Options The Blog

hey again

2012-02-19T21:57:00.000-08:00

- 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:

wintertime/mega update

2011-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

hello everyone,

I've been slacking hard on this blog and it's been an insane semester for me at school, but that is finally done now. Got a bunch of stuff to post about! I know there are a million links in here, but I encourage you to check them all out if you get a chance.

- Redbeard Records and I have teamed up to launch a Kickstarter to fund the pressing of Little Victories on 150g Vinyl! We just passed the $500 mark which is totally incredible, but are shooting for $1500. If you would like to donate or know anyone who might be interested in helping the cause, PLEASE check out the kickstarter here: http://kck.st/stjZ5b. Even if you don't have any money, check out two videos of me and Bryan Kingsley (Cage Match) play Waterfall and Mind It with acoustic guitars.

- Options the Band will be going on two short tours this January. We'll be traveling around the Midwest, so make sure to keep an eye out for us. The dates seem to be January 11th-15th and January 19th-21st. I will post dates the second they're confirmed. This is the first tour Options has ever done, and I'm lucky enough to have some of the best musicians I know playing with me. If you were not already aware, Bryan Kingsley (Cage Match, Guillemet, They Face Reaction) is playing guitar, Mike Nardone (Stereophage, You Me & The People) is playing bass and singing, and Evan Loritsch (Island of Misfit Toys, a million other bands) is playing drums. We are planning on recording a tour-only EP which I will post about more in the future.

- On Tuesday, I'm heading back to my native Pennsylvania to hole myself up in my room and write for my next full length. So far, I have 15 songs written (and counting). They're mostly shorter than most of my previous songs (around 1-2 minutes for most of them), but I'm more excited about these than I've been in a long time. I'm tentatively planning on recording the album in the beginning of January, but we'll see how the writing process goes. Hopefully the band will begin playing some of these songs live, too.

- I have a new EP that I recorded on a four track tape recorder over the summer. If anyone wants to put it out on tape, please email me at optionstheband @ gmail dot com. I'm going to be mixing it onto 1/4" tape with Adam Salsberg at Space Jam Chicago.

- While I'm back in PA, I'm also going to be finishing an album with Young Bull and playing drums on a new LP from About a Million. Hopefully playing a couple shows with both projects, too.

2011-10-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

After a promising, yet false start, Options the Live Band will be back up and running soon. We have a new drummer and I'm very excited to start playing shows again!

I will be playing a stripped down set at North Shore Pharmacy this Friday. Also playing are Sharpless, Idealist, and other cool bands!

RSVP/Address

I have been sitting on a new EP for months and have not had time to finish it. I recorded it entirely on a Tascam 414 four track tape recorder. I believe I will be mixing it with Adam Salsberg at Space Jam soon - we just have a couple more pieces of equipment to purchase and we'll be good to go! If you'd like to help expedite the process, please consider purchasing one of my albums.

Guillemet has been working hard on new music, and are getting closer and closer to being show-ready. We recently acquired a new bassist, Dylan Piskula from the Para-medics.

Check out Space Jam, my studio with Adam and Bryan from Cage Match! We can record your band on the cheap and it will sound really good. We just put up new pictures of the space, and it is improving every day. Book time at Spacejamchicago at gmail dot com.

Little Victories is out now

2011-09-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

You can now stream/download Little Victories on Bandcamp.

Options will be playing the whole album tonight at the Fireside Bowl. 8pm, $8, four bands.

RSVP/Info

Artwork for Little Victories/tracklist/new song

2011-09-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

Check out Moving Song from Little Victories!

01. Too Scared to Shake

02. Yours Truly

03. Moving Song

04. Waterfall

05. Line

06. Mind It

You will be able to purchase it for $3 via Bandcamp.

Little Victories CD release show!

2011-08-24T15:07:00.000-07:00

Options will be playing a full band show to celebrate the completion and release of Little Victories on 9/27 at the legendary Fireside Bowl. This will be the first place you can hear and purchase the album.

RVSP

introducing Guillemet!

2011-08-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

Over the spring/early summer, some friends and I got together and wrote 3 songs (mostly under the direction of our guitarist Lucio). We recorded them and now you can download them on Bandcamp! We're working on new songs and will hopefully be playing shows very soon. Bryan from Cage Match does vocals in this band, pretty ill.

Little Victories update!

