Acoustic Ross

AcousticRoss.com

where the news comes in small, easy-to-swallow capsules

News Archives
updates from 2004

News from 11/23/04

Thanks to all those who came out to the show at Youth Services -- hope you had as much fun as I did!

Apologies for the site issues. My hosting company seems to be confused about just when the domain renewal process should happen -- hence the warning page that replaced this one over the weekend. Hopefully they'll get it all sorted out in the next few days so it doesn't go away again...

If you're trying to pick a show to come to, I'd highly recommend the next one, at Raven's Bistro on December 4. Since it could be the last one for a while. See the SHOWS page for address & time & stuff.

But things are happening regardless. I've been moonlighting on the solo act -- that is, playing with other musicians and enjoying it -- and hopefully you'll be hearing more about that soon.

And that new issue of News From Around the Bend is imminent. Finally. Really.

Meantime, I'll be looking for a new web hosting company.

-- R

News from 11/9/04

Your Friendly Neighborhood Roadshow Team, closing up shop after the NOLA BookFair.
(left to right: some geek, Jim, Abram, Amber, Eric)

Let's talk about...

Driving.

... Writers. Specifically, how much fun I had touring with three of them last week. They're all in the links section now, and I highly recommend you checking out their stuff.

... Books. Specifically, how mine is finished and you should look into getting yourself a copy. It's got all the lyrics from the first two CDs, pictures, some X-Rays you've seen, some X-Rays you haven't seen, and a bunch of other stuff you've never seen before. Come to a show -- there's one next week -- or email me -- ross @ acousticross.com -- and I'll hook you up.

... Past Shows. Specifically, how much fun I had on the fall tour, and how in four days I played in a coffeeshop, an art gallery, a bar, and a school bus. Really. There was supposed to be a video store in there too, but that show got canceled. Soon you'll be able to read all about it on the Tour Journals page, and I'll post some more pictures there too.

... Upcoming Shows. Specifically, how I'm back at Tulsa Youth Services next week. Free show, good cause, a fun way to spend a Saturday night. I had a blast last time and expect no less this time. Plus, it could be the last solo show for a little while.

... Bands. Specifically, how a new band should be arriving on the Tulsa scene soon, and how they probably won't suck. And how that has a lot to do with the upcoming Acoustic Ross hiatus.

Finally, let's talk about News From Around the Bend. Specifically, how it's been months since a new issue came out, and even longer since I updated the NFATB page here at AcousticRoss.com. It's been a long year -- have I mentioned that? -- but things are looking up. The clippings and donations have been coming steadily and I haven't forgotten about them. And readership may be up a little -- I gave away a lot of NFATB back issues at the NOLA BookFair last week, including a stack donated to the Denver Zine Library. This week I'll be working on the next ish -- number 93 -- and beginning work on some big changes coming to the print version of the NFATB. The NFATB pages here are going to get some redesign too, starting with a somewhat plain index page I've put up today. Bear with me, and I assure you it will be worth it.

News from 10/12/04

First Things First: My biggest, most honking THANKS to everyone who came out to the shows in Denton and Tulsa last week! The 48-hour tour with Wally Pleasant was absolutely worth the gas prices and the sleep deprivation. Hope we can do it again soon!

New Business: Lotsa new stuff on the site today. Particularly on the SHOWS page -- see below -- but the LINKS pages have been retouched a bit as well. Take a look around!

Really New Business: The big tour later this month! Details are on the SHOWS page. We're calling it an exploratory edition of the Perpetual Motion Roadshow. Jim Munroe, an indie author from Toronto, conceived and maintains the PMR, which is an always-different trio of indie authors/zinesters/artists/etc. touring monthly on circuits around North America. It began a year and a half ago with a northeast loop (Toronto, Montreal, Brooklyn, Boston, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and others) and later added a west coast loop (L.A., San Jose, Portland, Vancouver, Seattle, Ashland, San Francisco, etc.) for the winter months (click the logo for more about the Roadshow and its history).

The version of the Roadshow I'm going on later this month -- me, Jim, and authors from New Orleans and Portland, Oregon -- is a test run for a southeastern loop. Unfortunately, hurricane season being what it's been this year, we had to scale back the original plan quite a bit, and it looks like we'll do four or five of the original 'want list' of eight shows. If things go well, there's a chance this thing could spawn a southeast and a south-central U.S. loop in the future. (That's why you should spread the word to anyone you know in or near Pensacola, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Austin...) Again, head over to the SHOWS page for details.

Other New Business:

After the tour, I'll be back to a normal pace with shows in Oklahoma. Seriously.

I'll also be working on some major site modifications. It's time. Don't know if I'll completely catch up on X-Rays again, but I'll definitely get some more posted soon.

