a most irreverent mission - beat radio update

Hey guys,

We’re moving into the home stretch of our Kickstarter Campaign, and we’ve made some amazing progress!  We’re really humbled by all the people who have so generously supported us in doing what we love to do.  If you haven’t had a chance to see what we’re up to yet, please take a minute to check it out here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/648896607/new-beat-radio-album-hard-times-go

I’ve had lots of conversations over the last few weeks explaining what Kickstarter is and how it works.  Basically, it’s an all or nothing funding platform, so we’ve got 12 more days to reach our goal.  Otherwise, no one gets charged, and we don’t get to make all the fun stuff we wanna make.  Some people think that’s kind of harsh, or scary, but I love the simplicity of it.  It feels like a revolution.

For us, it’s all about finding a way the make the process of making music something that is sustainable.  But it’s also about creative freedom.  Your support allows of the privilege of being able to make the kind of music we want to make, without compromise. I know I’ve been kinda joking around about keeping the indie rock dream alive and stuff, but for me it really is something sacred and something I believe in deeply.  To have the chance to share our work, and feel like part of a community with you - that means everything.

It’s a wild time to be alive.  

I keep going back to this quote from Julian Koster. He’s part of my favorite band ever, and he’s talking about what it meant to him to be part of a creative community he had with his friends:
       
“I think what Elephant 6 meant for us is very simple: there’s something pure and infinite in you, that wants to come out of you, and can come out of no other person on the planet. That’s what you’ve got to share, and that’s as real and important as the fact that you’re alive. We were able, at a really young age, to somehow protect each other so we could feel that. The world at large, careerism, money, magazines, your parents, the people at the rock club in your town, other kids, nothing is going to give you that message, necessarily. In fact, most things are going to lead you away from it, sadly, because humanity is really confused at the moment. But you wouldn’t exist if the universe didn’t need you. And any time I encounter something beautiful that came out of a human somewhere, that’s them, that’s their own soul. That’s just pure, whatever its physicality is, if the person can play piano, if they can’t play piano, if they’re tone deaf, whatever it is, if it’s pure, it hits you like a sledgehammer. It fills up your own soul, it makes you want to cry, it makes you glad you’re alive, it lets you come out of you. And that’s what we need: we desperately need you.” -Julian Koster, from Kim Cooper’s 33 ⅓ book about Neutral Milk Hotel
       
For anyone in the NY area, we’re going to be playing a special afternoon backyard show/BBQ at my place next Sunday 9/9.  Our friend Edan from the band West Dakota will also be playing.  It will be a celebration and/or last minute rally for the Hard Times Go Kickstarter.  You can find info and RSVP via facebook here.

Also, we’re setting up some Brooklyn and NYC shows for the fall.  On Thursday, 10/11 we’ll be at Spike Hill in Williamsburg.  More dates coming soon.

One other thing - tuesday night our pal Pete came by and sat in with us on bass to record acoustic live version of the title track from the album. You can watch the video here.  Hope you guys enjoy it.  Talk to you soon!

All the best,

Bri
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