2011-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Little Victories has officially entered the mastering stage. Carl Saff has taken on the job and I couldn't be more excited to hear the results! I am also getting a band together in Chicago, and I'm hoping to have a release show for the album in mid-September. New songs are coming slowly, mostly due to working like a maniac all summer, but now that's done and I'm going back to Chicago this Wednesday, so hopefully things'll pick up.
The art for the album is coming along really nicely, Connor is doing a badass job. I don't have a final cover yet, but everything he's sent me rules and I'm stoked to have such good lookin' art to attach to this album! It won't be long now...

I'm Only Gonna Be Here Now CDs

2011-07-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

I made 5 copies of I'm Only Gonna Be Here Now for the last show I played. I drew something on each of the CDs, and I figured I should probably put them up here for sale. If you're interested in one, email me at optionstheband @ gmail dot com and we can work something out.

$4 ppd

Options / Show - 7.21.11

2011-07-19T13:43:00.000-07:00

I'm playing a solo set at Milkboy Coffee this Thursday the 21st. It'll be neat. $5.

RSVP on Facebook

little victories has been mixed

2011-06-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

My new solo record Little Victories got finished being mixed today. I'm unbelievably happy with how it sounds and cannot thank Jonah enough for everything that he did to make this record happen. I'm so excited to get this thing mastered and then put it up for everyone to hear.

Options // Odd Ends

2011-06-28T01:01:00.001-07:00

I'm working on an album called Odd Ends. Some of these songs are a month old, some of these songs are two years old. I recorded them all on my four track in my apartment, and hopefully it'll be out kinda soon.

Options shirts are available now!

2011-06-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

You can buy these here:

Swag

Options / Show - 6.19.11

2011-06-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

RSVP/Information on Facebook

Options / from the archives / youtube channel

2011-06-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have a YouTube page now. You should probably subscribe or check there occasionally or something, as I will be posting videos of new songs or ideas or shows or whatever I feel like.

To celebrate, I uploaded two recordings of Options the live band practicing in my Dad's basement to soundcloud as well as two live videos with that same band. This is from 2009, and is (as far as I know) the only existing footage of Options from PA.

YouTube:

I'd Rather

Gift Card

Soundcloud:

5212

Times Like These

Like So/Cage Match show

2011-06-04T20:01:00.000-07:00

Like So's first show in over a year. Cage Match is playing too!

RSVP on Facebook

Mantra

2011-05-08T21:58:00.001-07:00

I played drums on a song for my friends You Me and The People. I'm really stoked on how it turned out. Check it out on their Bandcamp.

&amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://youmeandthepeoplemusic.bandcamp.com/track/mantra-lee-nardone-engel-walker"&amp;amp;amp;gt;Mantra (Lee, Nardone, Engel, Walker)) by You Me and The People&amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;gt;

download this

2011-05-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

The second Like So release, entitled Has a Pajama Party, has been completed. Download it here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?c4rb472xn6jtwlc

woah, oops.

2011-04-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been a while since I've posted here. Not sure if anybody even reads this thing, but whatever. The end of the semester is always a terribly busy time, and I'm looking forward to the summer and working on a million things at once. Here's what I've been doing and what's going on:

- I played drums on a song by Beasty Eyes which you can hear here:

You can download it for free if you'd like. We will be playing at Biggest Mouth (a Columbia College "battle of the bands" thing) at The Metro this Wednesday (4/27) for free. Just say "Beasty Eyes" at the door to vote for us if you come (which you should).

- The new Like So EP has been completed and will be available for free download very, very soon.

- Cage Match's upcoming 3 song EP is currently being mixed.

- Myself, Adam Salsberg, and Bryan Kingsley (both from Cage Match/Options live band) have started a recording studio called SPACE JAM. More info to come soon!

- I finished recording the new Options EP. Jonah Kort will be mixing it. Exciting? Yup.

- Always writing for a new Options thing. I have too many ideas and not enough time. Hopefully that will change soon.

That's all for now.

2011-02-28T09:14:00.000-08:00

Options the BAND just played our first show since may on saturday, and it went really well! We all had an exceptionally good time, and will be doing this more often.

We just got confirmed for a show on March 13th and Pancho's! I'm super excited for it, and you can RSVP on Facebook here. Swag.

Like So is really almost done...

2011-02-15T21:55:00.000-08:00

and now I've got some proof! Ladies and Gentlemen, two songs from the forthcoming Like So EP:

Teen Sensation

I Wanna Go To Japan!

enjoy!

Like So almost done

2011-02-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

I finally got to hear some final mixes of the almost-long-lost Like So EP that we recorded last May. They sound really great, and I am excited for it to come out. There's been a ton of snow in Chicago and I've been getting a lot accomplished on my days off. Today, I'm (hopefully) finishing re-mixing Like So's demo, and then I'm rehearsing for a few shows I've got coming up. Gotta get back to work. Stay warm!

