“For you” is a 4 song EP. I am posting the song “Hollow Core” for y’all to hear.
This EP is a mix of some of the experimenting we did. I have been feeling the guitars. In the song “Time for Harvest” I went a little crazy haha
I think I will post that too…..

I will post soon about the next album. Mastering is almost finished and it’s due to be released mid March.

Hollow Core Just in Time for Harvest

We have been working hard here in “Off White Trash studios”. Our next full album, “Banned Wagon”, is recorded and in the mastering stage. We expect a mid March release. This album features us turning up the tempo a lil’…….

On “Everyone’s Banned” I focused so much on harmony and trying to create an atmosphere that was unique and felt like what we are. I needed to play a couple power chords this time. We still are focused on harmony and melody, but let our foot start to stomp a little.

Here in “Off White Trash Studio” we can stomp our feet, pick a banjo off the wall or plug a les paul guitar into a marshall amp. The studio is crammed with instruments and things that make noise, but it’s very orderly. Even the broken glass has its place. The mandolins and guitars hang on the walls, acting as if they are the most beautiful things ever created and they are. The cymbals, drums and guitars resonate with every sound, like the sympathetic strings of a sitar. Clap your hands and you can hear it. It makes us smile and see what our microphones can do. We recorded a thunder storm, crickets, the tearing sound of many things, breaking things, a violin bow on a bass, on a mandolin, on a drum…… why not?

Doesn’t always work the way you think it will, but damn its fun!

Once again we will love the runners with all we have. “My Brothers Banned” will be playing during the NYC Marathon at 63rd street and 1st ave on Sunday November 2nd. We will start as the runners cross over the 59th street bridge. It will be chilly, but looks like a fine sunny fall day.
Stop by to say hello! We will be right in front of the home style deli.

So long the recording process seems. You can lose track of reality, even forgetting how to play the songs. I tend to get all absorbed in the manufacturing of textures and new sounds. Once the foundation of a new song is laid, the breathing of synthetic life into it becomes a frenzied passion. Spring style phosphorus fueled growth uncomfortably sprouting out of every pore. The trick is to let it all hang out, but only show y’all the good parts!
It’s easy to spend a day shaping a sound, finding its melody and place, only to toss it away because, as it might have made me all happy inside, but it didn’t fit the song. Working alone has its bad points. I get all excited and think I made the noise equivalent of mother god vibrational ear chocolate, only to have Quinn hear it and say ” oh, you sure have a lot of reverb there, don’t ya”, or Hill hear it and say ” Wow, what the hell are you thinking?” or Eric hear it and….. not respond at all. Oye! All I have to say is OYE!
I’m not sure what that means in relation to the finished sound, or the effect of disapproval by the inner circle.

Other than perhaps, it is easy to become self absorbed and become overwhelmed in the creative process. Perhaps we need reining in and bridled control. No wonder our mothers want us to focus on more stable work goals. No wonder our significant others wander off’t shaking their heads with arms raised aloft.
No wonder our children want us to speak less and less out loud among the general populace. No wonder I never had an imaginary friend. I never wonder about bread

Once again we were privileged to be asked to play for the NYC Marathon.
It’s the most fun event ever. We played a 4 1/2 hour set in the shivering cold, on the shady side of 1st ave and loved every minute.
The territorial complications of a Manhattan block kept us on our toes during set up. Some shop keepers wanted to sweep us away with the morning debris, that included humanities unfortunates. The unfortunates played us for money or cell phones while exposing their wild demons. The man, with nose dripping blood, who offered to kill us was called into check by Koji with a masterful “Back off man.”
NYCPD were great in helping us get through the road blocks and even parking! Whooaaaa!!!! They gave our Banned van a prime spot!
You gotta love them.
Homestyle Deli provided us with power and were really kind to us.
Once set up and tuned up, we played our butts off.
The runners did not disappoint. They came, wave after wave. You could see how excited they were, many their first time in Manhattan. If they wore names on their shirts, they were ours! We had a lot of fun playing for them and shouting out encouragement. The smile and wave or running to have their photos taken in front of us was pretty freaking fun.
We did get to see our friend Roger Morrison, formerly with our friends the “Squirrels from Hell” the band NYC couldnt kill. I was shocked to see my illustrator friend John Gurney.
Both looking amazingly strong at the 16 mile mark.
Louie, the Mystery Harmonica guy showed up and gave us a wicked solo, unexpected and perfect! Georgy held the mic for him and he just happened to be holding the right “A” key harmonica….. staged? I think not.

We had the addition of new Banned members this year.
Quinn Murphy strapped on the trusty Fender Jazz bass after recording here in “Off White Trash Studios” for the last couple years.
Daphna Elroy joined us from the far reaches of Jersey for super powered harmonies. Georgie Kronfeld also sang with us last minute adding sweet and bold co vocals and harmonies. The vocals never sounded better. All huge and shite!
Eric’s drums kicked butt this year with his triumphant return to the Banned.
We celebrated with Erics purchase of two large pizzas, eagerly consumed to the last strip of crust. All politely refusing the last piece, until it was agreed that we should never waste pizza.
I’m looking forward to recording with the whole team.
I missed old friends, who we have played this marathon with in the past, but welcomed new friends in the ever growing circle of Banned members. We are like a cooperative farm, all are welcome and the door is always open.
Quinn Murphy, playing bass with us, filmed some of the event. We will be posting that footage as soon as its edited.
Thanks to all the runners and all the volunteers who were as always…. perfect.

