So the last few years have not been very kind to me musically. Life has been incredibly droning, wasting away in the San Fernando valley, doing the full time job and feeling fully beaten down. But I have found some precious spare moments to write and record. This Is Old is really about how I’m not going to be able to take life along this path much longer. New song This Is Old available for download now. New album coming 11.11.08. Thanks for listening.

[audio:/thisisold/01 This is Old.mp3]

New State Shirt album will be titled This is Old. Release date will be chosen very soon. Working on obtaining amazing photography for the album artwork. Had a sick fucking dream last night, hoping I can scrounge up enough money to turn it into a music video. More soon.

Ok, i know this song isn’t exactly new. But we recently completed a music video for the song. Here it is, the official debut of the “Straw Man” music video. Hope you like it!

Slightly higher res version is here!

I’ve made a muxtape of some of my favorite songs.

:::: Listen to my muxtape here

Here’s what’s up there now.
I think I’ll update with a new theme every few weeks:

- The Helio Sequence – Nothing’s Ok : Everything’s Fine
- Unkle – Rabbit In Your Headlights
- R.E.M. – Walk Unafraid
- Hayden – Dynamite Walls
- Sebadoh – Careful
- Nick Drake – Things Behind The Sun
- Elliott Smith – Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud
- Crowded House – Fall At Your Feet
- Josh Clayton-Felt – Too Cool For This World
- Neil Young – Old Man
- Toad The Wet Sprocket – Always Changing Probably
- Radiohead – Let Down

If you have a muxtape, comment on my blog post so I can listen!

I’ve been rehearsing a bunch lately and figured I’d set up a couple cameras. Here is a video of me playing my new song ‘Computer’. It’s all live looping, no prerecorded audio.

So I’m ramping up to get my new album finished and out into the world. The thing is I’m not sure exactly how I should do it. I really like the idea of a CD and album artwork and something that you tangible that you can hold onto, and the full-length album experience. Maybe I’m just nostalgic. Ever since the first time I heard OK Computer, I had to listen all the way through. And remembering back to high school driving around in my Ford Econoline listening to Helmet Meantime album on infinite repeat. I love the idea of the album, but I’m not sure anyone else does anymore.

Should I even release a CD at all? Does anyone buy CDs anymore? Or are you happy buying tracks as digital downloads from artist websites, iTunes, eMusic, etc? Should music just be free? Or would you feel bad taking music without paying for it? Should I offer the album on a USB thumb drive? Or put together a book of art, photos and illustration that goes along with the music?

I read a good blog post by Scott Andrew, who had some similar questions last year when he was getting his new album together. It does kinda suck to have so many songs just sitting there, waiting for me to get the whole album done. I could just release them one by one on my site– as I spend random evenings working on new music. So, should I dump the whole album idea? Or really find a new and interesting way to make it work?

Just wanted to extend my thanks to the podcasts that have played State Shirt songs recently (and not so recently). Check these out!

The Awful Show
Suffolk ‘N’ Cool
PC Podcast
Borderline
Amplified
Five Gallon Podcast
Makeshift Magesty

Had a great time playing with the SongFight.org regulars down at the Spot Cafe and Lounge this past Friday. Got to see a bunch of fighters that I haven’t seen in a while as well as meet a few new shiny happy faces. Got to hear a bunch of classics and some new songs by The Seamus Collective, Merisan, Ross Durand, Minty Handy, Ken’s Super Duper Band ‘n Stuff, and Evil E. I played a few newer unreleased songs, ‘Computer’, ‘This is Old’ and an yet-to-be-titled song, which I currently call ‘Edison hates this song’ because my dog Edison howls like crazy when I play it. Below are some photos courtesy of Ross Durand. I’m trying to get back into the swing of things and play more shows and get this album finished, and SongFight always seems to help me get going again.