And if Dennis, Mike and I follow through on our threats, you'll start hearing about a new band on the scene as well.

As usual, I've got more ideas than time.

And I wouldn't have it any other way. See ya.

-- R

News from 8/25/04

Well then.

That was quite a summer.

So you might be wondering where I've been. Immediately after the last gig on the April tour, I was forced into hibernation in order to serve as the Executive Producer (and Editor, and a number of other things) on this little thing we called "Gimme the Mike! Oklahoma." Maybe you saw an episode or two. Seems like a lot of people did -- we beat pretty much everything but the Olympics in the ratings over our 6-week run. BIG thanks to everyone involved, including all the contestants and everyone who auditioned way back in May. And I was honored to have some fantastic local music luminaries on the judging panel: John Wooley, Chuck Cissel, Mary Cogan & Rusti Love. The live finale is over, the prizes have been awarded, the obligatory complaints are trickling in via email, we're officially in the history books. And it looks like we'll be back, maybe next summer.

(Plus, in the midst of all of that, I packed up and moved my desk at work -- twice -- and both my home and work computers got virused. In a 2-day period. I've got a new one at home now, which is quite nifty, despite the horrible timing of it all.)

Anyway, it's time for "Acoustic Ross" and "TV Producer Ross" to go their separate ways again, and not a minute too soon. "NFATB Publisher Ross" has had a quiet summer too, and he needs to get in gear pretty soon too.

But for now, Acoustic Ross has the helm. We start by catching up on X-Rays again (I just posted #61), with a Fall Tour schedule on the horizon.

And just so you know, the fall tour is going to be another unusual one. It's really more of a press tour -- including two zinesters and an indie author/publisher from Toronto -- and it's going to be a wild ride. If you live anywhere in the American Southeast, get ready -- we'll be there this October.

The Fall Tour will also include the release of another bit of Acoustic Ross merchandise. I think you'll like this one. Think "Text."

But starting in two days, I'm on vacation, and heading to Kansas City and Ohio.

More soon. And I promise you won't have to wait two months this time.

-- R

(P.S. Go Browns)

News from 6/22/04

SEVEN -- count them, seven -- new X-Rays posted today, getting us completely back on track for the weekly X-Ray schedule. More soon. But first I need a nap.

-- R

News from 6/3/04

Then, suddenly, more new stuff! Specifically:

More new stuff soon. Promise.

-- R

News from 6/1/04

If you're here, you're likely wondering what I've been up to lately. My day-job and music worlds have collided. This summer I'm the Executive Producer for a local talent search kind of thing on KOTV called "Gimme the Mike!" It's possible you saw my ugly mug on TV or my name in the paper plugging it, or you might have even seen me at the mall judging auditions. But you probably didn't.

It's a bit like "American Idol," to reference a national show on a national network, but this one's completely local. Here is more info, if you're interested. The show airs on Mondays starting July 19th. Right now I'm working with the other two producers to narrow the field from the 250 people who auditioned down to the 25 who will actually appear on the show. Do not envy this task.

As the show gets rolling, hopefully I'll have a little time to start booking some gigs of my own. At the very least, I'll probably be on TV again on the 11th to announce which contestants made the cut.

Meantime, I'll at least try to get back up to speed on X-Rays. Posted two more today, now I'm only four weeks behind. It happens.

-- R

News from 5/6/04

Whew. Feels like months since I updated things around here. Well, I don't know if it was all worth the wait, but you can find a TON of new stuff around here as of today:

New Tulsa World article from April

New pictures from the original Three Headed Monster show

FOUR new live mp3s, recorded at the 918 UFN EP release party, including a brand-new song

Updated 'past shows' section to reflect the tour stuff

Various minor updates on the album pages

Plus I've added a permanent link to my new friends from the West Coast, Citizens Here and Abroad, over in the links zone. As if all that weren't enough -- and for me, it weren't -- I've got at least that much MORE new stuff in the works, which should show up here in the next week or so, including:

Who knows -- eventually I may even get some future shows booked. Stick around.

Meantime, go download this free game with all haste, or at least read this article about it. You'll be as addicted as I am in no time.

-- R

News from 4/13/04

T minus 4 days and I'm starting to get a little nervous. Probably has something to do with a certain variety of products not having quite come into my possession just yet.

But that's all right. The NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AVOIDANCE TOUR is on, four shows in 3 cities in 11 days, starting with the big honkin' release party this weekend. Not too shabby, I suppose.

X-Ray #50 arrived today, right on time, if you go for that sort of thing.

Gotta go. Lots more flyers & handbills to send out. See you on the tour.

Plus, I still have to find some time to watch this week's "Alias."

