Look out America because Musikanto is coming to a town near you! Check out the dates below to see when.

An intimate evening with two men of music. Thursday May 16 Ryan and Jeremy set up and play in the front room of The Hideout with their numerous musical projects including Go Long Mule, Rambos, The Louvin Lovers, plus special guest singers Sarah Holtschlag and Bekah Miller.

Here’s the deets

• Artist: Jeremy David Miller
• Date: Thursday, May 16th 2013
• Time: 9:00pm
• City: Jeremy David Miller in Chicago
• Venue: Hideout
• Country: United States
• Admission: $5
• Notes: w/ Ryan Anderson
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Jaxon (Ladybirds), Jeremy (Rambos), JJ (Rambos)

Rambos take the stage at The Burlington tonight with The Ladybirds from Louisville and Chicago’s Blackbelts. Loud Loop Press says:

“Get your September off to a brawlin’ good start with high-energy Chicago rockers Rambos. The group melts faces with smoky rockabilly beats, which it lovingly layers with thick cuts of bluesy punk and surf rock. It’s like a rock’n’roll seven-layer bean dip. No, I’m not hungry. I swear. Also performing tonight are Louisville pop rockers The Ladybirds and music group Blackbelts.” (Audrey Leon)

The Burlington is located at 3425 W. Fullerton Ave. in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood.

Ami Saraiya and the Outcome will play the Know Theater on the Biore Strip Second Stage at 10PM on Friday, September 28th (more info)

Jon Drake & The Shakes will play the Vitamin Water Room at the Hanke Building at 9PM on Saturday, September 29th (more info)

This year’s lineup includes Ezra Furman, White Mystery, Santah, Cousin Dud, Elephant Gun, The Heligoats, The Soil & The Sun, Jon Drake & The Shakes, Rabble Rabble, On Again Off Again, Thin Hymns, Jaime Rojo, Barber Greene, Jack Avery’s Kin, Jellybones, Kellen & Me, Kane Place Record Club (MKE).

More info here: http://www.wastedplains.com/

iTunes
Amazon
Spotify (link on its way – if you have Spotify, just search for ‘Jon Drake & The Shakes’)

Dear Ulysses Track List
1. Gustav
2. Charlie
3. Rattles and Snakes
4. The Fourth of July
5. Hold Now, Sirrah
6. Cherry
7. Elizabeth Johnston
8. Mary
9. The Slip
10. Red Line Cheat
11. Margie

Head on over to Daytrotter for a session by Jon Drake & The Shakes. Along with the recordings, you’ll learn a whole ton about Jon Drake, The Shakes and how they all met. This session was recorded at Daytrotter’s original Rock Island, IL studio, the Horse Shack.

Full Strasbourg schedule:
5/24 – Arrive in Strasbourg
5/25 – Le Quai’son – Nancy, FR
5/27 – Medienfestival – Tubingen, DE
5/29 – Cafe des Anges – Strasbourg, FR
5/30 – Artichaut – Strasbourg, FR
5/31 – Cine’ma Star – Strasbourg, FR
6/1 – Club Laterie – Strasbourg, FR
6/2 – Leave Strasbourg

Here’s the deets

• Artist: Musikanto
• Tour: Transatlantic Nights
• Date: Thursday, May 24th 2012
• Time: 8:00pm
• City: Musikanto in Nancy
• Venue: Le Quai’son
• Address: 4 Quai Claude le Lorrain, 54000 Nancy
• Country: France
• Notes: Part of the Strasbourg-Chicago exchange, also known as Transatlantic Nights – http://lesnuitstransatlantiques.fr
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

• Artist: Musikanto
• Tour: Transatlantic Nights
• Date: Sunday, May 27th 2012
• Time: 8:00pm
• City: Musikanto in Tubingen
• Venue: Medienfestival
• Address: Leibnizhaus 2 Stauffenbergstr. 30 D-72074
• Country: Germany
• Notes: Part of the Strasbourg-Chicago exchange, also known as Transatlantic Nights.
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

“Drake is a beastly frontman, sweating out beer and staring intensely into the crowd like a plaid-clad Keith Morris. His band is almost too much talent for one stage, utilizing strings and horns in a way that never seems excessive or pretentious. It helps that they’re all dancing, too. I hate to classify a band when its music is this fun, so let’s call it celebratory. The compositions are brilliantly intricate, but once your feet start to move, all the parts meld into one ecstatic blend of peer pressure: Drink, dance, and be merry. Jon Drake & the Shakes want nothing more from its audience.” – Time Out Chicago

If you weren’t in Chicago for the party, you can still pre-order Dear Ulysses at The Shakes’ Official Website. Dear Ulysses will be available on May 29 via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, EMusic and the rest of your favorites.

