We get about a thousand messages/emails a day from bands looking for shows or needing help booking in some way. It's almost impossible to respond to all of them, even any, but here's my new advice: Respond to all of them. Be nice when you can't help them and just say "sorry, hopefully next time."
You never know who's going to be great someday, and then you end up with messages that you never responded to like this one:
From: Surfer Blood
To: EXERCISE
Subject: September Dates
7/22/2009 5:14 PM
Hey guys dig the jams!
We are working on a September tour up north and was wondering if you would like to join us! Were looking to play September 19th or 20th at either Firebird, Off Broadway, The Koken Art Factory, Lemmon's, Fubar, or The Wedge. We've had most venues respond back, but were still working on the bill to conifrm. Other bands of interest for that night are: The Hibernauts, Bunnygrunt, Target Market, Say Panther, ect. What do you think? Thanks.
Tyler
PS. I saw that you guys are play Piano's in NY a week before us. Tite!
Blew it. Sorry for not responding, guys.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I Did This For Fun
The band Yeasayer is holding a remix competition online for their song "O.N.E." They give you the stems and multitrack files from the original song, along with a shitty editing program that everyone is required to use to make their remix. But its completely free, and the whichever remix gets the most votes online wins something cool, or something. I mostly just thought it would be interesting to try, so I made the most club-bangery song I could muster up for 3 in the morning.
T.W.O.O.N.E (EXERCISE REMIX) by exercise
T.W.O.O.N.E (EXERCISE REMIX) by exercise
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Advice for Musicians
Listen to the stage manager and get on stage when they tell you to. No one has the time for your rock star bullshit. None of the techs backstage care if you're David Bowie or the milkman. When you act like a jerk, they are completely unimpressed with the infantile display that you might think comes with your dubious status. They were there hours before you building the stage, and they will be there hours after you leave tearing it down. They should get your salary, and you should get theirs.
-Henry Rollins
-Henry Rollins
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
I've Been Thinking
I was driving down Big Bend tonight, and my ipod dug up a gem of a song. You know when you go back and listen to music you used to love, but you never listen to anymore, and it's still good? There's no better feeling. It makes you feel better and smarter than everyone. So this song by Soul Coughing comes on called "Misinformed," totally not a great band in the long run, but they had some jams, and this song was a staple of my 13 year old world, and it still gets me going.
This got me thinking about other music from my past, which led me to my computer to type what I'm currently typing. Here is my (ever-growing and changing) list of under-rated, under-recognized, under-appreciated bands, that everyone should know and love, at least in my head:
1. McLusky. If you've never heard this band, pick up a copy of "McLuskyism: A Sides." They should be in the Rock n Roll hall of fame for this album.
2. Cake. I know they had some popular singles, and everyone knows who Cake is, but they have such an amazing catalog that no one knows. They were my absolute favorite band for a long time, and I have no shame saying it.
3. The Cadets. Lesser known, but equally as great. They are from Florida, now defunct. Emperor X was the bass player.
Here's my list of albums that fall into the same category:
1. The Cadets - "On the Death of Science as a Major World Religion"
You'd be hard pressed to find a copy of this, but it is easily one of my top 5-ish favorite albums ever. I'll give you a copy if you promise to love it as much as I do.
2. Doug Martsch - "Now You Know"
There is one song on this album I don't care about, the rest of them are insane. Almost makes you wonder why he ever started Built to Spill.
3. Holopaw - "Holopaw"
If you've ever listened to the Ugly Casanova album, this is the guy Isaac Brock collaborated with from that. It won't grab you right off the bat, but it will work its way in, deep.
4. Sparklehorse - "It's a Wonderful Life"
I am usually never phased or sad when a "celebrity" dies, but when Mark Linkous killed himself a couple weeks ago, I felt really depressed by it. For some reason, I relate to him and his songs a lot, this album shaped the way I write music from a very early age. And I know because of his suicide, Sparklehorse has been getting more attention lately, but I never heard much about this album back in the day (there also weren't 3 million music blogs in 2001), and its so good, in a very strange way.
