Buy of the week

I'm not big on telling others how to spend their cash. It's kind of a dick thing to do really. But there are those moments when a product makes me slightly less depressed about mundane life that I feel the need to share. The sad part is that it's a gas station, the one on 14th and 10th avenue. A Mobil I believe. Inside this wonderful safe house is a grill that serves up some of the best food I've had since leaving GA. The cheeseburger, chicken wraps, ham & cheese, are all worth your time and money. And believe me, I'm not the only one who is catching on to this on-the-go gas station trend. The customers are Chelsea artists, hobos, tourists, and neighborhood worker bees that just can't enough. So please, if you ever find yourself here, just eat some food and shut up.

Cherokee's debut record for download

Another free record for you. Just click on the album art for download.

Temporary Living

"...Hinkle channels timeless artists like George Harrison and Johnny Cash..."-Flagpole

Recorded in winter/spring of 2007 at Radium Recordings and self released in November of that year. The album is the first collection of songs I wrote on my own. Other musicians include Matt Compton (Drums) and Brent Jay (guitar and backing vocals).

Track List

1. And So It Goes

2. Color and Composition

3. City of Sand

4. No Point In Being Honest

5. Laughing In The Dark

6. Picking Up Where You Left Off

7. Promise Of Creation

8. The Path Took Me Nowhere

9. Temporary Bangs

10. Trip Into The West

11. Tied Into Knots

12. Paper Hearts

Free music for you!

Click on the album cover for free download. 

It's All Geographical EP

"...brimming with steady, even-handed rock..."–Satellite Magazine

Written in winter of 2007 and recorded in winter/spring of 2008 at The Buddy Project Studios in New York. Tony Whitlock engineered and also played backing guitar. The album was released in April of 2008.

Track list

1. Southern Tears

2. Those Days

3. Human Ways

Free records for you!

Click on the album art for free download of the record. 

I'm Losing My Punk Rock Spirit

Recorded in spring 2008 under the name Beehive. These 6 songs were my first attempt at working with all digital elements. 

All in all, a pretty good Saturday

There was no Home Depot or Bed Bath & Beyond involved, so regardless of whatever else happened, it would have been a good Saturday anyway. You dig? 

I did buy two records today from a sick vinyl shop called Academy Records. The two that made the cut were Wavves and The Pixies' Trompe le Monde. You've probably heard both. Wavves is somewhat of a let down but it does have a few nice jems. I have $14.65 left on my gift certificate so I hope to buy a motown record next week. Any suggestions?

Goals for Spring

Yes, it's that time of year again. When new fashions are presented, the weather is a bit warmer, and negative attitudes thaw away in longer days. It's also when I begin to reexamine my priorities and figure out what needs to be accomplished to up my value of self worth. Now that winter is behind me I can now focus on the future, and no, that does not include getting a tan. Here are a few that made my list.

1. Finish the record!

2. Write another one.

3. Book an Athfest show. 

4. Buy wedding presents. 

5. Less salt.

6. Iced coffee.

7.  Renew my wardrobe.

8. Buy flowers for someone.

9. Plan a weekend trip.

10. Call home. 

How did they do that?

Throughout my life there have been multiple bands that I have loved, and regardless of style or genre, I always appreciate it when a band can make me say, or ask, "how did they do that?" One of my dreams would be to watch a great band practice, not rehearse, but rather see the writing process, the building blocks for a song that might potentially make me ask "how did they do that?" 

If you haven't noticed, every blog post somehow comes back to me. Yes, I know, I'm self indulgent and kind of an ass. And I guess I'm a bit self deprecating too. Anyway, if any of you ever become a fan of the music I make, or music I help make with other talented musicians then you might enjoy this. It's a glimpse into the mundane writing process and the repetitive bull shit you have to flesh out to actually arrive at a completed song.

The track doesn't have name but it was recorded last night at Tucasa studio in Alphabet city, somewhere between the hours of 8 and 10pm EST. 

Listen here

http://senduit.com/4b2c88

Update: The haircut was a success.

I went here. 

let it grow

so really, i thought 2008 was the year of the beards. yet, 2009 has brought upon a significant number of beardly musicians. all i have to say, to any rocker, rocking a beard, just give up, because, sir, Mc, is the only beard that matters ever.

haircuts

I just realized that I have an emo hair cut. Don't know what to do. Luckily, I have an apt. on Saturday. Regardless of how it turns out, you'll probably hear about it.

5 songs I would love to cover

1. Pantera-Not sure of the title, and yes I know Google, but this is not research material. The line" I fucked your girlfriend last night..." I hate it, but would it not be fun to sing it with a slight lisp.

2. The Ronettes-"Be My Baby"- Been there and done that, have not received the t-shirt, but it was super fun.

3. Led Zeppelin- Any song, just want the ability to do so.

4. The Crystals-"He Kissed Me"- This has to be one one my favorite songs of all time. It was used in the trailer for the movie, The Pick Up Artist, with Robert D. Jr. Loved it before then and will love it until the day i kick it.

5. Lillipop-"Chordettes"- This is a classic song that was popular say, over 30 years before lil' wayne stole the title and dropped his mindless BS on the world (much love and respect LW).  It reminds me of driving to the mountains in NE GA and not having a care in the world. 

