Greetings from the B-Side Brewery! It’s been just over two weeks since the Roland High Life released our latest single, a splash of summery sing-along power-pop called “Always Almost Ready.” Which is also a good indication of how far behind I am on life right now.
Have a listen below, or on Bandcamp / Apple Music / etc.
I’m particularly proud of this one — not just because it’s a catchy-ass song (Walker wrote the words this time), and not just because it references the same Starting Line song that Taylor Swift references on her new album (we did it first). But also because I think the quality is top-notch! I engineered, produced, and mixed this one, and I think it sounds damnhellass professional. (So much so that we actually hired a professional mastering engineer this time to really make it pop.) (Mastering is sort of the Dark Arts of music production and no one knows how to explain right except for the wizards themselves.)
But don’t take my word for it. Listen for yourself and decide, or let any of these thoughtful reviews do the work.
We’ve got a few shows coming up this summer, too:
Friday, June 28 in Salem, Massachusetts! It’s an outdoor show (weather-pending), right downtown at the Chagall Performing Arts Center, hosted by our friend Courtney from Bad Idea USA. We’ve never played in Salem, or anywhere near there! North Shore roll call?
Sunday, July 28 at Emerson College! Okay technically it’s on the Boston Common (which might be even cooler?) as part of the UnCommon Stage, a Harpoon beer garden with music presented by Emerson College.
Friday, September 13 at Aeronaut Allston. It’s the last weekend for Aeronaut’s outdoor beer garden, and it’s Walker’s birthday, so we’re gonna have some fun.
We’re also selling these neat limited edition pins featuring the cover art from our previous single, “Oh Dolours.” They’re $5 each, and all the proceeds are split between the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Palestinian Childrens Relief Fund, if that’s the sorta thing you’re into (which, if you’re on this mailing list, I’m just going to assume that you are).
Underwater musical adventure podcast time!
As I’ve previously mentioned, I’ve been working with Double Elvis Productions and Starglow Media on a fun new music-themed adventure podcast for kids called Musicland Stories. I wrote two episodes in the first galactic-themed season, then I took over as the head writer for the entirety of season two, “Aquatic.” It’s basically about a buncha kids on a submarine with a Doctor Who-esque mentor who traverse the waterways in search of a special song sung by a seamonster, and end up in all kinds of other fun oceanic musical adventures along the way.
I may be biased, but I think it’s a lot of fun! (Especially for kids.) My buddy Bob Proehl — who also writes on the series — also said that I “absolutely stuck the landing” on the season finale. Which, as you can probably imagine, is basically the highest compliment that one writer can give to another.
Also the music by Scott Janovitz is really fun, and you can stream the whole instrumental soundtrack to the season if you’re in the mood for some whimsical underwater adventure tunes.
There’s probably a lot of somethings I’m forgetting right now, but like I said — I’m sorta scrambling. My life has been mostly music and dad’ing lately. Plus a whole lot of air conditioners, but that’s fairly standard for this time of year.
Anyway thanks for reading! Rock on!