Just got added to a bill for a show a few weeks down the road. New venue for us. Should be fun!
Friday May 11th @ Live Wire (3394 N. Milwaukee)
Doors: 8:00pm
Show: 9:00pm
21+
$5 Donation
LORD
AN AESTHETIC ANAESTHETIC
ORMEN LANGE
MAYOR FOR LIFE
Facebook Event Page
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
So Many New Things!
Hey all! Long time, no update on the blog. Here's what we've been up to:
1. The Sinking Feeling/Snowmobiling 7" officially came out, with about a day to spare before that show in November last year. Sales have been blistering! This thing isn't selling like hot cakes, because hot cakes wish they sold like this thing! Well not really but we have sold a few and have plenty more, so if you want to listen to it and maybe buy a copy, head on over to the Bandcamp Page.
2. Played a fun show in December with Tiny Manatee and The Winter Me. We were pleased that not only were the bands both as great as we knew they would be, but plenty of folks came out on a cold Tuesday night for that one. Township (or as it was still called when we played the show, Panchos) is turning into a swell venue. Great food there too.
3. My son Will was born on January 9th, which I could go on and on about but would have nothing to do with the band other than the fact that we took a couple months or so off while my wife and I tried to figure out how to deal with no sleep and still keep a baby alive and happy. All I'll say about it is that he is an adorable, healthy boy and being a parent is a mind fuck in the best way imaginable. And that sometimes he does this when you tickle him:
4. We played a show in March with My Canadian Girlfriend (who were celebrating a record release) and Century Rocket Building. This was fun as hell, and all bands brought it. So glad that MCG asked us to play. That was the first time I'd seen them with Pete on guitar, which is probably a bit of a confession since he's been in the band for a while. That dude is a great addition to anything. Check out his new band Mastro, who also have Jamie from MCG on guitar, and are a great new rock ensemble that I am especially excited about after having seen their first Chicago show very recently.
5. Rich started yet another band with our best buds Mark Oster and Steve Raparelli called Jackhammer Hearts. I have only heard quick rehearsal space recordings of song ideas, but I can safely confirm that they kick ass and you should go see their first show on May 12th at Quenchers.
6. I'm eating a 5 Guys burger right now and it's pretty awesome, especially for a chain fast food place. Believe the hype!
OK that brings us up to date more or less. Now for what is coming up in the future!
We are very pleased to be a part of PRFBBQ2012 for so many reasons, not the least of which is that TAR is reforming to play just a few hours after our set. Holy crap! Also, I can't believe this band flew under my radar so long because they are totally in my wheelhouse, but dis- is also reforming and playing just before TAR. I have only recently become acquanted with dis- but they're a borderline obsession at the moment that I can't get enough of. Neither of those bands have played a show since the mid 90s, and are just getting together for the hell of it to have a good time, not because they want a bunch of money or some bullshit. So cool.
And if that isn't enough, there are like 40 other bands playing throughout the long weekend that all totally rule, and plenty of food and booze. Saturday and Sunday are already sold out, so, sorry if you are reading this on the off chance that you haven't already heard about this and bought your ticket. But yeah, anyway, hell of a party, can't wait for it.
That's about it for now. We'll try to update sooner than 5 months from now, next time.
ROCK ALWAYS WINS,
Todd
1. The Sinking Feeling/Snowmobiling 7" officially came out, with about a day to spare before that show in November last year. Sales have been blistering! This thing isn't selling like hot cakes, because hot cakes wish they sold like this thing! Well not really but we have sold a few and have plenty more, so if you want to listen to it and maybe buy a copy, head on over to the Bandcamp Page.
2. Played a fun show in December with Tiny Manatee and The Winter Me. We were pleased that not only were the bands both as great as we knew they would be, but plenty of folks came out on a cold Tuesday night for that one. Township (or as it was still called when we played the show, Panchos) is turning into a swell venue. Great food there too.
3. My son Will was born on January 9th, which I could go on and on about but would have nothing to do with the band other than the fact that we took a couple months or so off while my wife and I tried to figure out how to deal with no sleep and still keep a baby alive and happy. All I'll say about it is that he is an adorable, healthy boy and being a parent is a mind fuck in the best way imaginable. And that sometimes he does this when you tickle him:
4. We played a show in March with My Canadian Girlfriend (who were celebrating a record release) and Century Rocket Building. This was fun as hell, and all bands brought it. So glad that MCG asked us to play. That was the first time I'd seen them with Pete on guitar, which is probably a bit of a confession since he's been in the band for a while. That dude is a great addition to anything. Check out his new band Mastro, who also have Jamie from MCG on guitar, and are a great new rock ensemble that I am especially excited about after having seen their first Chicago show very recently.