There is a guy in this band who gets me

I want a cake from you, dude.

new album art?

My Friends Say.....

My friend J tonight told me I was a crisp writer, which is a huge complement being that he's an  actual writer, and one that's much better than I. 

This is my attempt to write something that isn't so crisp, but rather an explanatory writing of a song I wrote. How "self-absorbed" is this!

The song is "A Few Weeks Away" and it is a retelling of one of my trips on the road. 

First verse deals with a few days before tour, in which my friends and I were too cheap to buy beer and stole it from a neighbor who kept all of his/her booze outside, in a refrigerator. We were young and desperate, and I'll say, maybe our thoughts were disparate at the time. Anyway, we were successful that night and had a great time completing our goal.

The chorus highlights my gratefulness of the getaway-which came a day later-us leaving a suburban neighborhood-reaching out to the uglier parts of the world- which we have never seen. We were not regretful of this, rather very happy and satisfied to be away, traveling interstates that most truckers called their 9-5.

The second verse picks up in an unknown area. Where we're there shopping-living-trying-to-get-by-as most people are, yet, not feeling the sense of home as they felt. Sure, we judge, and laughed, and went on our way. 

Second chorus picks up with us in the van, sure of objective, yet completely unsure of victories. Why were we on this tour? Did traveling like carnies in a van, playing music to no one who actually cares about this actually make sense in the long run? Not only were our creative insides falling apart but so were our hopes of life at home becoming more unrealistic, or actually, more realistic. The line "bet you whole 9 bucks" sums it up quite well. We could put 9 bucks against anything on that tour and we'd win. Be it, success, money, food, a safe ride home.

What we did have, though, was freedom, independence from true responsibility, no real guidance towards the future. Although, in a funny side-note, we did rush home as fast as fucking possible. Our guitar player went so far as to do lines on coke the entire way just to get home first.

So this is where the song comes to an end, unfulfilled, yet, completely fulfilled, and still young, without scars. So we thought.

All of this may be completely true or  a completely wrong interpretation on my part. I have no idea, I WAS NOT THERE, all I know is that this is the song that might help you understand the story. See below.

myspace.com/thecherokeeband.com

Goodnight

Early edition: Sunday

For many reasons, Sunday is the best day of the week. For Christians it's obvious, but for us secular folk many other factors make a good Sunday. Here are a few of mine.

1. Sleeping in=OK.

I sleep in every chance I get. Call it lazy or call it exhausted, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that on Sundays I don't feel guilty, and you can't put a price on not having guilt. Just ask OJ.

2. Drinking before noon=OK

For some reason, and I didn't realize this until I was in Gotham, that Sundays are considered the "get fucked up early day." I don't like drinking when the sun is out but I'm kind of sold on this idea. 

3. Strolling=A hard days work

Typically, Yorkers walk everywhere. M-F it's considered a fact of life. Sore feet, tired legs, is just something you deal with. Sundays, a nice stroll, with a buzz, seeing all of the great things you typically miss on your 8-8 job, not only help you feel like you've accomplished something, you actually have.

I want my hour back

So it just turned 3am. Forgot about that whole, DLST thing. NYC definitely needs some sunshine. Here's a pic to end the night.

Jason is talking to Carly

Right now.

Tasty Cuban

If you ever find yourself strolling in Nolita and decide that you need a bite to eat then do yourself a big one and stop by Cafe Habana. Located on Prince Street at Elizabeth this place offers great Cuban-American food that is delicious and different. Today I had the Cuban Sandwich-self proclaimed "Best in the City"-and I gotta say it was darn close. It's filled with tender pulled pork, ham, cheese, pickles, chipotle mayo and topped with crispy french bread. Angel had the chicken burrito and side of mexican corn. The burrito was great--char-grilled chicken with fresh lettuce and tomatoes--and could feed two people easily. The mexican grilled corn had some nice heat and the parmesan cheese was different--I mean that in the best way possible. We also split an order of pan fried plantains--clean, fresh, sweet--just how they should be. What sealed the deal for me was Coke in the glass bottle. Something about it, gets me every time. 

I Want To Start A Band But Can't Decide On Just One

Dance Rock?

Folk Rock?

Help!

Update: Happy Hour not so happy in the Northeast

Why is it, that the town with some of the best music, people, art, and bbq in the country also get to rub it in our face with the best weather as well? It's unfair and I demand an explanation.

semi-famous rocker fashion

"Please don't look at me. I'm an artist." 

My Favorite NYC Restaurant

Right now I'm totally digging on Velselka. It's in the east village and offers everything from classic diner dishes to Ukranian comfort food. Personally my favorite is the beet borscht. If you're a friend of mine and visit NYC, I'll probably make you eat there.

Friday's News Headlines

Sorry for the delay. I was on a deep sea fishing trip.

The New York Times
Fallon Faces the Camera, Conscious of the Web

The New York Times
Hearst’s Seattle Paper May Become Web-Only

The Daily Beast
The Thinking Man’s Rapper

Chicago Sun Times
Scoring with Warhol
Music duo strikes a chord by creating songs for artist's 'screen tests'

Huffington Post
Phish Returns!

Billboard
Amazon Starts Game Trades


USA Today
Tucker takes a 'Turn' back to the studio

CNN
With Twitter Envy, Facebook Adds (Near) Real-time Web Capabilities