Diary

Updating...

Posted by: Kristen Cudmore
Date: Thursday, October 9th, 2008

The website is randomly going through an upgrade so hopefully it's working fine for everyone. L-A has been busy planning the next album and playing events like ShinDig and others to fundraise.

There will be downloadable pictures by Flash Bang (.ca) photography on here. Photo credits go to Matthew Cudmore which should be posted soon. The only picture that isn't his is on our press page and that one was taken by Caroline Segsworth at Canim Lake BC with my crappy free-with-the-purchase-of-a-printer-digital camera.

I am completely impressed with their photo skills. These photo graphs were taken on our tour in Calgary on Nose Hill and it was NOT windy that day so quite hard to get that kite up!

Could have fooled but time effort and accuracy (on Matthew's part) went into making these happen.

It was my Birthday on October 1st and we had a great party including: water slide, Marco Polo, hide-and-seek, shadow jam, ice cream cake, homemade pierogies and Robin Hood on vinyl (Disney cartoon version with the whistling rooster).

Just thought I would tell you that!

OK for our ShinDig results I have provided you with our comments, judges comments. Enjoy:

It was a competition apparently but we had fun! We arrived expecting a showcase set not a competition and we're not really all that competitive so it was a little out of place for us but we were at the same time very fortunate to be playing and we love seeing the Vancouver music scene in the flesh... and there's no better way to hear than at ShinDIg!

Isotopes played a brief but tight punk infused baseball inspired set for about 10 minutes. It was quite loud but with the right amount of toilet paper in my ears, I couldn't stop bopping and was sad to see it end.

Language-Arts played a quick 7 song set of our faster and shorter songs and it made most of the judges happy but they did want to hear the voice wander a bit so next time we'll play some of those types as well.

Stumblers Inn had a comedic approach to blues music that was simple and straight ahead. I liked the way they made their own personalities come through in the music.

So Language-Arts will move on to round 2 for ShinDig and I will post a few paired-down comments from the judges:

#1 "Nicely arranged - distinct sound - tight. Appreciated amount of work that went into the parts. Would have liked more drawn out vocals at times to break it up."

L-A: Thanks for recognizing the music. We will provide you with this side of Language-Arts (drawn out vocals/ sections) at our next round so you can hear the variety and decide if this is what you'd like to hear.

#2 "Stand up bass solo HELL YES!!! Nice work looping the guitar... more of less what I wanted to hear this morning when I walked though Hastings sunrise drinking coffee."

L-A: I am glad that it was appreciated, thanks so much. I hope your coffee isn't from Starbucks!

#3 "I'm gonna be a bit harsh but only because I know you have your shit together and have a vision... The intricacies are lost on us... give us something we can hold on to lyrically... and ... AND ... AND never ever bass solo!!!"

L-A: Repeat repeat... simple simple... no solos... but not all music is like that. If you like it, like it... if you don't.. don't. I appreciate your honesty.

#4 "Really impressive instrumentation. Each member plays really well individually and together as a whole - complimentary is the word. Bass and drums remind me of Sea and Cake while keys and vocals remind me of Regina Spektor. Songs were varied, light and catchy. And classical guitar, finger picked! Boom Boom goes my heart. really nice to finally catch a show."

L-A: Wow! Thank you. We are honored that you like our music enough to compare it to these artists. I am glad you liked how we put it all together. I don't think we could have had a nicer comment. Thanks for the boost!

#5 "Awesome musicians - great job using non-boring but not inaccessible variances in key & time signatures. Sounds sort of sped up - like you had time for one more song but wanted to play two. Lisa Loeb / Joanna Newsome vibe but I like the singer better. Tight band - obviously all very good at their instruments."

L-A: It's so nice to hear what you have to say. We decided last minute to cut a song or two so that is why it was short. Sometimes we tend to speed up in performance settings as well but only because the energy level is different than at our practice space.This should be worked on. We had a lot of fun and it seemed like the audience was standing/ listening intently which was amazing but intimidating. I was in awe I suppose!

Thanks for making Tuesday night extraordinary! We are happy that you choose for us to move on to round 2 and I am glad that your comments will help us with our live show as we never see it from your point of view. I hope our next performance will be even better.

I will update you as the website is updated and I will be actually putting up some news of our digital release in the coming week!

Thanks for your support friends, family, bands and people we have met at events and outings!