In the studio
We’re in Sacramento, at the Hangar, hanging out and tracking vocals for the new album. Robert Cheek is in the house and HOLDING IT DOWN like only he can. So, basically, he’s being creepy and pushing buttons while we try our best to make due with the lackluster effort he’s putting into being an engineer. We’re back here in about a week to mix this thing, and then it’ll be off to the presses while we prepare for the impending fall tours.
The album will see its release on September 18th at a very special show at Slim’s with our favorites, Tartufi, who will also be releasing their album “Nests of Waves and Wires.” The night will be rounded out by Built for the Sea, who will be releasing an EP. As if that was not enough, the newly-revived Thread Productions will be releasing the Dragon Slayers, Vol. 3 compilation. Heads will explode.
In early September, prior to the album release show, we will be hitting the northwest for about two weeks of shows. We will have a special tour edition of the new album with us for those shows. Check out the “events” page for more information on where and when we’re playing.
Early October finds us hitting the rest of the country for about a month and a half. There are some big shows planned for this tour, and in all likelihood they’ll be canceled on us at the last minute or something because that’s how life treats us. Still, we hope. We’re ever-hopeful. Again, keep an eye on the “events” page.
We’ve played some awesome shows lately. Our good friends from Wichita, Paper Airplanes, were on tour in support of their new album, “Scandal, Scandal, Scandal Down in the Wheatfield.” We were set to play four shows with them, but FATE had a different idea.
Vanessa was kind enough to have us at the Fort Gallery. Saything joined us on the bill and it was one loud, dark show. Mark accidentally broke the only light in the room when he tried to do a magic trick or something, so we played without the benefit of being able to see what we were doing. You’d think that, after years of playing our instruments, we’d have some feel for the things, but you’d be surprised. We still found a way to rock toward the light, and we had a great time. The members of L.A. uber-rockstar bigshot group Dusty Rhodes and the River Band were even in attendance. It was clearly the place to be.
The next night we were supposed to play in Monterey, but Paper Airplanes’ van broke down in Los Gatos, stranding them at various bars and passed out in the backs of strangers’ cars. We continued on and had a really good time hanging out with Cameron and Christy, and playing the show. Thanks to everyone at Monterey Live for being awesome, and to everyone who listened and bought something. Especially the people who bought something.
Since the July 4th show was local, Paper Airplanes had a chance to get their van issues addressed. While that was happening, a monumental rock show went down at El Rio. First and foremost, a huge thanks to Lynne for helping out and being amazing, and for making everything happen. On two stages, San Francisco was treated to Pope of Yes!, I Was Totally Destroying It, a reunited Sky Pilots, Paper Airplanes, Two Sheds, us, and Caves. On top of free barbecue, the folks in attendance couldn’t have been luckier. Thank you to everyone who came to the show and for those who wish to seek them out, there are two videos of us from the show on YouTube, shot by the ever-lurking BrOhio.
After a night of raging, and with a fixed van and a brand new bill, the Paper Airplanes/Low Red Land Summer Tour 2K8 rolled into San Jose, excited to play a fun and enjoyable rock show. Nope.
We saw Paper Airplanes on their way the next day and then brushed up on our acoustic skills for a show in Davis at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen for Mike Leahy’s Cool as Folk. That guy rules, even though we aren’t even in his top friends on Myspace. Ahem. Click on that link and check out his deal. We took the long way to get there, to say the least. It wasn’t a big deal, though, because we were only crammed with our pal Joel and all of our gear into Liz’s Jetta. Mark and I didn’t experience awful back pain or anything. We played with Portland’s Drunken Prayer, two awesome and very nice folks who were on tour from the comfy confines of the Pacific Northwest. Mike took great care of us, the folks who were in attendance were awesome. We even found a drunk from Massachusetts who indulged us in a spirited Boston talk sesh. I got to say “packy.” There were some Australians there, too, and after we talked about boomerangs and being stupid, we were on our way. Again, thanks to Mike, and look out, Davis, we’ll be back.
We followed that acoustic show with another special acoustic show at Cafe Du Nord for Raised by Robots and the Paper Sons tour kick-off show. This time, our friends Maura and Sofia joined us for a few songs on violin and cello, respectively. They are sweet people and they were just totally great. Thank you to everyone who came out to the show, thank you to Parker Street Cinema for also playing, and to Cafe Du Nord for having us. The new, fourth member of Low Red Land (acoustic), Mike Chopko, couldn’t make the show and has since been fired. It’s too bad. He really could have added something to the band. We just can’t abide slackers, no matter how big their hearts may be. Someday, maybe…
We’ve got a couple of shows coming up, one in Sacramento and a special one in San Francisco. We’ll be playing on August 14th with Goodness Gracious Me in Sacramento at Old Ironsides. Our friend Jeremy is the mastermind behind that band and we’re excited to play with them. On August 24th, we’ll be playing the inaugural Treat Street Fair, presented by the hardworking kids in Tartufi and WhizBang Promotions.
To wrap up, thanks to everyone, all 70-something of you, who voted for us in the Deli Magazine’s Band of the (half) Month. We totally crushed all those other dweebs and as our reward, the Deli decided to take the jabbiest picture of us in existence and make it into a banner to display on their site for all of eternity. Hooray. Now, if ever you find yourself wondering, “what’s up with those Low Red Land guys,” you can head over to the Deli’s site and look at that picture and say, “oh, yeah, they’re probably off being jabronis somewhere.”
