Category: News

Hey Nerds! It’s been a while since I’ve played solo, and I’m going to break the seal this Wednesday, July 30th at Box Awesome. It’ll be a fun time, for sure. I mean it! There will be new songs, instead of the same old BS you usually hear from me. So, new BS I guess.

If you have any questions, or are nervous about purchasing alcohol, please contact me. I hope to see you there!

Cory Kibler
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Because of my well-received and critically-acclaimed graduation and subsequent job search, my music projects have been on the back burner. Ideally, I would have loved to release another full-length solo record in the first half of 2008, but… I didn’t. Not that people are gathering and clamoring in front of my house, but it’s good to be productive. And the process of making a “solo” record is fun. But rest assured I’m going to get right on it once I get a job secured, and I’ll even be recording it myself! REALLY!

However, this Wednesday, July 30th at Box Awesome, I’m playing a solo show with SKIRT from Minneapolis and a Lincoln band called Harmonic Dissidents. I haven’t played a solo show in a while, so I’m excited; I’ll be able to present at least 2 or 3 new songs, possibly 4. I would love to have half a set of brand new songs. It is the late show, so, 9 or 9:30.

The Sleepover; we lost our drummer Brock in a warehouse explosion*, so for the past few months, we’ve been trying to scare up a new drummer. We did have Howie fill in for us in Omaha at The Slowdown which was gobs of fun, and we had the pleasure of playing with The Botticellis and Before The Toast And Tea. But since then, it’s been fairly quiet. We haven’t played any other shows, but we have practiced a few times with one dude who seems to catch on very quickly. He’s also a nice dude, and has an air-conditioned basement. We think it’ll probably work out with him, but we’ll know for sure after the next couple of practices. It’s been kind of cruddy because we can’t really implement any new songs right now, because we’ve got to teach all of the current songs to the new drummer. But that’s no one’s fault, of course. And with any luck, we’ll start recording relatively soon, maybe with Howie on drums and/or recording?

Speaking of the Botticellis, here’s what I’ve been listening to:

The Botticellis, “Old Home Movies”. A shiny, dreamy, 60’s surf-pop record with gorgeous melodies. If you like pretty songs, you should listen to this record.

The Hold Steady, “Stay Positive”. I expected to absolutely love this record right away, so when I didn’t absolutely love it right away, I was a little bit bummed. BUT THEN, the same thing happened as when I bought “Boys and Girls in America”. I just instinctively wanted to keep listening to it because it was a fun record. AND THEN, I loved it. And I love it. Howie and I talked about how Nada Surf records are like this as well. You buy the record and upon first listen, you think, “Man, this is just your typical Nada Surf.” And then after a few more listens, you realize that it’s awesome. “Stay Positive” is awesome. “GET HAMMERED!” YEAH! GET HAMMERED! And I mean that sincerely. “Double whiskey, Coke (no ice)!”

Vampire Weekend, “Vampire Weekend”. I’ve been in love with this record for months now, so I’ll keep it short; nothing completely groundbreaking, but this is a refreshing, perfect pop record. If you like great, concise pop records with absolutely no filler, get this record. DO IT.

Darth Crabs per Cookies, “Narrow Stairs”. I bought this record and liked it all right on the first couple of listens, and now I like it way more. Not as good as “Plans,” I don’t think, but I am going to keep listening before I make any rash judgment calls.

No Age, “Weirdo Rippers”. Man, if there’s a record that was hard for me to get into, it’s this one. It’s VERY lo-fi and raw, noisy, and the songs have weird structures. Not a pop record, really. It has pop elements, but if you played this record for your family at Thanksgiving, they might become confused/annoyed/upset/angry/insecure. It’s a strange, strange record. I’ve heard that their newer record, “Nouns,” is more accessible.

I WANT to buy The Cool Kids’ “Bake Sale EP,” but I can’t find it anywhere.

Quick Summer Reading List: “The Great Gatsby,” Fitzgerald; “A Confederacy of Dunces,” Toole; “The Hobbit,” Tolkien; “The Subterraneans,” Kerouac. Google them!

Love, Cory Alan

*Nope!

