I sorta had my hands all over this release. I wrote some of the material that was remixed and I collaborated with my longtime pal and musical companion Dan Marsden on a song. Dan has recently been working in creating very well-produced, catchy, sexy, floor-filling remixes under the name Bright Lights. Dan and I chatted about the possibilities of him submitting a remix to the compilation and the end result included me recording a vocal for the Bubble Shield song “Speculation”, which he completely worked into his sound. It turned out really great.

Anniversary 1 is a free full length, which you can read more about, stream and download via Astor Bell.

A really cool comp just came out, which I was lucky enough to be a part of. A Pile of Lo-Fi! Vol. III is available for free download via CLLCT. My song is called “Slow Ravens” and is exclusive to this release.

Read more about A Pile of Lo-Fi on their tumblr.
Vols I and II can be found over here on CLLCT.

Enjoy!

So here’s what’s been happening as of late….

I have convinced myself to start digging again and put together Audio Graves 2. Same as before: 4 discs x 25 songs, all previously-unreleased. No firm release date(s) yet but for now let’s say July or August.

And if you missed it, I put out a full length called Sky Station Cloud in December on cassette with the now defunct Best Kept Secret Tape Label. Copies of the cassette can apparently still be ordered directly from them. I have in my possession a very limited amount of copies which I have packaged together with a download of the album for 8 USD, worldwide shipping included. If you’re interested you can order here. The download only is there as well for 5 USD.

I have been concentrating much of my recording time to a new project and will hopefully be releasing a 7″ in the coming months. Hang out over there for updates.

xo,
Mike

The hardest-working CDR label is at it again. Series Two Records has just released a 5-disc retrospective. I contributed an exclusive song, Cloud Art, which found a nice home on disc 2.

From the mouths of babes:

Artists from the Series Two Records “Retrospective Compilation series” include those located in (17) different states of the USA: Ohio, California, Kansas, Nebraska, Maryland, Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Missouri, Wisconsin, Arizona, Virginia, Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, Washington DC; International artists include those located in: Brazil, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, France, Serbia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia, Russia, China, Philippines.

The Retrospective Compilations are now available. If you would like to own a complete set of the retrospective compilations by Series Two Records, here is how. You may send a PayPal payment in the amount of 30 US Dollars payable to seriestworecords@gmail.com

(International & USA shipping rates already included in that price). All compilations are arriving hand numbered and limited to 100 copies only!

For if you are interested in additional releases from Series Two Records, there is a convenient easy to use order form found here: http://www.indiepages.com/seriestwo/store.html

Complete tracklisting here.

