Tom Moore - Live @ The Ark (Ann Arbor, MI)

So remember that hip little acoustic music venue that I said I was going to try to play at in Michigan? Well, even though it wasn't quite as "hip" as I expected, I did end up playing two songs at the February edition of their monthly open mic night.

The Ark. It was actually pretty sweet. Beautiful acoustics. The sound was great. I shared the stage with some pretty interesting folks. Like this guy who sang "Laredo" about the time when his significant other attacked him with a knife and he had to take her life. Or a rather obscene grandpa who told the story of his old drinking buddy with vulgarities that I haven't heard since....middle school!

In any case, it ended up being fun. And I've posted the two videos of my performance on youtube for your viewing pleasure.

Please let me know what you think.

While I was in Ann Arbor, I also saw a live show by a guy called Laith Al-Saadi
Blues player. He covered "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" by the Beatles. Very fresh. Although, I think some other people have covered that song and I've never heard those versions. So I'm not sure if it actually was as fresh as I thought.

itunes

Props to itunes for being so easy to use. I think I'm still a little anti-apple but I might just be coming around..thanks to time spent with my gadgety brother-in-law-in-law Antonio.

And thanks for giving me free music itunes. Good for you...thanks for helping people discover more than is just on pop radio. But I'm coming round to that too thanks to my pop-cultured lady-friend/wife.

I can dig it.

To Ann Arbour Again

So, I'll be going to Ann Arbor...next week. There lives the other half (the half that isn't me) of the largely experimental duo "Guys with Indian Wives" who is best known for there break-out single "Motor City, We Can Hear You".

Apparently there is a hip little acoustic music venue called The Ark that hosts an open mic night on Wednesdays. Maybe I should try to extend the OTSB fan base up north by playing some of our tunes with the old "box-guitar" as my British ancestors would say.

That would be fun.

I Like This Band

I like this band. What do you think? My wife says they sound a lot like The Postmarks...who, I hate to say, are playing locally on a night that I will be unable to attend.

Ben Gibbard Solo

Ben Gibbard is a really great lyricist. You know...the guy from The Postal Service. He has definitely got it. I found some recordings from a live acoustic performance he did by himself in 2007.

It's pretty raw but pretty neat to listen to. He chooses a pretty interesting selection of cover tunes, too.

Check it out

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Ben Gibbard

The Rag Between My Teeth

Having walked my life two years away

Saw her name on the back of a truck.

The letters are fading now,

the paint's graying now,

and covered in mud.

Rubbed off when you open the door.

And I swear I've seen your face before.

And your dark hair, your dark skin,

your dark eyes never let me in.

And I'd know that taste a mile away

a far too familiar sting

Catch your tears in your lap

because it's never going to happen

in eternity

Strangle love with a guitar string

Looking back two years away

Saw her name on the back of a truck

This is the first time,

But it's not the last time

I give up.

On the stage is where it's free.

And I'll scream for what it's worth.

Like a rag between my teeth

Because this is really, really going to hurt.

The Rag Between My Teeth - On the Soap Box

Who are we like?

I was asked by someone recently who we (On the Soap Box) sound like. I repeated the question to some loyal fans and got a variety of responses.

I can't really answer the question. I suppose it's because I'm biased to the bands I would like to sound like. I wish my band was as ground-breaking as the Beatles. I would love to say that my lyrics are as profound as those in a Death Cab for Cutie song. I would love to compare Ben, our guitarist to Jimmy Page...but I might sound a little presumptuous.

Although, I am thoroughly impressed when Ben shreds away on the old SG! (You should check out the solo on The Rag Between My Teeth)

A friend of mine replied with a rather comprehensive list of bands that we sound like, customized for every different song on the album. But I lost the email....

Oh well, comment and let me know.

The Rag Between My Teeth - On the Soap Box