5. Rich started yet another band with our best buds Mark Oster and Steve Raparelli called Jackhammer Hearts. I have only heard quick rehearsal space recordings of song ideas, but I can safely confirm that they kick ass and you should go see their first show on May 12th at Quenchers.
6. I'm eating a 5 Guys burger right now and it's pretty awesome, especially for a chain fast food place. Believe the hype!
OK that brings us up to date more or less. Now for what is coming up in the future!
We are very pleased to be a part of PRFBBQ2012 for so many reasons, not the least of which is that TAR is reforming to play just a few hours after our set. Holy crap! Also, I can't believe this band flew under my radar so long because they are totally in my wheelhouse, but dis- is also reforming and playing just before TAR. I have only recently become acquanted with dis- but they're a borderline obsession at the moment that I can't get enough of. Neither of those bands have played a show since the mid 90s, and are just getting together for the hell of it to have a good time, not because they want a bunch of money or some bullshit. So cool.
And if that isn't enough, there are like 40 other bands playing throughout the long weekend that all totally rule, and plenty of food and booze. Saturday and Sunday are already sold out, so, sorry if you are reading this on the off chance that you haven't already heard about this and bought your ticket. But yeah, anyway, hell of a party, can't wait for it.
That's about it for now. We'll try to update sooner than 5 months from now, next time.
ROCK ALWAYS WINS,
Todd
Monday, October 31, 2011
Oh Hey, Updates are Overdue
Happy Halloween! Been a few months since we've posted on here, but rest assured we haven't been just sitting around doing jack squat. First of all, we played a fun as hell show in September--a release party for our good friend Laura Lionello Popelka's book Panic Kit, and were joined by The Columbines and Begin By Gathering Supplies. The tireless awesome dudes of Caffeinated Recording have uploaded videos to youtube of that show. Our set can be found here. Laura's book is a wonderful read, and you may recognize our own Rich Fessler on the back cover, providing his glowing review.
And this is only 66% Mayor For Life-related, but this past Friday, Rich and I had a blast performing in two different one-off Halloween bands for the Columbines "Monkey Problems Exposition." After rollicking good time Halloween sets by The Columbines (performing Bitter Tears songs), Whales (performing covers of such songs as "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters), and Begin By Gathering Supplies (performing covers of such songs as "Godzilla" by BOC), I joined most of my old band Wind or Ghost (sans Emily) in performing a few Wipers covers, which was so goddamn much fun I think we're going to do it again some time. Then Rich joined the band Red Denizen on vocals, and they performed an entire Dag Nasty album. There should be videos of this up on youtube soon from our pals at Caffeinated. It would probably help if you got pretty drunk before watching them, to immerse yourself in the whole experience.
OK, now for the near future. First and foremost, our Sinking Feeling/Snowmobiling 7" is in the process of being pressed and sent to us right now! Once we have it in hand, I'll update the bandcamp page with purchasing details if you don't live nearby to Chicago and want to order via mail. It's going to be a limited edition of 300 copies, and will include high quality digital download, as well as screen printed artwork by Erin Page of Kill Hatsumomo Prints. We're pretty stoked that this thing is finally coming to fruition.
And to celebrate, we're playing a show on Saturday Nov 12th at Quenchers, with Marmora and Cmn ineed yr hlp, in a show we're dubbing "Reunion Rock Yards" due to the fact that we are the three remaining currently active bands that practiced at Union Rock Yards. Here's a link to a facebook event page. Marmora features our old drummer Uli behind the kit, and if you are reading this and don't know who our best buds Cmn ineed yr hlp are, I'd be pretty surprised, and you should be ashamed. The show's going to be great--we might even bust out a new song or two if we get them fully ready to go by then. So if you only see us once this year, this is probably the show to do it.
Thanks for reading!
And this is only 66% Mayor For Life-related, but this past Friday, Rich and I had a blast performing in two different one-off Halloween bands for the Columbines "Monkey Problems Exposition." After rollicking good time Halloween sets by The Columbines (performing Bitter Tears songs), Whales (performing covers of such songs as "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters), and Begin By Gathering Supplies (performing covers of such songs as "Godzilla" by BOC), I joined most of my old band Wind or Ghost (sans Emily) in performing a few Wipers covers, which was so goddamn much fun I think we're going to do it again some time. Then Rich joined the band Red Denizen on vocals, and they performed an entire Dag Nasty album. There should be videos of this up on youtube soon from our pals at Caffeinated. It would probably help if you got pretty drunk before watching them, to immerse yourself in the whole experience.
