Album Art Contest

Calling all artists, designers and visionaries!

Lady Danville is (finally) releasing Sophie Roux and Kids on iTunes! We’re holding a contest for the best original  design for the cover art for each song.  Winning designers will receive a Lady Danville care package (t-shirt, signed poster, EP and more goodies) as well as pair of free tickets to our next show in your city!

Additional rules:

• All entries must be posted to our Lady danville Facebook wall by Friday, March 30th
• You may submit entries for both songs
• No limit on number of entries
• Artwork must be owned by submitter
• Winners will be determined by a panel of judges and artists here at Lady Danville LLC
• If selected, please be able to provide your artwork per iTunes requirements, for digital distribution only:

• Be a JPG or GIF image file
• Be a perfect square and at least 600 x 600 pixels
• Be in best-quality RGB Color mode (including black and white images)
• Have a resolution of at least 72 dpi (300 dpi is better)

Here are the songs, for your creative inspiration:

Lady Danville: Kids (MGMT Cover)

Lady Danville: Sophie Roux

-Michael

Lady Danville Tribune: January 2012

::Lady Danville to Release New EP Operating February 14th, 2012::

EP Artwork by: Patrick Concepción (Concepción Studios)

We are very excited to put out three new recordings (“Better Side”, “Operating” and “Ships”) on our new EP Operating next month!

We had begun tracking for our first full-length album a few months ago, but whilst on tour with Jack’s Mannequin, something happened to make us reevaluate our game plan… We were driving through the mountainous roads of Canada when we hit some black ice, fishtailing off the highway and flipping our van (Brenda, pictured above) onto her head.  As we hung upside down, suspended and saved by our faithful seat belts, we made a group decision: we didn’t want you all to have to wait for us to finish a full length album in order to hear some new music.  We are still recording a full length, but our EP Operating is a three-song preview of what’s to come a few more months down the line. Released digitally-only; on iTunes 2/14/2012.

Here is a promo video of Operating we recorded in the studio (Directed & Edited by my talented brother, Joseph Garner). Share this with your friends and spread the word about the forthcoming release!

::Two FREE Lady Danville Shows in LA::

To promote our EP release, we are playing two FREE shows in LA, the first and second Mondays of February. Come to both.

2/6/2012 @ The Satellite: Presented by 98.7FM, Buzzbands, and Pablove: (21+, http://www.thesatellitela.com/)

2/13/2012 @ Bardot: It’s a School Night Presented by KCRW’s Chris Douridas: (18+ http://www.itsaschoolnight.com/)

::Free Digital EP Operating with Purchase of Limited Edition Merch – in time for Valentines Day::

Order our exclusive Operating t-shirt and/or poster by 2/2/12 and

1. Receive the FREE digital EP Operating on 2/14/12
2. Receive the shipment of the shirt in time for Valentine’s Day, 2/14/12!

Chocolate and roses are so cliche <3

::New Website::

tell everyone: http://www.ladydanville.com/

Website by Patrick Concepción (Concepción Studios) and Michael Weintraub (StopGap Design)

Christmas Songs Mixtape from lady danville

thanksgiving has come and gone and that means a few things to me:

#1) i’m fatter than ever

#2) i dont want any more left over stuffing

#3) KOST 103.5 is playing christmas music 24-7 through december 25th

in reference to #3, i enjoy christmas tunes more than the average jew. in fact, i just added KOST 103.5 to my car radio presets – after all, it is the (self-proclaimed) OFFICIAL holiday radio station – so i just have to have it handy whilst commuting round town to keep my spirits up.

to get you in the holiday mood i made a little mixtape for your listening pleasure of some of my current faves. and fear not. i included one hanukkah song for good measure. make sure you buy their stuff on itunes after you take a listen, k? after all, ’tis the season to give.

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/1300562022/37d622f30346f4dc4b1c43fa3fb9cd5c

here is the songlist in case the above link expires and you’re still curious about my mixtape genius:

1. Low – “Just Like Christmas”

2. Best Coast, Wavves – “Got Something for You”

3. She & Him – “The Christmas Waltz”

4. Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson – “Winter Song”

5. Ohbijou – “Last Christmas”

6. Glenna Bell – “Be my Valentine (On Christmas)”

7. Sonos – “All on a Christmas Morning”

8. Sharon Van Etten – “Blue Christmas”

9. Julian Casablancas – “I Wish it was Christmas Today”

10. Atlas Sound – “Artificial Snow (Campfire Metalophone Version)”

11. Crocodiles & Dum Dum Girls – “Merry Christmas, Baby (Please Don’t Die)

12. Sufjan Stevens – “Only at Christmas Time”

13. Matisyahu – “Miracle (acoustic Hanukkah song)”

merry listening!

