Author: Centro-matic

Trek and Shift and Late Night Gurrlz Paying For College in Dirty Ways:
Thanks to any and all that stopped down on this recent midwestern solo run with my friend and fellow Undertow Orchestra chum, David Bazan. We kicked it (slow and) low overhead with a Subaru, an amp and two guitars, gorging ourselves on This American Life and discussions of music, getting the best out of a reasonably priced Zinfandel, and of course, the devil. Or at least the idea of the devil. Anyway, to that dude that was truckin’ the Girls Gone Wild bus through downtown Madison: What graphics, holmes! Thanks for not parking it in front of our show.

There’s recently been a change within a band that is family to us, and I’d like to give humble salute. After five and a half years of making some truly astounding music and memories together, The Drive-By Truckers and Jason Isbell have chosen to go their separate ways. We wish them both our heartfelt best on these new paths they’re taking, and look forward to all the great music that will certainly come from each of them as the days do roll on.

Operation Motorcide EP:
If you haven’t snagged it already via import mail order, iTunes has stated that they will have the Operation Motorcide EP available within the coming weeks. We also plan to have a limited number of import copies on hand for the May 12th Austin show. For now, it is streaming wildly at our myspace page.

Glorious Noise and Daytrotter:
I was recently in Chicago for some traffic, a show, and a hang with John Boston and his crew at Glorious Noise. The link to the session and site:

http://www.gloriousnoise.com/articles/2007/will_johnson_video_documentary.php

Lastly, Bazan and I stopped in for a Daytrotter session in beautiful downtown Rock Island, IL a few weeks back, and we’ll post a link to that once they get it ready. In the meantime, check out their site and their doin’s (http://www.daytrotter.com/). They’re up to some great stuff, and clearly fighting the good fight for independent music.

Thanks as always for reading and listening. Godspeed, brethren and sistren.

-Will J.

WINTER’S SPLINTER
Man, it’s been a post-holiday run of useless and exhausting Bonds-ian contract speculation, ice storms, and spoonfuls of Hydroxy Cut when no one’s lookin’. I got chromium picolinate on the brain, but really, who doesn’t? Either way, hope youns are well. Thanks to all the friends in Spain and Portugal that stopped down for the recent run of solo shows with my gentlemanly Texas friends, Micah P. Hinson and Nick Phelps. We had a real good time rolling along, hanging with our driver, Titi, playing some songs and wolfing bocadillos. We were full blown pottymouthed for twelve days straight.

NEW EP
Houston Party Records will release Centro-matic’s Operation Motorcide EP this spring. Far as I know, it’ll be available via iTunes and some of those other downloadable cyber avenues as well. The tracklisting will be as follows: All This Fresh Mutiny, Atlanta, Operation Motorcide, A Celebrated Grime, Blood On The Floor, Daggers Sharp Enough, Circuits to Circuses, and 74 Cuts 74 Scars. Artwork is again done by our good friend, Dave Ewald. More info will be available here and at www.houstonpartyrecords.com as the days go.

BACK TO THE WOODS
South San Gabriel embarks on its next recording experience in just a few days. We’ll hole up traditional-like in the confines of Argyle, Texas’ Echo Lab until early March. We’ll have all Centro-matic folks, Matt Stoessel, Bryan Vandivier and Robert Gomez onhand to make this stark and dark recording dream real.

SHOWS
No confirmations at the moment due to recording, though I will trek the midwest solo with David Bazan (Pedro the Lion) in April, and Centro-matic will return to Spain and possibly other parts of Europe come late Spring. We’re working on fitting a few Texas shows in there as well, hopefully prior to the baseball Rangers being mathematically eliminated from playoff qualification. All dates will be listed and sent just as soon as we have ’em in hand. Godspeed, thanks for reading and happy tax book preparin’. -Will J.

Centro-matic’s live performance from Austin City Limits Music Festival 2006 is now available for download at iTunes. Enjoy!

[ DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES ]

LIMITED RELEASE ON PIAPTK RECORDS
Subscriptions are soon being released for the new PIAPTK release series, which will include the Will J. single “Blackest Sparrow/Darkest Night.” The first two singles of this series are set for November shipment, and the “Blackest Sparrow…” single is scheduled to ship late January/early February. This will be a limited run of 100, on square, 8″, clear vinyl with letter-pressed covers. Plenty more information is available at www.peopleinapositiontoknow.com, where you may sign up via the email list.

MUSICKFEST
Our friend, Wendy Musick, from Georgia greats, Southern Bitch recently had to have surgery to remove a pancreatic tumor. Due to the sad state of our country’s healthcare system, and with no health insurance to speak of, no surgeons that she sought in Atlanta would consider performing the operation. She finally had a successful surgery earlier this month in Athens and is recovering nicely, but help is still certainly needed. Please donate if you can, and at least check out the site at: http://www.myspace.com/musickfest.

MIDWEST/EASTERN VOYAGE
Centro-matic will journey out again in November with friends Bobby Bare Jr. and David Vandervelde. We’re pleased to have Charles Bissell (of the Wrens) with us for the two New York shows as well. December Texas, Southern US, and New Years dates will be announced very soon, so keep yerself tuned in, and maybe we’ll see you down the road. Thanks all. [please see the SHOWS page]

Chicago-based indie film company, Dowstate Productions recently finished shooting its second feature film “Salt Creek County.” The film is due to be completed in spring of 2007. “Salt Creek County” is a mythical dark comedy about a man named Raymond Colby, who after years is released from the local mental home. Raymond claims he was picked up and carried away by a gaint bird years prior. Upon Raymond’s return back to his small town he pleas to the colorful locals to follow him to the forbidden other side of Salt Creek County to attempt to show the evidence that his story did happen. Salt Creek County is a story about going beyond our mental boundaries and giving magic and innocence a chance again.

The cast is reprised by many of the talents displayed in Downstate Productions first award winning feature film “TroubadourS.” Newcomers include L.A. based actor Tahmus Rounds (Copey Cat, ER, Deadwood). Chris Brown (Blue Man Group), also joining the cast acclaimed Texas based singer songwriter Will Johnson (Centro-matic, South San Gabriel). Johnson also contributed original recorded music for the film “TroubadourS” in 2005. For more info on Salt Creek County, TroubadourS or other Downstate Production projects check out
http://www.downstateproductions.com

Will Johnson plays the part of Clive Colby. Clive is Raymond Colby’s younger brother and maybe the only person in Salt Creek County to ever really belive Raymond’s tall tale about a giant bird picking him up and carrying him away. Clive is a quiet soul who works at the local diner, Clive also has a friend named Dugan that only he can see, Clive and Dugan are the best of friends.

SEEN YOUR VIDEO
Kudos and thanks to Kris Youmans and Kris Hardy for shooting the video for “Triggers and Trash Heaps”, all done at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton. Word is that it’s starting to show up on various specialty shows, and it’s probably viewable on one of those sites where you can see pigs waterskiing, folks getting electrocuted and passed out frat boys getting Sharpied.

look at the happy Hedman…he is quite pleased.

We have new t-shirts avilable on-line. Please visit our on-line outlet over at the Undertow store to check ’em out. We have mens and ladies shirts in several styles and colors.

GO: OFFICIAL CENTRO-MATIC ON-LINE STORE

Fort Recovery is available in fine record stores and online now.

BUY IT HERE:
direct from Centro-matic
direct from Misra Records
from Amazon.com