Just back from Russia -spending almost two weeks, sharing apartments with Russians and traveling deeper into the north I got to experience a very different side of Russia, I plan to write a more detailed blog over at the myspace site but in the meantime check this link for pictures and a story from my (not a master) drum class - once again the russian to English computer translation give some very funny interpretations.

While home the next few weeks I am working on tracks for one of Austin's more eclectic and outside young musicians John Pointercheck out John's 'make a CD with me' offer. Also doing more sonic work for the new Microsoft Vista OS, and even starting some Cock Robin rehearsals here in Austin later this week.

My next live show coming up will be the KTU North American debut May, 19 2006 at FIMAV Festival near Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada .

Followed by a May 27th warm up date for Cock Robin at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano California (more CR gigs start mid June in Europe).



Pamelia Kurstin was in town for SXSW and once again I snatched her from the Barbez bus for another all-nighter recording more for our Tunisia project. In another strange case of synchronicity "A Night In Tunisia" was playing at the club we were at so we recorded a version of that: SXSW Night in Tunisia. Drums by Art Blakey RIP.

For more info on the amazing Pamelia check her new myspace page here:

www.myspace.com/pameliakurstin

Leaving for KTU gigs:

March 23, 2006

Planet Music, Vienna, Austria

Mar 24 2006

DOM, Ljubljana, Slovenia

More upcoming gigs:

TUNER with special guest SiRenée

Apr 6 2006

Platforma Club, St. Petersburg, Russia

Apr 7 2006

Golden Mask Festival, Moscow, Russia

And then Zeegrass gigs:

April 9 2006

Club Ogi, Moscow Russia

April 10

Club Ikra, Moscow Russia

April 12, 2006

Masterclass at LearnMusic in Moscow

(www.learnmusic.ru)

April 14 & 15th 2006

Mamakabo Festival, Vologda, Russia

and filling in April 11 & 12th with Goeffrey Oryema in Moscow.



Unrehearsed live radio show on KUT at noon on Weds Feb 22 with Zeerok, the wierd and wonderful Russian Altprogrockabillie singer songwriter.

In the studio today putting drums on a track for the mesmerizing Azam Ali .

And we now have a video clip at KTU myspace site . . .more to follow.

Been whizzing along pretty fast here in the new year.

 

Back tracking, after coming home from recording with (every drummers dream) Tony Levin I had the privilege of being joined in my home studio by the worlds most phenonmenal rollerskating brid-punching thereminist Pamelia Kurstin . Last year I met Pamelia in NYC while touring with the CGT and then months later I grabbed Pamilia off an Austin bandstand, when she came through town touring with Barbez, and we started my newest duo (tuo?), Tunisia. Yes I literally took her from the stage to my home after her gig and we recorded from about 3am till about 10 am when i returned her to the Barbez bus for there departure to the next gig, after that she moved to Europe and has recently come back to America for a few weeks. If you have not heard Barbez I can highly recommend them. Pamilia's 'sleep over session' was a good start but this past week we had 5 days together and got 6 more songs flushed out... We hope the Tunisia CD will be done by summer.

Here is a taste of our first collaboration, our untitled late night after show ditty.

A few days after Pamelia left Markus arrived for the second round of work for the next Tuner CD. Besides arriving with a suitcase (if you have been reading my site you might remember the Airlines have lost his luggage on every trip) Markus brought back incredible vocals he cut in Austria with Sirenee - its such a pleasure to edit, arrange and compose around her voice.

This Saturday Markus and I will join Laura Scarborough for a gentle gig at Café Mundi in Austin and then next weds Markus and I will do a master class at Austin Community College (don't tell the students but I’m a little nervous about doing music in an academic setting).

Also with help from Markus I launched a KTU myspace page where we hope to soon begin posting KTU videos. Check KTU here:

www.myspace.com/ktuband



Good news/bad news

Our new TUNER morsel  (that we have since titled 'White Cake Sky") had well over 500 downloads in 10 days.

Bad news: We have taken the download down.

Good news: We have launched a TUNER site at Myspace.com and reposted the mp3, and others (incl. a free download of the full 'flinch' track from our debut album TOTEM). Go to http://www.myspace.com/tunertunes. Login and become a friend. We'll make exclusive previews and out-takes of TUNER music available there regularly.

U.T., in Austin, won the big football game. Our humble town has gone nutty (not sure if thats good or bad news).

RCM IN KY

No, no, no the state not the gel. Later this week I go to what looks like the most amazing studio (http://www.saint-claire.com/)  to record a Ronan Chris Murphy solo record.  The tracking band will be RCM, me, Tony Levin and Mike Keneally and as if that's not enough the RCM band has one more member who will be absent from tracking but overdub his parts the following week... drum roll... double drum roll... Terry Bozzio! RCM has a rather unusual request in that I play drums and Terry plays cymbals.

Other hot new news

KTU has been invited to the Victoriaville festival near Montreal this coming May and are booking a few more select dates in North America to coincide with that brief window when all our schedules coincide.