-michael

Better Side Music Video Coming Soon

i never thought i’d be sitting behind a long table with a notebook in hand, telling hopeful actors to “try doing that again, but this time with more emotion.” what the hell do i know about casting a music video? the answer is: nothing, of course. but shouting directorial commands at them (as i’ve often witnessed in the movies) seemed like the appropriate thing to do in order to sufficiently judge their capability of being the “right choice.”

“PROJECT!”

“USE YOUR DIAPHRAGM!”

casting was a bitch. and so was finding locations that would let us shoot without charging us a penny. but the rest was pretty fun, probably because after the prep work was done, we assumed the role of spectator as the real pros stepped in to do light, direct, and shoot the scenes… all of this to the tune of our music.

we filmed almost everything this weekend, and as we edit and get it ready to debut, we’re also making a “behind the scenes” video so you can experience the joy we experienced in putting together our first official music video. until then, i don’t want to give anything away. not until we have our premier will you know how “better side” looks and sounds on the silver screen. here’s a picture to wet your whistle (and most likely confuse you):

-Michael

In search of a good music video

What makes a good music video? What makes you watch one and then immediately share it to your (thousands of) friends all over the interweb with an “omg check this out!!”? I’m intrigued by how bands decide on the appropriate 4 minute visual companion to their 4 minute audio creation. For me there is no rule regarding what makes something good. I just have to like it…. a creative story. an interesting filming technique. captivating visuals. all of the above. none of the above. something different.

As you may or may not know, lady danville does not have any official music videos out yet. We’ve been scouring youtube and blogs, listening to music with our eyes closed, reading short stories and novels, going on long drives across America… all in search of some inspiration for our debut 4 minute film.
Here are a couple good videos I’ve come across thus far. Comment on this and let us know some of your favorites. All (potential) inspirational material welcome.

 

 

 

 

-Michael

Highlights from the Guster/Jack’s Mannequin Tour

The Guster portion of our Guster/Jack’s Mannequin tour has come to an end and we’re back in LA for a little break before going back out with Jack’s Mannequin in the Fall. It feels good to be home, but I already miss hanging out and playing with all these guys. Here are some highlights from the road:

Playing onstage with the whole crew… harmonizing, hitting drums, shaking sleigh bells, the whole shabang.

Shows on a beautiful beach stage in Charleston and shows on a beautiful ampithetre stage in Atlanta.

Being tourists in Myrtle Beach during the day and being spectators backstage while the bands souncheck in the afternoon.

Being tourists (again) at night and eating famously deep fried burgers in Memphis.

Shopping for vinyl in every city (Dan and I both recently acquired record players) and playing old school pinball.

Listening to oh-so sweet piano sounds.

Taking pictures of the empty theatres before the shows.

Exploring Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park after-hours (illegally) and hanging out in the little kids hut/birdhouse, telling ghost stories before getting kicked out by an angry security guard (not pictured).

Having a really badass sound-guy (he did Jack’s sound and our sound) and encountering scary bunny sculptures in Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

Getting drunk at bars and watching Ryan from Guster act-a-fool.

Sharing some nice food and conversation on with WhatJustin at Bricks (a cool cafe in Ybor City) and writing new songs during souncheck.

Rocking in rocking chairs and receiving funny dressing room signs every night.

Thanks for a wonderful tour, Guster and Jacks. I must say it was a dream come true.

-Michael

Photos from Ace of Spaces with Jack’s Mannequin

Photos taken by Patrick Concepción (Concepción Studios)

 

 

 

 

 

Between Two Tours, a haiku by michael

Come home to LA

Encounter with black widow

Leave for Guster tour

 

-michael

Jack’s Mannequin Tour Blog: Week 3

After 3 weeks, I think we’re officially in the groove of the road… we got it down. The constant driving, the sleeping on couches/ground, the waking up early to run (Dan) and explore the town, the trying to eat healthy at the golden arches, the set up and soundcheck at the venue, the 33 minutes of rocking out on stage, the 2 hours of rocking out in the audience after we play, the packing up and loading our van, the imbibing of local beer and hanging with Jacks and Steel Train and exploring the town some more until it’s time for bed (or even more if we have a day off). Not a bad groove to be in.

Here are some highlights from the past week:

1. Bikelock show in Minneapolis - When Jack’s Mannequin has days off, the band (Jay, Bobby and Mikey) play rock-n-rock in their side project band, Bikelock. We got to see them tear the roof off in Minneapolis @ 7th Street Entry (of First Avenue, made famous by Prince… pretty sweet show).

2. Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis – As we wandered around the city, we stumbled upon one of the most beautiful sights: Stone Arch bridge with surrounding old mills and locals outside enjoying the (rare) gorgeous sunshine.