5/19 – Schuba’s – Chicago, IL (with Truth and Salvage Co.)
5/22 – Old Rock House – St. Louis, MO (with Hoots and Hellmouth)
5/25 – Quai Son – Nancy, France
5/27 – Medienfestival (Germany) Leibnizhaus Stage – Tübingen, Germany
5/29 – Cafe Des Anges – Strasbourg, France
5/30 – Artichaut – Strasubourg, France
5/31 – Cine’ma Star – Strasbourg, France
6/1 – Club Laiterie – Strasbourg, France
6/4 – L’entrepot – Paris, France
6/9 – Il Banco – Sabato Zoagli, Italy
6/11 – Loggia de Banchi – Lunedì la Spezia, Italy
6/12 – Articioc – Martedì Montirone, Italy
6/13 – Vinerita – Mercoledì Aosta, Italy
6/14 – Nidaba – Giovedì Milano, Italy
7/19 – Trocodero – Milwaukee, WI
7/20 – UMS Festival – Denver, CO
7/21 – Square Roots Festival – Chicago, IL

Milne had this to say about the new album:

“Rich and rewarding songwriting is the order of the day on the band’s debut Dear Ulysses. Jon Drake’s tenor rings pure on most tunes but there’s some artful panning and double tracking on a few tunes that help him cut even closer to the bone.
Jon’s not afraid to get up his subject’s face just a bit but only enough to draw the listener in to his indignation. The art of it all comes in to play when you find yourself singing along to whatever it is he’s singing about. At the top of your lungs.”

RAMBOS

http://rambosmusic.com/

THE HEAVY EYES

http://theheavyeyesmemphis.bandcamp.com/

Secretive (France)

http://secretive.fr/

5/7 – Kentucky Theater – Lexington, KY
5/9 – The Basement (w/Truth and Salvage Co.) – Nashville, TN
5/10 – Molly Malone’s – Covington, KY
5/11 – Ferdinand Folk Festival -Ferdinanad, IN
5/12 – Uncle Slayton’s – Louisville, KY
5/25 – Quai Son – Nancy, France
5/27 – Medienfestival (Germany) Leibnizhaus Stage – Tübingen, Germany
5/29 – Cafe Des Anges – Strasbourg, France
5/30 – Artichaut – Strasubourg, France
5/31 – Cine’ma Star – Strasbourg, France
6/1 – Club Laiterie – Strasbourg, France
6/4 – L’entrepot – Paris, France
6/9 – Il Banco – Sabato Zoagli, Italy
6/11 – Loggia de Banchi – Lunedì la Spezia, Italy
6/12 – Articioc – Martedì Montirone, Italy
6/13 – Vinerita – Mercoledì Aosta, Italy
6/14 – Nidaba – Giovedì Milano, Italy
7/19 – Trocodero – Milwaukee, WI

Jon Drake & The Shakes will release their debut album, Dear Ulysses, on May 29. Pre-order the CD and get an immediate download of the single, “Charlie,” as well as a bonus track that you can’t get anywhere else. The band will celebrate in Chicago a little early on May 11, and the band will hit the road in the summer.

Stream four songs from the album at jondrakeandtheshakes.com.

We at the Grape Juice camp are very excited to see this album come to fruition. Jeremy has been part of the Grape Juice family for a few years now, and this album puts the spotlight right where it should be: on Jeremy, Jeremy, Jeremy. The combination of charisma and storytelling prowess is unparalleled these days, with more and more musicians putting the business before the craft. Miller has not forgotten the craft, and today we salute him and his songs.

Preview and purchase the album at iTunes, where the album has also been featured on their New and Noteworthy releases for Singer/Songwriters.

http://jondrakeandtheshakes.com/category/shows/

Here’s the deets

• Artist: Jon Drake & The Shakes
• Date: Friday, April 6th 2012
• Time: 9:00pm
• City: Jon Drake & The Shakes in Des Moines
• Venue: Gas Lamp
• Address: 1501 Grand Avenue
• Venue phone: (515) 280-3778
• Country: United States
• Admission: $5
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

• Artist: Jon Drake & The Shakes
• Date: Saturday, April 7th 2012
• Time: 9:00pm
• City: Jon Drake & The Shakes in Rochester, MN
• Venue: Kathy’s Pub
• Address: 307 South Broadway
• Country: United States
• Admission: Free!
• Add to Google Calendar | Download iCal

Catch Musikanto on tour this week:

3/21 @ Case University, Cleveland, OH w/Ezra Furman

3/22 @ Chicago Live, Piper’s Alley, Chicago, IL w/Buddy Guy

3/23 @ Off Broadway, St. Louis, MO w/Jackopierce

3/24 @ SPACE, Evanston, IL w/Jackopierce

Grape Juice Records, Township Records and Stic of the Week Present:

GRAPE STIC ON THE TOWN

Thursday, March 15

At Lovely Boutique

1506 South 1st Street  Austin, TX 78704

2:00pm Musikanto

2:45pm Joanna Barbera

3:30pm Danny Malone

4:15pm Holiday

5:00pm J Wesley Haynes Trio

5:45pm Moon Furies

6:30pm The Courtsey Tier

7:15pm Fort Frances

BEST DRESSED 2012, FEMALE NOMINEES:

Ashley

Megan

Leah (pictured with NOT Best Dressed Scott Henry of The Minneapolis Henrys)

And the winner…

Miranda

BEST DRESSED 2012 MALE NOMINEES

Patrick

Our very own: Jai Henry

Joe (pictured with female winner, Miranda)

And the winner…

Nick

(All photos above by Glitterguts. (c) 2012. All rights reserved.)

Thanks to Pet Lions, Brighton, MA, Briar Rabbit, and Ben Keeler and the 500 Club for a night of awesome music.

Brighton, MA

Briar Rabbit

Ben Keeler

(Band photos by Taikera Conyers. (c) 2012. All rights reserved.)

