January 8, 2009 – 10:32 pm
There were many people who attended STRIKING 12 at the Zipper Factory Theatre last week who did not get programs - we apologize for running out of them! If you were at the show and would like to download the SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES preview tracks we promised, just send us an email at us@groovelily.com describing what was on Brendan’s T-shirt, and we’ll send you the link.
January 1, 2009 – 1:43 pm
Happy New Year, everyone.
This year’s run of Striking 12 shows, both on the west coast and the east, has been inspiring and wonderful. We got to reconnect with friends and fans all over California, and then we got to do Striking 12 up right in what seems to be its happiest and most wildly appropriate home: the Zipper Factory Theatre on 37th street.
We filmed three shows (thank you, Erik Bryan Slavin), and recorded them to multitrack (thank you, Danny Garcia and Germ Recordings), and our live sound was mixed by the redoubtable Kris Umezawa.
It’s hard not to look back on the history of our band and ruminate a little. As we wrote in “Last Day of the Year,”
I would not dwell on the past
if time would not go by so fast
That said, it’s refreshing to look out at the cold blue Brooklyn sky and see possibility. We have come so far, and we still feel that we’re only at the beginning. We wish you all a very happy new year.
December 22, 2008 – 3:18 pm
Come join us at the Zipper next week for seven special performances of STRIKING 12 in concert, Dec 26-31:
1 - Every ticket holder will receive 2 free sneak-preview download tracks from our upcoming SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES CD Read More »
December 21, 2008 – 10:43 pm
We got back to Brooklyn four days ago, after nearly six weeks in California. I think I have Seasonal Affective Disorder; or at least, I’m relatively impatient and irritable. Snow, sleet, freezing temperatures, the overcrowdedness and small annoyances of New York City are not the real issues, though they all hit me like a pail of cold water to the neck. The real issue is that I’m having trouble maintaining perspective, remembering to be grateful, or having any sort of equanimity. Read More »
December 6, 2008 – 4:44 pm
Well, it’s certainly never boring around here. Our lead actor Ben seems to have mostly recovered from his throat infection, and his singing is stronger than ever…however, a stomach flu is now going around and has gone from his 4-month-old baby Bailey to his wife Julie, and then to Mose’s grandma, and now, as of about an hour ago, to Brendan. I’m not sure he’ll be able to attend opening tonight…but am hoping maybe at least one of us can be there. I’m washing my hands furiously and crossing my extremely clean fingers. Read More »
December 1, 2008 – 1:05 pm
We’re sorry to report that we have had to postpone our Tulsa, OK gig which was scheduled for January 17, 2009 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.
It will be rescheduled for sometime in the fall of 2009. Please understand that the postponement is actually happening for a very good reason, and that it was not avoidable. And please accept our apologies–we want very much to get back to the middle of the country, and we’re very grateful for your continued support and interest.
Some people had already made travel arrangements and booked hotel rooms in order to attend. We are so sorry for the sudden change in plans, and we look forward to seeing you when we finally get to Tulsa!
November 30, 2008 – 7:32 pm
Sorry for the delay on posting these! The Pittsburgh City Paper ran a lovely pair of articles about LONG STORY SHORT; here are both the preview and the review.
Pittsburgh City Paper preview article
Pittsburgh City Paper review
“…a must-see for anyone who loves theater, loves music and loves love.” - Michelle Pilecki, Pittsburgh City Paper
Also, our actors Ben and Pearl appeared on the TV show “Pittsburgh Today Live.” Click here and get to know them a bit.
November 30, 2008 – 1:55 am
I’m writing this from tech rehearsal in Palo Alto, which feels like an odd collision of past and present because we are in the very same room where we did STRIKING 12 four years ago (the Lucie Stern Theatre)…but this time I’m watching from the audience, with two sweaters on because it’s much colder without dozens of lights shining upon me. Interestingly, Brendan is all miked up and singing, because our poor lead actor Ben has a nasty throat infection. (He just returned from the hospital where they loaded him up with prednisone and azithromycin, and ordered him neither to speak nor sing for two days. So, Ben is acting silently and mouthing all the words, while Brendan voices for him. It looks a little like a Bruce Lee movie with bad overdubbing. Fingers crossed that Ben improves by our invited dress rehearsal two days from now.) Read More »
November 29, 2008 – 2:45 am
I begin this blog entry from a seated position on the floor of the commissary here at Disney Toon Studios. They keep the animators happy here by providing cereal and snacks in nifty dispensers with large turning cranks that drop a portion of tasty comestibles into your waiting bowl. Very nice. Read More »
