chilling, recording, preparing

since i have the day all to myself, i decided to write some random thoughts that i've been having.
1. a couple of us have been looking into the permaculture/urban homestead thing.
2. i'm hiring a piano tuner to work on the family piano which i grew up on learning to play.
since a lot of my style was influenced by playing on the piano in the living room. we decided recording in my living room might be an interesting way to cover some of my parts.
3. its a very nice day. i'm taking a walk.
4. started recording my dreams. maybe i'll be able to sort something out of my subconsious in a few months or years.
5. just ate a reuben.
6. practicing in a couple hours. at the house.

Yucca Tap Room Overload

No, that is not the name of a new local cover band. But, that is how it felt Saturday night at the Yucca Lounge. We played avec mon frere Neba who played a sweet set right before we went on. Then Dry River Yacht Club delivered their best performance I've seen yet. Maybe the venue adds something to local performances. I'm not sure, but for anyone that hasn't been to a Yucca show, the place is just large enough to accomodate a goodly sized crowd, and small enough to allow our music to consume every square foot. As for our set, the vocals felt crisp from on stage, and the new position of the stage, (they flipped the floorplan of the entire venue!) allowed the sound to carry well. I noticed that it also feels much more comfortable trying to get from the front door to the bar since the stage had flipped. (See the clever diagram I crafted below in paint!)

So, for those of you that were able to make it, I hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did. We still have some copies of the Pray for Pills demo that we made. So message us if you would like a copy.

1luv,

ryan

High Quality footage of our Flagstaff set + Upcoming Show at Yucca

So the show in Flagstaff went well..
That is if you didn't get the boot due to the curfew at midnight. For those of you that had to stand from the door to hear us, we extend another apology, and can assure you that we are already planning another show for the city of Flagstaff, since we practically consider it our second home.
As a small treat, if you haven't seen it yet, our friend from flagstaff, mike -aka "inertlife"- filmed the show in HD (high def, sweet!) and the audio came out pretty well. He has posted up each segment of our set along with our fellow band Caecelia's set.
I'll start with our show opener; a yet unnamed song that features judd on cello, thus befitting the temporary moniker "cello song"....

VIDEO BY INERTLIFE
I decided to throw another song up here for viewing/listening pleasure so for those of you that didn't make it up to flagstaff in the near 20 degree weather you can hear one of the new songs we premiered that night as well.

VIDEO BY INERTLIFE
Both of these videos represent more of the chill side that we have been exploring lately and hopefully there are many more bright sunshiny days to inspire us. Also, to all of our friends here in phoenix, we are playing saturday night at the Yucca Tap room, free show, and also the first time we have played on the new stage so things will be exciting. We might also have a few cd's with a demo of one of the new songs on it for ear candy.. So come and check us out, and check out the rest of the flagstaff show.
Ps. It's gonna be a bright, (bright!) bright, a bright sunshiny day.
1luv,
rian
loose lips sank ships

Show in Flagstaff tomorrow night!! The Joint w/ Caecelia

We'll be heading up north to play in the frigid, near arctic scene of flagstaff. Supposedly we heard its going to be in the 20's so we are all bringing our mits. Unfortunately, since we live in phoenix, none of us own any mits. My fingers are already cold just thinking about it. The cool temperatures have already began to roll in on phoenix and we've all been trying to adjust.

As for the studio, Judd has finished recording guitar and I beleive raph is up next. we'll all be really busy, (as we have been for the last couple weeks) we are very excited to play tomorrow night and will have a followup show here in the valley next weekend at the stomping ground.. i.e. Yucca Tap Room. We'll be playing with friends Neba, Kirkwood, and Dry River Yacht Club.

We plan on playing some new songs tomorrow night and playing some that we haven't played in a while. Plus we are playing with our good friends Caecelia who have been hard at work preparing for a future upcoming release. Yum.

Stop in at the Joint tomorrow night in Flagstaff around 8pm and we'll all have a good night.

P.S. I heard the Joint was recently renamed but if you were going to the show you probably already knew that. Oh yeah and we'll have some cd's to hand out with new tracks on it so come get one and give it to your friends.

October Show on the 30th at the Joint w/ Caecelia and album progress.

Another session in the studio. We laid some finishing touches to Jim's bass last week and we have been in the basement laying down some new jams.
We have been up to quite a few new meanderings.

To begin, on wednesday, we were "podcast interviewed" (podcasted?) by mediocrityinside.blogspot.com.
I'll post the link to the podcast interview next week, since they are probably still editing it. We had a lot of fun, just chilling in our living room, since they're podcast is mobile.

Now, in the coming week. We are focusing on the show up north in Flagstaff, a couple local bands from Flag have been added to the bill, to include A Cloud for Climbing, and Acous Tick. We'll be hitting up the Joint to flyer and you might see some posters around the city in the next week since we just had the official flyer completed!!

