Erik Blood's Blog

THEE Satisfaction "awE naturalE" released today!!!

2012-03-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

At long last, THEE Satisfaction's full-length debut album "awE naturalE" is out today on Sub Pop Records!

Listen to them perform live on KEXP (www.kexp.org) today at 1pm and go to their in-store performance at Easy Street Records on Queen Anne.

Thursday night at Neumos, THEE Satisfaction will be throwing their album release party with OC Notes and Chocolate Chuck supporting. There will be some surprise guests performing with THEE Satisfaction, as well.

Released today: Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY

2011-10-18T06:57:00.001-07:00

Available now - Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY

Get it:
Bandcamp
Amazon
iTunes

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Released today: Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY

2011-10-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Available now - Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY

Get it:
Bandcamp
Amazon
iTunes

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"So Many Things" Video

2011-10-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce the premiere of a video for "So Many Things" from my forthcoming soundtrack Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY. The film was directed by Steven Richter, and the video was edited by Brian O'Shea.
The soundtrack will be available on your favorite digital store on the 18th, but you can watch the video NOW here:

Be sure to watch the full version available in 1080pHD.

The film is due to premiere at the Sao Paolo International Film Festival later this month.

Enjoy --- and please share!

The Soft Hills join Tapete Records and tour

2011-09-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of mixing a new album from The Soft Hills.
They've recently announced they've signed with Tapete Records who will be releasing their forthcoming full-length early next year - congrats guys!

In the meantime - they have just embarked on a tour swinging them all across the midwest and beyond:

Coming Soon: Music From the Film CENTER OF GRAVITY

2011-09-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

I did a full score and some songs for an indie film shot in Brazil - "Center of Gravity" or "Centro de Gravidade".
It's coming out October 18th. It's my first work for film.

You can preorder at my Bandcamp page, and you can preview the tracks on the Amazon listing.
Once released it will be available for download at all the usual online spots - iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp et al.

Here's the spiel:

CENTER OF GRAVITY is a film written and directed by Steven Richter, with original music by Erik Blood, starring Julio Machado and Ana Carolina Lima.
The film was shot in six days in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with two cameras, a low budget and minimal crew.

Based on the story "Pity for the World", by American writer David Plante, and set in Brazil, CENTER OF GRAVITY deals with universal questions about love and our expectations toward the beloved, the thin line that simultaneously divides and unites one another.

This is Erik Blood's first work for film.
releases 18 October 2011.

The Glasses New Album and a Remix

2011-08-17T13:37:00.000-07:00

You like fun summery pop music right?
The Glasses have a great new album "Love is Queer". And they've made it available for free on their Bandcamp page. Grab it.

The band asked me to do a remix of the title track - I had a blast making a dance-y, beat-y version. Check it.
Love Is Queer (Erik Blood Remix) by The Glasses

Show with MiniRex Thurs 7/7 and New EBX Song

2011-07-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

MiniRex has a new album out. I produced, engineered and mixed it last year. Dave Segal just wrote in the Stranger:

"Seattle quintet Minirex play beguiling pop with recessive punk genes—sort of an Emerald City Go-Go's, but inflected with the Northwest's requisite overcast moods"

They have a YouTube screenvid with one of the new tracks:

They are having a CD release show tomorrow, 7/7, at the Comet. I'm opening. Also with Watch it Sparkle, and 1-2-1-2. Come on by!

One new song my band and I will be playing is from a soundtrack I recently completed for a Brazillian indie film called "Center of Gravity" (centro de gavidade).
You can check it out on my soundcloud here:

Or Am I Wrong (Closing Credits) by ErikBlood

I'll be releasing the full score as an LP later this summer. Stay tuned.

CD Packaging as Art: Shabazz Palaces Black Up

2011-07-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

"Was you there tonight?"

1st "Black Up" release show at Neumo's last night was ON. Can't wait for 2nd show tonight.

I gotta recommend all you grab Black Up in physical form: the CD is magnificent fuzzy gold luxury. The vinyl is all sleek mystery. Get them in your hands.
Charles Mudede wrote in the Stranger the other day about the new Shabazz CD:

“The CD's cover glitters like stars. It has a velvety feel. All of this finery makes perfect sense. With the rising dominance of downloading, CDs must go the distance. They must become what MP3 files could never become: art objects in themselves.”

Go get some art.

- erik

Shabazz Palaces Pride

2011-06-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

This is it. It's almost time.
Shabazz Palaces pride in full effect.

Album out this Tuesday. Release shows at Neumo's on Thursday and Friday. Goddamn I'm excited.

Order it here - and get the patch:
http://www.subpop.com/releases/shabazz_palaces/full_lengths/black_up

Great Music Happened to Me Last Week

2010-03-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Great music happened to me last week.

First, the new Serena-Maneesh track "I Just Want to See Your Face" has my heart all a flutter. Based on this track, and the earlier single "Ayisha Abyss", I haven't been so excited for an album's release since...

The new Dead Mellotron album is out and it's great! And free, for now. I would love to work with this guy. Or tour with him.

And to complete the triangle of free fantastic music, the only thing that dislodged the previous two artists from my ears is THEE Satisfaction Loves the Sa-Ra Creative Partners. If you're like me, you've been waiting for these five tracks (in just under 10 minutes) for a long ass time. Perfect.

The Little Penguins played a show with The Glasses last Saturday and I have to say I totally loved The Glasses in their current incarnation. Check them out when you can.

KEXP tomorrow at noon. NEUMOS tomorrow night at 10:30. You know you want it.

the worst blogger in the world...

2010-02-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

Somehow I'm going to get back into the swing of this, I swear.

Quick catch up, shall we?

The release party for The Lights new album "Failed Graves" is this Friday (Feb. 26th) at The Funhouse. The album will be available on vinyl and digital download from WANTAGE USA. Partman Parthorse opens. Oh, and I'm playing, too.

Click here are read what Hannah Levine has to say about it.

On March 4th, I'm doing my first headlining show at Neumos with Siren Sister, Exohxo, and Poland. Doors are at 7pm, so don't be late.

That afternoon, me and the band are hitting KEXP for our first in-studio performance. Tune in at noon to 90.3 FM in Seattle, or go to www.kexp.org to stream it from wherever you are in the world.

My next album is coming along in it's modest demo form (I think we're doing at least 3 songs from it at Neumos) and I'm getting pretty excited about it. I'm also very excited to be scoring a film by indie filmmaker Steven Richter of Portland via Sao Paulo called "Center of Gravity". More to come on that as it unfolds.

Shabazz Palaces is playing Sasquatch!

In the works are new The Little Penguins (who are playing the matinee show at The Comet this Saturday, Feb 27), new THEE Satisfaction, new Coulter, and hopefully a crazy ass art project with my wonderful friend and former collaborator on SloAsions, Phil. Again, when shit starts going down, you'll be the 2nd or 3rd to know.

xo

My Top 10

2010-01-19T18:16:00.001-08:00

My top 10 of 2009 just got posted to KEXP's blog. Too bad I didn't think to write anything qualifying my picks.

http://blog.kexp.org/blog/2010/01/16/northwest-artists-pick-their-best-of-2009/

A post of lists.

2010-01-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

2009 is over over over.

"The Way We Live" ended up #31 on KEXP's Top 90.3 of 2009, and made DJ Shannon's top 10.

It also got #22 on Sound on the Sound's Top 25 of 2009.

Nice, huh?

Happy Xmas and Drinky New Year!!!

2009-12-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

Finished up that pesky Moondoggies album (still some little noises and clicks I need to get rid of) and celebrated my 33rd year on Earth last week. Right after that, I started a day job that I don't want to talk about (but am totally grateful for.)

Whether you're celebrating a specific holiday or not, I hope everyone has a good time with friends, family, or strangers who aren't mean this coming week. If you're looking to hang out with some strangers who just might like you on New Year's Eve, come to Bus Stop for New Year's Council where we'll be ringing in the New Year (and your ears) Britpop style. Suede has won the honor of midnight's song by what I believe is a unanimous vote by our DJs Coulter, Up Above, Buttontop, and me. Come dance/drink the year away and wake up the next morning anew (and maybe with a new friend.)

Those lovely folks (or is it just a lovely folk?) at The Finest Kiss have honored me with a spot on their top 10 albums of the year. Check it out HERE!

My meager holiday gift for you is an outtake from "The Way We Live". Enjoy.

UNEMPLOYMENT

It's been a....year

2009-12-16T12:57:00.000-08:00

I did some stuff this year. I released my first solo album and started writing my next. I produced a lot of great music with bands like The Moondoggies, DeVries, The Little Penguins, The Lights, Telepathic Liberation Army, and Black Daisy. I nearly saw gay marriage become a legal reality. I gained a bunch of weight. I was severely broke (no change there.) And I managed to stay alive and relatively healthy. It's been a year.

If you liked my album, you should go vote for it as one of your top albums of 2009 at http://kexp.org/events/topsof2009/Top2009.aspx.

Also, my wonderful boyfriend updated my website. Ain't he great?

Thanks to all of you for hanging around, listening, playing shows, writing songs, uploading, downloading, paying for, stealing, eating, drinking, sleeping, and being there with me this year.

If you're in the Seattle area, you can celebrate the final moments of this year with me and my lovely friends Coulter, DJ Buttontop, DJ Up Above, and other guests at Bus Stop for THE COUNCIL NEW YEAR'S EVE. Should be a blubbery mess of fun.

xo

Call and Response

2009-11-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

To this: http://www.click2houston.com/news/21662619/detail.html

I say this: http://www.pinkpistols.org/

Don't be afraid to fight back.

Another November with The Moondoggies

2009-11-10T13:37:00.000-08:00

Two years ago, I spent nine days in November drinking cheap beer, smoking Camel Lights, and eating fast food while tracking a total of 23 songs with The Moondoggies. It was our first time working together and I always try to push a band to make as much music in the first few days as possible. What I didn't know was they were going to push back. 23 fucking songs! Really! And to make things even better, we finished them all. 13 of them found their way to the debut album "Don't Be a Stranger".

This Friday, November 13th, I get to revisit this experience (minus the cigarettes.) 10 days in November, plus 5 days in December will produce a brand new Moondoggies album which will include songs we've heard and loved at their recent live shows ("What Took So Long" and "Uncertain" spring to mind) and brand new material I just can't wait to commit to tape.

I'm just sayin'...

SISSYROCK

2009-10-18T09:28:00.000-07:00

Bring your ass to Brooklyn on Wednesday night. Gay ass DJ night at Blackout Bar in Greenpoint featuring me and the kids from Via Audio. Very fun, I promise.

xo

Meet Me in New York

2009-10-15T13:02:00.001-07:00

Come see me at Blackout Bar in Greenpoint Brooklyn on October 21st. I'm going to be DJing with my friend Frank and another guest as yet undetermined. It's a kind of pre-CMJ gay night or something. All I know is that I'll play some really good music for you.

http://newyork.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/lounge/blackout-greenpoint/1437681/content

Wednesday, October 21st @ Blackout Bar

xo

See You Next Tuesday, Henleys

2009-10-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

"See You Next Tuesday", the lead off track on Coulter's SENT TO COVENTRY album, is being used by Henley's in the UK for their latest campaign. Well done, Coulter!

http://www.henleysclothing.co.uk/lifestyle-video

All of yall know that this album is available as a free download from his website which you can get to by clicking HERE.

Listen to me!

2009-10-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

I've been invited to be a guest on the air of DJ Tim's late night KEXP show on Wednesday November 3rd @ 1am. That's Tuesday night to me and most of you. If you're in Seattle and awake, tune me in while I play some of my favorite stuff. If you're outside of the Seattle area, you can listen in at www.kexp.org on one of their streaming players.

While I was in LA, I saw an amazing documentary called "Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation" about Australian exploitation movies. I have about a year worth of movies to queue up from this doc alone. Very worth your time.

I'll be posting details soon about my NYC trip. You can come hear/see me DJ at some bar in Williamsburg (you'll know when I know) on the 21st.

Still waiting on the new Dead Mellotron album that was supposed to be out October 8th. Anyone have any clue where that is?

Don't you forget about me!!!

2009-10-01T16:00:00.000-07:00

Driving it home, once again, BRING YOUR ASS to the Reverb Festival this Saturday! So many amazing bands, including mine! See what Seattle Weekly says about it.

7:30 p.m. ~ Erik Blood Erik Blood must have taken all this renewed Beatles fervor to heart, because he's getting by with a little help from his friends. In assembling his seven-piece backing band, Blood's swiped members from his former band the Turn-Ons, his current band the Little Penguins, a guy from Coulter, and another one from Altspeak. It seems the benefit of being a producer/artist is getting to poach your favorite musicians to work on your own project. This set will feature all the great tracks off his fabulous debut The Way We Live and a yet-to-be-recorded track about adult cinema, which promises to be the prettiest song about porno you've ever heard. MA'CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR

That's at The Sunset Tavern in Ballard, by the way. Right before me and my band is Telepathic Liberation Army who are not to be missed. Other suggestions from me are Brent Amaker & the Rodeo, Fresh Espresso, Levator, Cute Lepers, Tea Cozies, Coconut Coolouts, and Redwood Plan, all of which are kind of happening around the same time as each other so you can't lose, but you can never really win.

Also, my girls from THEE Satisfaction are back in town to perform for us at NY Fashion Academy at 9:30. If you haven't seen them, you really need to. They'll put a smile on the most sullen face and bring a sway to the most rigid hips.

Click HERE for all information about the festival.

Ladies and Gentlemen...Telepathic Liberation Army

2009-09-30T11:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2009-09-30/music/reverb-telepathic-liberation-army-rock-clairvoyance/

Make sure you're at my show at Reverb Fest this Saturday at the Sunset (7:30 sharp!!!), and as an added bonus, bring your ass at least an hour early so you can see Telepathic Liberation Army. Bad ass dark dance pop with shades of early 80's goth and new wave icons (Siouxsie comes to mind for me, Lene Lovich for some others) within deliberate angular melody play between each player is what you can expect. It was nearly impossible for me to not dance during the mixdown sessions, so you best believe I'll have my big ass on the floor at the Sunset this Saturday before my little dog and pony show hits the stage.

xo

Show Update!

2009-09-28T09:03:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since Erik Blood and the band have played a show, but to make up for lost time we've got a few in store.

Saturday, October 3rd for Reverb Festival (The Sunset Tavern)
$8 adv./$10 day of gets you in to every show and venue. EBX is at 7:30 sharp

Friday, October 23rd (The Sunset Tavern) with The Redwood Plan and Rosyvelt
$8 10pm

Saturday, November 7th (Bob's Famous Java Jive, Tacoma WA) with The Nightgowns, The Little Penguins, and Lesvosurf
Not sure of the cost, but it starts at 9pm and I guarantee this one will be very interesting.

Wednesday, December 9th (Chop Suey) with Stripmall Architecture (another band TBD)
$7 and show is at 8pm SHARP! Yall better remember that Chop Suey starts it's weeknight shows very early (or as they say, on time.)

October is also the month that I venture off to LA and NYC to do some vacationing, but it's also the month that Iggy (Altspeak) and I begin the demoing of what will be his new album. He's shooting for international mega-stardom with this one. Go big or go home, I suppose.

Still at work on demos for my new one while also coming up with ideas for our upcoming shows. Covers, costumes, colorful language...it's all up for grabs.

xo