(If you have any photos of Pet Lions, please email them to info@grapejuicerecords.com)

Musikanto’s backing band will feature:
Will Phalen (of Will Phalen)
Brian Morrissey (of The Dirty Pigeons)
Mark Zoller (of Go Long Mule)

On Monday (2/6), Stolen Silver kick of their residency at Schuba’s with Julie Meckler and Ami Saraiya.

Next weekend is a Grape Juice double-header at Burlington:

Geronimo, Inspector Owl and Deserters on Friday

The Kickback, Dirty Pigeons and Kerosene Stars on Saturday.

Rock and Roll Monsters
Out March 6

1. Terrorize
2. Rock and Roll
3. Human Monsters
4. Radio
5. Hiyawatha
6. Chuck Taylors
7. USA
8. Vampire
9. Nothin’ to Say
10. Poet Murders

PRE-ORDER ROCK AND ROLL MONSTERS

1/17 Pomegranates at Schuba’s
Gotta love Pomegranates. So refreshing and full of antioxidants!
Pomegranates – “Create Your Own Reality” by Afternoon Records

1/18 Summer Girlfriends, Damon and Whitney of E+ at Beat Kitchen
What could be better than a band consisting of 5 girls who know how to rock? Yep, that’s right, nothing.

1/19 Dastardly at Lincoln Hall
Dastardly are releasing their second album, and celebrating at Lincoln Hall with Brighton MA and Santah. Check out Dastardly’s session with Audiotree:

1/21 Grape Juice Presents: Jaime Rojo, Geoff Dolce and The Thin Man at The Burlington
Talent runs in the Drake family. Jim Drake (yep, Jon Drake’s brother) heads up Jaime Rojo, a rock and roll band with great songs and a live show that started great and keeps getting better.

The live show is fantastic. Miller knows how to use his voice, and use it he does. He has perfected his timbre in a way that is seldom seen in a live setting. The thing that I love most about the band is the fact that Miller’s backing band is a metal band at heart. This gives the music a quality that is not found too often these days: well-written pop songs that know how to rock. Thanks Nick Miller for making awesome pop music that rocks. Now check out this trippy video for “Raunch”:

Read the full article here.

Sky of Dresses also made #6 on KRVM’s top 20 of 2011 here.

BACK TO ARTIST PAGE 

In 2009, we threw a party to celebrate our 5 Year Anniversary. A contest was held to design a t-shirt to commemorate the momentous occasion. A popular vote was taken to decide the victor. In the end, Kyle O’Brien-Caird was the chosen winner, and we couldn’t be happier with the winning design.

1. Terrorize
2. Rock and Roll
3. Human Monster
4. Radio
5. Hi-Ya-Wa-Tha
6. Chuck Taylors
7. USA
8. Vampire
9. Nothin to Say
10. Poet Murders

When Rambos set out to do something, they get at it. Stand em up, knock em down. So when Rambos decided to head into the studio, they didn’t just set out to record an album. They set out to record every single song they knew. One month, 3 black eyes, and countless scrapes and bruises later, Rambos emerged with 19 songs worthy of a salute from John himself. The first installment is Rock and Roll Monsters, 10 songs to introduce you to Rambos. We hope it’s not too much too soon.

“At a time where cookie-cutter pop stars are ruling the music charts and making radio almost an obsolete notion for any person with a respectable taste in music, Rambos are a strange, yet revitalizing breath of fresh air.” – Chicago Garage Rock

Life With the Buffalo is the follow up to 2008′s More Songs About Loneliness. Our favorite songs are “Life With the Buffalo,” “Baltimore,” and “Sister.”

“With lyrics about God, the Devil, and yes, buffalo, singer-songwriter Curtis Evan isn’t exactly exploring any new territory with this entry into Americana. But he’s got a deep, commanding voice and sure knows how to spin an enthralling alt-country tune, adding some atypical flourishes, like the trippy synth work on the title track and the rousing horns on the invigorating “Sister.” This is one of the best Chicago albums of the year.” – True/Slant

OTHER ALBUMS BY THIS ARTIST:

“Sky of Dresses” by Musikanto

Released August 2, 2011

1. Blues for Momma
2. Take What You Need
3. Every Which Way
4. The Ballad of Two Vultures
5. Awful Mind
6. Colors in the Grey
7. Byzantine
8. My Heart Won’t Bleed Anymore
9. Sky of Dresses
10. False Wind
11. The Waiting Room

@ The Burlington – 3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago – 8pm

@ The Burlington – 3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago – 9pm

Performing at Schuba's with Cory Branan

@ Schuba’s 3159 N. Southport, Chicago – 8pm.

@ The Burlington – 3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago – 9pm

@ The Burlington – 3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago – 9pm

3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago – 9pm

Ornery Little Darlings

Flying Cars

Continental Breakfast

3425 W. Fullerton, Chicago. 9pm.

Jon and crew will be playing a hometown show in the Burlington’s brand spanking new back room. The Square’s hippest bar is now the Square’s hippest music venue too! Having been on the road since October, Jonny and The Shakes are ready to return to the Windy City for a party.

Joining The Shakes will be Chaperone, who just released their first 7″, “Raised By Wolves” on Grape Juice Records. Every record cover is unique AND handmade! These guys have one of the most energetic and joy-filled live shows Chicago has ever seen, so come see it!