I'm sure this list will grow now that I'm thinking about it, but this is my top-of-the-head run at it. Any takers?
-Bo
This got me thinking about other music from my past, which led me to my computer to type what I'm currently typing. Here is my (ever-growing and changing) list of under-rated, under-recognized, under-appreciated bands, that everyone should know and love, at least in my head:
1. McLusky. If you've never heard this band, pick up a copy of "McLuskyism: A Sides." They should be in the Rock n Roll hall of fame for this album.
2. Cake. I know they had some popular singles, and everyone knows who Cake is, but they have such an amazing catalog that no one knows. They were my absolute favorite band for a long time, and I have no shame saying it.
3. The Cadets. Lesser known, but equally as great. They are from Florida, now defunct. Emperor X was the bass player.
Here's my list of albums that fall into the same category:
1. The Cadets - "On the Death of Science as a Major World Religion"
You'd be hard pressed to find a copy of this, but it is easily one of my top 5-ish favorite albums ever. I'll give you a copy if you promise to love it as much as I do.
2. Doug Martsch - "Now You Know"
There is one song on this album I don't care about, the rest of them are insane. Almost makes you wonder why he ever started Built to Spill.
3. Holopaw - "Holopaw"
If you've ever listened to the Ugly Casanova album, this is the guy Isaac Brock collaborated with from that. It won't grab you right off the bat, but it will work its way in, deep.
4. Sparklehorse - "It's a Wonderful Life"
I am usually never phased or sad when a "celebrity" dies, but when Mark Linkous killed himself a couple weeks ago, I felt really depressed by it. For some reason, I relate to him and his songs a lot, this album shaped the way I write music from a very early age. And I know because of his suicide, Sparklehorse has been getting more attention lately, but I never heard much about this album back in the day (there also weren't 3 million music blogs in 2001), and its so good, in a very strange way.
I'm sure this list will grow now that I'm thinking about it, but this is my top-of-the-head run at it. Any takers?
-Bo
Friday, March 12, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thank you. We're all refreshed and challenged by your unique point of view.
Hello.
I'm sick of looking at this blog unchanged month after month. So, I'm going to start writing here to keep it entertained.
We have been practicing less than we should for a band who is trying to write a new album. But it's safe to say we have a few solid tracks, and a couple more in the works that will be super hot jams, at least in someones book. I feel confident that a "sophomore slump" will not be the case. Another tour will be happening this summer, and I imagine by the end of that, we will be ready to record again. We have gone through 2 samplers since you last saw us, and are obtaining yet another new one soon. We also invested in a 4X12 Ampeg Cab for Trevor's keyboards. Goodbye DI. Hello Awesome.
In other news, we have a show tomorrow, March 5, at The Firebird, with our friend and expert DJ, Safety Words. It'll be a blast.
-Bo
I'm sick of looking at this blog unchanged month after month. So, I'm going to start writing here to keep it entertained.
We have been practicing less than we should for a band who is trying to write a new album. But it's safe to say we have a few solid tracks, and a couple more in the works that will be super hot jams, at least in someones book. I feel confident that a "sophomore slump" will not be the case. Another tour will be happening this summer, and I imagine by the end of that, we will be ready to record again. We have gone through 2 samplers since you last saw us, and are obtaining yet another new one soon. We also invested in a 4X12 Ampeg Cab for Trevor's keyboards. Goodbye DI. Hello Awesome.
In other news, we have a show tomorrow, March 5, at The Firebird, with our friend and expert DJ, Safety Words. It'll be a blast.
-Bo
Saturday, December 26, 2009
In Chinese
Here's a live basement demo of a new song of ours, "In Chinese." Sorry for the low quality, but enjoy!
EXERCISE - "In Chinese"
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Our Best Review Yet
“Robots” – Exercise
This song from the album “Grandma’s House” gives the genre alternative a horrible name. It’s the type of noise that you would deem a heinous act against humanity for playing. Banging your head against the wall or babysitting 10 screaming bratty 2-year olds who need to be changed would be a better use of your time.
http://reviewfix.com/2009/07/last-week-in-free-amazon-music-downloads/
We live for this shit.