I'm Only Gonna Be Here Now

2011-02-01T18:20:00.000-08:00

Here is a new album I've been working on for a bit. I just finished mixing + "mastering" it tonight. Hope you enjoy it!

Stream/Buy

Download for Free

new year

2011-01-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

I am packing for Chicago right now, so I'm gonna keep this brief. I am nearing the completion of two options projects, getting ready to begin a third, and having my first Options the Live Band rehearsal on Sunday. Good things are happening! Young Bull's LP is halfway done, and will hopefully be out in the next couple weeks (keep your fingers crossed!). Cage Match has been on break cause we've all been in different states, but we have a free show coming up next week and I'm super excited for it! We've also recorded 3/4 of a new EP. Like So's EP is actually getting mixed and we will be announcing some cool plans for the release soon. This year is already more exciting than 2010.

tracking drums today!

2010-12-22T13:24:00.000-08:00

It's winter break, and I recorded drums on Monday for a five song EP that I've been passively working on for the last couple months. Adam Salsberg helped me out with drum recording, and it sounds awesome! I'll probably work on more vocals tonight. I wrote these songs back in August/September, and I'm glad to be able to work on em again.

I am currently at CarterCo Recording with Jonah Kort recording drums for another (can you believe it? you should!) EP that has six songs. I will also hopefully be recording the bass for that album today. Guitars have been mostly tracked, and we're gonna finish em up tomorrow at Jonah's own Albany Recordings.

back to work

2010-12-16T22:39:00.000-08:00

My semester ends tomorrow and I have more material than I know what to do with. Like So EP is getting finished pronto, I'm recording a whole lot of Options from tomorrow till thursday, and hopefully that Young Bull record will get finished too.

big show tomorrow!

2010-12-02T21:16:00.001-08:00

My friend Mike and I are having a dual birthday show. I am playing an Options set by myself with an electric guitar and a DL-4. My roommate's band Small Wonder is playing. Cage Match is playing. A secret guest is playing. It is going to be really awesome, and you should go. AND it's free.

RSVP here

back in print

2010-11-08T22:09:00.001-08:00

After not having CDs for a really long time, I finally made copes of Back Home and Some Light, and more copies of A Fisherman's Drought. You can get them at Bandcamp or click the aforementioned links.

I'm currently working on another pressing of Baby Steps as well as a first pressing of This Year by Sneaky People. Stay tuned...

Cage Match has CDs that you can get here for a minimum of $3 (to cover shipping).

soundclouds!

2010-11-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I got a soundcloud for Options. I'll be posting new ideas and songs occasionally and then taking them down. http://soundcloud.com/optionstheband

Cage Match also has a soundcloud http://soundcloud.com/cagematch

Cave Math is done and out!

2010-10-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

Cage Match's debut album Cave Math is out now for free/donation at http://cagematchmusic.bandcamp.com. Get it!

working on a bunch of stuff!

2010-10-19T23:14:00.000-07:00

I have all guitars and drums tracked for two songs on the upcoming Options EP. It still doesn't have a name yet, but I think I might have some album art. I'll figure it out soon enough. It's been put on hold for the last couple weeks due to a sprained right ankle. I've almost totally recovered, though, and I'm hoping to get back to recording within the next couple of weeks. I also got a 4 track tape recorder and I'm relearning how to use it so I can record a set of songs that have been done for a while.

Due to some technical difficulties, Cave Math, the new EP from Cage Match isn't online yet, but it should be sometime this week. We're playing for free this friday at Phyllis' Musical Inn, which is in Wicker Park (off the Division Blue Line stop on the CTA) in Chicago. It's 21+, which totally sucks. Sorrrrry!

Like So's EP has been put on the backburner for now. It'll get done eventually though, promise. No shows are planned and we haven't played together since May. Do the math.

This summer, Scotty Leitch (of Pirouette) and I wrote a bunch of songs in a few weeks and then recorded them in his basement. I play drums, Scotty does everything else. We're called Young Bull, and hopefully you will be able to hear our music soon. I'm really excited about it!

Options winter tour 2010? We shall see.....

Cage Match Cave Math

2010-10-08T09:43:00.001-07:00

go to our EP release show this sunday at the beat kitchen in chicago. i'm pretty excited for it.

It's been a minute...

2010-09-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

I'm currently recording a new Options EP with Jonah Kort at CarterCo Recording in Chicago. It's going to have 6 songs, and I'm pretty excited about it. I'm still hoping to get a live band together to play my songs.

Cage Match is finishing mixing our EP today and we'll probably announce something about it's release soon.

Like So's EP is still getting mixed. Remixing of the demo has been put on hold because I don't have enough time for it right now.

sorry about this...

2010-09-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

As you probably know, I currently give away all of my music for free on Bandcamp.com with a donation option. In fact, I've given away 630 free downloads of all my albums to date, and I'm really proud of that. However, Bandcamp's model is changing to a limit of 500 free downloads. I do have the option of paying for more free downloads, but let's face it - that doesn't make any sense for me. I'm making next to nothing off of my albums as it is, which I don't mind at all, but I'm not about to effectively pay for people to download my album for free.

So here's the scoop: I'm going to keep ALL of my music free until the end of this month. Then, I'm going to make a song or two from each album free, but sell each album for a reasonable price with a set minimum donation. I'm thinking something between $3-$6 depending on the album. If you really can't afford to buy my music, go on google and find a download of my stuff or get it from a friend. The bottom line is, I want you to have my music, and since I record and mix nearly all my music myself, it's at no cost to me. I feel like this is pretty reasonable, and you still have the rest of this month to snag my discography for free!

In other news, both Like So and Cage Match's EPs are being mixed. Get stoked.

Sneaky People's debut EP is out now!

2010-09-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Download it here if you'd like. Four songs recorded in January and mixed last month.

Some Light on CD!

2010-09-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

My newest full length Some Light will finally be available on CD on 9/21! Pre-orders are up here and are at a minimum price of $5.

I print everything at my house and assemble it with my own two hands. There's even a neat little booklet inside with a blurb about how the album came to be and some information about when and where I did everything.

Pre-order @ http://optionstheband.bandcamp.com/album/some-light

xoxo

Sneaky People EP nearing completion...

2010-08-29T18:10:00.001-07:00

My old friend Alex and I wrote and recorded an EP in three weeks this winter under the name Sneaky People. He played drums, I played guitar, and we both sang and wrote lyrics. I was never satisfied with the mixes I made and we never got artwork done for it, so I put it on the back burner and didn't think about it for a while. When I got back to Chicago, I decided to record the bass tracks and I'm currently mixing it. Hoping for a September release - keep your fingers crossed?

Like So EP done recording/demo re-release

2010-08-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago, my band Like So recorded our first demo. In listening back now, I recognized many flaws in the final mixes, so I am mixing the album again. It will be re-released as an EP.

Colin also just finished recording his vocals for Like So's newest EP (which I believe is called Has a Pajama Party!). Drums were recorded at CarterCo. Everything else was recorded at Albany Recordings. Recorded and mixed by the fantastic Jonah Kort. We're hoping to play these songs live before the end of the year, as well as our older songs.

Release dates will be announced upon completion.

back in chicago!

2010-08-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

One 14 hour drive and several rest stops later, I'm in Chicago again! Sneaky People EP should be out really soon, Like So EP is on the way to being done, Cage Match EP is being mixed, and I'm still plodding along for this new Options thing. Hang tight!

this weekend was a good weekend.

2010-07-26T14:58:00.000-07:00

new members of my family. awesome.

writing again!

2010-07-17T16:08:00.000-07:00

So I'm finally writing and demoing music again. I've been cursed with a bad case of writer's block for the last month, but I finally shook it and I couldn't be happier with how these new songs are sounding.
I also recorded my first cover song - Aside by The Weakerthans. This is one of maybe three covers I have ever played live, so I figured it'd be a good one to start with. I'll probably keep recording covers of songs I like and put them on Bandcamp when they're done, so keep an eye out for that!

Download Aside: http://www.mediafire.com/?cz1a4vsge4za4kp

Some Light free download

2010-06-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Some Light will be available for free ~~until July 1st. After that, it will be a minimum donation of $4 online.~~

Get it: http://optionstheband.bandcamp.com/album/some-light

Hey everyone

2010-06-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

I tried making a blog awhile ago, but I got lazy with it and didn't feel like maintaining it. Here's my new start. I'm going to be writing about music things that I've been doing lately and posting audio and visual media, too.

Right now, I'm in Pennsylvania, living at my parents house for the summer and working. I've really missed my drums here terribly, and I want to bring them back to Chicago at the end of the summer. I need to get a couple mic cables and some new drum sticks so I can start demoing for my next record. Actually, I recorded two songs the other day with one mic and posted one on my facebook music page. It's called Yours Truly, and I'll probably post it here soon enough. Today, I'm gonna work on making some neat physical copies of Some Light. There won't be too many copies made, since hardly anybody still buys CDs, but the copies that will exist are going to be pretty cool! Stay tuned and thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to listen to my music. You rule!