3. Swinging in Minneapolis - I joined Dan for a morning run @ Lake Calhoun, but halfway through the run I found a swingset and realized I liked swinging more than I liked running. Sorry Dan.

4. Frozen custard in Milwaukee – The frozen custard craze in Milwaukee quite resembles the froyo craze in LA. We tried Kopp’s Frozen Custard, one of the best places to experience this cold creamy goodness.

WhatJustin is not amused by Kopp’s oversized spoon and cherry.

Apparently frozen custard makes Dan turn into an evil demon.

5. Trying local cuisine Everywhere - Saz’s famous sour-cream and chive french fries @ Summerfest in Milwaukee hit the spot. Amazing festivals attract amazing foooood.

6. Playing Summerfest in Milwaukee - The biggest music festival in the world, playing for thousands of people with a backdrop of a beautiful midwestern sun setting over the lake.

7. Morning run adventures in Scranton – On the way to Poughkeepsie we stopped in Scranton, PA (said home of NBC’s “The Office”). We refrained from making references to Jim 0r Pam or Dwight or Dunder Mifflin etc… jokes that we figured weren’t so fresh to the local residents. Turns out the city looks nothing like it does in the show… quite pretty. Here’s a pic Dan took whilst exploring some Scranton caves on a trail run he did with our couch surfer, Patrick.

8. Living the dream in The Hamptons - We played a gig for MTK in Montauk, and before the show we explored the downtown and enjoyed the summer sun at the beach.

WhatJustin’s DJ set @ the MTK event. #superhip

Our set @ the MTK event. #alsosuperhip

9. Late night jazz @ Fat Cat in NYC - We had a couple days off to tool around the city, obligation free. I <3 NYC

10. Eating ramen at Ippudo in NYC - Apparently this place is the #1 ranked restaurant on Yelp. For good reason. I’m in heaven.

11. Finding all the other Danvilles in the US (this was was in PA) – There’s at least 5 or 6 out there. Makes us feel like we’re a part of something bigger out there in this lonely world. A community of Danvilles.

Until next week.

- Michael

Being a Musician/Spartacus

Greetings from the super exciting I-80E , en route to Salt Lake City after finishing up the second of twenty shows of the tour with Jack’s Mannequin and Steel Train. The first two nights have been fantastic (thanks Ventura and Sacramento), not to mention there has been some reaalllly gooood music on this tour.  You don’t believe? Come to a show!

The last two nights were extra fantastic because we’ve been dealing with business so much lately, so it was great/cathartic/fun to get on stage in front of a new (grateful) audience and remember how it feels to actually do what we love in front of people who appreciate it.  After the show some guy even said to me: “your music was so good that I wanted to die, in a good way!’ I’m not sure how death by music can be good, but he reassured me that indeed it he was paying me the highest form of flattery.

It’s a curse and a blessing that I feed off the audience so much. I’d rather be one of those real-deal dudes who doesn’t care what the audience thinks or how they respond. “Fuck it. Love it or hate it but this is MY MUSIC.” I would love to say that and actually mean it.  Don’t get me wrong. It’s great when we get positive reactions, but the power I give to the audience is quite dangerous, as I found out a few weeks ago….  

Cut to: a beautiful sunny day at the Silverlake Jubilee, a cool little two-day festival with a bunch of local LA bands. We hit the stage to a full crowd, anxious to hear some new music and give the thumbs up or thumbs down (a la Spartacus at the mercy of Caesar’s judgment).  As soon as we began, I could see that we were going to win the crowd over (the typical signs of happy-shiny people dancing to the music, cheering, clapping, etc). I thought I had received a sufficient dose of audience affirmation to feel validated until out of nowhere, a thick-mustached-guy in the front row co-opted my attention with a “HEY! You Suck!! Fuck yewwwwwww!!!” flipping me off and so offended and disgusted by our music that I’m sure he was frothing at the mouth. I had never been heckled before (if this even counts as heckling). I tried so hard to not pay attention to him and focus on the rest of the (grateful) audience, but he was completely in my head. And to make matters worse, neither Matti nor Dan noticed him at all, so I  began to wonder if maybe I was crazy, and this guy was just my personified fear of not being loved by everyone in the audience.  Real or imaginary, I found no solace or comfort or protection on stage.

He stayed a few songs,  anger never subsiding, and then with one final middle finger in the air turned and marched away….

After he left, I finally re-noticed the packed crowd in front of us, still happy and shiny and dancing, and I took a deep breath and got back into my groove. I guess lady danville isn’t for everyone, or at least not for this particular thick-mustached heckler.

 -Michael