Founders, June 26, 2010

Set list:


Didn't Take Long
Insult to Injury
All You've Got
Look Me Up Sometime
The One That Got Away
Kitty Hijinks
Venango County
Crosstown
When You Were Mine
My Machine
Carolina Breeze
Love's Alright
All Again


Big night of music at Founders, as Charles the Osprey released their album Consider. In addition to that, Ozenza and Noblesville also performed. Gotta say that Didn't Take Long is growing and changing before our eyes, as the band hones in a new track. It just sounds better and better each time they play it. When You Were Mine made another super-fun appearance. The sound at Founders can be hit or miss, but tonight it was on for their set. I stood at the back at the merch stand for the set, and it was as good a mix as I've heard at Founders. Great as well to see Outo Bol come out as a never nude. 

UPDATED JUNE 28, 2010

Check this out with some of the Chance Jones folks playing backup. Too sweet!

New Live Dates

A host of new live dates have been scheduled for the summer. Check it out:


The Plug It Up! Benefit at Billy's will be July 11. There are a ton of great bands who are going to be there, like:
SuperDre
La Famiglia
Juleus
AB & Coconut Brown
Gray Theory
Nathan Kalish and the Wildfire
Cain Marko
The Fainting Generals
Head


Pretty good, right? I mean, how can you not go? Plus it benefits the restoration of marine life in the Gulf coast affected by the oil spill. Glad to see that local artists are taking action to help out and raise funds. Come join and help out by rocking out. 


Next up, is the Frederik Meijer Gardens Show August 17 with the Fainting Generals. Thanks to Ralston Bowles and the Tuesday Night Music Club for helping to put this on.


Finally, September 11 will be the Bars of Gold album release party at Founders. This is a Friction Records release, and the mighty Ghost Heart will also be performing at this show. 


There are whispers of a larger show coming in September, but that's not for me to confirm or deny at this point. Should be fun if it comes together, though! 

Founders, February 27, 2010

Set list

Called My Name
American Evening
Nobody's Baby
Insult to Injury
Crosstown
My Machine
Cute With A Knife
Look Me Up Sometime
Love's Still Wild
Alone With Him
Going to see Michelle
(break)
CIA Operative
All You've Got
Sunshine and Glory
Love's Alright
I'll Never Look For You Again
All Again

Really, really good show at Founder's last night. Despite Miss Sapphire's absconding to Mexico, the band put on a tight and energetic set to a packed house. Lots of new folks caught the band, and standing in the audience I could see people being won over with each successive song. My Machine continues to own everyone and everything in it's path. Dex was more than up to the task of providing backing vocals and harmonies in the absence of Miss Sapphire.

Founders: (4th) Best in the World!

RateBeer's Best of 2010 was just released and Founders was named the number 4 brewery in the WORLD. Yes. THE ENTIRE PLANET EARTH. It goes without saying that this is beyond cool, especially considering that there were nearly 10,000 breweries that were reviewed. CONGRATULATIONS, FOUNDERS! Truly deserving!

Also, congratulations to perennial favorites Bell's of Kalamazoo for placing 5th! Man, we got it good here in West Michigan with our beer.

Big Week

Lots of opportunities to enjoy Chance Jones in a variety of forms this week.

First off, tomorrow night at the B.O.B. Chance Jones sets sail on their second of TEN consecutive Wednesday night performances. Last week saw a staggering 31 song set unleashed on the unsuspecting. Looking for a great introduction to the band? This is a good night to dig in. Heck, bring a uninitiated friend to experience the majestic mysticism. Or cynicism. Your choice.

Maybe they will play this...



Thursday night brings an old-skool acoustic performance at Founders, along with acoustic Nathan Kalish, Frontier Ruckus, and Jes Kramer. And as usual with all Thursdays at Founders, there is no cover charge. Technically, you could see Chance Jones for FREE, but I know you. You'll want a beer or four.

Finally, Saturday night brings the Coyote premiere at the UICA. Joel Potrykus presents his second Super 8 film short to Grand Rapids, and you can be there for a measly $4. Did you know that Chance Jones contributed a brand new song to the soundtrack? Did you know that the film stars some guy named Joshua Burge? You simply can't miss this one.