See the new MR|link in the left sidebar; it’s a rolling series of the good stuff I find around the web, powered by del.icio.us.  I expect to add links several times per week.  I seeded it with a few things, so check that noise out.
While you’re at it, have you tried sharing MFR posts with your friends via ShareThis?  At the bottom of every post, click the ShareThis button for a wide variety of social bookmarking and emailing possibilities.  Yeahhhhhhhhhhh; share us!

I’ve also started work on re-introducing site registration, so that users like YOU can log in and post to MFR.  That’s in the right bar.  Be on the lookout.

PROJECT UPDATE

“There is Something and not nothing” – Matt and I are listening to a new disc that includes six of his actual drum tracks, and they sound pretty great.  Lots of tweaking to do, but still, it’s fun to hear the songs so close to completion – several of them have graduated to the “mixing” stage.  We’re trying to find a time for him to come over and record the remaining four songs.

Fifty Bears in a Fight – Tim is coming down from Lincoln for three days of practice next weekend.  We hope the outcome is that we’ll feel confident playing an eight-song set, and can start scheduling SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111111111111
Five Star Crush – A practice session geared toward new songs is scheduled for Monday night.  We have three shows coming up in July/August.

“Ventura” – I didn’t tell you guys, but several weeks ago I wrote the last song to the long-anticipated (by me, at least) Sally M/S Ride “Ventura” album, called “Green Christine.”  It was pretty weird to write the last song to a record two years after the other nine, but there you have it.  It has a pseudo-Latin vibe, and tells the story of a crazy date I had in high school.

Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche gave me an idea to re-vamp my drum set using an upright floor tom as a kick drum (with a reversed kick pedal), which I’m excited about using for “Ventura.”  I fully expect to start recording the album…  after “not nothing,” “You Have To Wear The Boots,” and anything Cory comes up with ;-) between now and then.

Ramblerambleramble…  I know, less talk, more new music.  OK, you convinced me; I’m headed upstairs to work on “not nothing” mixes.  LOVE! -h

Late-breaking news, guys; Five Star Crush will be opening for The Bravery this Wednesday night in Kansas City at the Power & Light District – a FREE SHOW, and we’ll probably play our set around 8 pm.
In other news we heard from Nate (Bike) this week.  A Bike song is featured in the film “Out On The Dance Floor,” which was edited by our friend Mike Laan.  Congratulations, Nate!  He also mentioned he’s working on music again, and I’m mega-looking-forward to hearing it.
Projects:

I played drums with The Sleepover last weekend at the Slowdown in Omaha, and we had a riot.  I hope it’s not the last time I get to rock with Cory, Jamie, and Sarah.   We’re talking about how to get their record made, and what role I might be able to play in that.
“There is Something and not nothing” – No news.  Matt and I need to track the remaining drums (4 songs, I think) and then I need to edit drums and mix/master.  Artwork for the CafePress version is almost done and looking great.

“Songs of -h” – Thanks to everyone who gave a gift to St. Peter’s 2008 house-building mission trip and received “Songs of -h.”  I still have about 25 copies available; feel free to contact me in the comments.  I will send all future gifts to our partner organization in Tijuana, AMOR, to help them continue serving local families.  Photos of the trip are here.

Fifty Bears in a Fight continues steadily, but slower than we’d like.  Tim is in Lincoln working on recording the second draft of vocals for the first batch of eight songs.  In KC Matt, Drew, and I have four new jams ready to demo and two or three more that just need a bit of polishing, plus a ton of ideas.  We practiced together for the first time in nearly a month this week, and it was hard to believe how easily we found our groove and started tearing stuff up.  When we get this Fight off the ground, we’re going to melt faces.

Cory, Tucci, Brock, and Sarah’s band The Sleepover was profiled in this weekend’s GroundZero entertainment section of the Lincoln Journal-Star.

Way to go, kids!

“I think it (The Sleepover) kind of sits in between Shacker and Robot. We have songs that are more driven and aggressive and then we have other songs that are really mellow and just really beautiful,” Tucci said. “I think we have a nice, full sound compared to some of the other bands that Cory and I have been in, where it’s been kind of lopsided sometimes.”

The Sleepover’s sound is a little bit pop and definitely rock, but there’s something about it that blends the two together in an obvious way, but not so obvious that you can give it a name.

“I like to be a little bit edgy. Not Prince edgy, but you know what I mean,” Kibler said.

They play Sunday night at Box Awesome, 815 “O” St., Lincoln NE, 18+, $5.

