12/11/23 Somehow, we haven't spoken since Covid...
12/11/23 Somehow, we haven't spoken like this since before Covid...
It can't really be the end of 2023, can it? I can't believe I haven't written one of these since 2019, and you likely haven't read one of these since 2019. Do you remember who you were anymore? I'm not really sure how to start, because we've all been through so much and experienced so many different things since 2019. I'm certainly not the same, and I know the band isn’t really the same.
2020 had big plans for us (I’m assuming you too). The band had shows and tours booked in support of Payphones and Ashtrays from April through November of that year, highlighted by our first European tour in the fall, and the albums official release show in May. What a time that was... days endlessly the same doom-scrolling social feeds, watching every tourstop on the calendar (along with the months of hard work and preparation to go with it) vanish before my eyes on tiny blue screens. In the previous five years, friends from Austin to Detroit, to Athens where always the next tour away. We'd say farewell to comrades in Madison on a snowy March day, trusting we'd reunite in Milwaukee by June. Friends living 3,000 miles a way don't seem so far when the van is in perpetual motion.
In early 2021, Luke informed the band he wanted to pursue other musical opportunities. After the better part of two years not performing, Andy and I felt the need to get back on the road, so we reworked our Payphones set as a guitar and drummer duo. It was an incredible challenge splitting the bass parts between two musicians; we routed my guitar signal, splitting one channel to a bass amp and another to my guitar rig. For solos, Andy covered basslines on the Microkorg with his left hand. while his remaining three limbs carried the rhythmic foundation of the song. It was an incredible challenge that helped us dive deeper into the meanings of this collection of songs, and left us both richer musicians from the experience. It was also fun as hell, and our hearts were filled getting to reunite with friends and community again. We will still be doing some duo (and of course solo shows), but we are excited to be adding our good friend, Matt Lefebvre into the band on bass. Matt is an amazing musician, and a long-time friend of Andy and I. We can’t wait for you to meet him in 2024 at a show/on tour/at a BBQ/generally around.
Having Payphones not get the proper release to the world we were hoping for, (like everyone's 2020 plans), Andy and I felt it was time to get back in the studio. We spent the better part of this last year self-producing that very record, and I am excited to share we just sent the final mixes out for mastering this morning. We look forward to sharing more about this with you all soon! We have some cool stuff planned for 2024, including tours and some really cool, special shows! Before we get there, I invite you, dear friend, to experience Payphones and Ashtrays once more before we turn the page on 2023. Being a human has been extra hard and weird these last few years and music and art has never been more important (in my humble opinion) to the human condition.
Stream Payphones and Ashtrays here:
save 50% off vinyl and merch through midnight 2023 here:
https://store.thebiglonesome.net/discount/ISURVIVED2023
Showing up after 2023? (its hard out there, i see you):
https://store.thebiglonesome.net/discount/IWASLATE2024
Thank you for reading these, coming to shows, sharing our songs with friends, hosting, feeding and hanging out with us on the road. We love you, and we are excited to share experiences and music with you in the New Year!
(Photo by Jeff Friesen)
