First off, I recorded a little ukulele version of The Mr. T Experience song “That Prozac Moment” and Dr. Frank himself linked to it on his blog. So I’m now linking to that post, which will link you back to here if you choose to hear the song. Kinda silly and roundabout, but it’s what I’ve chosen to do considering the momentous occasion. I mean, has your idol ever linked to your somewhat incorrectly played and out of tune ukulele cover song???

Also, it’s “official.” A new 41 Gorgeous Blocks album to be recorded in March. Standby for more tidbits on that, and possibly even a little follow through.

Our band turned 10 and, I guess to celebrate, we now have a Facebook page.

One of our songs is featured on this comp. Lots of cool bands.

UPDATE: New site.

You know, I think it just might take an angry-yet-intelligently-thoughtful-and-realistic post from Ben Weasel to finally get me off my I’ve-given-up-on-caring-about-the-disaster-occurring-in-the-music-world kick.

And, hot damn, I’m in luck. Ben reminds us little guys that we actually have a say in this, too.

An excerpt:

The music industry is still evolving (or mutating, if you prefer) but one thing that isn’t changing - and that never will change - is that the little guy (those of us who have nothing to do with, and are of no interest whatsoever to the RIAA) is still getting the short end of the stick…
…what I want to know, again, is who’s going to be paying for the recording of all this free music dreamed up by small-timers (which description, if you’re not aware, covers most of us)? And if the answer is “nobody,” that means that music made by people who are even a little bit outside the mainstream, off the beaten path, or just plain fucking weird, is going to disappear (save, of course, for those with disposable cash - the hobbyists and the rich kids - but those people tend to make music that people can’t even be bothered to download for free). Long term, this isn’t going to work out well for music fans. I’m not scolding. I’m not trying to stuff the genie back in the bottle. I just want the emperor’s distinct lack of clothing noted: the alleged death of the music industry is in actuality the death of interesting music.

And… I love this part, too:

I said the same thing six years ago when I first wrote about this stuff. And what’s happened since? Music has become more boring than ever, that’s what. Even punk rock has become more mind-numbingly mediocre than I ever remember it being before… I haven’t seen so many bands playing it safe and copying what’s popular since the skulls and anarchy-symbol craze of 1984. If I hear another band aping the Dillinger Four and shouting their Cookie Monster vocals at me through their hobo beards I may begin to sob.

Seriously, one day it’ll be clear to everyone: those beards are not helping a thing.

Well, it’s official: Mountain Dew is now just Mtn Dew according to a bottle I just saw. I’ve never been so equally appalled and ecstatic in my entire life. Well played, Mtn Dew. You bastards.

What’s this? This Kills Me is gearing up again? Weird.

Hell yeah.

So, yeah, the original lineup of 41 Gorgeous Blocks have started a new band called This Kills Me (www.thiskillsme.com) and are playing a show:

Something’s happening. And it’s happening July 19th. I can’t say any more right now. But soon.

The Star-Telegram would eat us again.

Here’s a little something to do while our band continues its hiatus or whatever it is we’re up to (which is nothing):

I just posted 6 songs over at our MySpace page - all of them cover songs. Info below.

“Whopper” by Henry Holt. Our version of this HH song appears on HH’s album Lines and Letdowns (2004). Recorded on Super Bowl Sunday of 2003.
me - guitar/vocals
Matt M - drums
Tanner - bass
Deedle - guitar/ vocals
Duane Deering - piano, vocals and most likely other stuff that I’m not aware of.

“Going To Pasalcqua” by Green Day. Recorded in Jan. 2003 while doing the Well… EP, this song was for a Green Day tribute album, although it wasn’t used.
me - guitar/vocals
Matt M - drums
Tanner - bass
Deedle - guitar/ vocals

“Baltimore” by Cleveland Bound Death Sentence. Recorded in a moment of procrastination while working on Querulous. Though I certainly don’t do it justice, this is a terrific song about friendship. Some of my favorite lyrics ever. Written by Aaron Cometbus.
me - acoustic, singingish

“Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms. This appears on our 2002 Swallow the Sandwich EP. It was recorded on a whim after, if I recall, Deedle picked up a Gin Blossoms CD at Half Price Books. I was never a fan of the song when it came out but loved it when I heard the used CD. It contains one of my favorite lines: “If you don’t expect too much from me, you might not be let down.”
me - guitar, voc
Deedle - lead guitar
Matt M -drums
Matt Pittman - bass guitar

“Out the Window” by the Violent Femmes. We recorded this on even more of a whim in 2005 while doing an acoustic session for the Adventure Club with Josh radio show. He asked us to play a cover and for some reason this came out. We’d never played the song together and I hadn’t sung it in years (which might be why I shamefully screw up the lyrics a couple times). Anyway, one of my favorite VF songs for sure.
me - acoustic, singing/whining
Matt M - snare, singing
Josh Venable - faint background singing

“Sloop John B", traditional, though considered a Beach Boy cover. Recorded live in December 2004 at Deedle’s last “official” show with us. We started doing this song in 2003 after I saw Brian Wilson perform it on Letterman. One of my favorite songs.
me - guitsing
Deed- guitsing
Tan- bass
MatM- drums