Good Weather for Airstrikes

Tumblr for the Howell, MI band Good Weather for Airstrikes.

Good Weather for Airstrikes - “Places Change, I Long to Stay the Same”

At the Gravel Pit in Ann Arbor on January 8, 2012. Courtesy of The Fucking Mitten.

tigertigertour:

Hey everyone. We’re trying to get Aubrey Plaza’s attention so we can ask her to be in a music video that we’re making. Please help spread the word!

Nerds.

Photo Credit: Matt Radick James’ Top Ten Albums of 2011 (in particular order, w/hashtags) 1. The Roots - undun #mostimportantalbuminyears 2. Balance & Composure - Separation #GRUNGELIVES 3. The Lonely Forest - Arrows #CHRISWALLA2012 4. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Knife Man #justlistentoamericantune 5. The Front Bottoms - The Front Bottoms #sosnarky 6. Pianos Become the Teeth - The Lack Long After #saddeststorysincehospice 7. Doomtree - No Kings #REALRAP 8. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care #eitscandonowrong 9. Touche Amore - Parting the Seas Between Brightness and Me #oneliners 10. The Wonder Years - Suburbia I’ve Given You My All and Now I’m Nothing #ifeelsoattached

Photo Credit: Matt Radick

James’ Top Ten Albums of 2011 (in particular order, w/hashtags)

1. The Roots - undun #mostimportantalbuminyears

2. Balance & Composure - Separation #GRUNGELIVES

3. The Lonely Forest - Arrows #CHRISWALLA2012

4. Andrew Jackson Jihad - Knife Man #justlistentoamericantune

5. The Front Bottoms - The Front Bottoms #sosnarky

6. Pianos Become the Teeth - The Lack Long After #saddeststorysincehospice

7. Doomtree - No Kings #REALRAP

8. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care #eitscandonowrong

9. Touche Amore - Parting the Seas Between Brightness and Me #oneliners

10. The Wonder Years - Suburbia I’ve Given You My All and Now I’m Nothing #ifeelsoattached

Photo Credit: Josh Fenn’s cell phone Bill’s Top Ten Albums of 2011 (in alphabetical order) chris bathgate - salt yearthe dear hunter - the color spectrumeisley - the valleyfleet foxes - helplessness bluesflorence and the machine - ceremonials the lonely forest - arrowslos campesinos - hello sadnessm83 - hurry up, we’re dreamingmanchester orchestra - simple matho brother - garden window

Photo Credit: Josh Fenn’s cell phone

Bill’s Top Ten Albums of 2011 (in alphabetical order)

chris bathgate - salt year
the dear hunter - the color spectrum
eisley - the valley
fleet foxes - helplessness blues
florence and the machine - ceremonials
the lonely forest - arrows
los campesinos - hello sadness
m83 - hurry up, we’re dreaming
manchester orchestra - simple math
o brother - garden window

Photo Credit: Matt Radick Josh’s favorite albums of the year (in no particular order) Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming - M83  Tunnel Blanket - This Will Destroy You Salt Year - Chris Bathgate Josh loves music.

Photo Credit: Matt Radick

Josh’s favorite albums of the year (in no particular order)

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming - M83 

Tunnel Blanket - This Will Destroy You

Salt Year - Chris Bathgate
Josh loves music.
Photo Credit: Matt Radick Joe’s Top 10 albums of 2011 (in no particular order) Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto                 When I heard the first single from this album, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep shamelessly defending Coldplay the way I have for years. It was just terrible. I’m happy to report, however, that the album as a whole is not terrible at all, and that I’ll be able to continue confusing/annoying my friends with my indestructible love for this band. Balance and Composure – Separation                 If I could go back in time and be the person who wrote and recorded any album from 2011, I would choose this one in a heartbeat. So angry and so beautiful. I’m not a grunge person, but I think B&C could convert me. Foo Fighters – Wasting Light                 There’s not much praise I can shower on Dave Grohl and his Foos that hasn’t already been showered. They’re the last real rock band and they proved it with this release. That’s it. Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne                 This album isn’t on my list because I think it’s an earth-shattering work of genius, because it isn’t. It’s here because it’s stupid and fun and in my mind, there is no greater pleasure than blasting ‘N——s In Paris’ in my car as loud as it will go. There’s no such thing as guilty pleasures – just pleasures. La Dispute – Wildlife                 This album is on my list because I think it’s an earth-shattering work of genius. I don’t think I’ve seen an end-of-year list for 2011 without this record on it, and I’m completely okay with that. La Dispute is just a force to be reckoned with in every sense. Everyone uses the words ‘raw’ and ‘emotional’ to describe it, and I’m forced to echo their sentiments. Moving Mountains – Waves                 This is the record I always wanted Moving Mountains to make. It’s heavier than their past releases, but it retains the elements of what made those albums so great. While it’s loud and densely layered, there’s still an underlying sense of calm through the whole thing. Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes                 Writing a pop-punk album that isn’t filled with clichés and is still musically satisfying is a daunting task these days. Yellowcard nailed it, and I don’t think they got nearly enough credit for it, simply because they were the band that wrote ‘Ocean Avenue.’ Say what you will about whether these guys are still relevant, but they put out a damn good comeback album. This Will Destroy You – Tunnel Blanket                 Probably my most anticipated release of the year. Hearing songs from the album here and there before it came out got me really curious, and the full-length delivered in every way. If you like scary-sounding post-rock, this is your new favorite record. The Lonely Forest – Arrows                 If you tell me that Chris Walla produced something, I’m going to listen to it. That’s how I came across this pleasant little surprise. If you can’t already tell by this list, I’m a sucker for intelligent pop hooks, and that’s essentially what this album is made entirely of. I dare you to listen to it and not get at least one song stuck in your head for a week. I triple dog dare you. Bayside – Killing Time                 This list isn’t in any order, but the more I think about it, Killing Time might actually be my favorite release of this year. It just has everything – well thought-out lyrics, memorable melodies, solid harmonies, all sorts of tasty musical elements, and no filler tracks. This will easily go down as the best of Bayside’s catalog and one of the best albums of 2011, period. HONORABLE MENTIONS: Thrice – Major/Minor Tycho – Dive Death Cab For Cutie – Codes And Keys States – Line ‘Em Up Explosions In The Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Photo Credit: Matt Radick