MFR will post their song “Built For It’ to Furious Instance… soon.

On my way home from evening activities last night, ScoMo called.  His blues band is playing at Blayney’s here in Kansas City April 18 and 19.  Did I want to hang out on Saturday (19)?

YES.  And it just so happens that I am playing an acoustic show that afternoon.

howie&scott at the KCSPUCC Craft Fair

10 AM – 4 PM (MAP), Saturday, April 19

Kansas City, MO, US

We’ll be playing off and on throughout the afternoon, tightrope-walking with no net.  We will play songs Scott has never played before.  We’ll play songs you’ve never heard before.  We’ll (attempt to!) play old stuff.  It will be fun.  If you’re around at 4, we can go have dinner together and hang out.  If you need a place to stay, I can probably help with that.
This will also be the release of “Songs of -h,” AKA the “howie comp.”  “Songs of -h” has fourteen of my best songs released on Mr. Furious Records, including several of your choices (the acoustic “Open Columns,” “New Slow Sea,” and “The Picture Song”).  It also includes three exclusive tracks: “Stop Walking (live)” from the h&s Summer’s End sessions, “Set You Ablaze” from Lone Prairie Records’ “Killers in the Nebraska Territory” murder ballad compilation, and a brand-new acoustic recording of “Major & Minor.”

The disc will be packaged in a handmade origami case, and come with two pages of liner notes with stories and background information I’ve never shared before about each song.  I’m limiting the release to 100 copies, hand-numbered and signed.

I suggest that folks make a $20-40 gift to help send two high-school-age friends of mine to Tijuana, Mexico in June, where we will build a simple but strong house for a family that doesn’t have one.  100% of your gift will go to the trip fund.  The trip cost, including construction materials and AMOR Ministries’ ground support team, is about $1100 per person.
“Songs of -h” will not be available digitally via Mr. Furious Records, and this will be the only opportunity to pick up the acoustic “Major & Minor” and the liner notes…  ever!

IF YOU DON’T EXPECT TO SEE ME IN PERSON during April or May, leave a comment on this post with your email address.  I will get in touch with you, let you know how you can make your gift toward the Mexico trip, and get a copy in the mail for you.

I am mega-excited about this.  I haven’t had my work printed on CDs since “signs.comets,” more than four years ago.  It’s a special project that came about in a sublime way for a great cause.  Thanks for your gifts of friendship, input, songwriting (Cory & Joel!), time, origami (Tim!), listening, and money.

Full tracklist:

Songs of -h

1. Snow is a Bear

2. J. Cougar Mellensong

3. Coast & Plains

4. New Slow Sea

5. What U Do 2 Me

6. Open Columns (acoustic)

7. Tired Chords (live)

8. Stop Walking (live)

9. Major & Minor (acoustic)

10. Set You Ablaze

11. Back in the Fire

12. The Picture Song

13. America Votes 2032

14. The Last Song

In order to display mrfuriousrecords.com correctly, you’ll need to have Firefox or update to Internet Explorer 7.  I’m still planning to update some of the deeper content soon.

dollarcd.com is apparently defunct, and that was my plan for the howie-comp.  I’m pondering backup plans.

Around the web, NPR is streaming some great stuff from this week’s SXSW conference.

I picked up tickets to shows in the next couple weeks by Mike Doughty and SPOON.

The longer I’ve thought about pay-what-you-want, the less I like it.  I’ve been thinking about doing some merch via CafePress.  Then I discovered they do CDs, too.

50 Bears are meeting with a potential singer on Tuesday.

And 5*Joel is unexpectedly back in KC for the mid- to long-term.  I haven’t seen him yet, but will soon.

I think the new site looks good enough to launch, so here it is for good.  Leave a comment or email mr (at) mrfuriousrecords.com if you encounter technical/aesthetic difficulties.

Since this took all morning, I don’t know how the rest of the day is going to play out.  I’d like to finish & sign off on my mastering for Pat Bradley’s record, and I’m kind of itching to lay decent scratch vocal tracks on the “There is Something and not nothing” material and burn discs for Matt and I to listen to.  We’ll see about that.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR CORY’S PLANETTEXAS INTERVIEW IN A FLASH-BASED POPUP WINDOW VIA ARCHIVE.ORG!

Thanks, PlanetTexas!

-h