I Played a Janitor

what i'd give to write a song this good....

I love it...

i'm serious....LOOK at these moves!!

hello, cruel world...

i have a couple of things to say here that are exciting to me and occupying my headspace at the moment...

#1, i have been kind of quiet on this for a little bit, but i am in fact hard at work on some new "Honest Weight" recordings. I'd like to make a new full-length record out of them, but time will tell...maybe my mind will change, or my wise counsel will redirect my ambitions...anyway, i've made some real progress on a new batch of songs, and i'll be happy to share them as soon as it makes sense. probably years from now.

#2, i'm very, very excited and anxious to announce that, thanks to the employment of an old high school buddy at the Make A Wish Foundation, i'll be joining one of my favorite bands, TAMMAR, on the road for a few days at the end of the month! Their drummer can't make the trip, and my mouth has a deficiency which renders it incapable of uttering the word "No", so I'll be filling the Sarah Wyatt Swanson-shaped hole behind the drum kit for the following three Tammar shows...
Friday, Oct 28, 2011 / Cameo Gallery / Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, OCt 29, 2011 / Piano's / New York, NY
Sunday, Oct 30, 2011 / the Bowery Ballroom / New York, NY

see you there?

virtual ticket holder

TICKETS for the upcoming Mt Eerie / Nicholas Krgovic / Mike Adams at His Honest Weight show can now be purchased online by visiting.........

http://www.freewebs.com/mikedadams/tix.html

see you at the show!

Home Videos

Mike Adams At His Honest Weight "Help Me When You're Gone" from Flannelgraph Records on Vimeo.

"Help Me When You're Gone"
Written by Jason Martin

Engineered/Produced by Mike Adams

Performed by Mike Adams At His Honest Weight

Mixed by Adam Jessup

Mastered by Drew Vandenberg

Video concept by Jared Cheek

Written, Directed, and Edited by Jared Cheek

Starring Mike Adams, Jared Bane, Aaron Bragg, Nathan Vollmar, Justin Vollmar
...and introducing : Jessica Adams

Special thanks to Flannelgraph Records and Candy Claws

Physical copies of the Candy Claws & Mike Adams At His Honest Weight Sing Starflyer 59 split 10" can be purchased at the Flannelgraph Records Online Store!

Show Announcement!!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

MOUNT EERIE
NICHOLAS KRGOVICH
Stagnant Pools
mike adams at His honest weight

Russian Recording (1021 s walnut st, bloomington, IN)
9:00pm (sharp)
$7 advanced / $10 door

Jared's making a nutty flyer, I'm sure, so I'll get that posted up here just as soon as I can.

Velvet Touch

not usually much of a jazz fan, but getting interested lately. thanks, publicly, to ben lumsdaine for the assistance.
also, scat is a hard thing to swallow. it's lost on me. unless it's roger miller.

this song/performance is sweet though!

Excitement

here's some music i am feeling VERY excited about right now...


Milagres - Glowing Mouth


Tammar - Visits


Loren Connors - Red Mars


Sleeping Bag - Sleeping Bag

The Drift - Blue Hour

I'm waiting patiently (read: anxiously) to hear and look into the artwork for each of these albums as they're made available. that's the longest list of upcoming releases to excite me, maybe ever...

in other news, i'm headed out on tour with husband&wife this weekend. should be a blast, anyway, PLUS we're with sleeping bag. double bonus.

also, i've started tracking songs for a new Honest Weight record. It's very early and hard to tell what this is going to be like. i started with 13. in theory, i'm down to 12 now, with possibly only 11. there's still one more to arrange and record a scratch track for. i think it'll happen. everything is still very abstract and malleable, but it's beginning to take shape. i'll keep you informed as it's revealed to me.

thanks for reading.