Joe’s Top 10 albums of 2011 (in no particular order)

Coldplay – Mylo Xyloto

                When I heard the first single from this album, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep shamelessly defending Coldplay the way I have for years. It was just terrible. I’m happy to report, however, that the album as a whole is not terrible at all, and that I’ll be able to continue confusing/annoying my friends with my indestructible love for this band.

Balance and Composure – Separation

                If I could go back in time and be the person who wrote and recorded any album from 2011, I would choose this one in a heartbeat. So angry and so beautiful. I’m not a grunge person, but I think B&C could convert me.

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

                There’s not much praise I can shower on Dave Grohl and his Foos that hasn’t already been showered. They’re the last real rock band and they proved it with this release. That’s it.

Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne

                This album isn’t on my list because I think it’s an earth-shattering work of genius, because it isn’t. It’s here because it’s stupid and fun and in my mind, there is no greater pleasure than blasting ‘N——s In Paris’ in my car as loud as it will go. There’s no such thing as guilty pleasures – just pleasures.

La Dispute – Wildlife

                This album is on my list because I think it’s an earth-shattering work of genius. I don’t think I’ve seen an end-of-year list for 2011 without this record on it, and I’m completely okay with that. La Dispute is just a force to be reckoned with in every sense. Everyone uses the words ‘raw’ and ‘emotional’ to describe it, and I’m forced to echo their sentiments.

Moving Mountains – Waves

                This is the record I always wanted Moving Mountains to make. It’s heavier than their past releases, but it retains the elements of what made those albums so great. While it’s loud and densely layered, there’s still an underlying sense of calm through the whole thing.

Yellowcard – When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes

                Writing a pop-punk album that isn’t filled with clichés and is still musically satisfying is a daunting task these days. Yellowcard nailed it, and I don’t think they got nearly enough credit for it, simply because they were the band that wrote ‘Ocean Avenue.’ Say what you will about whether these guys are still relevant, but they put out a damn good comeback album.

This Will Destroy You – Tunnel Blanket

                Probably my most anticipated release of the year. Hearing songs from the album here and there before it came out got me really curious, and the full-length delivered in every way. If you like scary-sounding post-rock, this is your new favorite record.

The Lonely Forest – Arrows

                If you tell me that Chris Walla produced something, I’m going to listen to it. That’s how I came across this pleasant little surprise. If you can’t already tell by this list, I’m a sucker for intelligent pop hooks, and that’s essentially what this album is made entirely of. I dare you to listen to it and not get at least one song stuck in your head for a week. I triple dog dare you.

Bayside – Killing Time

                This list isn’t in any order, but the more I think about it, Killing Time might actually be my favorite release of this year. It just has everything – well thought-out lyrics, memorable melodies, solid harmonies, all sorts of tasty musical elements, and no filler tracks. This will easily go down as the best of Bayside’s catalog and one of the best albums of 2011, period.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Thrice – Major/Minor

Tycho – Dive

Death Cab For Cutie – Codes And Keys

States – Line ‘Em Up

Explosions In The Sky – Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

Music Brings Us Together - Powered by Fusion Shows: REMEMBERING THE LIVINGSTON UNDERGROUND!

fusionshows:

RE-BLOG THIS IF YOU ARE IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH LIVINGSTON COUNTY’S MUSIC COMMUNITY!  