So there you have it. A pretty good week to be a fan. Plus, an amazing discovery from the ancient past was unearthed in the far off orient. What does this have to do with our fearless ensemble? It wouldn't be a tease if I told you...

Founders, January 14, 2010

Set One:

Looking After Me
Rouge In Style
Alone With Him
Kitty Hijinks
Going to See Michelle
Love's Still Wild
I Haven't Seen Her Since the Election>I'll Never Look For You Again
Sunshine and Glory
Venango County
Insult to Injury
Love's Alright
My Machine

Set Two:

Missed You Lady
Nobody's Baby
C.I.A. Operative
The One That Got Away
All You've Got
When You're Lost
Cute With A Knife
Look Me Up Sometime
Natalie
Six-String Highway
Called My Name
All Again

Guh.

Amazing night of music from Chance Jones and AB & Coconut Brown. I'm exhausted still. Four hours of rock, quick transitions between sets, phenomenal energy. Taped all four sets from both bands, but I'm concerned that only one tape turned out. Soundboard patched again. And all of this was FREE? Great, great night of music.

New Live Dates

Thanks to the great Bueford Wilson, the man behind the beat of Chance Jones, for breaking new spring live dates.

Apr. 9 - Chance Jones (TO BE CONFIRMED KZOO SHOW)

Apr. 10 - Chance Jones @ Red Line Tap Chicago

Apr. 29 - Chance Jones @ Billys with AB & Coconut Brown

June 19 - Chance Jones @ Founders Fest

Founders, January 14, 2010

Your first opportunity to see the band in 2010 will be a FREE show at Founders along with the super-sweet AB and Coconut Brown. Chance Jones will play a set first, followed by AB and Coconut Brown, and then Chance Jones will play ANOTHER set! Did I mention that all of this sweetness is FREE? And at Founders? On January 14?

Not sure about AB and Coconut Brown? I know for a FACT that there are 3 copies of their new album Indeed! at Vertigo, and they are only $6 each. That is a pretty sweet deal for such a sweet disc. Go get it now and act like you've known all about them on January 14 at Founders.

Upcoming Shows

Saturday night the band will be playing at Mulligans Pub in Eastown, as well as another show on Friday night (12/19) at the Kent-Ionia Labor Council. More on that date as we approach it next week. A whisper in the forest told me that Chance Jones and AB & Coconut Brown will be playing a show together in January at Founders. It was either the whisper or the blizzard. I dunno. I can't remember. It all tends to blur after a while.

UPDATED TWO MINUTES LATER AFTER GOOGLE SEARCH: The Founders show is real, and it is FREE, Thursday, January 14, 2010.

Love's Alright

In celebration of tomorrow's big show, here's a video I shot at Founders back in July with a soundboard patch. The video is a little rough, but the audio is pretty clear.

News!

The Incident at Primrose and West will be released November 20 on vinyl, cd, and digital download on Friction Records. The Intersection front room will be the site of the album release show, also November 20.

As far as I know, the album is completely completed. It has been mixed and mastered, and I've heard that one new album track will be featured on a Friction compilation. No idea when or where, but I'll update when it becomes available.

In other news, tracking begins today on The Letter 11, which is the album of full-band versions of early Chance Jones tracks. Bol was optimistic that they would have demo versions of the entire album complete tonight, and the recording process should move fairly quickly. He also had no idea how this would be released, if Friction would have a hand in it, or if it would be a self-release. He also didn't have any specific track names, but I would speculate that all your favorite live tracks will end up on it. I tried to suggest Carolina Breeze be included as well since it is so different that the album version. That doesn't seem likely. How about as an online exclusive?

Finally, I was able to videotape the Founders show last month, and I was able to capture soundboard audio. I'm planning to add some songs from that to the YouTube account when time permits. The soundboard audio is pretty sharp.

New Dates!

The band has added a bunch of new dates for August and September.