105. 05/20/05 – Chicago, Il @ Bottom Lounge w/ The Nein, Tuffy UK
104. 03/04/05 – Chicago, Il @ Darkroom – 10×10 Relaunch Party
103. 01/21/05 – Chicago, Il @ Metro w/ The Like Young, University, Devin Davis
102. 12/29/04 – Chicago, il @ schubas w/ the redwalls, babyteeth
101. 12/12/04 – Chicago, il @ wall to wall studios w/ redwalls, tuffy, aquavelvets, 8th grade
100. 12/11/04 – Chicago, il @ beat kitchen w/ lying in states, new sense, velvetron
99. 11/21/04 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ the matches, june, best days behind
98. 10/29/04 – Chicago, il @ halfway house w/ sears, mannequin men, halfway house band
97. 10/23/04 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ brian Jonestown massacre, telenovela
96. 09/18/04 – Chicago, il @ abbey pub w/ catfish haven, sunsnine fix, Saturday looks good to me
95. 09/17/04 – Chicago, il @ Q101 on-air Woody Show
94. 08/13/04 – Chicago, il @ abbey pub w/ Frisbie, The Bon Mots
93. 07/27/04 – Chicago, il @ navy pier w/ suffrajet
92. 07/23/04 – Chicago, il @ schuba’s w/ the webb bros., volcano I’m still excited
91. 06/20/04 – Oak lawn, il @ power chord academy
90. 06/16/04 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ VUE, evening, black cat music
89. 06/05/04 – Chicago, il @ subterranean w/ the singles, paper airplane pilots
88. 05/22/04 – Detroit, mi @ Hastings St. Ballroom / Dpollen Fest w/ the sights, nash kato and more
87. 05/18/04 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ cosmic roughriders, mannequin men, dj webb bros.
86. 05/07/04 – Chicago, il @ abbey pub w/ ike reilly assassination, jenny choi
85. 04/26/04 – Chicago, il @ sonotheque w/ DJ Nice Station Zebra
84. 04/10/04 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ volcano I’m stll excited, the afflictions, braille
83. 04/04/04 – Chicago, il @ wall to wall studios w/ the redwalls, clyde federal
82. 03/18/04 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ mates of state, scotland yard gospel choir
81. 03/12/04 – Chicago, il @ lyon’s den w/ green light, the goldstars, crookshanks
80. 02/14/04 – Chicago, il @ metro w/ the redwalls, rockets over sweden, bang! bang!
79. 01/24/04 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ the wizards, branches
78. 01/23/04 – Detroit, mi @ lagerhouse w/ adam green, the singles
77. 01/16/04 – Chicago, il @ WLUW radio free Chicago on-air
76. 01/02/04 – Evanston, il @ nevin’s w/ the redwalls, university
75. 12/19/03 – Chicago, il @ schuba’s w/ the reputation, runner & the thermodynamics
74. 11/29/03 – Stockholm, sweden @ debaser w/ kid commando
73. 11/28/03 – Uppsala, sweden @ kalmar’s nation w/ I love you baby, +1
72. 11/27/03 – Malmö, sweden @ kb w/ the luscious 4
71. 11/26/03 – Hultsfred, sweden @ metropol
70. 11/22/03 – Växjö, sweden @ lokal bar w/ the sonnets
69. 11/21/03 – Göteborg, sweden @ pustervik w/ hip whips
68. 11/20/03 – Linköping, sweden @ herrgard
67. 11/19/03 – Lund, sweden @ småland’s nation w/ dj itchy koo trailer park
66. 11/07/03 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ the waxwings, billy nayer show
65. 10/18/03 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ menthol, civilized age, the like young
64. 10/04/03 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ we regazzi, tight phantomz, the occasion
63. 09/20/03 – Chicago, il @ subterranean w/ holy golightly, ko and the knockouts, grafton
62. 08/31/03 – Chicago, il @ fireside w/ my left arm, buzz spectors, health & beauty, lovekill
61. 08/30/03 – St. louis, mo @ rocket bar w/ goddamn jets
60. 08/29/03 – Oklahoma city, ok @ green door w/ behold a pale horse
59. 08/28/03 – Denton, tx @ rubber gloves w/ pinebender
58. 08/27/03 – Austin, tx @ emo’s w/ new disciples, the fiction, 00 spies
57. 08/26/03 – Houston, tx @ proletariat – starfucker party
56. 08/24/03 – Columbia, sc @ new brookland tavern w/ fake red seth, evil weiner, grounded
55. 08/23/03 – Athens, ga @ 40 watt club w/ paper lions, maserati, cinemachanica
54. 08/23/03 – Athens, ga @ favorite w/ fairmount fair
53. 08/22/03 – Carborro, nc @ GO! Rehearsals w/ sirens, malt swagger
52. 08/20/03 – Baltimore, md @ talking head w/ the jennifers, la pieta
51. 08/19/03 – New york, ny @ lit lounge w/ flying aces
50. 08/17/03 – Philadelphia, pa @ the fire w/ frog eyes
49. 08/16/03 – New york, ny @ club luxx w/ IMA robot, phaser
48. 08/15/03 – Cleveland, oh @ beachland tavern w/ fatal flying guiotines
47. 08/09/03 – Chicago, il @ gunther murphy’s w/ mr. Rudy day, david singer
46. 07/25/03 – Chicago, il @ schuba’s w/ the lucksmiths, pas/cal, the sprites
45. 07/19/03 – Evanston, il @ nevin’s as part of a Kinks tribute
44. 07/11/03 – Chicago, il @ lyon’s den w/ civilized age, functional blackouts, penthouse sweets
43. 07/05/03 – Chicago il @ metro w/ amazing transparent man, troubled hubble, cruiserweight
42. 07/02/03 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ the webb brotheres, rockets over sweden
41. 06/23/03 – Chicago, il @ cal’s liquors w/ the pages
40. 06/19/03 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ star spangles, black lips, veedee, holy ghosts
39. 06/08/03 – Chicago, il @ abbey pub w/ the frames
38. 05/07/03 – Chicago, il @ double door w/ the bamboo kids, the like young, the audreys
37. 04/28/03 – Evanston, il @ nevin’s w/ the pages, m.o.t.o. and others (IPO fest)
36. 04/12/03 – Houston, tx @ proletariat w/ the fighting type
35. 04/11/03 – Austin, tx @ emo’s w/ jason loewenstein, low technicians, kino eye
34. 04/10/03 – Denton, tx @ rubber gloves w/ DARYL, here holy spain
33. 04/04/03 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ the like young, the dials
32. 03/23/03 – Dekalb, il @ 7th street studio w/ visitations, birddog
31. 03/22/03 – Indianapolis, in @ radio radio w/ the caribbean, brando
30. 03/21/03 – Ann arbor, mi @ state control w/ havilland, showdown at the equator
29. 03/20/03 – Columbus, oh @ high 5 w/ eric metronome, tiara
28. 03/15/03 – Urbana, il @ IMC w/ roy g. biv, bicycle day, your black star
27. 03/03/03 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ a month of somedays, heavy duty felt
26. 02/16/03 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ paris tx, the red hot valentines
25. 01/11/03 – Chicago, il @ bottom lounge w/ the pages, ella music group
24. 12/27/02 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ the frogs, the countdown
23. 12/02/02 – Champaign, il @ highdive w/ nadafinga
22. 11/09/02 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ the like young, the agenda, paper lions
21. 09/18/02 – Chicago, il @ the hideout w/ pearly sweets and the platonics and fakebrain
20. 09/06/02 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ interpol, stag party
19. 08/24/02 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ the witnesses, the alarm clocks, musico
18. 08/12/02 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ the industry, nimbus
17. 07/05/02 – Evanston, il @ nevin’s w/ the critics, the punishment, the pages
16. 06/29/02 – New lenox, il @ pawl’s
15. 06/10/02 – Champaign, il @ highdive w/ the beauty shop, master blaster
14. 06/07/02 – Chicago, il @ fireside w/ the like young, this bike is a pipebomb, the devil is electric
13. 05/13/02 – Chicago, il @ empty bottle w/ the mosquitos, perfect teeth, head of femur
12. 03/11/02 – Chicago, il @ schubas w/ the scooters, paper airplane pilots
11. 03/01/02 – New lenox, il @ pawl’s winter Olympics party
10. 02/13/02 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ everybody uh-oh, the blackouts
9. 12/08/01 – Chicago, il @ prodigal son w/ 2 bands
8. 12/06/01 – Evanston, il @ nevins w/ kleenex girl wonder, boylion, an automotive
7. 11/03/01 – Chicago, il @ double door as part of the gram parsons tribute
6. 10/23/01 – Chicago, il @ prodigal son w/ trackstar, true love always, pearly sweets
5. 08/09/01 – Chicago, il @ fireside bowl w/ impossible shapes, marmoset
4. 08/04/01 – Moline, il @ peabodys w/ driver of the year and others
3. 07/27/01 – New Lenox, il @ pawl’s hell party w/ wonderloaf
2. 07/17/01 – Chicago, il @ schubas w/ moto, paper airplane pilots
1. 05/04/01 – Alsip, il @ o’malley’s w/ gowhead, wolcott