The website that really helped me actually finish songs is having a show in Culver City, CA tonight. Come on out. Here are the details:

:::: Friday March 28, 2008 – 7:00pm
:::: SONG FIGHT! Show!
:::: Spot Cafe and Lounge
:::: 4455 Overland Ave.
:::: Culver City, CA 90230

And the lineup:

The Seamus Collective
Merisan
Ross Durand
State Shirt
Minty Handy
Ken’s Super Duper Band ‘n Stuff
Evil E

Thanks to everyone that came out to the show at Crane’s Tavern this past Sunday. Played a few new songs and a few songs from Don’t Die. I’ll post some of the new songs up on the site soon. HalfMonk did a very cool set complete with about 30 effects pedals and even a toy reverb/spring microphone.

I can’t believe that Don’t Die came out nearly 4 years ago. I have been working on new songs and writing and recording but sometimes the shit in my life piles up and I can’t quite get everything finished. But I’m finally there, 10 songs recorded and almost ready to go. Still putting the final touches on some vocals, and then it’s off to meet with producer Chris Fudurich (Nada Surf, Jimmy Eat World) to provide his expertise with mixing and production. I like the sound I get in my little 8′x8′ bedroom studio but it’s nice to have someone that I trust stick their ears to it.

I’ll be playing some of the new songs at Crane’s Tavern in Hollywood, CA on Sunday March 16. I think I’ve finally worked the glitches out of my gear setup. Two digital Echoplexes and a bunch of pedals. No more acoustic guitar, I’ll be kicking it with my $150 Fender Toronado. Come on out and see some live loop versions of the songs and have a $3 Pabst Blue Ribbon.

A few weeks back c.layne asked me to remix one of his songs off his new album Shark Week. I was really struck by the first song on the album “You Think You’re So Clever” so I figured that would be a good one to rip apart and reconstruct! If you haven’t already heard it, check out his new album, it’s very good. Listen to the original track and the remix below:

The original: click here
The State Shirt remix: click here

Look out for a new State Shirt album coming in early 2008.  I have about 15 tracks in the works, most of which were recorded here in my Los Angeles bedroom studio… although I did do a few overdubs with friends out in Massachusetts. I hope to have a few more guest stars as well, some of them will be announced here. Lastly, if I can make it happen I will have an amazing producer make it all sound shiny. And hopefully if I can get my shit together, there just might be a limited-edition EP coming in late ’07 as well. Stay tuned!

After months (years) of being beat down by a full time job, hating this city, and coming home and wanting to do nothing but drink, I have finally dug myself out from beneath the shit to get back in the studio. I’ve picked up some older tracks that I worked on with a few friends in Massachusetts, and some new tracks that have been inspired by my desire to not have all the life drained from my body by working all of the time. Finally the days are getting a bit less monotonous. And music is coming out. I’ve got about 15 in-progress tracks for the new album. I will probably end up whittling it down to 10 or so, and putting a bunch of free tracks up on somesongs.com, last.fm and other sites. Stay tuned, I am damn excited about finally getting another album out.

I’ve been toying with the idea of putting together some sort of small US tour in early 2008, and wanted to start looking into doing shows outside of lovely (shitty) los angeles. If you want me to play your town, demand State Shirt on Eventful.com. Click on the Demand It button below. I just signed up so there are only a couple demands, so click away and demand State Shirt!

Kobol’s remix of State Shirt’s “Straw Man” will lead off their upcoming album Extempore. Check out the remix on their Myspace page. Extempore comes out November 6, 2007. Kobol mixes low tempo beats, freestyle jams, jazzy vibes, audio manipulation and gritty beats into an amazing musical landscape. Like their website says “A jazz album for tweekheads and an electronic album for jazzheads.” Check out their new album and the State Shirt remix!

Their last album Broken Ebony was listed on XLR8R.com’s Top 10 album picks in 2006.

After quite a hiatus, I’m back for another rumble at SongFight. I just finished writing a song for the latest SongFight, titled Ottoman. It’s a song about leaving. Spent a couple days locked in the studio to write and record this. Click on over to SongFight and check out the songs in the fight.

:: State Shirt on SongFight