The Eastern Desert

Hello friends,

It's been a quiet winter in the Willamette Valley. We released our newest album The Eastern Desert last October. It was recorded at Bonsai Studio, the Compound (our place), and at our houses. It features guest-work from friends Tyler Ferrin (Typhoon), Tom Ferrin, and Cara Eggers. You can stream/listen/download at here.

Shows

Our summer/fall show schedule

Sat, Sept. 1st at Boon's Treasury in Salem, 9 p.m.

Sun, Sept. 2nd at Fort George Brewery in Astoria, 8 p.m.

Sat, Sept. 15th at Venti's TapHouse in Salem, 9 p.m.

Wed, Sept. 19th at Old Church & Pub in Wilsonville, 7 p.m.
 
Sat, Oct. 6 at The 50 Pub & Grub in West Salem, 9 p.m.
 
Sun, Nov. 4 at Sam Bond's Garage in Eugene, 8:30 p.m.
 
Fri, Nov. 16 at The Drift Inn in Yachats, 7 p.m.
 
Fri, Nov. 23 at Boon's Treasury in Salem, 9 p.m.

progress pt. 2

It's no lie. We've been going through changes. We had a fun summer but we also dealt with the parting of friends. We recorded and released Morozko, a seven-inch split record with our friends and labelmates, The History of A Family. It is available for purchase at www.squaredrecordings.com/store.html

I am currently working on new material for a release sometime this next summer.

It is currently the 4th day of Chanukah! We spun dreidels and ate stuff the other night with everyone.

new recordings and the ever approaching fall

Friends! I completely regret the length of time it has been since I've posted something on here. Truth be told, there has been a lot going on. We have finished up recording for the 7" single we are releasing late this fall with our friends The History of a Family. It was recorded over the course of one full week in the forest outside Salem. The land of my ancestors really.



There was a cat out there in that little studio. It killed a mouse shortly prior to my arrival and left it on the porch.

I will leave you with that! This recording will be the first tent city recording made with more than one person. Morozko.

progress

Things are moving right along. Since the last post Tent City has released The Valley In Autumn LP, and grown by six people!

Kendra Schmal - Ukulele, Guitar
Kirstin Demezas - Violin
Tara Hathaway - Accordion
Brett Marconeri - Percussion
Jacob Zeigler - Percussion, Cello
Molly Bacon - Bass

We've received a nice album review from Salem Weekly/Willamette Live, played more shows, had t-shirts printed, created a cool merch suitcaseand are in the process of creating new material.

So yes, as the title of post says, there has been progress made. Tara is thinking about trading in one of her 30 accordions for one that is electric. Brett, secretly got a job working for a special state agency which specializes in de-population of our fair city. Kendra and Kirstin are wandering the grounds of Willamette University telling everyone how their band will someday be famous, Molly has ordered a new pickup for her bass so she can be louder, and Jacob is scheming a way to sneak his cello to practices. I am learning the proper care and feeding of mother beavers and their young. We have a fun summer ahead of us.

sickness. pictures. album. the valley in autumn.

Recording, mastering, artwork for The Valley In Autumn is one hundred percent complete. Now it's time to finish the chord sheets and really recruit. Stress will commence shortly.

Yesterday I came down with another sore throat and some other flu-ish feelings. Probably from already stressing too much over this release. Today I'm trying to sleep it off while simultaneously trying to burn a couple cd's and get ready to take some photos with Blueberry Hill.

My wife and I will most likely be spending a little time in Mexico shortly. I was there a year ago, traveling through the hurricane-ravaged regions of the Baja Peninsula. "How did this not make the news?" I asked myself. We bribed corrupted Mexican police and were slightly harassed by the AK-47-wielding Mexican Military. It was roughly 5am and the moon was full. We happened upon a vehicle, overturned. Personal belongings strewn everywhere. Socks, beer cans, food wrappers, a Spanish Holy Bible, and a massive car transmission. a drunk man, frantically stumbling around had just crawled out of it and was trying to get his things off the road. He had already called for help. I helped him move the seemingly ten ton transmission off to the side of the road and we drove off in to the sunrise. It was beautiful.

The endless winter

I am not sure how long this winter is going to last. I will say that winters in the Valley are far better than winters in the deserts of eastern Oregon. The icy air doesn't have the chance to steal the breath from your lungs here like it does out east.

For the most part, Tent City is done tracking for the new Album due out this March/April. For being recorded in a bedroom it sounds decent so far. Learning the art of mastering audio is proving to be a little more challenging than I had thought. I have been in talks with Mr. Tom Nunes. I hope to be able to give him some of my business. The guy does great mastering work.

New members of Tent City are most likely going to be joining soon. I will get you their names soon, too.

Things with Blueberry Hill Records are going swell. Carson, Chris, and Andrew are going to be great people work with, I can tell. (Those two sentences rhymed, and no that was not intentional.)

Thanks to those who have supported this so far. I feel things starting to pick up once again.

Chris.

PS - Here is a nice picture.

1937

1937 is a new track I have been working at. There is a show coming at Clockworks Cafe here in Salem on the 23rd of November. It's starting to get really cold now. Snow may be coming. Today was spent cleaning the house and painting the fireplace red. I have been talking with a cellist lately who very well may join the ranks. I am not sure who reads this, but if there is anyone in the area who would like to help contribute to the sound get ahold of me through the contact page.

I have a new Microphone. This one is finally nice. I am re-learning Spanish. That is all.

-W

Demos and the approaching winter

Things are moving along well. Last weekend was spent in Seattle playing a show with some friends, new and old. Things I learned from the Seattle show: There are weird parts in some of my music and I need new windshield wipers. The re-made demo is nearly ready. I am working on a few more things. Until then I am holding off on booking any more shows. I have completely re-recorded at least two tracks that are playing on the site right now. They will be more pleasing to your ears.

Tonight I am taking a break from music to watch a movie with Emily. This will be great.

New music to check out: Forro in the dark.

SHOWS...

Getting ready for the first live performance this weekend with the Pines. Demos are made. Things are still going well. Just bought a little more musical gear. Probably going to rip it apart and figure out how it works and try to make it better. The battery on my computer is going bad. Emily now has insurance. We are happy for that. Our neighbors are still wacky and make threats at each other. Emily is deep in to her 43rd book of the year.

Yesterday I was contemplating buying a reel to reel tape machine from the Teen Challenge Thrift Store but figured it was too old and rusty to be worth my time. And after standing there, blank, thinking about how my last reel to reel just sat around because I didn’t feel fixing the preamps I decided to not get it. Instead I pulled some tubes from the back of an old radio there and couldn’t figure out which way they were in there in the first place so I left them lying on the chassis. Sorry.

Our yard is starting to turn red from the maple leaves that are falling every day in to our grass. I will start my 26th year in exactly 6 days.

I am keeping my eyes open for some people who want to make music and old free piano.

_____________________________________________

9-19-10

Tent City is currently finishing master tracks for the demo. Things are going well. It’s raining in Salem right now. What a surprise. The roof is leaking. Met some really cool people. Namely, Katy Allen of Julian Snow and the Murmuring Pines on Warble Records.

I saw lots of old friends (Justin Nuess, Peter Walters, Paul Collins, and lots of others) last week at the start of the Pendleton Round-Up. Shows are coming, New tracks are in the works and things are gaining momentum. Emily and I are still trying to figure out a way to get back to Spain or Italy. Thomas our cat just got his nails trimmed. He didn’t like it.

8-29-10

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