Those of us who make up Fusion Shows have been doing shows now for nearly 8 years.  It blows my mind to think about that.  These days, we’re all over the state, doing shows in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Pontiac, etc.  But it all started in two places.  Irving’s Northlawn Music started in Lansing, and we’ve continued to build Lansing’s music scene.  Before that even, starting in April 2004, I started an organization called the “Livingston Underground”, putting on shows at the Howell Rec Center, and “The Annex”, inside a local church in Brighton.  

Over the years, we’ve built a really cool thing here in Livingston County.  It’s a tough market.  It’s too close to Detroit to be able to pull very many big names.  I always have to fight with agents to let me put their bands here.  Our venue situation is always in flux, using very non-traditional venues to get the job done.  

There’s a reference every so often to the “good old days”, when bands like Borderline Extortion, Silence the Wake, Autumn and the Wasp, Tips, and Monte would play shows in the area.  Forgotten in that are the shows that did 15 people.  Shows where I had to stand on the sidewalk, begging people to come inside to see the bands, because they’d rather be laying in the grass than support the musicians.  

These days, Livingston County’s music scene is very consistent.  There are very few other places that you can go and fully expect 100 people in attendance at every show.  That’s how it works here.  Unless there’s a blizzard, we’re always around 100 people, at every show, regardless of who is playing.  Nowhere else can claim that!  

But we can do better!  I miss the days of bringing bands like Portugal. The Man, The Matches, The Hard Lessons, La Dispute, Forgive Durden, Horse The Band, and For Today to Livingston County!  There were so many shows that 200-300+ kids came out to, and were still shows that we talk about to this day!  Touring bands begged to play here, because the kids were so enthusiastic.  

I also miss seeing a lot of high school talent on display!  It used to be that in Howell, there was always a crazy talented ska band or two (Fanboy, Liable To Change, Boss Ross), mixed in with a variety of heavier bands (Monte, Fuller, Without A Rose).  In Brighton, the style of band tilted towards indie rock and more classic rock based stuff (Set Focus, Tips, Ephphetha, Boston Ivy).  Now, I think there might be 1-2 high school bands in the mix in the area, and the rest are college kids, half of whom have moved out of the area.  

So this is what I’m asking.  Starting with the October 14 Good Weather For Airstrikes CD release party at the Hartland PAC, we’re re-committing ourselves to the local music scene here in Livingston County, like we did in the Livingston Underground days.  We’re going to present more shows at the Hartland PAC, the Opera House, and at our new venue at Great Escape in Howell.  

To make this possible, I’m seeking the following:

- New Livingston County high-school bands

- High-school music fans that want to pass out flyers in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, and Pinckney

- Help in promoting from all persons interested in seeing Livingston County’s music scene return to what it was.  Even if you’re not playing a show, if you see something happening in the county, please get behind it!  Post it on Facebook!  Tweet about it!  More importantly, tell your friends in person!

- Attendance.  If you’re in a band, and you want to be involved, I need you to come out and support the other shows, even if you’re not playing.  Yes, it costs you money to get in.  But if you want to have people watching your band when you play, it makes sense for you to support the others.  

Interested bands or potential street teamers, please email me at natedorough@gmail.com.  

Finally, on Twitter, let’s use the hashtag #livingstonunderground when talking about Livingston County shows and bands.  We’re going to release some cool memories here and there, via Fusion’s social networks.  Old photos, videos, flyers that we’ve dug up.  There’s so many memories here.  Let’s create a million more.  

Last but not least, I’d like to host a meeting of Livingston County’s bands.  Please spread the word about this.  

Tuesday, October 11
“LIVINGSTON COUNTY MUSIC SUMMIT #2”
Location: Fusion Shows office (inside Howell Chamber of Commerce building)
Address: 123 E. Washington - Howell, MI 48843
Who’s invited: All band members from Livingston County bands, and anyone else interested in helping promote and just being involved in general in Livingston County’s music community!
FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=295415170475028

Much love to everyone,
Nate

P.S.  Want some fun reading?  We had an old message board from the beginning, and I dig it up every once in a while.  Head over there if you want some laughs, and a good history lesson: http://thelu.proboards.com/ 

Livingston County is our home, and always will be. Let’s build this scene back up, and let’s make it last.

We wanted to create something.

We took everything that we knew, and combined that with the questions we don’t know the answer to. We contemplated love, life, loss, and what it is exactly that makes us human.

We wanted to learn more about ourselves and the people around us. We wanted to explore the thoughts that push us forward, we wanted to know what makes us tick. We wanted to feel every emotion inside of us, we wanted to see the depths of our souls.

We wanted to know more about the people we will become, and we wanted to explore the road we will take to get there. We wanted to break ourselves down, and build ourselves up.

In June, we entered a recording studio with these thoughts in mind. We poured the emotions, thoughts, and questions we had into the music we made. This is the result.

Maybe this is what’s best for all of us:
To have our hearts emptied, to be left as we came.