The Bet Of Us For The Rest Of Us

i'm very excited and happy to report that i received an anonymous tip yesterday that told me about the one-track-mind.com first-half-of-the-year-best-of-list! not only did "bad weather" make the list at #7, BUT my good friends and jealousy-inducingly talented bros in Milagres took the much deserved number one spot!!

if you're not familiar with OTM, do yourself a favor and make a couple visits a week over there. you'll be introduced to a lot of great music that you otherwise may not have heard about. solid dudes running the show over there.

Nother

here she is, folks! all the news that's fit to print.

[edit]
oops, that didn't work, but here's the deal...
free instore performance TOMORROW afternoon (3pm) at Luna music in indianapolis.
all gave some, some gave all.

secret new release released!

here's my brand new digital-only single, recorded for and released by Flannelgraph Records just 5 minutes ago!

I wrote and recorded these songs in a fit one night a few weeks ago while i was (and still am) dealing with some pretty heavy stuff. Without exaggerating, i think i can say that i'm currently experiencing some of the most prolonged, deepest sorrow and worry I've ever felt, and simultaneously overwhelmed with some very serious, thrilling excitement and joy. Emotions are a funny thing. They are not mutually exclusive, and do not yield to one another. I typically prefer stability and reflexion to a lot of peaks and valleys, but i've definitely been feeling the strain of what's going on inside me lately. In honesty though, letting these songs out has been very therapeutic in helping me understand what i'm dealing with. Coupled with the fact that i have a whole lot of very kind and understanding friends.

sorry to get so heavy and selfish for a minute. i am happy to say, though, that the joyous thing i'm dealing with is that my first wife is currently in-the-family-way. i'm fairly certain that i'm the father, and will be accepting baby name suggestions in the comment field below.

also, i've got two shows coming up this month. a rare treat. one in muncie, IN with the calumet reel, and one in franklin, IN with legendary rockers Daniel Amos!! i'll post some details soon.

check out them new songs!!

TMI

A few years ago I was trolling the internet looking to stream the new Cass Mccombs single (which, at the time, was "That's That") and I stumbled upon an internet "arts & culture website made by an ever-growing gang of rascally, intrepid personalities engaged in an ongoing dialogue about the world around us" called Take The Handle. It's a great looking, interactive periodical with some truly interesting content. It also seems like it might be made by well-intentioned, privileged young people from NYC with an unwitting singular world view. I had to remove myself from their mailing list because most of their announcements were not for the interesting cultural stuff but were for alcohol drinking parties. They're trying, though, and there really is some fantastic stuff in the magazine. But, I digress...

Within each issue they include a "mixtape" (which included "That's That" which is how I found it) that is essentially a playlist of mp3s of known and unknown bands that the editors like. On that same playlist with Cass Mccombs was a song by a band called Glass Ghost. The song was called "Like A Diamond", and I loved it as soon as I heard it. I couldn't find much info on Glass Ghost on the internet, but somehow I came up with an email address and contacted them, and bought some mp3s from them. All the songs were good.

Soon after that, I somehow found out that Glass Ghost had worked out a deal with Western Vinyl, who is a great little record label from Texas, to release their debut LP. I was already a fan of WV, and of Glass Ghost, so I was excited to see and hear what they came up with. What they came up with was Idol Omen, and groovy, catchy, weird record that has become one of my favorites to listen to.

Fast forward to 2011, and I'm on a spring tour with husband&wife. The best show of the entire tour was at Brooklyn's "The Rock Shop". The room was full of friends, the other bands were all buddies of ours (not to mention super-talented and engaging and GOOD)...AND Glass Ghost was headlining the show! Ultimately, I'm not really sure who was responsible for putting that show together, but I have my suspects...Anyway, Glass Ghost was great that night, and as it turns out they're also very friendly and fun to hang and chat with. The experience solidified my love for their music and I really hope I get to cross paths with them again soon.

