Morningbell’s Fall Tour 2007

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When I was in 8th grade, and Travis was in 5th, his friend Fernando made him go buy Aerosmith’s cassette single of “Livin’ on the Edge.” 

Nothing was the same ever since. 

Joe Perry was the primary reason we both took up the guitar.  He is the reason I have always loved Les Paul model Gibsons.  We listened to Aerosmith over and over and over.  We used to watch their VHS collection, “Big Ones,” day after day.

This really, really was the reason I picked up a guitar.  Sure there were the Beatles, Stones, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, etc., but Aerosmith took the cake.

I thought you should know.  I hope we can still be friends.

Currently listening : Elvis: Viva Las Vegas By Elvis Presley Release date: 31 July, 2007

Hey everyone, come out to 1982 on Friday night.  It’s Inuit Jargon, Military Junior, …and this is my odyssey, and Morningbell!

Duke Ellington’s Neighborhood in DC

Sam!

Japanese milkshake bar in the East Village

Engrish at work

“ehhh, I don’t like this script”

Migolito and Jolene



Downtown Doylestown, PA





Afterparty in Doylestown

Downtown Brooklyn

Sssssexy

Klosterman!


Freakshow in Little Italy

Feast of San Gennaro

We can be happy underground!


Rosemary’s Bar: Hipster Central (Williamsburgh)

32 ounces of deliciousness for 4.50




Pretty f’ing awesome

Breakdancer shoes!

Raleigh St. Claire!! Wow, what a fun show to cap off the tour. There was a great crowd and the other bands really helped make this a great last night on the road.

We really wish we weren’t away from town for all the national comotion that has happened at UF lately, but it happens. We hope to see all of you at the show on Friday at 1982. Let’s pack that place like a small suitcase on a 5 week trip.

Lots of musicians draw their inspiration from books, but Florida neo-psychedelic rockers Morningbell may be the first to draw theirs from the Choose Your Own Adventure series. Their new Through the belly of the Sea is labeled “a choose your own adventure album” (hmm wonder if they got licensing for that), a sort of musical story in which the listener-as in the children’s books-acts as the main character and makes decisions that decide his/her fate. Though the CD booklet is also set up this way (the story involves a sunken ship and some sort of sea monster), it’s no a concept that readily works with the music-the same effect can be had just by hitting the “shuffle” button on the CD player. But while few listeners will actually meticulously sequence the album as the band intends them to, the Pink Floyd-ish harmonic dreaminess, Carribean-styled spacey experimentation, and swiftly moving country-tinged foot-tappers make for a record that’s fine as an eclectic indie-rock mishmash.

also, i forgot to tell you that I got yelled at by a nun in little italy (i deserved it, but she was panhandling) and we almost got our “faces busted in” by an angry black man on the subway who threatened to bust anyone from Harlem’s face in and also said that he hates to kill.

Currently reading : Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story By Chuck Klosterman Release date: 06 June, 2006

Due to an unfortunate turn of events, we weren’t able to head to Pittsburgh as planned on Sunday.  We’re all fine, it was mostly unfortunate for our expected host.  We wish him well and hope he’s OK. 

However, as a result, we returned to NYC for whatever the city would bring us.  This drive was a lot more hectic than Friday’s, which was weird b/c it was on a sunday.  We drove straight to Brooklyn to meet the Tiger Pit at a Book Fair.  Once we got there, Chuck Klosterman was talking as part of a discussion panel and we got to meet him afterwards. 

Then, we took a train to Little Italy to eat some good food.  Unbeknownst to us or any of our friends, the 80th Anniversary of the feast of San Genarro was also going on.  The entire neighborhood’s streets were blocked off and there were carnival rides and games, more food than you can imagine, and a plethora of t shirts sporting various italian goomba-ology.

After dinner (which was decent, not great, not bad) we went back to Brooklyn to check out Williamsburg.  We went to a little bar that was kinda decorated like a red vinyl seated diner with mood lighting.  It also had a ton of halloween decorations up (it’s still september).  The bartender was a 60+ year old woman whose family had owned the bar for ages.  Their special was a 32 ounce styrofoam cup of Becks beer for 4.50.  Not bad.

Then we came back to Evan and Ben’s place, climbed the rickety metal ladder to the roof and looked at the skyline for a while. 

Pretty sweet series of events.  We’re really glad we were able to come back into the city.

Heading back south now.

wow, it’s been a whirlwind so far.  I haven’t even had time to write yet.

DC was fun.  Saw our friend Sam. Ate some great food.  Played a strange show.

NYC was awesome!  God bless Jewish Holidays.  Or, Yahweh bless Jewish Holidays.  The traffic was AMAZING.  We got into the city with no problem, parked on the corner of the street where the venue was, and ended up meeting up with our friend Mike (who coincidentally was in a record store 2 blocks away).  We got awesome Japanese milkshakes, went to a store that sold only socks, and walked into China town.  We ate at a Thai restaurant that kicked so much ass and had a back patio courtyard that kicked even more.  The weather was phenomenal, the crowd roared like a lion, and we kicked ass.

It was seriously an amazing experience in NYC.  A big crowd showed up for us, which was great b/c the local band cancelled at 9 PM (show started at 9 PM).  The crowning achievement, however, was that Travis set us up with two A&R people and a producer from TVT records.  You might know them from a few of their artists, Polyphonic Spree, Ambulance LTD, The Ying Yang Twins, and Little John.  But, they came out to the show, stayed for the whole set, and who knows.  We were very appreciative that they took the time.

After the set, we got Belgian french fries down the road at a place that had a choice of like 64326 sauces.  It was great!

The drive to the hotel at the Newark Airport was like being in purgatory.  It took forever to figure out how the hell to get there. 

Saturday brought us to Doylestown, PA, another charming suburb of Philadelphia.  It was like Hill Valley from Back to the Future.  Pretty great little town.  The venue we played was a small room above a cigar store.  The building was 300 years old!  IT also looked like a Steak and Ale, which is awesome.  The bands we played with were great (especially Mike Pfeiffer and the Associates), and the crowd was really responsive too.  It was a really really fun night with lots of beer and good food and great people. 

Stay tuned for more updates and video clips.

Here you have em.

The first is a limited run, Gainesville available only T

This next one is going to be a new design available at all shows starting September 21st.  There will also be a theremin at the merch table!

Currently listening : Sea Change By Beck Release date: 24 September, 2002

so, after having gone through our drummer hazing ritual, which involves sleeping in the same bed as travis and listening to my drawn out, pointless stories, Chris Hillman (or chillman as he’s known on the street) is officially in the band.

Here’s what you might not know about him.
-he likes the pool, but not the ocean
-he once ate 15 apples to settle a bet
-his family is decended from the royal line of King Cardamom of Wales. Or they’re from Arkansas, I can’t remember.
-His favorite drummer is Tito Puente.
-His favorite Michael Jackson album is the first half of “Off the Wall” and the 2nd half of “Bad.”
-He went to a rough, inner-city school in the slums of Sarasota, where he learned to survive by knitting high quality hats for bullies who would otherwise pick on him.

wow, we’d like to give big ups to everyone who came out tonight to see us at the Sidebar’s Moefest night. especially those of you who have been coming out to all of the shows lately.

Lauris Vidal was amazing, Inuit Jargon was de-mazing, and
Bang Bang Boom was creamazing

I’m happy to say that this semester has really started off with a bang and we can’t wait to see what’s to come.

Also, we’re really psyched that Chris is fitting in so well. Hopefully he won’t move to Kamchatka or anything.

Stay tuned for our weekend at bernie’s Tampa edition blog.