In other recent news, the first single off Jon Drake &amp The Shakes’ new record is available for FREE for a limited time. Get it while it’s hot!

Peep the link kid:

http://jondrakeandtheshakes.com/

Doors @ 9
Show @ 10
$5 at the door

View Larger Map
The Burlington is located at 3425 W. Fullerton Avenue in Chicago’s Logan Square Neighborhood.

Musikanto

Today: 3:00 PM Eastern

All you folks in the Louisville area can catch Musikanto in-studio at WFPK by tuning to 91.9 FM at 3:00 PM (EST).

All you folks everywhere else can stream the “Appearance” HERE

But the band will be promoting songs off their debut record, The Declaration of Ulysses, which is set to be released before the year is over. But they will have copies of the record’s first single, “Charlie,” which will be released on 11/8. They’ll be back in Chicago on December 1st, playing the new back room at the Burlington.

JON DRAKE & THE SHAKES ON TOUR:

11/5 @ The Busted Lift (Dubuque)

11/6 @ Kitty Cat Klub (Minneapolis)

11/20 @ MOTR Pub (Cincinnati)

As one of the most recent editions to the Grape Juice family, we’re excited to announce that Ami Saraiya & The Outcome are releasing their new 7-inch EP, Purging,  on December 13, 2011. Enlisting again the work of producer Mark Messing (Mucca Pazza), the limited edition 7-inch will have a very limited run of only 500 copies!

If you’ve ever seen Ami Saraiya and her band play live, then you’re definitely familiar with the collective’s dramatic idiosyncratic sound. Saraiya is notorious for a eclectic vocal styling that draws comparisons to Edith Piaf and Billie Holiday. To say her voice is timeless is true. But Saraiya has a intrinsic modern sensibility that can be easily heard; an ethereal post-modern indie rock feel that translates into her melodies and vocal deliveries. The group’s music follows suit, playing a steam punk blending of diverse sonic palettes, a worldly staging of gypsy folk, chamber and jazz cabaret.

Named after the Musikanto-featured song “Take What You Need,” the Halloween edition Chicago Mixtape features many great Chicago acts, including Julie Meckler among others. Click through and download your mixtape!

http://www.chicagomixtape.com/

KYRS 92.3 FM – Spokane, WA

WDET 101.9 FM – Detroit
AnnDelisis’Essential Music’ program
Listener Comments line: 313-577-3415
Studio line: 313-577-1019
http://wdetfm.org/shows/ann-delisis-essential-music/

WCBE 90.5 FM – Columbus, OH
Studio line: (614) 821-9223

Capitol Public Radio, spinning on The Blue Dog Jam Show!
KXJZ 90.9 FM – Sacramento
KKTO 90.5 FM – Tahoe/Reno
KUOP 91.3 FM – Stockton
KQNC 88.1 FM – Quincy
requests: (877) 480-5900

WNCW (88.7 FM – Spindale, 97.3 FM, Greenville, 99.1 FM Charlotte, NC)

WHFR(89.3 FM – Dearborn, MI)
Requests: (800) 585-HFCC x9676

WEFT(90.1 FM – Champaign, IL)

WKDU(91.7 FM – Philadelphia, PA)

WMSE(91.7 FM – Milwaukee, WI)

KXLL(100.7 FM – Juneau, AK)

KRCB(91.1 FM – Santa Rosa, CA)

WMUD (89.3 FM – Bridgeport, VT)
Requests: (802) 758-5002
mudroom@wmud.org

WEVL (89.9 FM – Memphis, TN)
Requests: (901) 528-1990
Through The Cracks
Saturday 1-3 pm
Contemporary folk, alternative country, adult rock, and everything in between. Presented by Ed.

CKUW (95.9FM – University Of Winnipeg – Winnipeg, Manitoba)
Requests: (204) 774-6877

KRSC (91.3 FM – Rogers State University – Claremore, OK)
Requests: 918-343-7913
requestline@rsu.edu

KOTO (89.3 FM/91.7 FM Telluride, CO – 89.5 Norwood, CO – 105.5 Down Valley, CO)
Requests:
970-728-4333

KBCS (Bellevue Community College – 91.3 FM – Bellevue/Seattle, WA)
Requests: 425-564-2424
dj@kbcs.fm

KDHX (88.1 FM – St. Louis, MO)
Requests:
314-664-3688

WMNF(88.5 FM – Tampa, FL)

WFPK(91.9 FM – Louisville, KY)

KOPN (89.5 FM – Columbia, MO)
Requests:
(573) 874-5676

KPFT (90.1 FM – Houston, TX)

Lonestar Jukebox
Saturdays, 9am-11am
lonestarjukebox@kpft.org

KYRS (92.3 FM/89.9 FM Spokane, WA)
Requests: 509-747-3807

WERU (89.9 FM Blue Hill, ME – 99.9 FM Bangor, ME)

WFDU (Farleigh Dickinson University – 89.1 FM – Teaneck, NJ)
Request Line 201-692-2012

WMLB AM 1690 (Atlanta, GA)
Requests: 404-741-1690
listeners@1690wmlb.com

WOJB (89.9 FM Hayward, WI)
Requests: 715-634-2100
wojbfm@wojb.org

WQSI The Eagle (95.9 FM – Auburn, AL)
Requests: 334-321-0939

KDNK (88.1 FM Carbondale/Glenwood, CO – 88.3 FM Aspen, CO – 88.5 FM Basalt/Redstone, CO – 93.5 Leadville, CO)
Requests: 970-963-2976

Online stations/podcasts:

RADIO FREE AMERICANA

WILDMAN STEVE

INDIESF

AMERICANA ROCK MIX
CountryBear

Bill Frater’s Freight Train Boogie

Musikanto

The episode of NPR’s Mountain Stage Featuring Musikanto is playing this week!

