.

Have a click on this track art Jacob made for “Speaking of the Devil” to see the full set — one for each song on It Is What It Is. We thought this’d be a good way to explore art direction for the label and coming projects. I hope you like what you see. I know I do.

We see Grassland Records being a communal experience. We love music. It sets things in motion. Hopefully, it brings us together.

And I hope this finds you well.

Grassland Records on Facebook
Grassland Records on Twitter
Grassland Records on Tumblr

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….

Here’s some new stuff to say I’m sorry …

VIDEO: “Leavin” produced by Daniel Myers. I hope you enjoy it. Rainer and The Wookie (my van) both make cameos.

TRACK: A little hip-hop collabo with Dutch group, L4.

I met up with their producer and mc, DNA, one night when I was in Holland over Christmas in ‘09 and we worked on this track the following day. A year or so later, L4 released it into the wild. DNA, aka Arturo, is a friend of mine from my high school years over there, and I’m real proud of what he’s accomplished in music. Check out a couple of their music vids sometime. Here’s my fave.

Over the last few months in Austin, I’ve been working as a luthier apprentice at Collings Guitars. I started out making the bridges and pickguards, and am now setting necks into bodies. These guitars — acoustic and electric as well as mandolins and ukeleles — are truly top-of-the-line works of art/craftsmanship… so it’s been real nice having a hand it that. Couldn’t have asked for a better job to get off the ground here.

Same can be said for where I’ve been staying, just south of the city and walking distance from the creek greenbelt, Barton Springs and Zilker Park (home of Austin City Limits Fest). The room I’m renting is in a great old house (with a nice big backyard for Rainer) with a few other cool 20-somethings. Nice wood and tile floors, stonework, and dozens of mirrors (including fully mirrored kitchen cabinets/cupboards… a mirror maze, if you will) have provided a great background aesthetic for the fun times and fires we’ve had in just a few short months. And DJG’s art hanging up all over the place. Got these two in the corner by the sliding door.

Austin has been very good to me.

But I’ve decided to pick up and move again.

In a couple weeks, I’ll be headed to Kansas City to visit friends and then will be caravanning out west with a few others to start an intentional, off-grid community. We’re all excited and envigorated by the prospects and looking forward to beginning that type of life.

What this means for my music is that I’m working to have more freedom to write, play and record. One of the lessons I’ve learned in Austin is that living in/around nature is good for my well-being and creativity. So, I guess that theory will be tested by what I release next. The pressure’s on now!

Here are the lyrics for one I’ve been working on:

You’re taking all my precious time
And leaving me with nothing I can shine
A lease on life will pay my way
Robbed blind by an eye in the interest of another day

This is what it’s coming to

It’s the same thing everyday
A ball and chain gang we live in society
When paper money from a tree
Ain’t much more than the sawdust it used to be

This is what it’s coming to

And I say that it’s not gonna be easy
And you know that it’s never gonna be
But I can’t shake my love for the rush or the feeling
Before I go so low and get high and mighty free

—

It’s Saturday. Time to go play.

Soundtrack for the Day: Into The Wild!

peace to you.

The folks at the KC Chapter of the AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) gave it an award for their annual Motion Graphics category. All the credit goes to DJG and PJC — the creative geniuses working under the moniker Mur Mur Man Productions — who let their imaginations run wild (as per) and worked for over a year on it collectively. I just uploaded DJG’s process art for the video to Flickr, so stop by there to get an idea of how it was made! It involved lots of collages, a giant scroll, and unrestrained wonderment. Congrats and another big thanks to both artists for bringing the song to life on screen!

If you haven’t seen it yet, just click on the VIDEO header and see why it’s been called

“one of the coolest things you’ll see all year”! – Present Magazine

Also on the video front, the footage we shot for “Leavin” is being edited down as we speak, so we’ll be premiering that real soon. And I got photos from that shoot on Flickr… behind the scenes! Click the photo below to see the rest.

I’ll be making a half-naked cameo appearance in an ACB’s video in the coming weeks, too. So be on the look out for THAT! And in the meantime, go download their debut single “Be Professional” from their upcoming full length Stona Rosa. It’s free, and you’ll love it, I think.

Single artwork by… none other than… DJG.

