Some videos of Grayceon performing

In the event you've never been able to see Grayceon live or you just can't wait until they come to your town again, I present to you some live video....

Grayceon "Once a Shadow" September 3rd, 2009




Grayceon "The West" July 30th, 2009




Grayceon "This Grand Show Eternal" July 30th, 2009

Giant Squid's "The Ichthyologist" released today on Translation Loss!

Today is the mega-official release date for Giant Squid's second album, The Ichthyologist, on Translation Loss Records. Originally self-released by the band in a limited run of 1,000, Translation Loss has re-released with 4 of the tracks re-worked and with new artwork by famed cartoon artist, Sam Kieth.

Find band HERE and HERE.

Label is HERE.

And check out what people are saying:

"An encompassing and engrossing sensory trip." - Terrorizer Magazine

"While the narrative may take a page from Gregory’s personal life, musically, The Ichthyologist invokes the elemental force of Neurosis, the cinematic scope of God Speed You Black Emperor, and the attitude of punk rock" – Revolver Magazine

"Musically, however you view The Ichthyologist, it's a massive undertaking with layers of instrumentation, voices, sonic moods, waves and textures, presenting a life affirming twist on the light-dark, up-and-down, seesaw post metal style." - Decibel Magazine

"The Ichthyologist is, for lack of a better term, a grand fucking slam. Sublimely textured but crushingly heavy, deep as the ocean at its heart and yet instantly approachable, this is more than a great metal album—it is a beautiful work of art, by any standard. Even after writing this review, I can’t wait to listen to it again, and I’ll consider it a gift from the heavens if I hear another album even close to as good as The Ichthyologist this year." – metalreview.com

"This is some of the most honest, sincere, and best executed music out there today, and I think every music fan owes it to themselves to hear Giant Squid at least once. Again, this isn't just fanboy enthusiasm for a new album, this is genuine excitement that is found only upon hearing something I find truly great. Five Stars!" – progarchives.com

"So, I would say that if you want to discover one of the most original and essential bands of the current era, put away your preconceived notions about what is and isn’t progressive rock and heavy metal and give these guys a listen. The album (like the band) is simply incredible and very unique and inventive. It’s still quite early in the year, but I won’t be at all surprised if this disc makes my “best of 2009” list." - musicstreetjournal.com

Giant Squid / Grayceon tour starts tomorrow!!

The Giant Squid/Grayceon national tour starts tomorrow and I expect that if you are within a 50 mile radius of any of these places, that you will go to the show.

30-July :: San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside w/ Black Cobra and Cormorant
31-July :: Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides w/ Them Hills, Young Aundee
1-Aug :: Portland, OR @ Rotture w/ Thrones and Sedan
2-Aug :: Boise, ID @ Gusto's w/ Pussygutt and Manville
3-Aug :: Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge w/ Nine Worlds
4-Aug :: Denver, CO w/ Kingdom of Magic
5-Aug :: Omaha, NE @ O'Leavers w/ The Lepers
6-Aug :: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium w/ Sleeping In Gethsemane and Sunrise, Sunset
7-Aug :: Minneapolis, MN @ The Hexagon w/ Iron Thrones and Frontier
8-Aug :: Chicago, IL @ White Star Sports Bar w/ Lord Mantis, Bloody Panda, Velnias
9-Aug :: Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar
10-Aug :: Pittsburgh, PA @ Howler's w/ Bloody Panda
11-Aug :: Columbus, OH @ Circus w/ Kenoma
12-Aug :: Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool w/ Hull and Bezoar
13-Aug :: Providence, RI @ Firehouse 13 w/ Loon and Bellows
14-Aug :: Philadelphia, PA @ The M Room w/ Cable and Rosetta
15-Aug :: Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone w/ Black Skies
---only Giant Squid from here on out---
16-Aug :: Birmingham, AL *HELP*
17-Aug :: Shreveport, LA @ Mia's w/ Ketea
18-Aug :: New Orleans, LA @ Dragon's Den w/ I, Octopus and The Oggin
19-Aug :: Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music
20-Aug :: Lawrence, KS *HELP*
21-Aug :: OKC, OK *HELP*
22-Aug :: Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ Lions of Tsavo and Watching the Moon

Totally bitchin' August Starbird shows (in Portland)

August is a damn busy month here at Starbird HQ. I've got a few shows happening and would like to lure you into attending........