Check out the Mountain Stage Broadcast Schedule to listen where you are!

“Chicago Filmmakers’ and The Cinema Culture’s third annual Seen and Heard Music Video Showcase will highlight videos that push the boundaries and complement the varied styles of cutting edge music.”

Read more at… www.chicagofilmmakers.org/cf/content/seen-and-heard-music-video-showcase

BACK TO ARTIST PAGE

After years of touring and writing, Musikanto set out to record his best record to date.  He made countless late night drives from Chicago to Milwaukee and back to record the new songs at a friend’s home studio. During the drives, he listened to the songs develop their personalities, re-writing lyrics and adding instrumentation he heard in his head as he drove. “The result is an 11-song album that plays like a compilation of short stories about love and loss,” says Chicagoist.com. To date, Musikanto has shared the stage with the likes of Mason Jennings, Alejandro Escovedo and Jason Isbell.

Chicago Garage-icana. “Life With the Buffalo” OUT NOW!

Two Thousand and Ten was a wild ride, huh? We sure had fun over here at Grape Juice. We are super excited about everything we have coming up in the year to come and can’t wait to tell you all about it but for now, a peek at the next few months:

The third nearly-annual Windy City Winter Ball will be held on Saturday, FEB 5 @Double Door in Chicago.

Who will be the next GJ Artist? You’ll see!

Grape Juice Records @SXSW

Curtis Evans & Our Friends Electric= Road Warriors.

Like I said, this is just a peek. To stay posted on our latest news and events follow our tweetings @grapejuicerec, Like us on The Facebook.com Subscribe to this blog and/or sign our mailing list!

May the new year bring you much juice!

-GJ Jai

What are we at Grape Juice Records thankful for this November? You of course!
So when you go shopping in our STORE, make sure to enter the code “tofurkey” at check out to
receive 20% off your purchase!

-Ian

[Photo by Bekah Miller]

If you haven’t noticed yet we’re spruced up our look all over the socialwebs:

myspace

twitter (sign in to see it in all it’s glory)

youtube

and this very page you’re reading right now.

oh, and facebook… sike! The Facebook is still lamo blue and white. they should at least let us change everything blue to purple…

Enjoy!

Curtis Evans:

Des Moines, You’re next! Curtis will be gracing the stage at Vaudeville Mews tomorrow!

Be sure to keep up with curtis:
Facebook
Myspace
Grape Juice!

Stay electric!

Will Phalen, Tom Schreader, the Inchworm boys, Julie Meckler, Jai Henry, Sarah Holtschlag, Bekah Miller and Jeremy Miller filled the bill and did a bang-up job of embarrassing Curtis all night long.

Jeremy Miller MC’d the evening in a fashion none other could stand up to. Jeremy, you’re a genius.

Thank you to all those who made the night a super special one!

Also, check out this video from the band! Enjoy!

–
Peas,
Dr. Rush

DJ Raj Mahal started the night off just right with soul music to groove to. Curtis Evans and Our Friends Electric took the stage first, where Brian Morrissey of Inchworm fame came up and helped with the choruses on “Nancy Oh Nancy.” Then, A Night in the Box LITERALLY TORE THE ROOF RIGHT OFF THE DOUBLE DOOR. IT’S GONE. The Damn Choir played beautifully and put out a great CD that night! And this was our first experience seeing Jon Drake & The Shakes rock a stage. The Shakes were ultra-tight and played an awesome cover of “The Weight.” Mary Fix took LOTS of really awesome photos, you can see all of them here.

It was a close call, but the crowd chose some pretty snazzy folks as the best dressed of the evening. The winners included:

the dashingly dressed Trey Johnson

and the ever-lovely Emily Barta.

Thanks to everyone that came out. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

The band’s heading east for the 2nd leg of their CD release tour, hitting the following cities:

1/29 – Boston, MA @ Cafe 939
1/30 – Harrisburg, PA @ The Abbey Bar at Appalachian Brewing Co.
2/1 – Jermyn, PA @ Eleanor Rigby’s
2/2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Trash Bar
2/3 – Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar
2/4 – Wilmington, DE @ Mojo 13
2/5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ D’Vine
2/7 – Norfolk, VA @ The Tap House
2/9 – Greenville, NC @ The Tipsy Teapot
2/10 – Richmond, VA @ The Playing Field
2/11 – Annapolis, MD @ The Whiskey

Come out and support The Minneapolis Henrys as they compete for a chance to play at South by Southwest! Reggie’s Rock Club is throwing an unofficial, SXSW showcase on February 12th, wherein six bands will compete for a show at the Jackalope the following Friday, March 19^th. The winner will be chosen based on crowd reaction, stage presence, and overall musical ability, as well as general awesomeness.