Well actually, in the last 10 minutes ,I've found out that there might be a few more bands to be announced on that show. So more fun for all. As for our new secret pursuits, well, they are secret. Some bands that we are digging on right now are Serngetti & Polyphonic and AU, who craftily enough are playing at Modified on the 23rd of this month at Modified with Why?... Interesting punctuation I know, but Why? is the name of the band so it's a little different.
We are adding stuff to smallleaks.com and will be bringing you guys new samples to enjoy.
Have fun today. All of you.

Jim recording BASS + updates to new www.smallleaks.com

So we are getting pretty close to "launching" smallleaks.com
It's going to be our new hub for blogging and band specific topics. We'll be posting up all of our new videos, any musical stuff we are working on, and cataloging our many travels, to include the remaining studio time for the second album, local shows, and tour blogging.
We have a many big hopes for the near future. Right now, we are trying to keep a steady balance of creating new matierial and recording the stuff we have been working on for the last year to two and a half years.
We have captured some cool footage of stuff we have been doing recently, and compiling some of that into little vignettes, (which will be ready soon, for your veiwing pleasure).
We are also planning on releasing the album in a few new and creative ways. Of course, "download" method has grown quite popular in the last couple years, and for those that primarily go that route, we are definitely going to make it worth your while to purchase the collectible version, but we will also be throwing in unique content no matter which way you choose to support us.
The bottom line that we are emphasizing, is that our music reaches the ears of other like minded socially active individuals that care about making an impact in any shape or form. We know you are out there, and we want everyone to know that there are millions more that share the same beliefs. Kind of like Orwell describes in 1984, the idea is universal, and we all want the same thing- however, unifying the world can be near impossible when voices are not being heard.

Now, as for our time in the studio, we have a countdown running for completion and release of the new album. It's currently down to only 96 days and some odd hours. You can see the running countdown at Small Leaks if you like watching days countdown by the second. At this time, drum tracking is complete. London is pretty excited to have everything laid down. Now, while Jim is doing his bass we are focusing on our show in Flagstaff at the end of the month.
We'll be playing with our good friends Caecelia so it's sure to be a fun show. Evan and I finished the flyer for the show and Jarett is going to lay the font down. Expect some wheatpasted flyers on the streets of Flagstaff in the near future. We are also going to be playing on local Flagstaff radio stations in the next few weeks.

We are all overjoyed to have the opportunity to be recording at Zona records. The atmosphere really fits our general attitudes and we hope we can all grow through solitude that the studio provides each of us. I know I take something away from being alone for awhile. Sometimes, life can seem so fast, its hard to stop and really explore your own creativity. Having no task at hand but to create music is pretty much a dream that each of us share and having weeks in which to take part in it is really something that you don't get to experience every day. Hopefully all goes well over the next couple weeks and remember to check out Small Leaks !!!

1luv, ryan
small leaks sink ships

Our show last night at Chyro arts was fun. We all had a good time and look forward to more shows at the lovely venue. The stage is a bit wobbly and since we move around a lot, I was a little distracted by the chance that our keyboard could crash to the floor at any moment during the set. But alas, despite all the bouncing souls at the show, everything survived, circa wednesday, when september 30th comes. Sorry, late night, superfluous band reference sentence.

After the show, our fans and members of the touring band Mimicking Birds all hung out in front of the venue, and someone made a small rock formation on the pavement. Then a primitive game ensued, where everyone began attempting to lob stones from 30 feet away, in hopes the stones came to rest in the middle of a stone circle.

Another fun Pysko Steve show, and thanks to Michael (sound guy at the venue) for putting the triple 5's through direct input. As it stands, we are back in the studio to resume the mayhem and will be putting out another studio update soon so keep your eyes (and EARS) peeled for some new stuff we are cooking up. Possible mp3 demos in the near future!!

NEXT SHOW *IN PHOENIX*: To be determined.

NEXT SHOW *OUT OF TOWN*: Flagstaff here we come!!!

Friday the 30th of October for a super sweet halloween show at the Joint w/ Caecilia and Dagnabbit Stubs

Unearthed live recording of a new jam. Yucca Tap Cornish Pasty Show

Someone captured a live recording of a new song. So I thought I'd throw it up for any of you that want to hear a 64kbps quality of one of the songs off the new album. Judd is playing cello in this one, with London and Jim on keys, Raph on drums, and me just playing around with sounds and stuff.
This show was probably the sweetest show we played this summer since all of our friends came out to play and we had the opportunity to play with all the bands that have members who work at Cornish Pasty Co.

1luv, ryan slss

Trip to Tuscon + Show @ Plush w/ pics of a Burger.

We played down in Tuscon at the Plush. Glow music put a show on and we are really excited to play anywhere in Arizona. So we drove down and played a show with Race you There and Triple Double.



We played several songs from our new album. It was a pretty exciting show. After words we ate at Lindy's right down the corner. I haven't had a burger as ridiculous as this in a long time. Judd and I both had the equivalent of a burger with an egg on it. Their variation is double stacked with tots and its called "Velvet Lightning" I think. Anyways, they run that "If you can eat a 16 pound burger you can have it for free contest" with pictures on the wall of people that have done it. Its worth a try if you have a big appetite. 
The show was a great time. We love Tuscon! It was a great break from the heat since we went down during a monsoon storm and had the opportunity to watch a lightning show the whole drive down. Here are more pics of the show.

