MONEY FOR TOTAL CONTEST WINNERS
February 14th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Back in November of last year, we announced our official Music For Total Chickens video contest. We offered two $500 prizes; a Quality Award, and a Quantity Award for the most YouTube views. Over 40 entrants picked one of four offered mp3s and created a music video. They submitted those to a YouTube video group. Meanwhile, we enlisted the help of seven highly qualified celebrity judges. They critiqued each video with the keen eyes of experience and talent, and have found a quality winner.
Well, it’s The Half-Week of Rafter Love, and that’s as good a time as any to announce our two winners. But first, we’d like to thank everyone who contributed. We were overwhelmed with the quality – and quantity! – of responses. We’re also a little sad that there couldn’t be more than two winners. These videos were really good. Throughout this half-week, we’ll be featuring our own favorites. Until then, the winners:
Sporting an action-packed forest chase set, the Quality Award goes to the video above created by whaun of WilliamHaun.com. Thankfully, William has generously provided higher quality versions of the video here.
With over 25,000 views and several blended eggs, the Quantity Award goes to pigetstuck:
Thanks to all, and congratulations our two winners! Our highly trained Prize Distributary Committee will be in contact with you shortly! Click "more" to see the two runners up for the Quality Award.
CASTANETS AND SHAPES AND SIZES SHARE A RIDE
February 13th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
What happens when two Asthmatic Kitty bands collide? A tour that shakes the Northern Americas to its core, that’s what. Castanets and Shapes and Sizes will be trucking from town to town, getting to know each other – and hopefully you! – a little better. Tour stops will include DC, New Orleans, Dallas, Chicago, and SXSW in Austin,Texas (more information on that next week). Shapes and Sizes will then smuggle Castanets into their homeland with stops in Toronto and Montreal.
And yes, since you’re wondering, the van’s cargo will not only include old (fake) ham sandwiches and empty water bottles, but also copies of an split tour EP. This tour EP is a limited edition digipack of 1000 copies and is beautifully adorned with artwork by our sidebar art correspondent, Gala Bent. These will be available alongside the also limited Unusual Animals Vinyl Series, Volumes 1 & 2. They will make these available at their merchandise tables (while supplies last) at each of the shows.
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND TOURS, STREAMS
February 12th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
For April and May My Brightest Diamond will be opening for The Decemberists. The two bands will tour from the Jersey City to Bellingham, Washington. Check her tour date page for exact dates and location.
Her new album, Tear it Down, available now in Europe and on March 6, 2007 for the rest of the world, is also available to stream for free from the album’s release page.
JONATHAN DUECK VISUALIZES A MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND REMIX
February 10th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Video by Jonathan Dueck to an excerpt of David Stith’s remix of "Gone Away" from the album Tear It Down.
Release Date: already out in Europe, March 6, 2007 (US and World)
TICKETS ON SALE FOR MUSIC NOW FESTIVAL
February 9th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Tickets for the three-day Cincinnati MusicNOW Festival are now on sale here. The keen curating of The National’s Bryce Dessner has pulled in artists from around the world, including our own My Brightest Diamond and Sufjan Stevens.
Festival passes are just $60. Tickets to individual performances are $25. See more information here.
ZACK BENT VISUALIZES A MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND REMIX
February 8th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Video by Zack Bent to an excerpt of David Keith’s remix of "Something of an End" from the album Tear It Down.
Release Date: already out in Europe, March 6, 2007 (US and World)
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND SESSIONS, CHATS WITH DAYTROTTER
February 6th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Shara Worden, of My Brightest Diamond, has appeared on the illustrious and always information-replete online magazine Daytrotter. Their fine journalists comment on her debut album, Bring Me the Workhorse, and then proceed to coax Shara into revealing her love for Amsterdam-ian coffee, horses (of course!), and back-seat listening.
Although Daytrotter was probably tempted to keep it for themselves, the content-laden magazine has generously provided free MP3s of the ensuing live session. Tracks include "Magic Rabbit," "Something of an End," "Freak Out," and "Gone Away." For those locked in cubicles and cruelly and unusually denied the ability to download, a stream is also available for a limited time.
Shara’s appearance is only one of many excellent artist sessions, all available for free from their archives.
MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND AND SUFJAN TO PLAY IN MUSIC NOW FESTIVAL
February 5th, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
On April 5-7, Shara Worden, of My Brightest Diamond, and Sufjan Stevens are particpating in the Bryce Dessner-curated Music Now 2007 festival. Bryce is best known as the guitarist for The National and his instrumental band Clogs, and for being born in Cincinatti, Ohio.
Shara and Sufjan will be playing in the historic Memorial Hall, located in the even more historic Over-the-Rhine district of Cincinnatti. They won’t be alone though. The two will be taking turns on the stage with the veritable likes of string quarter Amiina (of Sigur Ros fame), renowned flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler, and experimental Czech duo Irena a Vojtěch Havlovi. Shara will serve as guest vocalist for the Clogs and Sufjan. They’ll even share a string quartet.
Passes for the entire festival cost only $60. Tickets to each individual performance will cost $25. The theater only seats 500, so watch the festival’s website for ordering information.
Audio links of fellow Music Now musicians follow.
The National’s MySpace page
Clogs, "Kapsburger" and "5/4" (MP3)
Amiina’s MySpace page
GUIDE TO BUYING MUSIC FOR TOTAL CHICKENS FOR CHICKENS
January 23rd, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
Today, Tuesday January the 23rd, Rafter releases Music for Total Chickens, his second album on Asthmatic Kitty Records. The long journey from not buying Music for Total Chickens to buying Music for Total Chickens is not an easy one for chickens. Barriers, such as social contact, possibly driving or ordering from Internet, can all hinder […]
Read the Rest...THE UNUSUAL ANIMALS SERIES BECOMES EVEN MORE UNUSUAL
January 22nd, 2007 , by Asthmatic Kitty
We are proud to announce our second in the Unusual Animals Vinyl Series, which features our own Castanets and Western Vinyl’s Dirty Projectors.
The Unusual Animals Vinyl Series brings together two eclectic musical experiments authored by two unusually paired groups or musicians. In this case, the Castanets offer "BlackWater," which sounds like a water-logged and drunk Fennesz covering Willie Nelson. Dave Longstreth and his Dirty Projectors inhabit the flip side of the vinyl with the piercing, "Silence in the Land."
The album releases on March 6 only in retail independent music stores. Until then interested parties can partake of a free streaming audio of both songs here.