Reggie’s evening line-up, in no particular order:

This is Versailles

Minneapolis Henry’s

Snowsera

The Loneliest Monk

Cains and Abels

Green Sugar

Show details:

Friday, February 12, 2010

Reggie’s Rock Club

7:30 pm, doors open, 18+

2105 S. State St.

Chicago, 60616

www.reggieslive.com

Winners will play an afternoon show at the Jackalope, Friday, March 19^th

Bands include:

Paperbear

Deadtown Revival

The Blacklist Royals

The Zut Alors

Some Excerpts:

There’s no glitz or glam or pretentious lyrics, just a heartfelt and homespun sound that hits you’d expect from the likes of She and Him or Bon Iver.
-The Truth Enlightens Me

The Lower 48, an underage quartet from Minneapolis, has accumulated more buzz before the band members’ 20th birthdays than most rockers do in a lifetime.
-Magnet Magazine

A beautiful sound has been born. It belongs to The Lower 48, a new band emerging from Minneapolis. This quartet of young musicians, all under the age of 20, have crafted their own very original sound with its roots in folk but decorated with swelling strings, sweet harmonies, mature lyrics, and one of the sexiest female voices you’ve ever heard.
-The Silver Tongue

These kids have a bright future ahead of them. Check ‘em out now so you can say you heard them first!

Album stuff… “Adventure Stories (Not Based On Fact?)” is the name of our new record. Pre-sell begins on December 1st, and it comes out on February 2nd, 2010.

We started the recording in June and finished it in October. It was recorded at Magpie Cage studios in Baltimore with J. Robbins. If you don’t know who he is, shame on you. Google Jawbox and you’ll see. Lukas Fronzoli and Brett Schatz lent us a hand on a lot of the percussion, and Billy (Homeowner) Wertz played a beer bottle. Listen closely, maybe you’ll hear it. J. also played some keyboards here and there.

The artwork was done by our friend, Joe Karr. It is in the “pulp fiction” vein. No, not the movie…like the pulp fiction books that came out back in the day. The insert contains images for each song. We love it, and hope you do as well. You can check out some of Joe’s other work at the link below.

Tour stuff…We are in the process of putting this together now. It looks like we’ll be hitting the midwest, southern Canada, New England, the mid-Atlantic, and the southeast. People on the west coast, don’t worry. We’ll get out there as soon as we can. You all are a long way from Baltimore, and we have to work around Duff’s TV schedule (which is very challenging). We will put up our tour dates as they get confirmed. We look forward to seeing you on the road soon!!!

We will be featured in the January issue of Food Network Magazine. We did the interview in Atlantic City when we opened for Black Label Society at the House of Blues. Three of us consumed a good deal of whiskey, so we hope we didn’t say anything to dumb. We did disclose that we tease Duff about being our Keanu, and that we are Dogstar. No disrespect, but we are no Dogstar, and Duff wishes he was Keanu!!!! Keep an eye out at your local magazine stand!!! Maybe we’ll make the cover (we wish)!

Also, check out our other projects (see the links below). Yungwirth has a band called Dos Osos (Brett is the drummer). Honus has a punk band called The Revelevens (the beer bottle playing Billy is the bassist. And they have a women singer (she rules!). Rahn is 100% soihadto, and we love him for that! And I’m sure you may have heard of Duff’s other “project”, Ace of Cakes and his bakery, Charm City Cakes. We freely admit that a good deal of our success is from this, and we are grateful. Don’t hate!

So, we’ll keep more blogs coming as the release date and tour approach. We hope to see you when we are in your city! Please come up to us and say hello, and buy us a beer (except Duff, he don’t drink)! See you soon!!!

Love,
Rahn, Duff, Yungwirth, & Honus
…soihadto…

Grape Juice Records (our label)
Joe Karr (who did the artwork for Adventure Stories…)
Honus’ punk band, The Revelevens
Yungwirth’s kick ass duo, Dos Osos
Need a cake? Duff’s real job!

An important update! There is a **NEW** show featuring Curtis Evans with Musikanto at Beat Kitchen Dec. 18th. For more information visit beatkitchen.com

In other exciting news, “Everywhere to Go,” the new album from The Lower 48 is available. For bios, music clips, and more please visit: mypace.com/heylookitsthelower48

Don’t Forget!
-Windy City Winter Ball tickets on sale now at http://www.doubledoor.com – $5 in advance, $8 at the door.
- FREE Grape Juice compilations are now available! For your FREE copy, please email a request with your name and address at: info@grapejuicerecords.com

All bands and Grape Juice staff are available to talk about these events. For interviews and general information please contact quinntsan@gmail.com

3800 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60613
773-929-3680
http://www.uncommonground.com/pages/clark_home/19.php
http://curtisevansmusic.blogspot.com/
Featuring special guest:
-Dec 1. InchWorm – myspace.com/inchworm
-Dec 8. Grape Juice Records lablemate Jai Henry of the MPLS Henrys – myspace.com/mplshenrys
-Dec 22. Ryan Anderson of Go Long Mule – myspace.com/ryanandersonmusic

Grape Juice Records is also proud to announce that Jeremy Miller and Curtis Evans will be playing a rare set together at the Windy City Story Slam Semi-Finals which will be held at the Viaduct Theatre, Chicago on Dec. 5. Don’t miss out! For further information please visit: windycitystoryslam.com

Last but not least, FREE Grape Juice compilations are now available! For your FREE copy, please email a request with your name and address at: info@grapejuicerecords.com

All bands and Grape Juice staff are available to talk about these events. For interviews and general information please contact quinntsan@gmail.com

We were able to confirm two members of the Grape Juice family who undoubtedly take the Chicago crown for storytelling through music. Jeremy Miller of the Butcher’s Boy will be joined by Curtis Evans for a one-on-one set of trading songs that are meant more for a bonfire than a stage.