Saturday, August 1st
@ Rotture
Thrones (ex-High On Fire, Melvins)
Giant Squid (Translation Loss Records)
Grayceon (ex-Amber Asylum)
Sedan (mem. of Jackie O Motherfucker)

$7 | 9pm | 21+




Saturday, August 1st
@ East End
[yes, I am competing with myself unfortunately]
Leaders (mem. of Fireballs of Freedom)
Mount Vicious (SF, ex-Replicator)
Police Teeth (Seattle, ex-Racetrack & USS Horsewhip)
X's for I's

$6 | 9pm | 21+



Wednesday, August 5th
@ East End
Purple Rhinestone Eagle
Lozen (mem. of Helms Alee)
Canon Canyon (mem. of Roy)

$5 | 9pm | 21+



Thursday, August 6th
@ Berbati's
Boy Eats Drum Machine
French Miami (SF)
Southern Belle
Electric Opera Company

$6 adv/ $8 dos | 8pm doors, 9pm show | all ages


Tuesday, August 18th
@ Kelly's Olympian
Git Some (ex-Planes Mistaken for Stars)
Early Times
Subrosa (SLC)
+ one more tba

$5 | 9pm | 21+

Hair of the Dog

:: STARBIRD & DOG SHREDDER JOIN FORCES ::

Tis true folks, I've had another child.

DOG SHREDDER is something old and something new. Formed in the wake of dead Cicadas after losing their bass player Benny (and after having a several months long funeral and breather), Josh Holland (Black Eyes & Neckties, Fed X) and Noah Burns (Piano Mover) decided to continue down the righteous path and birth a new baby - Dog Shredder. Jeff Johnson (The Russians) has been cast in the roll of bass player, being the calm in their storm.

What to expect? Ear punishment. A dash of prog, a sprinkling of angularity and a smidge of thrash all while being heavy on the ears.

Would you believe it if I told you that they've already graced the stage with Lesbian, Grayceon, Red Fang and Helms Alee? Yep.

Slaying the NW is most immediate and plans are being made for a late Fall recording session.

I direct you to a place where you can feast your ears:

www.myspace.com/dogshredder

And read a bit about them HERE.

So yes, please help me in welcoming these boys to the fam.

Poster of the week, bitches!

My very talented pal Martin Ontiveros made a poster for one of my shows and it was chosen as The Stranger's "poster of the week"! Fuck yeah!

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/poster-of-the-week/Content?oid=1847152

Black Eyes & Neckties talk about the UK

Sorry it took me so long to post this, but this is a partial account of Black Eyes & Neckties' tour of the UK.

http://www.whatsup-magazine.com/index.php?navarea=Archives&storyid=1179

Latest - and last - installment of the BEDM tour blog!

Mr. Jon Ragel - Boy Eats Drum Machine himself - did a good job of documenting his tour and now that it's over, the last post has been done. You can read it here:

http://blogs.wweek.com/music/2009/06/17/boy-eats-drum-machine-10-miles-north-of-san-diego-san-diego-ca-and-salem-or/

Be sure to check out the other posts as well, which can be found by scrolling down just a bit on this page.

Translation Loss Records signs GIANT SQUID!!

TRANSLATION LOSS WELCOMES GIANT SQUID TO THEIR FAMILY! FULL US TOUR IN AUGUST!

Translation Loss Records - home to such bands as Mouth of the Architect, Intronaut, Battlefields and God's Revolver - has officially added GIANT SQUID to their family! They will release The Ichthyologist, which was originally self-released in a limited number of 1000 by the band, this summer in conjunction with the band's tour alongside GRAYCEON*. Engineered, mixed and produced by Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Pearl Jam), The Ichthyologist has now been tweaked with parts being completely re-recorded and remixed due to the band’s constant strive for perfection from their mastermind/lunatic, Aaron John Gregory. The record will also be repackaged with completely redone/original art by legendary, world-renowned cartoon artist, Sam Kieth (The Maxx, Batman, The Sandman). The band’s lineup is rounded out by Jackie Perez Gratz (of Amber Asylum/Grayceon), Bryan Ray Beeson and Christopher Melville Lyman.

*TL has a Giant Squid / Grayceon split planned for 2010

Visit www.myspace.com/giantsquid to check out the up to date information on the band's upcoming summer tour and current sound clips from The Ichthyologist! New remixed and re-mastered songs will be posted soon!

www.giantsquidlives.com ||| www.translationloss.com

GIANT SQUID TOUR DATES:

Jun 19 2009 - Oakland, CA @ Forthrite Screenprinting, Karyn Crisis Art Show - FREE!
Jun 26 2009 - Petaluma, CA @ The Phoenix Theater, w/ Slough Feg, Cormorant, Helms Alee, La Fin Du Monde
Jun 27 2009 - Chico, CA @ Cafe Coda w/ La Fin Du Monde, Helms Alee
Jul 30 2009 - San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside w/ Black Cobra, Grayceon, Cormorant
Jul 31 2009 - Sacramento, CA @ Old Ironsides w/ Grayceon, Them Hills, Young Aundee
Aug 1 2009 - Portland, OR @ Rotture w/ Thrones, Grayceon, Sedan
Aug 2 2009 - Boise, ID @ Gusto’s w/ Grayceon, Pussygutt, Manville
Aug 3 2009 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge w/ Grayceon, Nine Worlds, Eagle Twin
Aug 4 2009 - Denver, CO @ 3 Kings w/ Grayceon, Kingdom of Magic
Aug 5 2009 - Omaha, NE @ O’Leavers w/ Grayceon, Lepers
Aug 6 2009 - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium w/ Grayceon, Sleeping In Gethsemane
Aug 7 2009 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Hexagon w/ Grayceon, Iron Thrones, Frontier
Aug 8 2009 - Chicago, IL @ tbc w/ Grayceon
Aug 9 2009 - Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar w/ Grayceon
Aug 10 2009 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Howlers w/ Grayceon, Bloody Panda
Aug 11 2009 - Cleveland, OH @ tbc w/ Grayceon
Aug 12 2009 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool w/ Grayceon, Hull
Aug 13 2009 - Providence, RI @ Machines With Magnets w/ Grayceon, Loon, Bellows
Aug 14 2009 - Philadelphia, PA @ tbc w/ Grayceon, Rosetta, Cable
Aug 15 2009 - Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone w/ Grayceon, Black Skies
Aug 16 2009 - Birmingham, AL @ tbc
Aug 17 2009 - Shreveport, LA @ Mia’s w/ Ketea
Aug 18 2009 - New Orleans, LA @ tbc
Aug 19 2009 - Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music
Aug 20 2009 - Lawrence, KS @ tbc
Aug 21 2009 - Oklahoma City, OK @ tbc
Aug 22 2009 - Austin, TX @ Red 7 w/ Lions Of Tsavo, Watching The Moon

What folks are saying about GIANT SQUID:

"While the narrative may take a page from Gregory’s personal life, musically, The Ichthyologist invokes the elemental force of Neurosis, the cinematic scope of God Speed You Black Emperor, and the attitude of punk rock" – Revolver Magazine

"Musically, however you view The Ichthyologist, it's a massive undertaking with layers of instrumentation, voices, sonic moods, waves and textures, presenting a life affirming twist on the light-dark, up-and-down, seesaw post metal style." - Decibel Magazine

"Monstrously penetrating, conceptually abstract, doomingly essential." - Thrasher Magazine

**And lastly, of course any and all booking inquiries can be directed to me**

-Carly

Boy Eats Drum Machine tour bloggin'

Boy Eats Drum Machine has penned some stories for you to read about his tour. You can find them here:

http://blogs.wweek.com/music/2009/05/28/boy-eats-drum-machine-how-to-miss-a-deer-spokane-wa-to-bozeman-mt/

and here:

http://blogs.wweek.com/music/2009/06/05/boy-eats-drum-machine-37-mpg-denver-to-albuquerque/

Black Eyes & Neckties slay Liverpool

Black Eyes & Neckties played in Liverpool last night at part of the Sound City Festival and here are some things people were saying about the show....

"Another jog back up the road yields Black Eyes and Neckties, and it's like wandering into the wrong hotel room and seeing something dead sleazy. As I join them half way through the set, the keyboardist is perched on the barrier, removing her tights and losing much of her dignity, as a goth synth blues scale drones in the background.

And when they kick in, it's like Queens of the Stone Age have been possessed my zombies and are starring in an obscure 70s cannibal exploitation film. The cavernous silence that SSS encountered is gone, because the paths between songs are seamless, and there's always something going on, like the bassist baring his chest and climbing up the speakers to that little enclave above the door. Or that keyboardist again, spitting on the singer's back. He didn't even notice, and I bet no-one told him.
In fact, I bet it's a game, and they do it every night and he doesn't have a clue.

The Sand Band, back in the Zanzibar, can only suffer in comparison. It's too late - Black Eyes and Neckties have ruined my night. I'm excited from having run about so much and then seen their madness, and it's unlikely that the Sand Band are going to do anything silly, like launch drumsticks at their guitarist, with genuine malice, to see if he'll fall off the speakers on to his head." - Liverpool Daily Post

http://www.peterguy.merseyblogs.co.uk/2009/05/liverpool-sound-city-2009-sss.html
---------

"Upstairs headliners Black Eyes & Neckties had no problem with motivation putting on a great set that won over the spectators that stayed instead of migrating downstairs.

