This past weekend was the anniversary of the famous “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” (and William Dawes), and we thought we’d take a break from our current recording project to give a quick update.  We’ll be releasing the bonus EP, William Dawes and Other Forgotten Gems, for purchase/download in the coming weeks (up to this point it’s only been available with the purchase of The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry).  The EP includes the song “Paul Revere“, and our good friend Doug Blair, who put together the artwork for The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry, has been working on an animated video for the track. Here’s a little teaser he sent me:

We’ll keep you posted on the progress of the video and on the release of the new EP.  If you don’t already have our latest album, The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry, and you’d like a copy, click the link below to jump to our online store and the bonus EP, along with the song “Paul Revere”, are included.  We’ve got the record in vinyl too  : )

CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE STORE

We’ll be on the road to southern Oregon this weekend with shows in Eugene on Friday night at Sam Bond’s and in Ashland at Alex’s on Saturday night.  If you live in the area, come out to the show and say hi – we’ll have a few burned copies of the new EP with us.

Have a great week and hope to see you soon,

Johnny

ps – Thanks again to the kind folks at “My Indie Life” who featured us in their latest episode -

I hope you’re all enjoying what has turned out to be a lovely month of March so far (at least here in the Northwest)…

We’ve been spending quite a bit of time in our home recording studios over the past few weeks and we’re looking forward to releasing more new music soon – we just released one of our latest demos, “Oh, Louise” as a free download on our website, and we’ll be playing another couple of new tunes for the first time on Friday at the Doug Fir here in Portland.  We freely admit it: we love playing new songs. It’s always fun when you’re trying something out for the first time in front of an audience, and we’re very much looking forward to this weekend of shows and trying out a couple of the newest songs.

I’m also happy to say that we just got a shipment of vinyl copies of our latest record, “The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry”, and for those in the area…we’ll have copies with us at the shows this weekend. For those not in the area, we’ll ship it to you…they’re available on our online store, just click the link below : )

http://www.thedimes.com/store.html

I hope your week goes well and maybe we’ll see some of you this weekend? We’re at Doug Fir in Portland this Friday night (March 26th), and then off to Bend, OR on Saturday night – until then,

Johnny

Hi friends -

We’ll be taking part in a special benefit concert for Haiti this weekend (Sunday evening) at the Kennedy School here in Portland – the show starts at 7pm and was organized by our good friend (and sometimes bandmate) Mattie Kaiser.  I know it’s last minute notice, but if you live in the area we’d love to see you there – there is still tremendous need in Haiti, it’s a free show and 100% of donations from this show will go to Parters in Health.  And every little bit helps.  Here’s the official press release:

On January 24th at 7pm at the Kennedy School, Classical Revolution PDX and friends will perform a free benefit concert to raise funds for relief in Haiti. 100% of donations received will go to Partners in Health. Classical Revolution is delighted to be joined by Matt Sheehy, Opera Theater Oregon, The Dimes, Sophe Lux, Travis Dow, James Faretheewell and many other special guests for a very eclectic and fun night of chamber music.

A silent auction will occur during the performance, with products and services donated by local artists and businesses. Items for auction include event tickets, fine photography, haircuts, massages, and many of the performers are donating private lessons.

Briana Ratterman, a member of Classical Revolution, has been working around the clock to help with the search for her father, Walt Ratterman, who has been missing since the earthquake. Ratterman is CEO and co-founder of SunEnergy Power International. He was in Haiti working on a project to improve the delivery of energy to health care facilities run by Partners in Health. “Our thoughts and love are with Briana and her family,” says Mattie Kaiser, Executive Director of Classical Revolution PDX. “We found it fitting to donate to the incredible work that that Walt and Partners in Health do to contribute to a better life in Haiti.”

It’s hard to believe this year…and this decade…are almost over. For me, this was the decade of my 20s. I was 21 years old when I played a New Year’s Eve show with my college band in 1999. We closed with a cover of REM’s “End of the World As We Know It”.  Funny, looking back on it, that was true in so many ways, at least for me. It was a decade full of music, and this year was certainly no different.  Most of 2009 was consumed with finishing and releasing our new record, The King Can Drink the Harbour Dry, and it’s companion EP William Dawes and Other Forgotten Gems. But there were certainly plenty of other big changes and events this year – new friends, new bandmates, back to schools, back to jobs, marriages and even a couple of babies on the way.  It’s been an incredible year, one I’ll never forget, and I’m looking forward to what the new year…and the new decade…will bring.  We’ll be celebrating the New Year this Thursday night, playing a special New Year’s Eve show with our friends Weinland at the Mission Theater here in Portland.  The show starts at 9pm and we kick things off, so come early and say hi! (Click here for ticket info)

Have a great rest of the week – and if you don’t already have the new record, it’s now available on iTunes and on our website! See you soon and here’s to a safe and happy New Year -

Johnny