OK, now for the near future. First and foremost, our Sinking Feeling/Snowmobiling 7" is in the process of being pressed and sent to us right now! Once we have it in hand, I'll update the bandcamp page with purchasing details if you don't live nearby to Chicago and want to order via mail. It's going to be a limited edition of 300 copies, and will include high quality digital download, as well as screen printed artwork by Erin Page of Kill Hatsumomo Prints. We're pretty stoked that this thing is finally coming to fruition.
And to celebrate, we're playing a show on Saturday Nov 12th at Quenchers, with Marmora and Cmn ineed yr hlp, in a show we're dubbing "Reunion Rock Yards" due to the fact that we are the three remaining currently active bands that practiced at Union Rock Yards. Here's a link to a facebook event page. Marmora features our old drummer Uli behind the kit, and if you are reading this and don't know who our best buds Cmn ineed yr hlp are, I'd be pretty surprised, and you should be ashamed. The show's going to be great--we might even bust out a new song or two if we get them fully ready to go by then. So if you only see us once this year, this is probably the show to do it.
Thanks for reading!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Show July 29th at Quenchers!
Friends! We are going to be playing another show with a couple of great bands we've already played with, and another band we haven't yet. Hope you can make it out!
Friday July 29th, 2011, 9PM
@ Quenchers (2401 N. Western, Chicago IL)
Slow Witch
$5, 21+
We're playing first, so get there early. Looking forward to this one. It's been a few months. Time flies when your bass player is jet setting to Europe for a month to tour with Bear Claw, your guitar player starts a new job, and your drummer's busy for a little while making a Sequoia record at Matt Talbot's studio. But we are coming back to rock you right in your faces yet again.
Oh and also, we're putting the finishing touches on that 7" and hope to have it pressed and ready to go pretty soon. Hooray!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Scott (of Bear Claw)'s Going Away Show - April 9th @ Quenchers
Hey all, just wanted to post about a very special episode of Blossom rock show we have coming up on Saturday April 9th @ Quenchers, with Bear Claw and Trophy Wives.
As most of our friends should already be aware of by now, Scott Picco, the drummer in Bear Claw, is leaving in a few weeks to live in Germany for a period of at least 18 months, due to a job-related offer to relocate and work there. We're all super excited for Scott because it will be a great opportunity for him, although we'll be bummed that it means Bear Claw will be on hiatus that long. As you know, our own Rich Fessler rocks nearly identical Ernie Ball Music Man bass guitars in both Mayor For Life and Bear Claw.
As for me, I've been going to their shows since pretty much the beginning, and I think I might hold either #1 or #2 on the list of "most Bear Claw shows attended by a non band member" if anyone had been keeping tabs on such a thing. For years, when seeing Bear Claw rock the hell out of tiny places, I've been the one guy that knows exactly where to nod his head to the nonstandard beat, and when not to clap yet and go "WOOOO!!" because the song isn't actually done yet. Hell, a few times I've been the one guy in attendance who isn't in one of the other bands playing that night, I'm sure--buzzed up, shouting "I WANTED YOU TO DIE!" along with Rich, wondering why the hell so few other people were around to enjoy it.
So it's been pretty great to see them put out three records and slowly build up a small yet devoted following and a fair amount of respect from their peers and even some of their heroes. All of a sudden in 2008 they're touring Europe. Then in 2009 I'm seeing them open up for Shellac at what I think was a sold out show (or if not, a nearly sold out show) at the Bottom Lounge, which is a decently sized venue--something they'd done at different venues quite a few times at that point. Now they're planning a second Europe tour in May of this year, while Scott is living over there.
And I'm definitely no longer the only one standing in the crowd, buzzed up, yelling "I WANTED YOU TO DIE," correctly nodding along to the odd time signatures, and not falling for the false endings. What's so endearing about that is that Bear Claw managed to carve out their little niche more or less out of spite, and because of a solid work ethic. They know that what they do isn't pop music--it's abrasive, there aren't any guitars, and these two pissed off guys keep shouting at you. They don't care. It's what they do, and they do it well. In person, they're three of the nicest guys I know. They're what I love about living in Chicago--it's at times loud and menacing, jarring you out of your sense of complacency, while being altogether interesting as all hell and friendly. I know not everyone wants to live here because it's balls cold almost half of the year, but that's fine with me, because I don't really mind the cold.
Here's the part where the cliche Nelson Algren quote comes in whenever anyone talks about Chicago: "Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies. But never a lovely so real." I think it definitely fits Bear Claw's music too.