The music doesn't concern itself with innovation, firmly stuck in the schlocky horror-punk of Misfits and Murder City Devils, rather it is full of Addams Family keyboard bits, thrashing guitar riffs and throaty singing with b-movie style echo, BENt put on a high-octane performance, with the guitarists continually climbing the PA rigs." - Liverpool Daily Post

http://www.peterguy.merseyblogs.co.uk/2009/05/liverpool-sound-city-2009-john.html

2 posts, 1 day

I've been toying with this idea for quite a long time. I really really really want to do a taco tour of the West coast. Road trip, stopping to visit friends all the way down, maybe going to Mexico, maybe banging a quick left and doing AZ or NM instead? All the while, I'd only allow myself tacos and I'd have to document the entire thing. I bet I could get a book deal. Or a blog deal. Or maybe I would just be constipated for weeks.

Does anyone else think this is the best idea in the world?

So much for meeting my future (Scottish) husband....

As many of you know, I was looking forward to escaping Portland and spending some time over in that most United of Kingdoms. However, I ended up having to cancel. BUT, Black Eyes & Neckties are still touring and here is the most up-to-date list of shows. If you know ANYONE over there that lives remotely close to these cities and towns, for the love of God, send them to these shows.

May 15: Barfly, London
May 16: Kasbah, Coventry
May 18: The Rainbow, Birmingham
May 19: Academy 2, Oxford
May 20: Barfly, Liverpool
May 21: Academy 2, Newcastle
May 22: Hobos, Bridgend (Wales)
May 23: Robbins Well 2, Leamington Spa
May 24: TBA, Swansea
May 25: Harry's Bar, Stoke-on-Trent
May 26: TBA, Glasgow
May 27: The Doghouse, Dundee
May 28: Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh

Grayceon joins the Starbird family

As if the Giant Squid news wasn't amazing enough.....I've got more!

Jackie Perez Gratz's other band, Grayceon, has joined the Starbird roster as well. Please help me in welcoming them.

www.grayceon.com || www.myspace.com/grayceon

Grayceon is Jackie Perez Gratz (Amber Asylum/Giant Squid) on electric cello and voice, Max Doyle (Walken) on guitar and voice, and Zack Farwell (Walken) on drums. Grayceon pulls together an extremely diverse range of musical influences and writing styles to create a fresh sound that defies the boundaries of the metal/rock/progressive genres. Compared to Opeth, King Crimson, and Ved Buens Ende, not in sound but in 'feel', Grayceon embraces the hard-to-describe-them definition and expects no hard comparisons to be made any time soon. Alternate low tuning on both cello and guitar, finger picked metal riffs, dreamy double vocals, and unpredictably impeccable drumming all meet to give Grayceon their unique sensibility.

Grayceon's album, This Grand Show [Vendlus Records] was released on November 11, 2008. Upcoming summer tour with Giant Squid is in the works.

"....the band spit out deep, infectious post-metal jamns which delicately balance the dreamy/heavy dynamic in a delicious and inimitable Bay Area fashion." - Metal Maniacs

"The lean and powerful, controlled tumbling riffs and percussion sometimes evoke fleeting thoughts of Mastodon, and although the band ebbs and flows, contrary to master architects Neurosis, these aren’t the kind of earth shifting, blow your hair back crescendos, but more subtle movements that are natural, dexterous, and almost unassuming in comparison." - metalreview.com

Giant Squid and Starbird join forces

I am more than pleased to announce that San Francisco's Giant Squid have joined the Starbird family.

www.giantsquidlives.com || www.myspace.com/giantsquid

Giant Squid recently self-released their 2nd full length on February 3rd, a limited edition (1000 copies) album entitled The Ichthyologist. Recorded by Matt Bayles (Minus the Bear, Isis, Botch) at the Red Room in Seattle, it features guest musicians from members of Neurosis, Crisis, Amber Asylum and The Gathering.

Their most recent tour was a February jaunt with Relapse Records' 16 and an upcoming national tour with Grayceon is in the works for Summer. Keep an eye out for dates.

"While the narrative may take a page from Gregory’s personal life, musically, The Ichthyologist invokes the elemental force of Neurosis, the cinematic scope of God Speed You Black Emperor, and the attitude of punk rock." – Revolver Magazine

"The Ichthyologist is, for lack of a better term, a grand fucking slam. Sublimely textured but crushingly heavy, deep as the ocean at its heart and yet instantly approachable, this is more than a great metal album—it is a beautiful work of art, by any standard. Even after writing this review, I can’t wait to listen to it again, and I’ll consider it a gift from the heavens if I hear another album even close to as good as The Ichthyologist this year." – metalreview.com