previously:
10/29/00 – Chicago, IL @ Fireside Bowl – Mathlete (aka Rocklete) w/ kleenex girl wonder, barcelona (TNC lineup playing a set as Mathlete)
08/04/00 – New Lenox, IL @ pawl’s house – Official Ironman Rally Band (TNC lineup + Jeff Dekker on vocals as a Guided By Voices cover band)

There was a lot of time spent sitting in a circle on folding chairs in a smokey garage. Beer-soaked reverb. I can’t begin to write about what was said in there, but the music on the stereo was always classic. We thrived on taking it in and digesting. We somehow woke up the next day and stumbled into a rectangled space and made our own music, inspired. In fact, we ended up rearranging our lives to do it. It became more than friends hanging out; it became a full fledged band on a mission. The mission was to recreate and somehow package that excitement and play it forward to anyone who was willing to accept a good time.

We did what most bands did: we started out playing local and our friends thought it was a blast. We succeeded in releasing an album and did a bit of touring around the eastern half of the US. We gained some fans and went through all of those ups and downs that bands go through. It was all very well worth while.

Once, we got on a plane and played shows in Sweden for 2 weeks. That tour ended up changing my life. I am writing this from Stockholm if that tells you anything.

There was so much more. I just can’t get to it all here, now. I got to thinking about all of this and I wanted to share a quick glimpse of what we were all about.

We returned from Sweden and tried to get back into our daily lives. I was never able to, maybe the rest of the band succeed a bit better. December turned into January (2004) and we were officially back to the daily grind. We were in the midst of putting together our 2nd album, which was a long process of demoing songs, and from what I remember trying to solidify a new label and all of that fun stuff.

Before we got back into the groove of playing out regularly and finishing our album (we never did) we made a stop at Loyola University’s WLUW for an in-studio appearance. The result turned out, in my opinion, to be a great-sounding recording of a band at the top of their game. Our gears were so greased at this point, it wasn’t even funny.

The New Constitution was:
Dan Marsden – drums
Mike Marsden – guitar
Dan Brown – bass/vocals
Mike Downey – guitar/vocals

The New Constitution, Hultsfred, Sweden, Nov 2003

But come back here too.

Best,
Mike