Most recommended friend-albums of 2012

This year, many of my friends and acquaintances put out absolutely incredible music that is worth taking a few minutes out of your day to listen to. Despite how proud I am of everything I recorded this year, I decided to limit the inclusion of that stuff to one album. Below are links and my best attempt to describe each artist. In no order:

Mitar - Anywhere Anyway

http://mitar.bandcamp.com/album/anywhere-anyway

Whispery vocals over beautifully nuanced guitar playing. If you like Nick Drake playing you to sleep in 2012...

Freudian Slip - & Slide

http://onsomeseriousswerp.com/album/slide

Equally lazy and agile, excellent drum work, and the guitars mesh together. Tons of cool harmonies. If you like mathy Chicago bands with a great sense of melody...

Oshwa - transmissions from the midwest: a real​-​america tribute

http://oshwa.bandcamp.com/album/transmissions-from-the-midwest-a-real-america-tribute

Weirdo-tropical-math, female-fronted, crazy vocal parts, groovy rhythm section. If you like Tune-yards and twinkling guitars...

Is and of The - Know Not 

http://isandofthe.bandcamp.com/album/know-not

Spaced-out jams with live and electronic instruments/noises. Very structurally unconventional. The whole album just flows and I like the production a lot. The vocals are awesome, and reading the lyrics along with them helps give the album more of a center. If you like feeling like you're in outer space...

Esoteric Tapioca - Single Player

http://esoterictapioca.com/album/single-player

GREAT lyrics! Really cool vocal melodies and harmonies, interesting chord progressions. A raw, DIY affair. A couple tracks have some serious fuzz too. If you like WHY? playing badass rock music...

Random Child - Trials

http://randomchild.bandcamp.com/album/trials

This band put out two metal albums before Trials, but it seems they've hit their stride comfortably with this one. Lyrics are really, really well written and totally sad. Lo-fi but hard-hitting, a nice blend of older and newer hardcore (older in terms of production/mix and newer in terms of musical vocabulary). FUCK!

Ton-Taun - Get Well 

http://ton-taun.bandcamp.com/album/get-well

Recorded in a barn and boy oh boy does it sound like it. Nice harmonies, lots of layers and rad drumming. If you like Bon Iver from the East Coast...

I began working with Dave Hennessy in the fall of 2011 on the creation of his new EP, Forever. The first single, Today, just dropped on Bandcamp (free download for the next 24 hours!) and the EP will be out in January. Have a listen!

Recording a new LP!

I just finished setting up drum mics, and Mike Nardone is coming over to put some finishing touches on the placement. Finally, I am making a full length. The last one I put out was in 2010, and I feel like I have a much more concrete grasp on what it means to make a full length. Follow my Twitter page for updates and pictures.

Tour was amazing. Listen to Cedar Skies - beautiful music by a fascinating dude who I played with in Columbus. I will begin recording my LP next monday the 17th... gotta figure out a couple unfinished ideas before then, but I have time. I am writing 4 papers right now that are all due tomorrow. Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh! If you ordered a disc copy of Come Down, thank you. Your orders will be shipped out within the next week. Okay.

I just turned 23, so I'm going on a short tour this weekend! Check my "live" page for more details. Also, if you haven't heard my new EP yet, have a download! If you like it, please share it with people!

free download via bandcamp

Options' show at the Beat Kitchen went over wonderfully. It wound up selling out before we went on, and we played to a packed house. The other bands killed it and it was really an honor to be part of such a cool experience. We debuted some songs that will be on my upcoming full length. I have the whole thing written and will be recording 18-ish songs hopefully starting this month. The record won't have all 18 songs on it, but they'll all be released at some point for sure. To take a break from the record, we're playing some songs we haven't in a few months at Quencher's this Sunday.
My main priority recording-wise right now is Dave Hennessy's new EP, Forever. We finished recording it this summer and I'm getting to the final stages of mixing. It's been a great learning experience and has forced me to broaden my skill set. Hopefully, it'll be finished soon, and I'll be sure to post an update when the release details have been sorted out.

new Options tees!

I printed up a new run of tees - all on white shirts, some with black ink, "sunset" ink, and multi-layered/colored ink. You can pick up one for the low price of $8 at my Bigcartel page.

