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Having a blast so far in 2012. Once again, please to allow me to type: HELLO NEW FRIENDS AND FANS! I don't know how you're finding me, but somehow you are, and we're both the better for it.
Four shows under the proverbial belt this year, in two states, with a 5th show in a third state coming very soon (details HERE). Show #200 was just a little more than 18 months ago, and if things go the way they look like they're going, #300 could very well happen before 2012 is over.
And this, when I'm actively trying to do fewer shows and more recording.
Recording projects are happening. There will be a 'covers' project of some kind and an original EP, hopefully both before year's end, and if you're looking for new music I'd strongly suggest you go check out the official-and-recently-softlaunched SoundCloud page:
Stay tuned. Gonna be another busy one around here.
posted 5.15.12
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First things first here in early 2012: HELLO NEW FRIENDS AND FANS!
I don't know how you're finding me, but somehow you are, and we're both the better for it. In fact, if I gave you my card on an airplane or somewhere, drop me an email and say hi. I probably didn't think to get your contact info and I'd love to continue the conversation and hear more about your exotic workplace / vacation spot / et cetera / peter cetera.
That probably reads sarcastic on your screen, but I mean it.
So. I played more shows in 2011 than in any single year ever since the Springfield weekly-unpaid-coffee-shop-gig era. More in October ALONE, in fact.
It was part of an intense, interesting fall/winter. It's April 2012 - specifically, Friday the 13th - and I think I've almost recovered from the last 3 months of last year. Between October 1 and November 30, I played more than 35 shows at the TRAIL OF FEAR in Lawton, flew to New York to interview for a new job (at one point I stayed in 3 hotels in 3 states in 8 days), took the new job, wrapped up a ton of projects at the old job, practiced and recorded demos with a new 3-piece band in which I was excited to be the bassist, and participated in two World Record attempts at the international Sideshow Gathering (staying in a different hotel in still another state for that one). As soon as Thanksgiving passed, I was rushing around the states, training and learning equipment new and old so I could start training other people how to use it, which is pretty much what I do now.
Now that I'm on the road a lot for work, I'm hoping to merge those trips with 'being on the road for music' a lot more as time progresses. New airline rules regarding carry-on instruments may help. I'm still home a lot too, and when I am, more songs and recordings are in the works. Seriously. Unfortunately, because of my crazy day-job life, the 3-piece is going to have to move on without me in its rhythm section, but we may still do the occasional one-off and maybe some recordings. You'll have to stay tuned to see.
So now it's Spring 2012, and shows are starting to happen again. The Crispy Family Carnival already has one under its collective belt, and we're beginning to fill up the calendar. I continue to be a part of those shows whenever possible (starting with a special show TOMORROW! in West Tulsa). The CFC has its 10th birthday coming up later this year and a very special birthday celebration is a distinct possibility. I'm also returning to the stage of the Norman Music Festival later this month, and I'm crazy-looking-forward to that one, which was a total blast last year.
As always, you can find info on ALL such upcoming gigs right chere. I'll probably mention them on Twitter and the ol' Facebook page too, if I know what's good for me.
Stay tuned, kids, because despite a little turbulence, this should be a pretty amazing flight.
*The soundtrack to this post is the soundtrack to the film 'Brazil,' which is still among my two favorite movies of all time.
**The other is 'Schizopolis.'
***Nose army.
posted 4.13.12
It's summer. It's hot. It's FESTIVAL SEASON! Already played a couple this summer, thanks to all those who braved the Africa-hot temps and made it out! Next up, a nice, cool, indoor club show at the legendary Eclipse with the excellent Dirty Creek Bandits (Saturday July 23) followed the following weekend by a return appearance at the actually-free-this-year FreeTulsa! festival in the Blue Dome District. Run, don't walk, to the SHOWS page for more details, or check out the Facebook page below for event info. I GOT YER SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT CHERE.
Things in pipeline as always. The Medley has a totally new 15-song 'chunk' that will debut at these two shows. Working on a band-like project for this fall, and playing some acoustic bass for the first time in a very long time.
posted 7.16.11
It's almost summer, that must mean it's FESTIVAL SEASON! I had a blast playing my first Norman Music Festival a few weeks back, and I'm looking forward to my set at the upcoming Backwoods Bash - not to mention the Atkins (AR) Pickle Festival in between! As always, deets on the SHOWS page.
Not to bury the lead, but this month also marked the release of another new Acoustic Ross item. TULSAMUSIC.NET Sampler #1 is out now and well worth the three bucks it'll cost ya. Lots of great tracks from lots of great local folks, including Tony Romanello, Tim Casey, Radio Wave Days, Future Depression Sound, and more, along with a brand new mix of "Blushes" made specially for this release. All proceeds from this and future TULSAMUSIC.NET releases go to charity - this time Missy's Keys4Cabs, a great program here in Tulsa - and are the product of the equally awesome TULSAMUSIC.NET. Check it out and grab your own copy right chere.