-- R

News from 4/6/04

It's on. Call it the OFFICIAL 918 UFN CD RELEASE PARTY or call it REVENGE OF THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER -- whatever it is will be happening at 1974 on the 17th. The lineup:

ACOUSTIC ROSS
The FREE BEER BAND
The ENGINE HEARTS

There should be lots of great Acoustic Ross swag to waste your money on, including new stickers, buttons, the new CD, and of course all the old stuff too. As for the show itself, we'll be doing the rotation thing again, but perhaps a bit less psychotically* than last time. Maybe we'll even try to perfect the 9-piece orchestra selections this time. (*Hey, it's a word. Well, now it is, at least.)

The release party kicks off the spring tour, for which I still don't have a name, but I'm leaning towards "THE NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AVOIDANCE TOUR" as a strong possibility. With stops in Wichita and Columbia, it's all 'bout Drivin', Playin', and Not Goin' To The Day Job.

Finally, for those of you Tulsa types who can't make it to the release party (hey Tony, heads up), it now appears I'll be RETURNING to 1974 for a weeknight solo show in Tulsa in the middle of the tour. As usual, keep checking the shows page for details & updates.

Btw, I just posted two new X-Rays, so we're back on schedule there too. Sorry for the delay -- it had nothing to do with my accidentally pouring an entire 12-ounce glass of Dr. Pepper into my computer keyboard last night.

(I like this new keyboard, though...)

-- R

News from 3/29/04

The rumors are true: the 918 UFN EP Release Party / Spring Tour is imminent.

What's more, the CD may actually be ready on time.

Last night I declared an end to major recording operations, and tonight the EQ & cleanup commences. The master should be complete by week's end, which is a nice way of saying I'm not planning to sleep much between now and Saturday, and the artwork and duplication will follow suit next week. Hopefully. (Acoustic Ross buttons & more stickers are in the works, which will also hopefully be ready in time for the Big Release Bash...)

Currently in heavy rotation, when not working on the aforementioned upcoming release:

Guided By Voices - Human Amusements at Hourly Rates (the Best of GBV)
Descendents -

'Merican & Cool To Be You
The Candles - If Found, Cast In Sea
Mark Allender - Battery

Plus I can't seem to stop watching two Guster shows taped from the airwaves: their Austin City Limits set & MTV2's "Album Covers" (their version of the first Violent Femmes album: a veritable riot).

The Release Party promises to be a hoot, even though one of the bands I'd hoped to have on the bill can't make it, and the tour, although brief, should be equally cool. (Hey, at the very least, it's time away from work, something I definitely need... I couldn't be more burned out if I spontaneously combusted.)

Anyway, stick around, I'll keep you posted. Meantime, how about them Cowboys?

-- R

News from 3/4/04

OK, that ancient news archive is up, as promised. It's the bottom link on the News menu.

Also, there's finally some new stuff on the News From Around the Bend pages, with more to come. You know how it goes.

The Spring Tour is starting to come together, at least a little bit, so be on the lookout for more about that.

Finally, in case you were wondering, which you weren't, here's my Top 10 list for 2003.

-- R

News from 2/24/04

Thanks for indulging us -- the THREE HEADED MONSTER was a blast. Thanks to everyone who came out to the show -- whether you knew what you were getting into or not -- and to 1974 for letting us set up shop there -- whether they knew what they were getting into or not. Thanks also to Matt Gleason at the Tulsa World for the advance coverage.

Whoever thought that rotating three bands -- one song at a time, all night, eleven cycles -- 'an experiment in modular entertainment', as Alex so eloquently put it -- wouldn't work was wrong.

Although whoever thought the nine of us all playing four songs together would be a trainwreck was closer to the truth than we'd hoped. Such is life.

So now that we've put King Ghidorah to bed, I'm working on getting some more shows booked, including an official CD release party, so stay tuned.

Meantime, Issue #2 of Anti-Up is out now, featuring two more columns from me, and lots of much better stuff by other folks. Go here to read more about this fabulous AntiFolk zine and order issues. It's great stuff, and each issue comes with a 15-track compilation CD. Check it out.

Second, mostly out of archaeological interest, I've started posting some very old news archives from the 'original' website I had at diaryland.com for a while in 2002. Go to the News section to find the stuff. (Give me a few days to get it all posted.)

Finally, for anyone who's looking for it, I really will be posting some new stuff in the News From Around the Bend archives soon, so swing on by if you like.

This is my favorite rollercoaster.

-- R

News from 2/17/04

If you haven't heard about the THREE HEADED MONSTER yet, you really need to look into it. Get your calendar, and in the box for this Saturday, February 21, write "THREE HEADED MONSTER, 1974 - 2nd & Elgin, 9pm, NO COVER."

