Tuesday, March 31, 2009

New song, "Trashy Hot" is up!



First of all, thanks to everyone who came out to Saturday's party at The Frequency. I had an awesome time onstage and I hope that everybody had as much fun in the crowd as I did. Also, thanks for help with the music video, we'll have it out in the next couple of weeks as I take some time to edit together the multiple cameras along with some other scenes for the video. And everybody that brings new friends to each of these parties, thank you so much. 2009 has been one of our most exciting years yet, and it's really because everyone that comes together for these shows and makes them such a fantastic experience.

And I know I sound like a massive wuss, but it's true. Now, on to something a touch more vulgar.

Our brand new single, "Trashy Hot" is up and available for download just by clicking here.

I think someone was asking me on Saturday what the new song was about and really it shouldn't take much explanation but I'll try to help. "Trashy Hot" is similar thematically to our song, "Meat Market", but on the opposite side of the spectrum. While "Meat Market" condemned the hooking-up culture and its emotionally meaningless physical liaisons, "Trashy Hot" is a celebration of it. A lot of times you're hanging out with dudes and their porno and Victoria's Secret-addled minds have made them believe that real live actual women are supposed to look like that. Not only does that make women feel horrible about themselves (which equals feeling less sexy and we all know where that leads), it also means that a lot of men would rather go spend time with their hands than with someone who doesn't quite meet their physical ideal. Not that people shouldn't be careful with their gift of sexuality, but Christ Almighty, there's a lot of people who just need to let their preconceived and advertisement-programmed notions of beauty go and get laid. The character in this song couldn't agree more. We hope you enjoy the new tune!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Thanks Wausau Daily Herald

for the nice mention about tomorrow night's show. We're honored to be one of their favorites!

Drinking with The Doctor

Tipoff to Doctor Who Online for this great cocktail idea, "The Sonic Screwdriver". Invented by a Omaha Doctor Who fan, Liz Mulhern, it's a Timelord-twisted version of the regular screwdriver that we all drank too much of in college. Here's how you make it:

1 1/2 oz vanilla vodka
1 1/2 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
6 oz clear lemon-lime soda

Half-fill a clear 12 oz. glass with ice. Pour 1.5 oz Vanilla Vodka, 1.5 oz Blue Curacao, and 6 oz. CLEAR lemon/lime soda over the ice. Stir lightly, and Enjoy!


Anyway, I can't wait until "Planet of the Dead" is on at Easter (or at least until the torrents go up!) so that I can give this one a try. But I might be tempted to get some classic episodes and do it sooner. Oh well, if I have a Doctor Who party, I'll make sure to let everybody know. You can find the original article here.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

We need help with extra video cameras for Saturday's show

We're working on the video for our March song and we'd love to make it a live performance video.

If I may be so bold to ask a favor, if anyone has a video camera and can help us tape one song on Saturday night, that'd be fucking awesome. We're looking to get as many shots as possible during the song and if we got a few cameras recording it would be awesome.

Of course, we'll buy you a beer and give you credit on the video for helping out (and we'd provide the tapes - has to be digital though, because I don't have a VHS capture device right now.)

Anyway, please send us an email (sunspot@sunspotmusic.com), tweet, Facebook, or whatever and let us know if you can help and thanks in advance!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The new van gets an A++!

Last weekend's trip to Austin was the first real test of our Chevy Express. We traveled over 2200 miles in 5 days, and it passed with flying colors! No breakdowns, or even minor incidents.

It was truly a pleasure to be able to travel without fearing for our lives constantly. 3 cheers for the new van, and here's to more successful tours in it!

Sunspot Road Mania - Ep. 90

Friday through Monday morning of Sunspot's trip to SXSW 2009 in Austin, Texas! Split into three parts for YouTube's 10-minute rule.





Monday, March 23, 2009

Why is it funny

to the World Baseball Championship American commentators that they don't know the Asian players names? I mean it was kinda funny in kindergarten laughing it off when you wiped your ass with your homework instead of handing it in, but these guys get paid way too much to not have done their homework. And I pay Charter way too much for this crap.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Wendy's DrummerCam: Saturday 3/21/09 at Trophy's in Austin, TX

Wendy's DrummerCam: Friday 3/20/09 @ Aussie's in Austin, TX

Wendy's DrummerCam: Thursday 3/19/09 @ Aussie's in Austin, TX

Getting ready to leave Austin

I'm not quite ready to go home yet, but I guess all good things must come to an end eventually. Yesterday we were treated to a ton of excellent music, great times with good friends, and the day was capped off by a rock show that was so intense the audience drew blood (pics forthcoming)!

Now we're enjoying a little of the phenomenal Austin weather before we hop in the van and head back to Wisconsin.

Stay tuned, I'm going to try to post the drummercams and some other highlights from the weekend during the drive home!

Friday, March 20, 2009

Best Drunk Pizza in Town!

Motor Primitives at the Broadjam party

Finally found a necklace

At Hollywood Rock and Roll Plus!

Hanging with 3 Kisses!


Hanging with 3 Kisses!
Originally uploaded by Wendy Lynn
We're enjoying the sights and sounds of 6th Street with Tish and Tony from one of our favorite Austin bands, 3 Kisses

Crustacean Records showcase at Headhunters

Here's the Crustacean gang... Unfortunately we barely missed Droids Attack... But got to at least say Hi to our Madison brothers in rock!

Photos from Yesterday's Shows in Austin

Our friend Swami got some photos from the two shows we did yesterday in Austin... You can see the full set here!

Yesterday's unplugged lunchtime set:


Last night's SoCoDistrict.com showcase:

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Only in Austin...

Handsome D rocking the vball court at Aussies!

Handsome Deville

Kicking ass at Aussie's!