The Story Slam Semi-Finals take place on December 5th at Chicago’s Viaduct Theater, located at 3111 N. Western Avenue. Storytellers compete for a chance to take the stage at Metro for the finals. The story slam champ wins a package of prizes that are too-cool-for-school! Details on this year’s finals to be announced shortly.

Home | Lincoln Hall

Jon Drake and the Shakes
The Damn Choir (CD RELEASE)
A Night in the Box (from MPLS)
Curtis Evans and Our Friends Electric

Whew. That’s enough excitement for now. Talk soon.

Our first release with ADA is…

…soihadto…!!!! The Baltimore band’s debut full-length album, “Adventure Stories (Not Based on Fact?)” will hit the streets and the interwebs on February 2nd, 2010. You’ll be able to pre-order the album beginning December 1st. Your pre-order purchase will get you a bright and shiny CD along with a bunch of pre-sale exclusive goodies from the band. Curious about what these “goodies” will be? You’ll just have to wait and see! Pre-orders will ONLY be available on the Grape Juice Records website, so check back early and often.

Special thanks to Patrick McCutchan for coming all the way from Minneapolis to take the fantastic photos you see above.

Stay tuned for more Grape Juice events, we’re announcing another one soon…

1) New music with hot apple cider. We made up our own recipe: 4 1/2 cups of apple cider (which is basically just unfiltered apple juice), 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger. Pour all ingredients into a medium-sized saucepan and simmer for 30 minutes. Mmmmm.

2) New music with a scenic walk. Cooler temperatures make for pleasant, leisurely walks. Add in some colorful leaves and some good tunes and your’re good to go!

3) New music with a homemade fire. Inside or outside, fall is the time for sitting by a fire. Don’t forget the music, otherwise you’re bound to get bored and make up dangerous fire-related games (see ‘Fire Jenga’**).

While we realize ‘new music’* doesn’t always mean ‘good music’, we’re sure that the simple act of listening to new music while doing things mentioned above during the fall season is ALWAYS better than:

1) Realizing we need to find our cold-weather things (or buy new ones). Hat, gloves, ugh.

2) Raking. I bet the Earth did just fine before someone decided that a ‘tidy’ lawn was the way to go.

3) Constant rain. It’s been a very damp fall in Chicago. Enough already.

Now you know what to embrace and what to avoid (unless, of course, you subscribe to the ‘clean lawn’ theory, in which case you’re doomed to hours upon hours of tediously ‘tidying’ the grassy areas surrounding your house. Lucky you!), try to do everything this fall while listening to music you’ve never heard before. Our favorite new site to discover new music is Lala because it lets you listen to any song in their database for FREE ONE TIME before having to pay for it. Check it.

* For new music suggestions, visit OUR Lala page.

** ‘Fire Jenga’ is a game for which you prepare by drinking copious amounts of alcohol. When you’re good and drunk and the fire is raging, simply take a log from the pile and place it on top without the burning wood pile crashing down upon itself.

In the next few months i will journal our progress in the studio. To share with you stories of my songs. How they came to be, what they mean to my life. And most importantly, to tell you about all the wonderful friends who will help me in bringing them to your ears as finished recordings. As always, thank you for listening.

Love,

Curtis

* ‘Life with the Buffalo’ is the debut LP from Curtis Evans, currently in progress at Studio Ballistico with producer/engineer Tim Sandusky.
** Refers to the title track of the upcoming LP. To hear this song and more, come to a show or check back here for previews of music from the upcoming album.

Next show:
November 11 at Reggie’s Music Joint, Chicago

Curtis Evans on MySpace Music
Curtis Evans’ Blog **NEW**

In case you haven’t heard yet, we’ll be celebrating on Thursday with a massive show at the Double Door in Chicago. Nine bands, a cake from Charm City Cakes and free beer for an hour make this the only place to be in the whole Midwest on Thursday night!

We truly can’t wait for this. Thanks to everyone who has already helped make this event a success without it even happening yet!

Check out this interview with Duff Goldman in Chicago’s Metromix!

NBC’s Blog
Chicagoist

Oh! And check out some new mentions in the press! Here. And here.

Buy your tickets now, as they won’t last long! See you on the 3rd!

We’re in the middle, like “woah, everybody take it ease”.

The next step was a no-brainer: pie eating contest. We issued the following challenge to Tamarkin:

“Dear David Tamarkin,

On behalf of Duff Goldman and the band …soihadto…, Grape Juice
Records issues the following formal challenge to you:

In light of all the recent internet hubbub regarding miscommunications, and in an attempt to have some fun with this, we come to propose that this dispute be settled like gentlemen. We challenge you to come to Double Door on the evening of September the third, 2009 to put this disagreement to rest in a most honorable fashion: a pie eating contest. Whomever consumes the most amount of pie in three minutes time shall be declared the winner.

