10.8.2009
It has been a rollercoaster, but I made it out alive (so far). Apologies for not updating this frequently enough. So - John Biz @ CMJ 2009 - 2 very different shows with 2 different bands.

Catch these shows. They are very rare, and extremely unique.

The first is Tuesday October 20 8:30pm @ Brooklyn Bowl. The band features Ross Hendler and Claude Coleman (Ween), plus some surprise special guests. We're opening for the amazing Bustle In Your Hedgerow, featuring Dave Dreiwitz (Ween), Scott Metzger, (Gene Ween Band, Rana), and the amazing Benevento Russo Duo), all playing instrumental Zepplin tunes. This show will rock.

The second CMJ show is Wednesday October 21, 8pm SHARP @ Bruar Falls, Cake Shop's Brooklyn location. Very cool, intimate setting. It's a new place, and very hip - located @ 245 Grand St. Williamsburg Brooklyn (betw Driggs and Roebling). This band will feature the amazing Brian Kantor (Higgins) and Ross Hendler on Guitarron (Mariachi Bass). As always, surprise special guests. This will be a much different set. We're gonna charm the pants off ya.

10.7.2009
I'm currently recording a mountain of material with 2 different bands. John Carbonella of Dap Tone's Budos Band is Co-Producing it with me. I'm hoping to have it released by SxSW 2010. The first band features Brian Kantor on drums and Ross Hendler on Bass. Ross also plays a group of songs on guitarron (mariachi bass). This is some very unique material and these guys are tops. We're bringing in many surprise special guests (duh). The shit cooks.

The second band features Dave Dreiwitz and Claude Coleman, Jr. - better known as the rhythm section from Ween, one of my all time favorite bands. Lucky me! We'll be recording an entirely different group of material. Then, at CMJ, I'll mix and match by pairing up Ross Hendler with Claude Coleman, and playing selections from each recording. Sounds confusing? Welcome to my world, grandma. All I can say is that we're bringing something serious to the table.


9.11.2008
CMJ'd!

I'm excited to announce that I got into CMJ again this year. I'll post a date when the schedule is confirmed. Keep an eye out for a writeup on my new record, Vida in the upcoming CMJ issue of The Deli Magazine.

9.8.2008
Free Tunes!

 

Aloha. Here are some acoustic demos i recorded in tXXXs. click this link to download a zip file containing the whole thing.

There's an album cover in the folder too. Just download the file, double click to open it, then select the mp3's and drag the files into an itunes folder. You might have to select the album once it's in itunes and click "get info", then "artwork" and simply add the jpg for the album art. If the downloading process is confusing for anyone, email me at mr.johnbiz@gmail.com - I can help explain it, it's super easy.

These are home recordings, made in Austin, Dallas and (finished in) Brooklyn. Not too many extras - it's pretty raw, which is always a bit risky. Just a few backing vox and an extra guitar here and there, but no drums, bass or electrical (amplified) instruments of any kind. I mixed this in headphones, and it's unmastered so i hope it translates well to your speakers, but it should sound decent in headphones at the very least. I'm certainly no professional recording engineer. It's possible some tracks might have some different volumes. I'm probably done with this material, as I'm moving in an entirely different direction musically these days. Most of these 21 tracks are originals, but there are some interesting covers as well. Tried to catch the vibe from tXXXs while i was there. it was a trying time and i was fairly isolated, but i think it's a pretty balanced record nonetheless. there's a lot of space in this recording, and i think it just feels like my impression of tXXXs, being a Brooklyn kid out of my element and all. Oh, and the cover was taken in the graveyard from one of the opening scenes in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I think it's a free mason cemetery - yikes. enjoy, share, whatever. Smell ya later...