Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
December 23rd, 2013 , by John Beeler
Merry Christmas and happy holidays, from our family to you and yours! Whatever you might celebrating this season, and however you might be celebrating it, we hope you’ll enjoy some seasonal tunes our friends have put together for you.
Half-handed Cloud, Liz Janes, Danielson, and a heavenly host of other terrific artists have covered movements from the first part of Handel’s Messiah—that’s the Christmas part—to Familyre’s Messiah – Part 1, a charity compilation on Sounds Familyre Records. It only costs $4 to download the whole album here or send it as an instant gift, and all proceeds go to the Red Cross to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan.
Another project featuring Half-handed Cloud’s John Ringhofer, The Season’s Glreekins, is also offering their very rare, self-titled 1998 tape as a present to you. Only 150 copies of the original issue were ever dubbed by the Glreekins, a seasonal band from Cattanooga, but the Glreekins are giving it away again here on bandcamp to celebrate its 15th anniversary.
My Brightest Diamond just released a cover of Bob Dylan and Adele’s “Make You Feel My Love,” which you can hear here.
And finally, as a way to say thanks to you for a great year, we’ve put together a free sampler compilation, with some great cover art by animator Tom DesLongchamp. Download it on Noisetrade here.
So get someplace warm, and treat your ears to a little Christmas cheer. Here’s wishing you peace, joy and beautiful music this holiday season.
NEW LIZ JANES POSTER, INCLUDES MP3
December 15th, 2011 , by John Beeler
It’s been just about a year since we released Liz Janes’ Say Goodbye. About six months ago, Argentinean graphic designer Leandro Castelao contacted Liz. He was so inspired by the album that he offered to design a poster based on one of the songs. When Leandro delivered a final version based on "Firefly," and Liz showed it to us, we knew we had to share it with her fans. It’s terrific!
Liz Janes to Tour United Kingdom
May 16th, 2011 , by John Beeler
LIZ JANES TO TOUR UNITED KINGDOM
May 16th, 2011 , by John Beeler
Cheers,
SON LUX, BLACK HEART PROCESSION, MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND & OTHERS COVER LIZ JANES
March 15th, 2011 , by John Beeler
Liz Janes has been making records here at Asthmatic Kitty for a while, with each new record taking her music and style into wilder and weirder places. On the EP Time & Space, which we are releasing today, seven artists transport Liz's discography to even further frontiers.
Some of Liz's labelmates make appearances on this EP, including Helado Negro, Brightest Diamond, and Fol Chen. Also doing some equally amazing work with Liz's music are Danielson (fresh off a brand new release), Arrington de Dionyso, Black Heart Procession, and Son Lux (recently featured on NPR's Album-In-A-Month Project). Put it all together and you have a repertoire that is itself an accolade to Janes' music over the years. Read more about this project here.
You can hear it for free or own it for $5 right here, or below. Or, if you're so inclined, share the whole stream on your Facebook page by linking to:
http://lizjanes.bandcamp.com/album/time-space
LIZ JANES ON TOUR THIS WEEK
January 11th, 2011 , by John Beeler
Liz’s latest album, Say Goodbye, has been floating around since December and it seems to have stuck. Olympia’s Weekly Volcano says that it’s “pretty close to flawless.” You can find out for yourself by listening below, and if you like, you can buy the CD for $10 (+S&H) here, or the MP3s for $8 here.
GREAT COMFORT RECORDS RELEASES SACRED HYMNS
October 5th, 2009 , by John Beeler
Last month, ‘Come O Spirit!’ – Anthology of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Vol.1 by Bifrost Arts, was officially released. It is cause for great celebration, not only because it is wonderful and inspired music, but because ‘Come O Spirit!’ is Great Comfort Records’ inaugural release. The record features Asthmatic Kitty’s own Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, Liz Janes, and The Welcome Wagon. It also features a whole host of other lovely musicians and friends of Asthmatic Kitty including Denison Witmer and Rosie Thomas. You can buy the record directly from Great Comfort Records here.
LIZ JANES AND CHRIS SCHLARB AT NEXT TO LAST
December 2nd, 2007 , by John Beeler
Our very own Liz Janes and Chris Schlarb are performing at Athens Georgia’s Next to Last Festival on Saturday, December 8. This remarkable event is a breath of fresh air to the increasingly corporate affair of music festivals. Instead of overcharging and overcrowding, Next to Last is an affordable ($20 for both days!), comfortable, professional all-ages festival that includes not only music, but speakers, performance art, a vendors’ market, a farmers’ market, and a community info center.
Liz and Chris will be performing separately; Liz with some new material (!) and Chris with a rare live selection from his Twilights and Ghost Stories composition. Then they’ll play together. See here for fest details.
With over 15 other artists manning the stages, file this under not-to-miss.
LIZ AND SHAPES TO PLAY AT PYGMALION FESTIVAL, AK TO SPONSOR
September 17th, 2007 , by John Beeler
The Pygmalion Festival, now in its third year, is proving to be a formidable festival with each iteration. How could we not sponsor this fantastic grouping of musicians? From Andrew Bird to Catfish Haven to Denison Witmer, and our very own Liz Janes and Shapes & Sizes, Pygmalion 2007 is on track to be the best one yet.
Tickets are selling out quickly and are just $45 for the whole three days. Buy them on the festival’s website, here.
ROUND-UP WITH LIZ JANES
August 24th, 2007 , by John Beeler
Here’s something we could all use: a visit to Liz Janes by the Ghosts of Christmas (in August. They’re bored).
The Ghost of Christmas (in August) Past tells us that a few years ago, Liz Janes recorded a song for the San Diego Zoo, for the ad agency Signing Serpent – hey, there goes Rafter! Good news for those not in San Diego: the video of the commercial has appeared on YouTube. View it here.
Also from the Ghost of Christmas (in August) Past: A few years ago, Liz provided backup vocals for a burgeoning Californian artist named Douglas Armour. He’s working on a full-length for label The Social Registry, but has released a 7 inch through their Social Club limited series to pacify our never-ending indie-pop urges. Listen to him, and Liz sing backup, on his MySpace page here or at the bottom of this post.
The cheery Ghost of Christmas (in August) Present is saying that Liz plays tonight in Indianapolis at Locals Only at 8pm with many other great musicians (see details here). Doors open at 8pm. INTake Weekly rated the show the second in the top 10 things to do this weekend. And that’s with Rush playing in town!
And finally, the Ghost of Christmas (in August) Future has ghoulishly moaned to us that Liz will be playing for the Pygmalion Music Festival on Saturday, September 22 at 6pm, in Urbana-Champaign. Passes are $40 and includes admission to other fine artists like Andrew Bird, Denison Witmer, Catfish Haven, Okkervil River, and our very own Shapes and Sizes. Buy tickets here.