All this to say, Western Vinyl had this callabo-version of "Like A Diamond" on their website recently, and it's really nice. I don't know who Sharon Von Etten is, but her voice is pretty and suits the song well.
Like A Diamond sung by Sharon Van Etten by western.vinyl

Also, if you go snooping around Take The Handle, check out the Becca Mann paintings in the Romantic issue.

Old Dog, New Terrors

New Terrors - "Seagulls" from Stephen Dorman on Vimeo.

Here's a video of my half-brother (same mom, different dads) Burke doing his thang on television. He's a super talented guy, and I'm very proud of him and into the music he's been making lately. We chat a lot about, and frequently share, music and ideas we like, and it's always great to see his creativity coming to life.

speaking of which, he recently released a single as a part of the new Flannelgraph Records (he and I are also label mates...) monthly single project. There're three out so far, Burke's is "New Terrors", but be sure to also check out Doug Enas and his brother and the one and only Jared Bane in action as well.

let me make this easy on you...

Food For Thought

Disclaimers:
I have been a fairweather fan of David Bazan's ever since I heard the "Whole EP" way back in high school. I haven't always liked his stuff, but when he does something new I typically do check it out and see what he's up to. (I like "Control" and the first four tracks on "Fewer Moving Parts" the most, fyi)

I have been a hardcore fan of Starflyer 59 ever since I heard "Gold" (dubbed for me on the same cassette as the "Whole EP", incidentally) way back in high school. I have always loved their stuff, even when it wasn't as good as their other stuff. (i like "Leave Here A Stranger", "Everybody Makes Mistakes" and "Fell in Love At 22" the most, though that's a very hard decision to make)

SAME SONG THREE TIMES ////
EXHIBIT A:
Starflyer 59 (featuring David Bazan) /// BROKEN ARM /// Ghosts Of The Future (BTV, 2007)
MP3

EXHIBIT B:
David Bazan /// LOST MY SHAPE /// Curse Your Branches (Barsuk, 2009) [track 7]
MP3

EXHIBIT C:
David Bazan /// MESSES /// Strange Negotiations (Barsuk, 2011) [track 7]
MP3

There you have it.

Also, one time my friend Jordan H. sent me this message on December 14, 2009 :
"Hey Mike,

Hope things are going well.
I had something to tell you that you might find pretty cool.
The other night, two of my friends hosted a David Bazan show in their living room, and it was pretty amazing. However, after the show we were standing around talking to him. We had iTunes on shuffle in the background, and during one song he actually left the conversation to check the computer and see what song was playing. The song was "Don't Change" and he said he loved it. So we gave him you guys' MySpace address and so on.

To recap, Dave Bazan totally dug Husband & Wife.

Take care !

-Jordan"

Not too interesting...until you realize that the name of the eighth track on David Bazan's new record "Strange Negotiations" is titled.....DON'T CHANGE!

We report, you decide....

Story Problem

NEW RELEASE NEWS!!

ok, so, have you heard of Starflyer 59? They're America's greatest rock band of all-time, ever. Just ask these nerds.

Also, have you heard of Candy Claws? They're a fantastic, synthy, dreamy, space-nature band from Fort Collins, CO. Is their music good? Yes. Don't believe me? Ask these nerds.

And, have you heard of Deerhunter? They're a currently famous band from Atlanta who plays on late night TV shows. I first heard them on a stereo at a Starflyer 59 show in Illinois. Here are some nerds.

Finally, as well, have you heard of Flannelgraph Records? They're nerds.

The reason I ask is, if you know about or are interested in any of those things, then maybe you'll care about this....

Sometime in the next few months (release date TBD) Mike Adams At His Honest Weight (that's me) will be releasing a split 10" with Candy Claws on Flannelgraph Records! The music on the 10" will be of each band covering one Starflyer 59 song that they love! The "B" or "Mike Adams at His Honest Weight" side was mastered by none other than Drew Vandenberg, who I met once on St. Patrick's day in Athens, GA. He also worked (and played on) the last two Deerhunter albums.

There you have it.