Gonna miss a lot of you KC folks. I hope to be back around real soon. Know you’re loved…

Gotta mention my pal and super photographer, Forester’s 40th bday bash in the West Bottoms last Friday. The massive turnout is a testament to Forester as a friend and artist. He’s taken my favorite photos over the last few years in KC.

Click here to see his shots from my last show in KC @ The Gusto Lounge

And here’s a shot from Forester’s bday. He asked Konnor Ervin (The ACB’s) and me to do a short Hall and Oates set that night. A great note to end my KC stay on!

1. I’m hoping to shoot a music video for this track one week from today.  Weather and other conditions permitting…  But if it’s meant to happen, it’ll be great.

Listen to “Leavin” and any/all other tracks from It Is What It Is on the MEDIA page.

Dig it?  Download it below.

Entering your email address signs you up to get updates about stuff like this, shows, etc. moving forward.  I’ve been an absolute bum about sending these emails out to subscribers thus far… my apologies friends.  But at least you can know you won’t be getting a bunch of spam from me all the time, riiiight?  CHECK OUT MY NEW MIXTAPE, SON SON!

2. I’m likely heading out of KC in a couple weeks.  Might not be back for a while… who knows?  I’ll be playing a set at the Gusto Lounge off Broadway + 39th this Tuesday 9:30-10:30.  The bar’s got a chill living room feel with lots of Shlitz decor, so I’m lookin forward to the coziness.  See you there or somewhere else down the road, I hope.

It’s COLD in KC! So cold, my “new” 1982 VW Vanagon — aka The Wookie — refused to start yesterday morning. But hey, I refused to start this morning, too. It’s too warm with the covers pulled up all cozy-like! And speaking of covers, here’s my version of Sam Cooke’s, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. Hope you dig it.

The stop animation video for “Will Ya Be My Friend” is in its final stage, so look for a premier shortly after the New Year. Working on new T-Shirts, stickers, and other ideas (Vinyls, USB drives w/ album downloads…) to roll out in the next couple months, too. Trying to take advantage of being ushered inside by the weather!

And just making some changes. Growing during the winter on the inside light.

I’m smellin a year-in-review pot roast cookin. Needs to stew in the crock for a couple more weeks to really soak up all that flavor! I’m gettin hungry… Might have to hook up a little meal at the local grocery deli. $4.99 for an entree, 2 sides, bread, AND a drink! And after this one, the punch card says the next one’s FREE.99! Get outta heeeya.

I leave you with an intimate photo from last Saturday @ The Brick. DJG’s 7th annual art exhibition went off really well… great to be surrounded by his artwork on the walls. And the spread of munchies was nothin to shake a fist at either.

Rub yo tummy.
-Seume

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.

To read the article on their site, you have to create a sign-in (why?), so here’s the text for those of you who won’t wanna do that (don’t blame you).

Smiling Wolf has worked with musician David Seume on a number of design tasks.

The Liverpool-based agency developed branding, sleeve art and packaging for the singer as well as launching his new website – davidseume.com – featuring motion graphics and a blog.

Seume’s recently released debut album cover featured a specially manufactured and photographed typographic installation.

So yeah, a design based mention, but good to be mentioned no doubt. Thanks Si, for the heads up, and to John from Smiling Wolf for recently giving my myspace some new threads.

Also, just last week received a nice review for It Is What It Is from UK based online music mag, Room Thirteen. For this one, you don’t have to do anything but click to read Joanna Vallance’s remarks on what she calls “A Varied and Promising Album”.

And, It Is What It Is is getting airplay at nearly 100 college/indie radio stations nationwide (and Canada) and is a weekly top 30 album at WLFR in Pomona, NJ. Hopefully I’ll be soon be cracking more top 30’s and start grabbing some top 10’s (or the top spot, yeah?), but the reception thus far even for a self-released debut has been proper cool. Mos def.

I’m off to Wheaton, IL tomorrow for a week at my brother’s house. Gonna landscape his crib. If I can get it together, I’ll shoot some before and after photos to throw up on Flickr. I know you wanna see ‘em.

So that’s about it for now. I’ll soon be writing an post about stuff from the last month: the L.A. show, some KC shows, the “Will Ya Be My Friend” video, some local recognition, and just generally why it’s been a while since the last update.

cheerios,
seume

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