We’re All In This Together

This will be last post here. 

From now on, go to www.andyzipf.wordpress.com for my bloggity bits.

I’ll still keep this, in case you want to go back and read the old posts. 

Couple things I’m excited about right now.

American Songwriter Magazine chose me as songwriter of the week! Pretty awesome.

This song.

My little brother is getting married this weekend, and I’m singing an old hymn called Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken in the ceremony.  I had never heard it before, but its really beautiful.  Might even record it.

Happy stuffing.

Terry McBride, man.

If there are more people like him out there, we have some hope. 

Check his blog out.

The Lay It Down EP should be up on iTunes very soon.  There will be an extra song : Wear Your Summer Dress.  I’ll put it up someplace on the interwebical shelf. 

I’ve got a couple shows coming up.

1. Dec 5 at The Watershed in Lexington, SC.  I had to reschedule the show from last month.  Can’t wait to see my pfriends there.

2. VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.  Dec 13 at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA, opening for Jeremy Enigk. I am a huge fan of Sunny Day Real Estate, specifically ‘Diary’. The Fire Theft are pretty awesome too.

See you all out there.

This is costing me $7.95. If I didn’t have some extra time, I don’t think I would have paid.  But, I need to get some stuff done and I wanted to let you know how things are going.

I’m playing in Franklin, TN this Sunday, after coming back from Seattle (my flight leaves in 20 min). Then I head to the mid-west.  Looking forward to seeing you Missouri and Iowa folks again. It’s been too long.

IOTA with The Modern Skirts and The Brakes on Monday was a killer show.  We all had a great time. Thanks for coming out.

My very talented and gracious friend, Brad Wolf of SOTA took some great shots.  He made us look pretty cool. No? You can see more here.
 

T Bone Burnett developed a new sound technology called CODE.  Very interesting.  Thanks to my friend Will Gray for telling me about this.  Genius.

I’m speaking at a CMJ panel next week called ‘If I Only Had Funding‘. 

The Lay It Down EP will be on iTunes with an extra song, ‘Wear Your Summer Dress’ by mid-November.

D.C./VA folks…I’ve got a show at IOTA on OCT 27 with the band.  Modern Skirts and The Brakes are playing.  It’s gonna be a great night. 

Oh…Would you like to request songs every other week for me to post in videos on here?  Let me know..

Honestly… 

Do you care about the “new” Guns n Roses record?

I don’t. 

You know who does? Their core fanbase.  I’m not sure exactly who, or where they are, but there’s probably a lot of them.  And they can’t wait to hear it.  And Axl Rose will go on tour and be able to continue to do whatever he is doing, whenever he is not looking like the villan from Cyborg. 

I like a couple of GnR songs, but I’m not a huge fan.  So what.  They don’t need me.  I’m pretty sure “Appetite” is still selling. They have their niche and the people that live there. Good for them. 

I too, have tried to carve a niche. It’s not as big of a chunk as they’ve got, obviously, but its mine…no its OURS. That is the only way I have been able to do this, and it is the only way I will be able to continue doing it.  I am an indie guy, but I’m dependent on you.

So let me know where you want me to play, what you want to hear from me, what you want to know, etc. You’re the boss. 

There are millions of songs out there.  Here’s to being a little louder…with your help.

All in this together, man.

Last night I saw a final cut screening of Call and Response. I’ve written about this movie before. You need to see it. It’s coming to theaters in October. My response was to write a song - Sell My Sister, which you’ll be able to hear soon.

My new pfriends at Digital Freedom put me in touch with Breakthru Radio yesterday. We were going to try and do an interview last night, but I was at the Call and Response screening. So DJ Latola and I spoke this morning at 7:30. Early, yes… but I’m really glad I had the opportunity to chat with him. We talked about digital rights, the state of the music industry, DIY methods, some of my favorite live shows of all time and the mystery of melody. Check it out. Should be up later today, I think. BTR and Digital Freedom are advocates of believers in music. Support them.

Tonight, we play our second show as a three piece at The Rock and Roll Hotel. I’ve never played there, but this will be a cool introduction. Some great DC bands are playing - Justin Jones and The Driving Rain, Olivia and The Housemates and Meredith Bragg.

Come on out, if you’re around.  I’m playing slide on Give All now, with the new band arrangement.  We’re doing a cover that I think you’ll enjoy as well. 

I’m studying for tonight’s show at IOTA. 

I watched a documentary about Dark Side of the Moon when I got up. 

As write this, I’m watching Running Down a Dream. 

Next on the list…

The Last Waltz

maybe a little U2 at Slane

I’ll probably finish with The Verve’s set at Glastonbury this year. 

If I can find it, Gimme Shelter. 

I can not wait to play. 

You know, I have been playing guitar, writing songs, doing my thing for a while.  But not long, compared to my heroes. I still get excited making music.  I hope I never lose that. 

I hope to see you tonight, if you’re in the area. 

Cause we’re gonna have a good time.

I have been writing a lot lately…

Fall and Winter are typically when I write at this pace. 

Some of songs are recorded and mixed.  Others are just demos on my laptop. 

I am going to make them all available at the new www.andyzipf.com when its up.  So, stay tuned. 

I have some shows coming up with the band at IOTA and The Rock and Roll Hotel.  I am SO excited.  I actually have rehearsal tonight and I can’t wait. 

Also, I just got an offer to open for Joshua Radin and Alexa Wilkinson at The Birchmere at the end of this month.  Very cool.

So…

I got back from L.A. Sunday afternoon at 4pm ET.  I had been up until 4 am PT, recording Ken Oak’s cello part on one of my new songs(What We Do Not Know…kind of like Innocence Mission meets Simon and Garfunkel) and then singing on Theft’s new EP.  My flight left at 8 am from LAX, but I had to return the rental car at 7 am.  It’s about a half hour drive from where I was staying to LAX. 

I slept for an hour and a half.  I should have just skipped it.  Anything less than three hours is almost pointless. 

My week in L.A. was very productive.  Shows were great.  I am working on a plan to go back as soon as I can.  Hung out with old friends and made some cool new ones.

I saw a comp of the new www.andyzipf.com and it’s killer.  I can’t wait until its up.  Everything is consolidated.  Tour dates, photo gallery, all of my cybernetc haunts, mp3s, this blog and much more to come.  It will be good to have a home base that I can direct people to.  Again…if you have any suggestions about what should be on there, now is the time to let me know.

The Henry Poole is Here song is being mixed now.  Should have something for you to listen to soon.  Its due this week.

Today, I’ve begun to record a song I just wrote.   Lyrics aren’t done, but the music is.  Melody always shows up first.

I flew in Monday to LAX on Virgin Airlines.  I usually go with Southwest, but I found a deal through Hotwire. If you haven’t flown with them, you should try it sometime. Neon lights, personal TV on each seat, order drinks and food whenever you want. Pretty snazzy. When I landed, I got a free upgrade to a midsize rental because Budget was out of economy cars. Score.  Good thing, cause we needed the space for the gear.

Our first show on Tuesday at The Gypsy Lounge was great.  Theft graciously let us borrow a drum kit, 72 Strat and the new Line 6 amp for the week.  They rule.

Last night, we played at Greene Records with Ken Oak, hung out with some good pfriends and then headed back to Pasadena, where we are staying for the next couple of days. 

Tonight is THE HOTEL CAFE show! I’m really excited to be playing there.  Somebody’s coming out to take pictures, so I’ll post those when I get them.

Later.

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