Candy Claws did the cover art, and it's really great. Kinda like if Scooby-Doo went to Hawaii instead of the Brady Bunch. Hopefully we can show you that, and let you know the release date before too long. In the mean time, feel free to venture any guesses as to which Starflyer songs you think we covered. I know the answer, but I'm just not telling here out of pure meanness.

Call It A Night

Antony & The Johnsons
Live at the John Waldron Arts Center
Bloomington, Indiana
2/22/2005

My Lady Story
For Today I Am A Boy
Cripple And The Starfish
The Lake
Dirt Will Crack Again
Daylight And The Sun
Afraid
You Are My Sister
Man Is The Baby
I Fell In Love With A Dead Boy
Hope There's Someone

Here's a live recording of Antony & The Johnsons i found in a box today, around the time of I Am A Bird Now. That's the Antony record I'm most familiar with, so this live set is right up my alley. I think his voice is great, and this kind of live bootleg is a cool testament to what a guy like this is capable of, performance-wise. Really beautiful. Long live concert bootlegs!!

By the way, there's no real reason I haven't kept up with his recordings post SC105 (nerd alert!), so any Antony-listening suggestions would be appreciated!

human conditions

crying when you're rich
is a poor if you're lonely
sheer madness prevails
upon reason to yield
but all is not lost
it is only mistaken
a small consolation, but
i know just how you feel

you got your heartbroke


i think i've said it on here before, but lyrics in a song are typically not that important to me. while i think bad ones can ruin a perfectly good tune, anything from mediocre to good is usually fine with me. occasionally though, some stick out to me as being good. up above here is a good example, written by a guy named Guy Clark, from a song made famous by a guy named Ricky Skaggs.

Ad Wizards

Field Mic

Making Jackpots

Come One, Come All!!! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!! ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!! BEST ACT UNDER THE BISH-TOP!!!
EXCITEMENT!! THRILLS!!!! DANGER!!!! EXTRA! EXTRA!!

Mike Adams At His Honest Weight appearing LIVE (with band) at the Bishop on tuesday March 22 around about 9pm.
with SubPop Records's (Nirvana, Looper, Chappaquiddick Skyline) THE PAPERCUTS!!!!

that's in Bloomington, IN!

4th and Walnut!!!!!

the age-limit for the show is 18+!!!! (sorry all babies and most other teenagers...)

Come for the music, stay for the **TIME RING**!!

tammar never knows

alt title : tammar-o was his name-o


My friends (and current/past co-workers) in Tammar (and can i say label mates? maybe...) have made a few of the tracks from their new full-length LP available for free, and it's all very good. Tammar is one of my favorite bands to see, and they're from right here in sunny bloomington. You may recognize singer Dave Walter from such Mike Adams at His Honest Weight hits as, "Bad Weather" (do you love me now / how can i know? / spirit's upstairs banging / hard on the wall / babysitter's in a ball on the kitchen floor / don't got a thing figured out / but can't believe in it all)

in other news, we finished mixing the brand new Bro. Stephen record "Baptist Girls" last night! it's going off to mastering later this week and should actually be released later this year. it's only been a year-and-a-half since we first started tracking that thing, and i'm glad it's about to see the light of day. brought to you by the same production team responsible for the huge blockbuster success of "Oscillate Wisely". it's got that adams/jessup sounds, you dig?

holy bees

the seasons are changing and i'm finding myself, once again, super busy. too busy, in fact, to write in sentences. so, here's a list :

-review mix for new Honest Weight 7"
-record demo for new h+w song (to click track)
-final mix for Bro. Stephen full-length
-test new gear and prepare for this weekend's recording session with cousin Frankie's church band
-(that means gathering and cleaning up equipment)
-upload digital LEM music (ongoing.....)
-collect things Nate needs for XRA 3.0 (ongoing...)
-look at a calendar
-finish/rerecord guitar parts for new Prayer Breakfast EP
-get the PB full-length out


current listening:
Little Wings (Black Grass)
Radiohead (King of Limbs)
Lambchop (How I Quit Smoking)
Roger Miller (Complete Discography)

making jackpots

if there's any credence to this...