Garrett has assembled a lot of stuff over at Free Beer Band Dot Com and it would be in your best interest to check that out -- after you write the above info in your date book, of course. He's even got some pictures of the making of the Three Headed Monster, which I highly recommend. The Engine Hearts, me, and the Free Beer Band (and Dennis's cat) trying to figure out exactly which of the nine of us to blame for this crazy stunt.

I'm betting on the cat.

Anyway, here's the pitch once more: Three bands. One stage. All night. No 'sets'. No cover. No net.

You miss this, you'll never forgive yourself.

OK, you probably will, but not right away.

-- R

Take cover, Tulsa. We're coming for you.

News from 2/3/04

TiVo Users Couldn't Get Enough of Janet Jackson
Tue February 3, 2004 10:39 AM ET
By Paul Bond
(Reuters / Hollywood Reporter)

LOS ANGELES - When Justin Timberlake tore at Janet Jackson's leather outfit during Sunday's Super Bowl half-time show, TiVo users took notice.

Then they took notice again and again, using the digital video recorder to replay the event and to pause at the crucial moment in order to discern just what it was that Jackson had revealed to millions of Americans.

TiVo said that particular halftime stunt was the most replayed moment not only of the Super Bowl but of all TV moments that the young company has ever measured.

TiVo said it used its technology to measure audience behavior among 20,000 users during the Super Bowl. The exercise revealed a 180% spike in viewership at the time of the -- as Timberlake refers to it -- "wardrobe malfunction."

One notable TiVo user apparently unimpressed with the performance of Timberlake and Jackson was FCC chairman Michael Powell, who launched an investigation into the bare-breasted matter. Powell is so taken with TiVo that he once referred to it as "God's machine."

This marks the third year that TiVo has released details of its second-by-second review of how Super Bowl viewers used their TiVo units. Not only did users pause and replay the infamous portion of the halftime show more than any moment during the game, but they also did the same for some commercials.

TiVo's top two commercials, based on user behavior, are both from Bud Light: a romantic sleigh ride interrupted by a flatulent horse and a sharp-toothed dog demonstrating his unusual way of scoring a beer for his master.

Don't pick on Janet Jackson -- Miss Jackson, if you're nasty -- too much. I had the exact same wardrobe malfunction in Columbia on Friday.

Except for that, and except for the automotive emergency namelessnumberheadman had on the way there, the Columbia show was fantastic. Stendek was amazing to watch -- some fascinating pickin', drummin', scratchin' and loopin' there -- and namelessnumberheadman put on a killer show too -- thanks again for putting me on the bill, guys, and glad you're all OK. I had almost forgotten how balmy it gets as you drive that far north in January -- thought I'd have to turn on the AC there for a while, but it turned out the frostbite had just dulled all my nerve endings.

Anyway, I'm back in Tulsa now, starting preps for the THREE HEADED MONSTER show in a few weeks, and resuming work on the new CD.

Another new X-Ray gets installed today, and I've added an extensive Past Shows area to the Shows page. It started as a simple archive, but turned into a history lesson. I highly recommend checking it out, but then, I'm the webmaster, so you should probably take my recommendations with a grain of salt.

Look for CD release party info in the near future, and at least two mini-tours are in the works for later this year. Stay tuned.

Meantime, it's a Tuesday in an even-numbered year, which means it's Election Day here in Oklahoma, so I'd better get rolling.

-- R

News from 1/27/04

BAD NEWS: The BLIZZARD BLUE release party has been canceled. It's a long story.

GOOD NEWS: The show in Columbia, MO is still on this Friday. I'm completely psyched to finally be on the bill with my good friends namelessnumberheadman, and if you're anywhere near central Missouri on Friday, you really should swing by. Details on the shows page.

GOODER NEWS: The other show mentioned below -- the THREE HEADED MONSTER, also featuring the Free Beer Band & the Engine Hearts -- is also still on.

EVEN GOODER NEWS: The new EP is finally coming out very soon. It'll be worth the wait, I promise.

EVEN MORE GOODER NEWS: Lots of site updates recently, mainly in the X-Rays and Sounds regions, but in other hemispheres as well. Have a beverage. Take a look around. Enjoy yourself.

THE GOODEST NEWS OF ALL: Watch closely for my brief cameo on All-Star Survivor.

-- R

News from 1/14/04

We got us some SHOWS right here, bucko. Three big shows, coming your way very soon:

So there you go: a blast, a hoot, and a riot. Not a bad start for the year.

(But just wait till you see what else we've got in store.)

-- R

"Acoustic Ross" & "News From Around The Bend" © 2002-3001 Northcraft Entertainment Organization. All content not otherwise specified is also © 2002-3001 Northcraft Entertainment Organization. While we're at it, "Northcraft Entertainment Organization" is also © 2002-3001 Northcraft Entertainment Organization.