Strike The Mics: Released

Over one year of creative energy, serious commitment, love, frustration, countless sleepless nights, listening and relistening, tweaking, tracking, practicing, recording, mixing, re-mixing, travelling and mastering finally consummated in the release of our first LP Strike The Mics.  We could not be happier with the result.

Many thanks go out to all the fine people who helped make the album what it is today.  First and foremost to our producer and good friend Jamie Candiloro.  Thank you so much for everything you taught us.  About becoming professionals, about listening, about focus and about becoming true writers and builders.  Thank you for your commitment to us and everything we wanted our music to be.  We cannot ever thank you enough for the work you did on this record and we look forward to working on the next one with you.

To Krista, Jason, and everyone at Rock Ridge Music, our marketing gurus: thank you for your commitment to pushing our record to every corner of the country; getting us press coverage in SOCO Magazine, on Windows Media Guide and into webzines and  blogs from Los Angeles, Nashville and New York.  Thank you also for your continuing efforts to push our music to Billboard.com and to Chicago outlets as well.

Thanks also to all of you that supported us during the making of this album.  Because of you, we have a very real shot of showing up in the Billboard Charts which would be a truly amazing next step for this band.  Not only that, but our e-mail, fanpages and mailing list has nearly doubled in size and we are so excited to continue bringing you our music on bigger and better stages here in Chicago.  We hope that you will continue to tell everyone you know about the band, about the record and about whatever songs move you.  THANKS!!!

BONUS:  On the release date we were on Fearless Radio here in Chicago.  We performed two songs live and acoustic in studio.  You can download the podcast here in case you missed it!  http://www.fearlessradio.com/index.php/component/k2/item/2502-vintage-blue.html

Kill 'Em With Kindness

Recently the band was interviewed by SOCO Magazine and Trevor, the interviewer, asked what advice the band would give to aspiring musicians.  Initially our answer was the old cliche about working hard, practicing and being persistent.  While this holds true generally, our band has found that another rule applies in such a more meaningful way.

Kill 'Em With Kindness

2011 has been a lesson in the value of building relationships, making lasting connections and treating people with respect.  Very early on in the history of this band we met a lot of musicians at all levels of success.  But it was the musicians with humility and that took the time to talk with us about the craft, their equipment, etc. that really had a profound effect.

So we took it to heart.  We started paying attention to every person that crossed our path.  Whether it was a sound engineer, a fan, or a generally unfriendly booking agent, we made it our goal to treat everyone with kindness, knowing that it would come back to us someday.

2011 has been a lesson in just how effective this strategy can be.  Recently the band had a chance to play with Sister Hazel at The Bluebird Bar in Bloomington, Indiana and the House of Blues Chicago.  That opportunity was the result of 2 years of pursuit and networking and it could not have worked out better.  We met so many great new people, new fans and new friends.  And to all those new fans out there, we will show you the same thing that got us to the stage in front of our current friends ... kindness.