My new EP, Come Down, is out for free on Bandcamp now! Download it or stream it here.

Options the Band will be playing at the Beat Kitchen with Into It. Over It., Hostage Calm, and an awesome special guest on Wednesday.

New Options out 10/30!

On October 30th, I will release a new Options EP for pay-what-you-want (free) on Bandcamp. It's called Come Down and it contains four songs. I mixed them at home for a few months and they are currently being mastered by Carl Saff.

 You can come see us play some of these songs at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago on 10/31 with Into It Over It, Hostage Calm, and a very special guest.
We will also be playing 11/18 at Quenchers.

 Have a listen to my previous records if you'd like:
http://optionstheband.bandcamp.com/album/little-victories
http://optionstheband.bandcamp.com/album/im-only-gonna-be-here-now

Spread the word!

Finally updated the website, added a few much-needed sections and organized things better. I updated my shows, personal discography, and added a screen printing, contact, and press page.

A new, unnamed band (working title: monstertruck) that I am playing guitar is working on recording a 3 song EP.

Options the Live Band is learning new songs to play at the show on the 31st. If you haven't gotten tickets yet, hurry up as it's almost sold out! I'm also still tasking over the mixes for the EP as they will be released on a very permanent medium.

Guillemet is still working on finishing our EP.

I just finished mixing a new Options EP. I'll elaborate plans for release soon, but I'm really excited about it. The band is playing a couple very exciting shows:
9/19 @ Quencher's w/ Emperor X, Mitar
10/31 @ Beat Kitchen w/ Into It Over It, "special guest," and Hostage Calm.
Check out my live page for more information.

Guillemet is in the process of tracking vocals for a 6 song EP. All the instruments were recorded live to cassette tape. We are playing 9/20 at the Underground Lounge with

Space Jam's first compilation, Mercury Mayonnaise, is out for free on Bandcamp via Redbeard Records. Myself and Adam Salsberg recorded, mixed, and mastered it entirely at Space Jam. It features songs by Options, JT Royster, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, and more.

Columbus was really fun last night. I took the Megabus in and worked on mixing my new EP on the way... made a bunch of progress. I got there at 4:30 or so, and walked around the town for a couple hours. Checked out a record store called Magnolia Thunderpussy, got an awesome ginger ale at the northstar cafe, and then met up with Great Deceivers. It was awesome to see them play live after listening to their album on repeat for the last couple months. Almost nobody came to the show, but we got free beer and met two really nice guys named Mike and Kile and we slept in their house. The basement was carpeted, which was nice. In an hour or two, we'll be off to Greencastle, IN tonight, and I'm really excited to experience another new place!

I'm going on a very short tour this weekend with Great Deceivers. They are an excellent band from Florida and you should check em out. Tour dates are in the "live" page.

Over the summer, I've been playing in a band called Monstertruck with my friends Matt, Michael, and Tom. We are playing our second show 8/27 at Township, also with Great Deceivers.

Also, BBQstic is approaching - make sure you go. It's gonna be amazing.

Guillemet will be playing GNARFEST this Saturday at Swerp Mansion. We will have shirts and free discs. You can buy a ticket here.

As per Options, I'm currently finishing up an EP and will begin recording my first LP in 2 years in August. The band has been playing some songs from both releases live, so if you wanna hear new jams, come to a show.

Well, we just played The Big Show 3D yesterday and it was AMAZING and insane and beautiful. Thank you again to Mike Giannoni for kicking ass setting it up (and asking us to play). We have a buncha stuff comin up that I will be posting, but I thought the Big Show deserved its own blog. Photos will be coming soon, as well as video. XOXO.
- $$$$

Odd Ends

I've been holding onto this album for too long and am finally letting it out into the wild. I recorded this to cassette with a Tascam 414 in June 2011 at my old apartment studio, Close Quarters. If you enjoy it, please send it to other people who might appreciate it as well. It's free, after all.