This song from the album “Grandma’s House” gives the genre alternative a horrible name. It’s the type of noise that you would deem a heinous act against humanity for playing. Banging your head against the wall or babysitting 10 screaming bratty 2-year olds who need to be changed would be a better use of your time.
http:
We live for this shit.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
A wave of things is washing over me
Here Here!
Grandma's House CD is now available for purchase at Insound!
Shipping takes just a few days, and its only 9.99!
Here's the slinky: http://www.insound.com/Exercise_Grandma%27s_House_CD/productmain/p/INS68726/
Slee you slater!
Grandma's House CD is now available for purchase at Insound!
Shipping takes just a few days, and its only 9.99!
Here's the slinky: http://www.insound.com/Exercise_Grandma%27s_House_CD/productmain/p/INS68726/
Slee you slater!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Grandma's House Review (A good one this time)
Here is a review of our album from the September printed issue of Eleven Magazine.
"In the thriving genre of experimental indie rock, either you get it or you don’t. There is a prodigious fault line: when done well, it can lead the listener down the post-modern rabbit hole into the depths of meta-consciousness. When unsuccessful, it is jarring, clumsy noise. Fortunately for St. Louis (and the world), Exercise gets it, and they’ve finally polished up an album for us to chew on. Grandma’s House is a promising debut, especially when you listen with your eyes closed (so as to better visualize the rabbit hole.
Their years under the moniker Berlin Whale (known and beloved in St. Louis 2005-2008) brings creative cohesion to the trio’s recordings. They’ve moved away from Berlin Whale’s dance-pop roots into a more serious, acousmatic sound, exemplified by the song “Tail Feather,” which best pairs Trevor Berkholtz’s eerie tape tracks with Bo Bulawsky’s jangly guitar.
Justin Hickey’s drumming stands out on “Claustrophobe” and “Panama.” His versatile command of the kit gives structure to the band’s scattered, ambient sound. The album’s remarkable accessibility is highlighted by simple lyrics draped over each track. The uncluttered physical imagery on songs like “Robot” (do you know/you’re just skin and bones) provide balance to the density of Exercise’s many layers. The album is bookended by stripped down, reflective songs that slow down enough to allow a bit of layer dissection – a sort of preparation, then detox from their intense, studious sound.
Overall, it is evident that Exericse are up to the hard task of creating concentrated, quality music. They might benefit from reading a little more Pynchon, but Exercise is well on their way."
- Nelda Kerr
"In the thriving genre of experimental indie rock, either you get it or you don’t. There is a prodigious fault line: when done well, it can lead the listener down the post-modern rabbit hole into the depths of meta-consciousness. When unsuccessful, it is jarring, clumsy noise. Fortunately for St. Louis (and the world), Exercise gets it, and they’ve finally polished up an album for us to chew on. Grandma’s House is a promising debut, especially when you listen with your eyes closed (so as to better visualize the rabbit hole.
Their years under the moniker Berlin Whale (known and beloved in St. Louis 2005-2008) brings creative cohesion to the trio’s recordings. They’ve moved away from Berlin Whale’s dance-pop roots into a more serious, acousmatic sound, exemplified by the song “Tail Feather,” which best pairs Trevor Berkholtz’s eerie tape tracks with Bo Bulawsky’s jangly guitar.
Justin Hickey’s drumming stands out on “Claustrophobe” and “Panama.” His versatile command of the kit gives structure to the band’s scattered, ambient sound. The album’s remarkable accessibility is highlighted by simple lyrics draped over each track. The uncluttered physical imagery on songs like “Robot” (do you know/you’re just skin and bones) provide balance to the density of Exercise’s many layers. The album is bookended by stripped down, reflective songs that slow down enough to allow a bit of layer dissection – a sort of preparation, then detox from their intense, studious sound.
Overall, it is evident that Exericse are up to the hard task of creating concentrated, quality music. They might benefit from reading a little more Pynchon, but Exercise is well on their way."
- Nelda Kerr
Things of potential interest
There are a couple things on the horizon we'd like to tell you about.
For one, EXERCISE is taking a break from playing shows so we can write some new songs. We have been dying to write some new material and start working more on album number two, and the only way for us to do this seems to be going into hideout for a while.
BUT, we will be playing one more show on Saturday, October 10th at Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center with our friends from Brooklyn STARRING. (They are also a side project of this band's drummer). They are an awesome, awesome band, and we're very excited to play with them again, and we would love for you to come to the show! This could be the last time we play this set of songs, ever (happy? sad? who knows).
ALSO. EXERCISE is playing as Cold Bear Scout this Tuesday, October 6th at the Luminary Center for the Arts in St. Louis, with another awesome, awesome band from Brooklyn called SUCKERS. (Damn you, Brooklyn). We are having a mucho good time playing with Cold Bear Scout, and we are super excited for this show, and encourage you to come to both shows if you can!
Lastly, if anyone is interested, here are the latest blog sightings about our band.
Weekly Tape Deck
Gimme Tinnitus
Now go do stuff!
For one, EXERCISE is taking a break from playing shows so we can write some new songs. We have been dying to write some new material and start working more on album number two, and the only way for us to do this seems to be going into hideout for a while.
BUT, we will be playing one more show on Saturday, October 10th at Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center with our friends from Brooklyn STARRING. (They are also a side project of this band's drummer). They are an awesome, awesome band, and we're very excited to play with them again, and we would love for you to come to the show! This could be the last time we play this set of songs, ever (happy? sad? who knows).
ALSO. EXERCISE is playing as Cold Bear Scout this Tuesday, October 6th at the Luminary Center for the Arts in St. Louis, with another awesome, awesome band from Brooklyn called SUCKERS. (Damn you, Brooklyn). We are having a mucho good time playing with Cold Bear Scout, and we are super excited for this show, and encourage you to come to both shows if you can!
Lastly, if anyone is interested, here are the latest blog sightings about our band.
Weekly Tape Deck
Gimme Tinnitus
Now go do stuff!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Tours are weird.
I have been meaning to blog about this tour since the day we got back, but am just now getting around to it. We embarked on a 12 day tour to the East Coast in mid-August. Chicago was the first stop, followed by Cleveland, followed by Philadelphia, and then up to New York City. I will hopefully be able to piece together some video footage of these events occurring as they unfolded.
We played 3 shows in NYC and had a radio spot on our day off. The first show was August 16 at Pianos. We had heard a lot of good stuff about this place, but the show was pretty mediocre, i.e. no crowd. The next day, we played at The Annex. This place rules, really good sound, small and intimate setting, but still big enough to have a balcony area, solid wooden interior, and a stage that has no stairs and is literally 6 feet off the ground (you have to climb to get on it). We were slotted to play at 9, we would be the 3rd of 6 bands to play that night. About 5 minutes til 9, as we were getting ready to play, someone came running in from outside and said "Is that your blue van out front?!" This is a phrase that no one wants to hear when it's their vehicle. The follow up to it can only be bad, it will never be, "because it's awesome!" It will only ever be, "because its getting towed," or, "because someone just hit it." Ours was the latter.
Margaret Raven was the band playing after us. As they pulled into a parking spot out front, they hit the back drivers side of our van - doing some bumper damage, but most conveniently giving us a monumental flat tire. Back inside, it was the biggest crowd of the tour thus far, and in our time crunch to start playing, we told the band we would deal with everything after our set (very stupid). They assured us that since they were playing the show as well, they would be around all night and we would trade info and get it paid for, etc. We played our set, it went well, people danced, and all was fine. Then we went back outside to find them, and they were gone. Trevor had a phone number of one of the members who assured us again over the phone that they had just left momentarily, and that they would be back very soon. But they never came back.
The police were called, who were mostly unhelpful. They took a report, but since we had no license plate number or even last names, they couldn't do much. Around 2am, after the police had left, we called for a tow truck. While waiting for the tow, the Department of Sanitation strolled through and gave us a $65 ticket for being parked illegally after 2am. Thanks! Right after that, a very nice man walked by and offered to sell us valium, but we had to refuse.
At about 4 in the morning, we finally got the van to the nearest 24 hour garage, and they slapped a new tire on for the $100 we made that night at the show, and were on our way.
Our radio spot was the next day, and after sleeping in and strolling through central park, we headed back down to where we parked the night before.
We knew it before we could even see it, the tire was flat, again. It was 6 o'clock, we had to be at the radio studio at 630. We couldn't move our van = radio spot canceled. (In hindsight, we should have loaded as much gear as possible into a cab, gone to the radio station, and dealt with the tire afterward. God Dammit.) Call Triple A, another 2 hours of waiting for a tow truck.
Tow back to the garage. Garage says, "Do you have enemies? Because someone stabbed your tire."
We say, "No, that's ridiculous, please fix it."
Garage guy says, "I can patch the tire but it will be flat again in the morning."
We say, "replace the tire."
Garage dudes say, "No, it's not our fault. It went flat after you left the garage."
"But you gave us a bad tire, no one slashed it, the hole is too small for that."
"If you want another tire, you buy one."
"Then give us a receipt for the first one so we can give it to our insurance."
"No. The boss isn't here, come back tomorrow morning."
"What? Then you just write one for us, you're the guy who put it on our car yesterday anyway."
"Only boss can make receipt."
"Then just give us a new tire."
"No."
At this point, a thunderstorm blows through, and we sit in the car for about an hour trying to figure out what to do. Eventually, we decide to just buy another damn tire from these people, but when we go to do that, oddly enough, they don't have anymore.
They tell us to go to 29th St. and 10th Ave, basically on the other side of Manhattan, where there are two tire garages. We make the drive on our slowly leaking tire, and pull into a gravel lot with no lights and a sign that says TIRE.
At this point our luck changes. They have a used tire for us that they will put on our car for $35. "But we want a new tire," we say. They say, "No, only used." We say "OK."
So after about 30 hours of absolute stupidity, we had a tire that would, in the end, get us back to St. Louis. That night, we went up state to my girlfriends house and got drunk and skinny dipped, and forgot all about the tire story.
And that's the tire story.
Here is some video documentation of the tour... if anything, it proves that we actually did it. More to follow.
We played 3 shows in NYC and had a radio spot on our day off. The first show was August 16 at Pianos. We had heard a lot of good stuff about this place, but the show was pretty mediocre, i.e. no crowd. The next day, we played at The Annex. This place rules, really good sound, small and intimate setting, but still big enough to have a balcony area, solid wooden interior, and a stage that has no stairs and is literally 6 feet off the ground (you have to climb to get on it). We were slotted to play at 9, we would be the 3rd of 6 bands to play that night. About 5 minutes til 9, as we were getting ready to play, someone came running in from outside and said "Is that your blue van out front?!" This is a phrase that no one wants to hear when it's their vehicle. The follow up to it can only be bad, it will never be, "because it's awesome!" It will only ever be, "because its getting towed," or, "because someone just hit it." Ours was the latter.
Margaret Raven was the band playing after us. As they pulled into a parking spot out front, they hit the back drivers side of our van - doing some bumper damage, but most conveniently giving us a monumental flat tire. Back inside, it was the biggest crowd of the tour thus far, and in our time crunch to start playing, we told the band we would deal with everything after our set (very stupid). They assured us that since they were playing the show as well, they would be around all night and we would trade info and get it paid for, etc. We played our set, it went well, people danced, and all was fine. Then we went back outside to find them, and they were gone. Trevor had a phone number of one of the members who assured us again over the phone that they had just left momentarily, and that they would be back very soon. But they never came back.
The police were called, who were mostly unhelpful. They took a report, but since we had no license plate number or even last names, they couldn't do much. Around 2am, after the police had left, we called for a tow truck. While waiting for the tow, the Department of Sanitation strolled through and gave us a $65 ticket for being parked illegally after 2am. Thanks! Right after that, a very nice man walked by and offered to sell us valium, but we had to refuse.
At about 4 in the morning, we finally got the van to the nearest 24 hour garage, and they slapped a new tire on for the $100 we made that night at the show, and were on our way.
Our radio spot was the next day, and after sleeping in and strolling through central park, we headed back down to where we parked the night before.
We knew it before we could even see it, the tire was flat, again. It was 6 o'clock, we had to be at the radio studio at 630. We couldn't move our van = radio spot canceled. (In hindsight, we should have loaded as much gear as possible into a cab, gone to the radio station, and dealt with the tire afterward. God Dammit.) Call Triple A, another 2 hours of waiting for a tow truck.
Tow back to the garage. Garage says, "Do you have enemies? Because someone stabbed your tire."
We say, "No, that's ridiculous, please fix it."
Garage guy says, "I can patch the tire but it will be flat again in the morning."
We say, "replace the tire."
Garage dudes say, "No, it's not our fault. It went flat after you left the garage."
"But you gave us a bad tire, no one slashed it, the hole is too small for that."
"If you want another tire, you buy one."
"Then give us a receipt for the first one so we can give it to our insurance."
"No. The boss isn't here, come back tomorrow morning."
"What? Then you just write one for us, you're the guy who put it on our car yesterday anyway."
"Only boss can make receipt."
"Then just give us a new tire."
"No."
At this point, a thunderstorm blows through, and we sit in the car for about an hour trying to figure out what to do. Eventually, we decide to just buy another damn tire from these people, but when we go to do that, oddly enough, they don't have anymore.
They tell us to go to 29th St. and 10th Ave, basically on the other side of Manhattan, where there are two tire garages. We make the drive on our slowly leaking tire, and pull into a gravel lot with no lights and a sign that says TIRE.
At this point our luck changes. They have a used tire for us that they will put on our car for $35. "But we want a new tire," we say. They say, "No, only used." We say "OK."
So after about 30 hours of absolute stupidity, we had a tire that would, in the end, get us back to St. Louis. That night, we went up state to my girlfriends house and got drunk and skinny dipped, and forgot all about the tire story.
And that's the tire story.
Here is some video documentation of the tour... if anything, it proves that we actually did it. More to follow.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Albums! Shows!
Thank you everyone for being so awesome last night. The CD release show couldn't have been more fun. We still have a few limited edition copies left if you want one!
You can also grab our album digitally at the following places:
iTunes
emusic
Amazon
Play.com (UK)
7digital.com (UK)
goodnoise.com
OR
If you're in St. Louis, you can pick a copy up at one of these places:
Euclid Records
Vintage Vinyl
APOP Records
We also have a few more shows coming up soon!
July 25 - The Luminary Center for the Arts with Abe Vigoda
Aug 1 - Crestwood Local Music Festival at the Crestwood Mall
Aug 8 - PBR Me in St. Louis 2: FREE PBR Blowout! at The Koken Art Factory
See you round!
love,
exercise
You can also grab our album digitally at the following places:
iTunes
emusic
Amazon
Play.com (UK)
7digital.com (UK)
goodnoise.com
OR
If you're in St. Louis, you can pick a copy up at one of these places:
Euclid Records
Vintage Vinyl
APOP Records
We also have a few more shows coming up soon!
July 25 - The Luminary Center for the Arts with Abe Vigoda
Aug 1 - Crestwood Local Music Festival at the Crestwood Mall
Aug 8 - PBR Me in St. Louis 2: FREE PBR Blowout! at The Koken Art Factory
See you round!
love,
exercise
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Our first official not-so-glowing review...
The Riverfront Times came out with a review today of our new album...
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2009-07-15/music/homespun-exercise-grandma-s-house-self-release
Anyway, Come to our CD Release show Tomorrow at the Firebird!
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2009-07-15/music/homespun-exercise-grandma-s-house-self-release
Anyway, Come to our CD Release show Tomorrow at the Firebird!
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