It’s been an uplifting time! I have been working with Hillie the Kid. She walked in one evening and we sang a song. The world around went sepia tone and the sounds made my soul happy. Sometimes you just know right away. The blend of voices and the twangy leanings were one plus one equals eleven. The God’s smiled and the Universe approved.
We have been working for the last few weeks on an old timey set, whilst we found our way. Recording will commence soon and I am anxious for Y’all to let me know what ya think. I expect a “My Brothers Banned” release around January ‘09. I will post a preview demo to our myspace page as soon as we have a mix mastered. I don’t mind a nudge to keep me moving.
The above photo, with the bottles and ukelele….. This summer I found my way to Joshua tree and stayed in room 8 at the Joshua Tree Inn. The green Dos Equis was my contribution. Half for me, half for Gram.

Another amazing experience with the NYC Marathon. We have played this event for the last 5 years and it’s my favorite gig of the year. The runners are amazing. After the initial burst of the front runners, the real people, who do this once in their lives or even a couple times, come though. Some have messages, one woman dragged a tire, filled with recyclable waste. Her protest taking its toll on her and was an alaming display. Some are silly, like the person in full penguin costume and full bugs bunny costume. Some were in pain, some looked happy, some looked fatigued, some looked fresh as can be. They all kept going. I hope they all finished the race. Often local residents can be unhappy with all the sudden noise and disruption of their normally calm Sunday mornings. One woman scowled at us ” You know, rich people walk through here!” That became the days catch phrase. Larry and I especially enjoyed that one.
For the most part though, many residents came out to tell us they appreciated the music and the support for the runners. The NYC police were especially helpful this year. We even got to drive the wrong way down a one way 63rd street.

One of our Friends posted the following:
They Can’t Be Banned @ The Blog That Ate Manhattan

Lyle

Ohhhhhh, how it could have been. At “Off White Trash Studios” we strive for to have at the very least ………. dry feet. Barefeet get cold fast in calf deep waters running stagantly through our frugal space conservative ways. I had water alarms, but really thought my medieval moat like trench would keep the rain from pooling under our studio. The rain came and the trench filled. You could hear water bubbling up from the floor drains and cracks in the concrete floor.The sump pump had no effect, other than the cool sounds and sights of water spurting out of the black rumpled hose. and seems to be in the dryest part of our space.
All our precious gear was raised to high ground and the numerous surge protectors unplugged. I thought about the last flood from hurricane floyd and how warm the waters were. Electrical current tends to do that, that and the tingly feeling as I was being fried wading to the outlets to unplug everything.

Perhaps we all need to be Modern Noahs. Make our homes floatable, when necessary. It might even be fun! Bungee attachments to keep us from relocating to a lawn obsessed neighbors yard, tables with raised edges, so we can eat, drink and be merry while we rise and rock? It’s a dream I know……

Instead the waters came, they cleansed… the room needed a good wash’n anyhow!

The last few months have been pretty way amazing and unusual, like one of those things you kind of don’t see coming and then in retrospect don’t see how you missed the signs.
Two friends and band members left to seek fame and fortune outside the indy free for all arena we built here at “Off White Trash Studios” I miss them a lot.

The seeking for new brothers began and HOLY CRAP!!! hahaha I never imagined my new found location could be such a liabilty. The northern Wastes of Westchester County, the quiet wooded land of slash and burn building for Graceland wanna be new construction homes and narrow roads overburdened by hoards of gasoline thirsty mobile campsites, the refuge of tired executives pretending to be family oriented, the affluent communities directly above NYC, are apparently very distant from every convenience. The meeting of new people has been extremely entertaining though! I met the full range of folk. Some talented, some not, some kind and some mean, some giving and some thieving….. a good rounded group!

In the meanwhile, I have been recording many of my friends. “Off White Trash Records” seems to be thriving. I will add links to our new websites and all the new bands who are working with us.
Mean while anyone wanna sing?

Our last Cd has been officially accepted onto itunes and a host of other digital music providers. That’s pretty exciting. The new CD is about half finished and I would like to have another voice and maybe guitar before I call it a day. It’s a dangerous time to be alone with my Roland Space Echo and mighty collection of odd instruments!! Beware the Pump Organ Kenny!

“We’re having some technical difficulties” said Mr. Dennis
… seems our host server changed somethings unannounced and we went blank. Mr. Dennis came to the rescue and we put up a new header. Things seem back up and running. We’ll go over the site and see what may still be a broke’n.

In the meantime “Off White Trash Studio” is nearly finished with our half behinded upgrades. The Bugs seem worked out.

“Conspiracy of Four’s” Lagond came through, as always, with some Gear guidance that has given us some new possibilities that sound amazing. Writing is finished for the next CD and recording about half way through. Just in time to try out the poly octave pedal! hahaha I wonder why I love this so much and it was discontinued so fast after its introduction? When will we have sliding poly octave with reverb and delay pedals? Why is this thing so huge? ……..these questions keep me awake night after night.