Tracklist:
01. Every Time
02. Not An Apology
03. Old News
04. Not to Say
05. Coming Clean


Free Download via Mediafire

Options will be touring the Midwest from June 28-July 1 with my friend Mitar. It's going to be awesome. Check out it out here.
Mike Nardone will be doing important things in other countries for the remainder of June, so Michael Byrnes will be filling in on bass.
The band has been learning new songs that we will be debuting at Saki Session this Saturday. RSVP if you'd like.

Lots going on! Space Jam's schedule is starting to fill up for June, so don't hesitate to contact us if you're interested in recording.

Options is working on learning new songs. Really new songs. I'm really excited to play em live and they're coming along quite nicely. I'm moving, and I'm dealing with some unfortunate stress from that. Mostly just been recording people these days... all the LPs of Little Victories arrived and should be shipping in the next week or two I hope.

We played a really fun show last night. With the crunch of finals, it was a welcome break from the lock of routine. Check out 10 Paces, Fire. They're from Milwaukee, they also played last night, and they totally completely killed it. We have a show on the 8th at the Fireside Bowl. I'll post more as the date draws nearer.

On Friday, I played drums on two tracks for my friend Gilbe. That should be out soon, I hope. It was a really fun session and I'm glad I got the opportunity to be a part of it.

One final note: This Friday, I'll be playing drums with Julian Bell on the main stage at Columbia College's MANIFEST. It's free and there's tons of stuff going on all day, so make sure you check it out!

Finished guitars for the new EP yesterday and I couldn't be happier with how they sound. Options the Band is playing on Sunday at the Ace Bar, which should be fun. Then we're not playing till May 8th at the Fireside Bowl, and after that, who knows? Been hard at work at Space Jam - we're working on a really exciting project that will hopefully see the light of day in a couple months.

It's been a busy week. On Monday, I tracked drums, bass, and scratch vocals for a new EP. It's 4 songs and I'm really really really excited about it. This morning, I tracked drums for a song my friend Michael Byrnes and I wrote. I'm really tired. They'll be listenable soon.

Shows: 4/19, 4/20

Tomorrow, I'll be playing a solo set chock full of new songs at Subterranean! Show starts at 8, and you can get tickets here: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4462385

Friday, I'll be playing drums in Guillemet at the Underground Lounge. Info here: https://www.facebook.com/events/286660481405658/

Hope to see you there!

optionstheband.com

So I tried blogspot, and I liked it, but it wasn't enough. Then I tried tumblr and wasn't into it at all. Then I tried blogspot again, but still wanted more, so I figured it was time to get my very own domain name. I will be updating optionstheband.com as often as possible with everything related to Options and other bands I'm in. Thank you for checking out my page. You rule.

Lots and lots of shows are coming up this month and next month, so keep your eyes out and mark your calenders!

Two shows this week

We're playing two awesome shows this week with two totally different sets!

Thursday: at the Underground Lounge (21+) w/ Freudian Slip, Wally Dogger, and Hidden Hospitals

https://www.facebook.com/events/259999874068206

Friday: at the Conway Center (1104 S. Wabash - all ages) w/ They Face Reaction and Saline

https://www.facebook.com/events/298164553587435/

These will be our first proper shows with new live member Mike Walker. Check out his music here: http://youmeandthepeoplemusic.bandcamp.com

Schubas show today

We're playing a special acoustic set at Schubas today with the Icarus Account, Sean Magwire, and Left to Write. I'll be backed by Bryan Kingsley on guitar, Mike Nardone on bass and vocals, Evan Loritsch on keys, vocals, and percussion, and Mike Walker on vocals and percussion. I'll be playing a few new songs as well.

$10, 7pm. Schubas Tavern.

RSVP/Info @ http://on.fb.me/wRPi0B

- Seth

hey again

- I'm moving my website back to blogspot because I'll actually use it.

- Space Jam has been making rapid progress and our calendar is pretty crammed for the next couple months. We should be launching a website as soon as we have audio clips. We're currently mixing an LP and two EPs which will be out sooon. If you'd like to record with us, send us an email at spacejamchicago at gmail.com

- Tonight, I began recording scratch guitars for a new Options full length. It'll be a slow process but I'm excited about this record. Hoping to track drums in the next month.

- Updated my discography

- Options has been playing live. Here's what we look like: