End of high school.

It's pretty crazy to think that a month from now I will be a high school graduate. I'm really ready to be done. Maybe college is in the future, I'm not too worried about it yet. I saw the Dark Knights Of Camelot in Tupelo last night. They tore that place up. I'm telling you, these guys are going big places. Mary Margaret and I are headed off to see Wilco in Oxford on Thursday. Thursday just happens to also be my birthday. Then Max and I are headed to see Springsteen in Atlanta on Sunday. Yep. It's gonna be a good week.

Everything is still going good with the record. It sounds really great. We cut it to tape so it has a very warm sound. We're getting shows set up for the summer. It's looking really good for us so far. The record launch is going to be a really fun night. Hopefully we can get some people to show up and pack the place.

Until tomorrow,

-toby

Record Store Day and Prom on the same day?

So yeah, yesterday was both Record Store Day and Prom for me. I'm a firm believer in prom being the most overrated experience of high school but, much to my surprise, I did have quite an enjoyable time once me and my date for the evening arrived (thank you Mr. Watson). I managed not to waste too much money as I did not rent a tux. The funniest part of the night was the limo ride to the prom, we were treated to the pleasure of watching a Ludacris DVD on the TV screens. Apparently it was purchased by one of my classmates. That's one of the reason's why I don't get too worried when my classmates don't come to our shows. But the highlight of the day for me was RSD at Oz Music in Tuscaloosa. Me and my date woke up pretty early to drive there and purchase various items and see Baak Gwai. A fun time was had by all and we got some really great stuff. I myself got the new Wilco DVD and an Elvis Costello CD and I bought Max the My Morning Jacket vinyl and the new Hold Steady live record. Everything was fun. Baak Gwai was very entertaining as well. 

So our new record is still scheduled for May 1st. It's gonna be a good one folks. All of us here are incredibly excited to put this thing out there. The record release show is shaping out to be a great time. The Engineers and Speedball Widow will be joining us for the evening's festivities. We're working on merch at the moment with our good friend Blaine Garrard. The designs he's coming up with look really great. 

Now I've got a science thing to work on for school. Two more weeks then I'm outta there. Thank you.

Two posts in the same week? What what? I'm getting the hang of this. Check me out on twitter.

www.twitter.com/tobyhartleroad

Thank you and good evening.

-toby

I'm god awful at this....

Our record is officially coming out on May 1st. Our record release is at the Princess Theater on the main stage. I think that's a pretty cool deal for us. We'll have a bunch of merch and stuff so it'll be pretty delightful. We've been playing quite a few shows lately. We did a run of shows in Alabama last weekend. We played this place called Egan's in Tuscaloosa that was killer. They loved us so we're playing again on May 8th. By that time we'll have our record ready to push. So yeah. It's a pretty cool feeling when the crowd is enjoying what you're doing. There's no better feeling to me. I got a little sick when we came back home. I guess I caught a bug or something. I've been digging the new Mastodon record, The Dark Knights Of Camelot E.P., and The National Trust's most recent album. All those have been in my rotation lately. They're all great and I encourage everyone to look them up if they haven't already. So yeah. I've been reading American Psycho lately. Crazy book. I've been trying to refine my writing skills by writing us a press kit. It's not terrible I don't think. Yeah. We've got some great shows in the works so stay tuned for info and stop by a show sometime.

-toby

I haven't gotten any better....

What's up everyone? How's life? It's been over a month since I last posted. I apologize. 

We're still trying to get this record out. I swear we are. We're working on artwork and packaging right now. It's mastered so that's great. You can check out some tunes on the myspace. I put my personal favorite song up(The Road). All the songs up are mastered.

Some recent things I've gotten into are:

the new Dan Auerbach solo album, "Keep It Hid." This thing is fantastic. I like it a lot better than "Attack And Release," even though I thought that was pretty decent.

"Being John Malkovich." This movie is crazy. Go watch it.

So yeah. I'm just ready to release this record. We'll have a cool record launch party with stickers and t-shirts as well. It should be nice.

The guy who's designing our stuff is great. His name is Bryant Worley. The things he's showing me so far I'm really diggin.

I'll post something else later this week.

I'm probably going to get a Twitter soon as Max keeps talking about it so be on the lookout.

Until then,

Toby

I've got to get better at updating this...

Since the last update quite a few things have happened.

Last week we got a new president. I am incredibly happy and excited about this. I will remember that day for a long time.

We've gotten a few new shows.

Mastering has been completed.

We've still got to work up artwork and things.

I'm getting excited about this record coming out.

I'm realizing more and more how much I love playing music. I mean even in practice, I have a blast. That feeling has yet to be matched by anything. 

Ok.

I'm going to go watch a movie.

Toby

He shoots coca-cola.....

So yeah. It's late. I have nothing to do so I'm writing a new blog. 

We're still trying to get things done. We've got a show at the State Theater in Starkville later this month. If you can make it you should most definitely come. It should be sweet. The myspace got a much needed overhaul. Go check it out if you haven't already. You could also listen to a song or something. That might be cool.

I've been listening to a lot of Beatles lately. I don't really know why. They are probably the greatest band of all time. They have a ton of timeless classics. The White Album still blows my mind every time I listen to it. Album still should be out sometime around February/March. I think I said that already. Well ok guys. 

Keep it real.

Toby

Best Of 2008....

After buying the new issue of Paste at Oz Music one Friday I have finally got a chance to sit down and read their list. This has inspired me because I have quite a few issues with it.

Top 10 Albums of the Year 

10. Kings Of Leon - "Only By The Night"

9. She & Him - "Volume One"

8. Colour Revolt - "Plunder, Beg, and Curse"

7. The Raconteurs - "Consolers Of The Lonely"

6. The Whigs - "Mission Control"

5. The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive"

4. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!"

3. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Real Emotional Trash"

2. My Morning Jacket - "Evil Urges"

1. Drive-By Truckers - "Brighter Than Creation's Dark"

Honorable mentions - 

The Black Keys - "Attack And Release"

Of Montreal - "Skeletal Lamping"

10 Best Songs of 2008

10. Drive-By Truckers - "Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife"

9. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Dragonfly Pie"

8. The Hold Steady - "Lord I'm Discouraged"

7. The Raconteurs - "Consolers Of The Lonely" 

6. Silver Jews - "Candy Jail"

5. Fleet Foxes - "Ragged Wood"

4. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - "As Tall As Cliffs"

3. The Whigs - "Right Hand On My Heart"

2. My Morning Jacket - "Highly Suspicious"

1. Avett Brothers - "Murder In The City"

There's my list. It might suck to you. But personally I think this was one of the best music years I've had the pleasure of living through.