* August 1, Coat of Many Colors Street Party
* August 8, Founders Brewery, Grand Rapids, MI
* September 11, Mulligan's, Eastown, Grand Rapids, MI
* September 19, Wealthy Theater, Grand Rapids, MI
* September 23, Elbow Room, Ypsilanti, MI
* September 24, The Lager House, Detroit, MI

I would expect a few more dates will fill in the edges, as none of these dates are listed as a record release show for The Incident at Primrose and West.

So...

Yeah.

Been kinda delinquent in updating the site. The bad news is that it was caused by some job related stress and worries. The good news is that those days of stress may be behind me.

My apologies to those of you who noticed that the site was hibernating for a few months.

But I do have some good news.

First of all, the band is playing this week at Founders Fest. They're scheduled to go on about 7, but come hang out all day at the fest. There are a ton of great bands scheduled to go on. Plus, it'll be a great chance to hear some of the old favorites before the newer material takes over the setlists.

Second, the album, titled The Incident at Primrose and West is nearly complete. While I've still yet to hear anything official from the album, Bol has told me that the album is about 40 minutes long, "blows away" The Angels Share, and will NOT feature the live staple "My Sunshine" or the "Crosstown" prequel, "Maria." There have been discussions about releasing an EP of tracks that don't fit the vibe of Primrose but nothing is official. My wish? (And this is purely my wish) An EP of the two tracks above, plus a full band recording of "Venango County" and "Carolina Breeze." Heck, I'd even settle for live soundboard recordings of those tracks.

What is on the album? "Nobody's Baby" is still there, but according to Bol, it sounds like "Otis Redding go-go dancers" would dance to it. I have no way to interpret that statement. Other working titles for songs on the album right now include "Love's Still Wild" and "My Machine."

Finally, don't stop believing.

Bad stuff happens in life, but if you work through it, have a vision, and don't compromise yourself, good things will happen. DON'T STOP BELIEVING!

End pep talk.

See you Saturday!

03/07/2009 Founders, Grand Rapids, MI

03/07/2009 Founders, Grand Rapids, MI
Setlist (draft):

Insult to Injury
Natalie
CIA Operative
Carolina Breeze
Nobody's Baby
My Sunshine
Six String Highway
Kitty Hijinks

Great night by the band, with a re-worked version of My Sunshine, compared to the last time I heard it this past fall. High energy, great crowd, pretty good sound. Tough night to tape, but I think it's a good problem when there are a lot of people in the crowd there in your way.

Show TONIGHT @ Founders!

Come out tonight to Founders for the Nathan Kalish and the Wildfire cd release party. Chance Jones will go on at 11, with Nathan Kalish to go on at 12. Julio Gomez, guitarist for the Wildfire, will play an acoustic set at 9, and Night Toucher will play at 10.

New Album Update

Bol checked in last night to give an update and had a lot of good stuff to report.

First of all, the band has finished recording demos for the album, and is actively recording all of their parts of the album. Bol said that there were three separate days last week that band members dropped by to lay down their parts, including another session last night at Dex's basement studio.

Bol also noted the names of four songs, Nobody's Baby, My Sunshine, My Machine, and Maria, which is the prequel to Crosstown. Many of the songs only have working titles and nothing is finished or mixed yet.

Good stuff.

Catch the band at the Jammies next month, as they take a break from performing to focus on recording the album.

Here's the band performing My Sunshine at Founder's in October.

New March Shows Added

Bol just checked in with a killer Pot Roast and Noddles recipe, plus 3 new shows in March.

March 7th at Founders (Nathan Kalish and the Wildfire cd release)
March 12th at Hopcat
March 22nd at Dog Story Theater

This is in addition to the upcoming show this month that was announced earlier.

January 28th with Lazy Genius at Billy's Lounge

The Recipe:
first brown the meat

get two cans of cambells french onion soup

add the cans and meat to the crock pot

add one can full of water

let it cook for like 6 hours

it can go longer too before the last hour a

add the potatos

and carrots
Temp is on High

after the carrots and tates are good

take the meat out and cook the noodles in the crock pot
takes about 10 minutes for the noodles

Founder's, December 18

The full band will be appearing on December 18 at Founders as a headlining act. Founders website doesn't list a supporting act yet, and I'll update once I hear more.