...then this is my drug of choice, tonight


EDIT : : :
in light (no pun intended...) of new information, i should also tell you that this is my shoe of choice

in the time of chimpanzees i was a monkey and a monkey

this song is a great example of the kind of sweeping melody that i really love. it also utilizes the "song that never ends" style of unresolved interplay between the chorus and verses that leads one right into the other and seems like it could for eternity. i like that kind of song writing, and i like this song. so good!

oh, james.....

been james
been tracyanne
for a long time now
been a CO fan
no doubt in my mind
this one's my jam

by : mike adams

Ice Storm

here's a field recording i made of the water maple in our backyard during tonight's ice storm. There's also some wind and traffic noise going on here.



Ice Storm Backyard 2 1 11 by mikeadams

I will meet you in the morning

AMAZONG!

Today's the big one! 1/25/11...Oscillate Wisely sees the light of day. You can find it available for purchase pretty much anyplace that's worth anything, that sells music that is, thanks to the fine folks at Flannelgraph & St Ives Records.

In related news, I'd like to thank the fine music editors at AMAZON.COM for making us one of their "Editor Picks New Releases" today. How about that?!


In unrelated, sad news, David Grubb, the Indiana Outlaw, was found dead yesterday in his home, just down the street from my own place, after a house fire. Rest In Peace.

Smoke + Mirrors

As of yesterday, the brand new video for "I'm Not Worried", the first single from Oscillate Wisely, has been posted to the internet.

I didn't get to see any of it until it was unveiled yesterday morning, and I think it came out great. Mondo thanks to Nathan Vollmar and Will Claytor from the 19th State Film Collective, as well as Jared Cheek from Flannelgraph Records for making this happen.

A couple of interesting notes...This version of the song is actually a different version than the one that appears on the album. All of the audio you're hearing during the video was recorded during the making of the video. That drummer is playing the drums you hear, the bass player is playing the bass you hear, and so on and so forth. The idea is that it would serve as a "live" recording...sort of, i guess. This whole thing was also taped in my backyard in one evening between eating cheese-less pizza and watching Everything Is Terrible The Movie.

I wish I'd smiled more....

no time for silence

i just found out today that Jeff Jacobs, trumpeter and keyboardist for San Francisco jazz/rock/surf/dub/ambient band The Drift, passed away earlier this week. very sad news.

The Drift are sincerely one of my favorite bands. perhaps they took me by surprise or came along at just the right time for me, but i think i love them so much because i heard the music and developed an attachment to it before i even knew a single thing about the band. and i essentially grabbed their record at random from a pile of 100s of other CDs just to try something new at work one day. It's one of those pure kind of music experiences to be introduced to a band that way and turn out to really love them. No outside influence, just music good enough to speak for itself. i love it when that happens.

I was lucky/silly enough to get a chance to see the Drift live once in Louisville, KY (with Jeff Jacobs) before it was too late. It is one of my favorite concert memory experiences.



if you've got a few bucks lying around, this record comes HIGHLY recommended from me.

Cheers in Heaven

What do Eric Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Scorpions, and I have in common?
We're all being advertised on PITCHFORKMEDIA.COM, right now!

That's right! Even the fine folks of Pitchforkmedia.com recommend that you pick up Oscillate Wisely on or around it's release date of 1/25/11, and you had better mind.





in other news, we had the first full-band practice for the OW release show (1/16/11, in Bloomington) last night, and it went great! Loads of fun, f'sho.
here they are:
Mike Adams - singing
Captain Bfox - guitar, singing
Zae Canale - guitar
Snack Mountain - bass guitar, singing
Kurtis Friedrich - keys
Benlums - bendrums