Ben Chasny

It’s recorded and mixed just have to sequence it

Tonight Winter band plays for the first time live with every member of the group: Meg Baird, Charley Saufley, Elisa Ambrogio, Ethan Miller, Donovan Quinn, myself. 4 guitars. 1 bass. 2 vocals (Meg and Elisa) - me on beats. Stoked to be Opening for Ryley Walker at the Goat in Arcata.

Andy is the best. 3 Humboldt County affiliated releases on this excellent list (Western Extra, Spunflower, Orcutt/Shelley/Miller) - the Humboldt Sound is rising. Thanks Andy.

It’s rare for an interview with a musician to be so inspiring on a human level of mutual care but this one is, especially the talk of Steve’s work with Firekeeper Alliance. The man has been real for decades. Highly recommend listening (plus his recent psych-dub-folk records have been fantastic).

CLEAR VORTEX CHAMBER, by Microcorps 8 track album

New Alexander Tucker (under name Microcorps) sounds really, really good. This one is going to be up there with Guild of Asbestos Weavers for me (h/t to @jaywbabcock.bsky.social for turning me on tot hat one). microcorps.bandcamp.com/album/clear-...

Super excited to be releasing another record on Black Truffle. Copies are on their way to Scotland and it’ll be available direct from me in a week or so, should you wish.

Carlos just announced a new record with some collabs and I’m stoked he asked me to be on one of the songs -

Great to see you last month Richard! I just found my Bluesky account info to log back in 😂

Great to see @6organs.bsky.social again. It was a lovely evening.

YouTube video by Alan Licht - Topic Four Years Later

Feel like this should be talked about more as one of the great guitar pieces of the 21st century youtu.be/TS8SRqNume0

🙏

Listening to new fantastic Sir Richard Bishop LP and just remembered the the time we were on tour and Rick said to me: “you and Yngwie are all about scales. I don’t do scales. Scales are for snakes”

There’s def cool stuff to be found. I came across this wild solo piano record from the 80s. Apparently one of the tracks on this here LP was from a horse ranch within walking distance of my house 😂

Lost Coast: Some Visionary Music from California, 1980–1992, by Goaty Tapes / House Rules 10 track album

Killer comp of private press new age outsider jams from Humboldt County 1980-1992. goatytapes.bandcamp.com/album/lost-c...

Playing a show with one of my favorite musicians on the planet: Richard Youngs aka @nofansrecords.bsky.social Sept 3rd - Glasgow at The Old Hairdressers.

Path to the Gallows, by Duncan Park 8 track album

If you were wondering what a Van Halen record on Takoma would sound like, Duncan’s got a record for you. Love this dude duncanpark.bandcamp.com/album/path-t...

YouTube video by PapaLordGod major stars - it's a blessing brother, i cannot lie

I just realized my favorite Major Stars song (and in personal top 20 rock songs of all time) is on YouTube - From the Rock Sounds Of People 1-sided 12” - youtu.be/6DbOnyQaHhs

JW took us to Subterranean to do some midnight record shopping after the Fushitsusha show you put on at Great American in 96

Goodbye to my friend John Whitson. We put out our first full length LP together (Plague Lounge in ‘96). I owe much of my path to him, not only for releasing my early records but also the great music he introduced me too, especially in the mid 90s. It was an honor to be his friend and work with him.

Really excited to see the debut from Western Extra feat. Donovan Quinn and Chris Rose. Tossing Royal Trux and the societal malaise of The Kinks into the mix, the band scoops a few tricks out The Soft Boys bucket as well, with just a slight whiff of Jacobites vapors. Highly Recommended bit.ly/44u9E5k

Zig Zags on the Book of Changes, by Western Extra 8 track album

New Hermit Hut release of debut band featuring Donovan Quinn (Skygreen Leopards, New Bums): Western Extra - Zig Zags on the Book of Changes. “‘60s psych jaunt, elegantly wasted vocals, blasted guitars that cook and bubble” - Doug Mosurock westernextra.bandcamp.com/album/zig-za...

And of course later i find out @kfw.bsky.social is actually a guitar shredder at heart 😂

It’s funny, I remember when Forced Exposure started carrying electronic music all reviewed by Hrvatski and at the time I was like “what is going on here” thinking this Hrvatski character was usurping my beloved out-rock distributer. And now I find myself needing to listen to everything he puts out.

Devoção, by Lucifécit 5 track album

some of the best new jams I’ve heard in forever. Insane that no one is talking about these guys. “a fresh take on spiritual jazz built on modal structures, pulsating syncopation, Punk-Gnawa-inspired basslines, and dazzling horn improvisations” facadarecords.bandcamp.com/album/devo-o

I just informed Drag City that their boy Ty is inadvertently quoting Yngwie Malmsteen with “more is more” to which they responded, “great minds think alike!” 😂

🙏

Met Shackleton face to face for first time last night in Berlin. Happy to say he’s 100% sweetest dude ever.

“I’ve been to guitar shops and played fancy guitars and cheaper ones. I just don’t understand why people pay so much money”: Tashi Dorji explains why he sees little value in expensive instruments – bu... Tashi Dorji is a punk-rocker with a freewheeling improv jazz sensibility and he is totally okay with his music being impermanent, so long as it sounds alive in the moment

Every once in a while things happen the way they should. Tashi Dorji in Guitar World for the win (h/t to @bluetapes.bsky.social for the heads up) www.guitarworld.com/artists/guit...

Back from 3 week euro tour and i think my biggest regret is not buying that AMENRA long sleeve when I played in the same building as them

Very cool of Jennifer and Dusted to write about this release that has absolutely no press. One of the reasons why Dusted rules.