Nap Time



It's Kindergarten all over again at the hotel. Everybody but me is completely out right now. I'll be joining them shortly, though, I'm just uploading the podcasts.

Playing across the parking lot from Blizzard Entertainment



What? Sweet, it's the World of Warcraft in there!

Sunspot Road Mania - Ep. 89

Sunspot arriving in Austin this morning after the 19 hour straight drive!

Leaves on trees

Near Waco, I almost forgot what that looked like.

Dallas

We're making good progress. Passed Dallas a little while ago... Not long till Austin now!

One for the "Weird Bathrooms File"

this stall was at a Phillips 66 gas station somewhere near McAlister, OK. Interesting location for a booth...

Quick stop for gas in OK!


crossed the border from MO to OK and we're feelin' OK!

love
danchez

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Made it

(to Missouri). I've actually only ever seen Kansas City in the middle of the night. Tonight will be no exception. I hear they have a lot of fountains. Second only to Rome. Perhaps I will name my next piece "Fountains of KC". Respighi would be proud.

Sunspot Road Mania - Ep. 88

Live from the van on the way to SXSW 2009! Click on the title of the post to launch the video.

Crossing the Mississippi


Crossing the Mississippi
Originally uploaded by Wendy Lynn
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have crossed our first state line of this tour. Out of Wisconsin and into Iowa!

Enroute to Austin

We're not partying yet, but I can taste the Shiner just thinking about
it. Only 20 hours to go!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

The MAMAs



There's only three days left to vote for the Madison Area Music Awards, please show your support for Sunspot!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Cold Slither

Up until an hour ago, I never thought I would see what might be the greatest episode of GI Joe ever. I heard the title song of the episode in a dream last night and this morning I randomly Googled it and there it was. The episode in its entirety on youTube. Oh frabjous day!

Cobra, you see, ran out of money and needed to find a way to pay back their creditors, so Zartan and The Dreadnoks form a band called Cold Slither and they use subliminal messages to get the song to Number One.

However, as you can see in the 'Making of' the "Cold Slither" video, they didn't need to do any subliminal messages because the song is ridiculously kickass.



If you'd like to spend some quality time watching the whole episode, here's Part One, Part Two, and Part Three

And of course, I'm gonna see the new movie when it comes out in August. If the Ninth Doctor agreed to be in it, the script had to be at least pretty good.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Sunspot Road Mania - Ep. 87

Mike talking about the weekend, along with some footage of Binky Tunny and The Farmland Chokehold as well as some shots working in the Raw Tracks studio for our March song release.



Download the full quality version here.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Monday, March 09, 2009

Australia

Hugh Jackman is pretty awesome. This was the first time I saw him without the beard. I'm not a huge Nicole Kidman fan, but I suppose she warmed up as the movie went on. It was a little long, but good story, romance, and music. Total date movie, but good action and stuff too.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Cowboy Ben

As promised on the podcast, here's our favorite Village Person working it on the farm...





You can see the whole set of manly Ben action right here.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Beatle Bob Gets His Own Documentary!

We met Beatle Bob at our first show in St. Louis at The Way Out Club a few years ago and he was one of my favorite characters. Mop-topped, sunglassed (at night), and generally ridiculous, he holds the record for seeing the most concerts ever. His Wikipedia entry states that "he's seen a live show every night since Christmas 1996" Either way, I found him fascinating and someone else must have too, because he's the subject of a new documentary.

Here's a few photos of the man in action and here's a video for Guided by Voices' "My Kind of Soldier", where you can see him dancing.



I just saw that they were making a doc on him and I thought it was cool. The dude loves live music shows and he's a nice guy. We could use more of him!

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Mike's Tweets For The Day

What was I doing today?
  • 06:57 is finishing up Making It All Work by David Allen, a proper sequel to GTD focusing on priorities. Highly recommended! #
  • 10:00 is checking out toilets. #
  • 14:10 is working on Sunspot Road Mania Episode 86. #
  • 16:07 Sunspot Road Mania Podcast Episode 86 is up! tinyurl.com/a9jlzl #
  • 19:23 is working on our March song at rehearsal. #
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Sunspot Road Mania - Ep. 86

Here's the new Sunspot Road Mania that we recorded on Sunday on our way back from a great weekend in Northcentral Wisconsin.



You can download the full file right here.

Monday, March 02, 2009

Mike's Tweets For The Day

What was I doing today?
  • 22:00 is catching up on this weekend's Coast to Coast. Ian Punnett is my favorite. #
  • 09:06 is done sleeping in, it's time to write. #
  • 18:01 would love if you would check out Sunspot's new video for "Tunguska" and let me know what you think! tinyurl.com/azdps4 #
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Tunguska

Here's the video for our song, "Tunguska". Click on the title to download it directly at 640x480 quality.



For anyone unfamiliar with The Tunguska Event (and are wondering just what the Hell the simile is in this tune), please check out this link for more information.

Appaloosa

Ed Harris is a hardass, but I don't think the writers took advantage of his acting skills or Viggo's either. It's worth a renting, but don't get your hopes up. Viggo's gun is pretty big. Renee Zellweger is looking old and is supposed to be the object of everyone's desires. Always good to see Lance Henriksen, though!

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Mike's Tweets For The Day

What was I doing today?
  • 02:13 is packing up after a great show in Mosinee, listening to some Femmes, and then passing put in Point! #
  • 10:13 is cleaning up and hitting the road back to Madison. #
  • 10:14 and recovering! #
  • 15:15 is at Escape Java Joint finishing up some stories for March's Maximum Ink. #
  • 18:05 is going to Blockbuster - suggestions? #
  • 19:08 @terebceisdaman That's cool, T. I caught the joke and laughed about it. #
  • 19:10 Decided on Ghost Town for the night, I need some more Ricky Gervais in my life. #
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