If you win, Duff will sit down with you and gladly answer any questions honestly and earnestly. If Duff should win, you must admit that …soihadto… is the greatest rock band of all time. Either way, a good time will be had and pies (and cake) will be eaten. The only question now is: will you accept this challenge as it has been presented to you? Please respond in a timely fashion.

Regards,
Grape Juice Records“

Tamarkin gracefully responded, but declined, citing a wish to remain anonymous as his main reason. Understandable. He also said:

“I really wish I could participate…I’m all for resolving conflicts (and this one has certainly been blown out of the water), especially when there is pie involved.”

We said “that’s cool” and moved on with life. Now we’re setting our sights straight ahead to the Double Door on September 3rd, and the cake.

Friday
Hey Champ
Manchester Orchestra
Bon Iver
Gaslight Anthem
Heartless Bastards
Fleet Foxes
Andrew Bird
The Decemberists
Kings of Leon

Saturday
Constantines
Los Campesinos!
Joe Pug
Atmosphere
Robert Earl Keen
Diplo
TV on the Radio
Animal Collective

Sunday
Ra Ra Riot
Portugal. The Man
Dan Deacon
Gang Gang Dance
Neko Case
Snoop Dogg
Lou Reed
Jane’s Addiction

It’s hot in Chicago with no clouds in the sky. Whew. Thought we might miss the greatest season of all this year…

Islands 2009 Tour Dates:
08/19 – Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House
08/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Sunset Junction Street Fair
09/28 – Tampa, FL @ Ritz Ybor ^#
09/30 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues ^#
10/02 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade ^#
10/03 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend ^#
10/04 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa ^#
10/06 – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club ^#
10/07 – Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero ^#
10/09 – New York, NY @ Roseland Ballroom ^#
10/10 – Cambridge, MA @ House of Blues ^#
10/12 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall ^#
10/13 – Pontiac, MI @ Clutch Cargo’s ^#
10/14 – Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus ^#
10/15 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
10/18 – Missoula, MT @ Badlander *
10/19 – Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey *
10/20 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre *
10/21 – Portland, OR @ Hawthrone Theatre *
10/22 – Davis, CA @ Oddfellows Lodge *
10/23 – Berkley, CA @ Lower Sproul Plaza *
10/23 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill *
10/24 – W. Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour *
10/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room *
10/27 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk *
10/28 – Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves *
10/29 – Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Cafe *
10/30 – Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe *
10/31 – Atlanta, GA @ Lenny’s Bar *
11/01 – Durham, NC @ Duke Coffee House *
11/02 – Baltimore, MD @ G-Spot *
11/03 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church *
11/04 – Cambridge, MA @ Middle East *
11/05 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom *

^ = w/ The Psychedelic Furs
# = w/ Happy Mondays
* = w/ Jemina Pearl

Thanks to Consequence of Sound for the tip!

Now, go buy your tickets to our birthday party. And RSVP here. That’s all. For now.

The folks at Gaper’s Block were nice enough to stop by and chat with us. See their post about us here.

Ian’s favorite set was a grueling tie between Flaming Lips and Pharoahe Monch. In a close second was Blitzen Trapper.

Stay tuned for availability of “Everywhere To Go” on the world wide web.

Remember, the winning design will be shown off at our 5-year Anniversary Party at the Double Door on September 3rd. There are many more surprises in store for this one, so don’t wait to BUY YOUR TICKETS.

Track Listing:
The Lower 48
“Everywhere to Go”
1. Transmissions, Pt. 1
2. Mama’s Eye
3. Bedroom
4. Miles from Minnesota
5. Transmissions, Pt. 2

CD Release Parties:
Wednesday, July 15
7th St. Entry
701 1st Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN
w/Me and My Arrow, Sky Lion and Now and Forever
8:00PM/18+
Buy Tickets Here

Saturday, July 18th
Reggie’s Music Joint
2105 S. State St.
Chicago, IL
w/The MPLS Henrys, Rabble Rabble and Old Panther
Following the Pitchfork Music Festival
9:00PM/21+
FREE!!

The MPLS Henrys
Rabble Rabble
The Lower 48 (CD Release)
Old Panther

Again, the Reggie’s bus is leaving Ashland and Lake right after the festival. See you there!

Bands include the MPLS Henrys, Old Panther and the newest members of the Grape Juice family, The Lower 48. Come celebrate the release of The Lower 48′s debut EP, “Everywhere To Go.” Check out two tracks from the EP here.

Oh, and did we mention it’s FREE?

Reggie’s is located at 2105 S. State St. Chicago, IL 60616

http://www.alwaysurban.com/Grape-Juice-Records-Tee-Contest_ep_104.html

The winner will be chosen by online votes between July 17 and August 14. We will unveil the winning design at our Five-Year Anniversary Party at the Double Door on September 3rd:

Thursday, September 3rd
Grape Juice Records Presents:
Our Five-Year Anniversary Party!
@ Double Door
1572 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, IL 60622

Featuring performances by Grape Juice friends and family as well as
the release of our first compilation, ‘Grape Juice Family and Friends,
Vol. 1′

TICKETS GO ON SALE THIS SATURDAY, JULY 4TH AT NOON
Buy your tickets at www.doubledoor.com