Maybe I'm Amazed

Why I love music: Sir Paul at Comerica

As our EP is about ready for release, I find myself in a reflective mood. In "Before You Go", we talk about change, and in a time of change, it's nice to know that music will always be there. It's nice to know that this new EP will be there.

This year, I feel like I appreciate music more than ever. I know I'm having more fun with songwriting than I ever have, and that can be said for the both of us on the new album. For me, there are certain moments where I know that music gets to me like nothing else can. That happened with McCartney at Comerica Park in July, and it changed the way I write songs and appreciate music.

I don't need to post a full review of this show, though it is permanently stuck in my mind as one of the most inspiring and memorable nights of my life. I just wanted to point out the long term effects of something so very short term. I hope you all can stop and take in the emotions that come with these things we call music and songwriting.

-Pat

Some Labor Day Golf

I came back to visit Michigan for Labor Day weekend, and of course had to get some golf in.  Pat and I have been playing golf together for years, along with many of our close friends.  The players, Pat and I, Mike Thomas, and Scott Wagner, arrived early on this cool morning that felt like the first day of fall.  The match would be MT and I vs. PK and SW.  The stakes were a pizza at Starting Gate.  We were pretty even through 9 and spirits were high on both teams.  Pat was in an exceptionally good mood, as you can see in this pic, but little did he know that MT and I would go on something like an 8 hole winning streak to come away with a clear victory.  There would be no 17th hole birdie by SW to clinch it, no PK 40ft put to put the win out of reach.  To be fair, I'm pretty sure whoever was on MT's team would have won it...  And just in case you were wondering, the pizza was delicious.

I'm so glad I got to meet up with so many friends on my visit back, it was really hard to leave.  We've got a lot of exciting things coming up, check back soon for some big news!

-Eric

"She said I'm nothing without you"

Just to keep things exciting, we are releasing another song off our EP, titled "To Ann, My Apologies." I need my one solid guitar track on each EP, so this was it. I put it together near the end of the last semester and was really happy with the way it was sounding. When I brought it to Sir Patrick McCartney, uh I mean Kochyan (its hard to tell those two apart sometimes), I was amazed with the harmonies he came up with, really bringing this song to a new level! Hope you enjoy it!

-Eric

"I wonder what it's like to live in such demand?"

You'll have to wait a little longer for the full release, but I'm proud to introduce the first song on the new EP: "Working Man". This single is being released as I type this!

When Eric and I started thinking about these songs in March and April, we talked a lot about the kind of sound and feel we wanted on the EP. This song is a great representation of what we were after. Our song structures, vocals, and instrumentals are significantly more involved and complex than before. This song also captures the organic and folk feel of our band. On a less serious note, any song with egg shaker is worthy of at least some recognition!

"Working Man" was the first song I wrote for this new EP. It's an important song to me, as some of the lyrics relate to my friends (and bandmate) moving all over the country and entering the work world. In the end, the song reflects our past and where we are now at this point in our lives.

Updates and New Music

Hey everyone,

The new EP is almost wrapped up and ready for release, stay tuned for more on that in the next few weeks! It's sounding great and we can't wait to get out to you.

In other news, I figured I'd update you on what I've been listening to recently. It's been a while since I've done some CD reviews, so I have a few things to say.

Codes and Keys-Death Cab for Cutie
I am not (like VB) an avid listener of this band or their older music. I have some of the CDs, but I didn't really listen until this CD came out. I needed a new album, and they gave it to me. I started to like this one from the very first listen. "Stay Young, Go Dancing" is one of my favorite songs of the year. There are other tracks on the CD that will get to you, no matter what kind of music you like. I now have a deeper appreciation of Ben Gibbard and his talents. To me, this album is enjoyable, musically tasteful, and just cool!

Modern Love-Matt Nathanson
After seeing this guy multiple times in a year and enjoying it, I was anxiously awaiting this release. Sadly, it really doesn't do too much for me. The lead single "Faster" is catchy if you take yourself back to high school and get over the silly lyrics. I'm not the biggest fan of this album, but I do like "Bottom of the Sea", where Matt takes on an organic and simple sound, with a cool song structure and piano part. Also, the more reserved vocal on "Kept" is nice, as is "Kiss Quick".

Get ready for our EP soon!
PK

Back in the Studio

After a lot of hard work this summer, we're proud to announce that we're back in the studio recording our third EP! We feel like we've got a pretty good sound for this one and we're really excited to stay laying it out. I feel like these songs have a much broader scope of lyrics and emotions as the real world has finally begun to hit us and our close friends. Shortly after this, I will be moving off to San Diego for work and grad school and Pat will be starting some student teaching, so we don't really know what the future holds for The Soloists. Whether or not this is our last release, this will be by far our best work to date! More details on the EP will be released soon. Hope you guys are as excited as us!

-Eric

The Decemberists

You can only imagine my disappointment when The Decemberists concert I had been eagerly awaiting was cancelled due to the Snowpocolypse. As fate would have it, this would give Pat the opportunity to join me for the rescheduled show! The opener, Justin Townes Earle, was a very talented blues singer and guitarist. He gave a very energy-filled opening set for what would be one of my favorite concerts I have been to.

The Decemberists played almost the entire track list off of "The King is Dead," which, if you haven't checked it out yet, I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy. Pat was really hoping they'd play both the June and January Hymns. I was hoping they'd change up from their previous sets and play Engine Driver, one of my favorites. Luckily, we both got what we were hoping for. In the first encore, they ended with a song I had been waiting to see live, The Mariner's Revenge. I had seen a version of it on YouTube, but that didn't prepare me for this epic song. At one point, all the musicians were waving their instruments to create the illusion of a giant wave, then, with crowd participation, at least a minute of screaming in agony while getting eaten by a whale. They could have easily ended on this note but came out for a second encore and played a few more songs. Moral of the story: The Decemberists are amazing! If you get a chance to see them, definitely go.

-Eric