So of course I called in a favor to my friends to let their little brother band open up for Bear Claw once before they head off to Europe for a month, then go on an extended break. I'm pretty excited that they acquiesced and I get to once again share a stage with one of my favorite Chicago bands ever. Make sure you get there early, not only because you might miss us, but also because you might not get in. Quenchers is a small place, and it'll be full of all of the other people who aren't falling for the false endings any more.
-Todd
As most of our friends should already be aware of by now, Scott Picco, the drummer in Bear Claw, is leaving in a few weeks to live in Germany for a period of at least 18 months, due to a job-related offer to relocate and work there. We're all super excited for Scott because it will be a great opportunity for him, although we'll be bummed that it means Bear Claw will be on hiatus that long. As you know, our own Rich Fessler rocks nearly identical Ernie Ball Music Man bass guitars in both Mayor For Life and Bear Claw.
As for me, I've been going to their shows since pretty much the beginning, and I think I might hold either #1 or #2 on the list of "most Bear Claw shows attended by a non band member" if anyone had been keeping tabs on such a thing. For years, when seeing Bear Claw rock the hell out of tiny places, I've been the one guy that knows exactly where to nod his head to the nonstandard beat, and when not to clap yet and go "WOOOO!!" because the song isn't actually done yet. Hell, a few times I've been the one guy in attendance who isn't in one of the other bands playing that night, I'm sure--buzzed up, shouting "I WANTED YOU TO DIE!" along with Rich, wondering why the hell so few other people were around to enjoy it.
So it's been pretty great to see them put out three records and slowly build up a small yet devoted following and a fair amount of respect from their peers and even some of their heroes. All of a sudden in 2008 they're touring Europe. Then in 2009 I'm seeing them open up for Shellac at what I think was a sold out show (or if not, a nearly sold out show) at the Bottom Lounge, which is a decently sized venue--something they'd done at different venues quite a few times at that point. Now they're planning a second Europe tour in May of this year, while Scott is living over there.
And I'm definitely no longer the only one standing in the crowd, buzzed up, yelling "I WANTED YOU TO DIE," correctly nodding along to the odd time signatures, and not falling for the false endings. What's so endearing about that is that Bear Claw managed to carve out their little niche more or less out of spite, and because of a solid work ethic. They know that what they do isn't pop music--it's abrasive, there aren't any guitars, and these two pissed off guys keep shouting at you. They don't care. It's what they do, and they do it well. In person, they're three of the nicest guys I know. They're what I love about living in Chicago--it's at times loud and menacing, jarring you out of your sense of complacency, while being altogether interesting as all hell and friendly. I know not everyone wants to live here because it's balls cold almost half of the year, but that's fine with me, because I don't really mind the cold.
Here's the part where the cliche Nelson Algren quote comes in whenever anyone talks about Chicago: "Like loving a woman with a broken nose, you may well find lovelier lovelies. But never a lovely so real." I think it definitely fits Bear Claw's music too.
So of course I called in a favor to my friends to let their little brother band open up for Bear Claw once before they head off to Europe for a month, then go on an extended break. I'm pretty excited that they acquiesced and I get to once again share a stage with one of my favorite Chicago bands ever. Make sure you get there early, not only because you might miss us, but also because you might not get in. Quenchers is a small place, and it'll be full of all of the other people who aren't falling for the false endings any more.
-Todd
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Show: Sunday Jan 9th 2011 @ Darkroom
Hey everyone! I hope your holidays have been all that you dreamed they could be. Mine have been great. Working up a nice gut so that I can pretend like I'm going to work it off as a new years resolution.
Just a quick note that we're playing another show with our best buds Cmn ineed yr hlp from the same rehearsal space we use and the excellent Canyons Of Static from Milwaukee. I saw these two bands play together a few months ago and it was pretty, pretty, pretty good. You don't want to miss this one. Also, since we're all old and plan on going to work the next day, it's starting early and ending not that late.
Sunday 1/9/11, 7PM
@ Darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL
Mayor For Life
Canyons of Static
Cmn ineed yr hlp
$8, 21+
Hope to see a few of you there!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Show: Weds 11/24/2010 @ The Empty Bottle
Hey everybody! We've got another show coming up 11/24/2010 at the Empty Bottle. That's the night before Thanksgiving. Come on out and celebrate the fact that all you have to do the next day is not work and eat like crazy, maybe watch some football, deal with/enjoy your extended family, and nap a lot. Hope to see a crapload of you out!
Wednesday, November 24th
Chatty Cathy
Mayor For Life
Fleshbroker
Dj Dave Mata (spinning before/between/after bands)
9:30pm; $4 advance (buy tickets here), $8 at the door
21+
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