This show was sweet. The samplers were D'I'd so you could really feel every thing.

We are running through the set tonight and are playing Wednesday night (30 Sep) at Chyro arts on Scottsdale road north of the 202 loop. Hopefully we will see you there!
1luv,
ryan

Weekend beginning. Posture. Jogging to Righteous Ape and Bird.

So it is Saturday now, barely. The clock recently tocked midnight, so I'm in that nocturnal twilight.
For those of you that don't already know, Small Leaks is right in the middle of our studio time. After a fun and exhausting week in the studio laying down the drums we are now taking a week off to play a show and loosen our fingers, (and nerves) a bit.

In the mean time, I'm trying to sit up straight. Since I'm always feeling pretty bad about my posture. I usually end up like the bottom two images to the left. So I decided to buy a bar stool instead of a computer desk for my apartment.
The only problem is that I have rarely noticed that it truly benefits my posture. It's a long battle though, so I guess I'll just keep trying to sit up straight whenever I become consciously aware of it.
In the mean time, I think exercising in general has been something that I've been putting off for too long now.
It's been very easy to say "nah, too busy to run" during the last few months, and with AZ summer heat the way it is, even the evenings can be in the 90's. (Not exactly fun weather to run in.)
Now that the heat let up for a few brief days. I'll be able to kick in a few miles a week again and feel somewhat content with my fitness level.

As for things that I listen to when I'm running, my favorite jogging song would have to be, Righteous Ape and Bird... Download and listen. Throw it on your Mp3 player.
Definitely a gem from my favorite band the Octopus Project.

We'll, we have practice tomorrow and as usual, things are getting caffeinated. So I'll see you all on the flip side.
1luv, ryan
small leaks

In a hurry at lunch. Quick post and an update for Small Leaks.

Hello friends, we've got a show on wednesday as some of you know. We are playing at Chyro Arts, one of the local art venues in south Scottsdale. Mimicking Birds is coming back through town since the last time they played with Modest Mouse, so we are putting a show on together as well as our friends What Laura Says. The show will probably be going down about 8ish and tickets are 8ish as well. (probably 10 at the door.) Message anyone of us on our myspace/facebook etc if you'd like to purchase tickets presale and we will throw in what ever cool stuff/arts/crafts that we are working on right now. The show is planning to be pretty much sold out or pretty close. I digress...

We finished the first week of a possible five in the studio. Drums have been laid, and things are overall looking very good. We are all really excited and I think if you ask any of us. We get the chills multiple times a day just thinking about it.

I've been rehearsing the order of the songs in my head and I'm happy with the order we have them in right now. Things can change though, as we hear how they sound once finally recorded.

If you care to see footage of our studio you can check out the youtube footage here,..

And of course, after this show at Chyro, we will be resuming studio full time for the next month solid..
Things are going very well right now, and in case you haven't been outside in the last week, its cooling off a little bit. Summer has scorched its last. For those of you here in Arizona, i'm sure you understand the relief that is.

1luv, ryan

Backlog Episode 1. Two brief poems and poignant phrase.

ok. so i'm working on my first peice of literature. thats an interesting name. its so easy to just feel. do you ever feel your heartbeat in different parts of your body trying to synchronize? got some things to do. some people to be.
(got some places to go people to see.)

sitting in the locker room.
before a big game
34 is his number

thats why this ones for chuck
sitting on the bench in the locker room
catch the stench from the hall
gettin ready to play ball
but the stakes are high so he bakes to get higher
he'll sink three's if need be or drop j's til he's on fire
he'll make most his freethrows shooting 86%
never plays from the bench
you better watch out though
when this guy posts up
cuz you reach and he'll teach with his pivot fake pump
he's there at 240 he never backs down
pump pump juke put you on the ground
dipsy doodle cafe double funk teddy ruxpin
 
december 07
i'm a summer
a ghost
a spore
tried to bat
a catlog
singing dance
whirvin dervish
that stupid word i made up in highschool
huants me.
go away terjuxtervated!
please don't become a word!
in my dark recesss
i sit and contemplate a secret
rare
most rare word
and i am always ate up
by this stupid word i fumbled out
in highschool.
terjuxtervated.
i don't even remember what it means.
but it won't mean much,
attention lost. good bye.

Coffee plus homework. Up late.

So I decided to create a blog. As some of you may know, I'm starting this off as a way to begin both catalogging my back-dated writing material that has been deemed for public viewing- and simultaneously updating those that may inquire, or simply stumble upon this blog, in regards to our endeavours as Small Leaks Sink Ships.

So, I'll be trying to post as much as possible regarding the collective thoughts of small leaks, and of my thoughts in general about whatever idea might pop into my head at any given time.
And so it begins.