More new stuff is in the pipeline and will be coming your way very soon. Meantime, come catch a show or two and tell me how much funnier I used to be!
posted 5.14.11
Today it's the Ides of March... which can mean many things...
- - college basketball (go Zips & Buckeyes!)
- et tu, Bruté? (go to history class!)
- scheduling for Summer Festival Season has begun (go outside!)
To wit: I just posted a few notes about such things over yonder on the SHOWS page. So you should probably go check that stuff out.
posted 3.15.11
2010 was a beast.
- Released a profane Christmas song (free download here).
Joined a carnival sideshow. Wrote its theme song. Did & witnessed lots of crazy things on & offstage.
Wrote and premiered new songs. Revived a Math Lab classic or two.
Played my 200th gig, on my 40th birthday, no less. Then won a Halloween costume contest, dressed as my stunt double (see pic).
Wrote some blog stuff here and elsewhere. Upgraded the infrastructure here at the ol' AcousticRoss.com.
Saw a TON of great shows, like Ted Leo (twice), Todd Snider, Roger Clyne, Rush, Iron Maiden, the Pixies, Pavement (what decade is this?) & a bunch more.
Contributed to what turned out to be an AWESOME Frank Zappa tribute album (free download here).
2011 is already shaping up nicely too. We're planning 2011 sideshow events already. And while I can't go into great detail about specific music projects yet, the aforementioned new songs and some of their newer friends will appear in various places like stages and mp3 players in the coming months.
I'm looking forward to 2011 immensely. Thanks for sticking around.
posted 12.23.10
It's almost here - the bighugegiant ACOUSTIC ROSS 40th BIRTHDAY / 200th GIG CELEBRATION!! Also featuring the musical stylings of TONY ROMANELLO AND THE BLACK JACKETS!! And other surprises and things worthy of double exclamation points!! See here.
Spoiler alert: there will be songs in this set that you've never heard before. Good ones, even.
Had a great, exhausting, sweaty time at FreeTulsa! - those crazy kids sure put together a hell of a thing. Already looking forward to next year.
See you on the 22nd, yes?
posted 8.7.10
Full details are in now on the FreeTulsa! Music Festival July 30-31! I'm playing the SoundPony stage at 1am Friday night, July 30th.
Which is technically 'early Saturday' if you want to get all technical about it. But you shouldn't. What you SHOULD do is plan on being there, yes?
(Yes.)
Good, I'm glad we got that straight. See you at one or all of the MANY UPCOMING SHOWS, yes?
(Yes.)
posted 7.19.10
So. I haven't updated the site too much the last few months. Usually that means there isn't much going on. This time, it actually means there's a TON going on.
To wit: I just added NINE shows to the calendar.
Back in March I joined forces with this little thing called the Crispy Family Carnival. It's an award-winning, Guiness-Record-holding, sword-swallowing, fire-breathing, glass-walking, old-fashioned carnival sideshow, with a little vaudeville and burlesque on the side. I wrote their theme song, and during the shows I play a few songs and share MC duties with Mr. Crispy himself. It's a blast and you should really come see us soon. Keep up with all our goings on here.
I've got a few other non-carnival shows coming up too. And this August, I'll be turning 40 - LIVE ONSTAGE IN TULSA. Not only that, the planets are aligning in such a way that the 40th Birthday show will ALSO be the 200th Acoustic Ross show. Details to come very soon.
Lots of new songs in the works too, and some recording happening. Working on a series of new releases that will hopefully kick off by the end of the year. I'm excited about it, hopefully you will be too.
And for those who have asked, yes, I have some thoughts on the LeBron situation. Short version:
Oh yeah, and that 'Math Lab' link on the left there isn't broken anymore. Click it and go back to the heady days of the Math Lab era.
posted 7.11.10
Happy New Year! Let's talk about winter.
Specifically, let's talk about the record snowfall in Oklahoma during the Christmas Eve Blizzard, which managed to completely incapacitate more than half the state, making it (to say the least) a challenge for those of us who actually DID have to get out and DRIVE in it. Those of you who live in snowier climates, think of it thus: take your normal icy winter temps, add 6-8 inches of snow and ice, subtract all plows and salt trucks, then leave it that way for two full weeks. That's Tulsa this winter.
So to commemorate these paralyzing effects (and hopefully remove the curse for the rest of winter), we proudly present the first-ever Acoustic Ross Christmas-type song, a variation on the old chestnut "Winter Wonderland," with new lyrics that - inspired by actual events in this record snowfall and containing language appropriate to our situation at hand - are most definitely not safe for work, the easily offended, and/or children you don't want learning That One Word just yet.
Now then, the rest of you, please to enjoy:
- F***ing Winter F***ing Wonderland [click for mp3 (1.6 MB)]
UPDATE!
Well, wouldn't you know, a few weeks later someone went and put pictures on top of that little ditty. You can watch it here.
posted 1.10.10
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