I've moved my Newsletter to an email-only format

You can sign up here at my "contact" page. It's much simpler and more direct than Substack, and I'll be sending out another newsletter soon. As of now, there is no way to read letters of the past, no digital archive beyond your inbox. 

I have also removed all Options music I have control over, from Spotify, because I have substantial issues with their operating practices. I stand in solidarity with many of my fellow Chicagoans who are also boycotting Spotify

You can still find my music on any other streaming service, Bandcamp, and my Merch Store.

Options and Soft Surface (Cameron Wisch from Cende, Dust Star, Frankie Cosmos, Porches, etc) are about to embark on a short tour out East. I made a handy webpage where you can see all of the tour date & ticket links

 

 

Playing with Options 6pc band tonight at Schubas. it will be the band's first show in a year and a half, debuting almost entirely new material. We're opening for This Is Lorelei and Youbet, and the show is sold out.

Monday, I'm playing drums with Soft Surface (new band from Cameron Wisch of Cende/Dust Star) at the Empty Bottle. The show is free!

 new Options song Had My Share is out today on Bandcamp, and on streaming services very soon as well.

Going on my first Options (Computer Music) tour starting this Saturday!!

Info can be found here

Got a new Newsletter up and running! Already sent out my first note, and #2 drops March 1st - subscription is free (no paid tier is available as of now) and you can join up via the handy button below.

Finally got around to updating my Live Audio page, which includes a live session on NPR/WXPN with Squirrel Flower, and live video sessions via the Puddle Splashers youtube channel, including videos from Sun Organ, Thick Paint, Stress Positions, theadoore, and others.

It's taken a long time to work through mixing and mastering the backlog of Puddle Splashers video sessions, but we've got more coming up.

I was also asked to be a part of Ben Arguelles' (of DZ Records) podcast Bending Brains - this was my first time discussing my audio practice at-length, and I had a great time talking and hanging out... two and a half hours passed very quickly for me. You can listen to the episode anywhere Podcasts are found, or watch it on YouTube.

As I was cleaning up my practice space this week, I was surprised to find a box full of Options merch including Swimming Feeling t-shirts, Wind's Gonna Blow crewnecks, and a couple other things. You can purchase what's left on Bandcamp.

On the Unfortunate News front - it looks like the email newsletter service (TinyLetter) that I've been using for a while, is shutting down. Not sure what the future will hold for my very-intermittent newsletter, but hoping to find a replacement service.

the new Joey Nebulous record is out! I played drums on a couple of tracks, as well as recorded most of it. Hope you'll dig in - I think these songs rule and I'm grateful to have been a part of bringing this to life.

Patter (who I play drums with) is going on our first tour! I built a nice little webpage with links to all venues, purchasing tickets, etc.

We're also releasing a second EP this year, called Patter Theme 2 - the release show will also have Floatie and Moontype on the bill, and you can pre-order the tape here (along with two advance singles) and get tickets here. We'll be selling the tape early on this tour as well.

Tour poster by Ann Escamilla

 

pleased to announce the first Options tour in 5 years as well as Swimming Feeling vinyl! dates here records here

Hello hello, have been so busy I forgot to update all the gigs on my 'live' music page... been playing a lot of shows! Plus, spending tons of time in the studio. 

The beginning of April will see releases from some projects I'm super stoked on, including Proun's first EP which I produced/played drums on, a new Harvey Waters EP which I mixed and partially tracked, new Joey Nebulous tunes I partially recorded, and definitely more that I can't remember at the moment. I think I've learned close to 30 songs in the last couple weeks, and as you can imagine, my brain feels like a bowl of soup. But like... the tastiest & most comforting bowl of soup around.

This weekend I'll be in Toronto ON playing bass with my buds Pet Fox, which I'm really looking forward to!

Next after that, I'll be drumming with Joey Nebulous for their EP release show on April 11th.

 Ok gonna go climb some rocks, till next time !

- Seth

 Hello! It's 2023... bananas. I've been up to a ton so far, including Patter's first release, recording new tunes with Mister Goblin, a short tour in California with Dust Star, and plenty else. 

I'm playing an Options solo set on Sunday at my friend's house (dubbed Sappho's Roadhouse) in Chicago - shoot me an email if you want the address!

 Greetings!

I've been playing drums in a new band called Patter with my buds Wilson Brehmer (the Knees, Jodi) and Joe Suihkonen (The Deals, Gentle Heat), and today we're releasing some music in form of a video session with Puddle Splashers, recorded at Ohmstead! Glad to finally be sharing some of this music w y’all, more to come. You can follow us on instagram if that's your thing, at @patterband

 

Glad to share that I have a new album coming out on 7/1 - it’s called Swimming Feeling, and it’ll be available digitally everywhere & on Cassette via Landland Colportage!

I’ll be celebrating with a “release show” on 7/2 with Floatie and Spirits Having Fun :) tix @ bio-link, get em while u can !

A new tune called Toast is premiering over at The Alternative, and will be available to stream everywhere you listen to music, starting tomorrow.

album art by the legend James Lee Chiahan, thank you to Alayne May for the single art

 

I’m releasing a new Options tune this Friday 3/4, it’s called Don’t I and it features my bud Sean Hallock on the drums

   

 

I'm also trying out an Ampled page, which is sort of like patreon but music-centric - Don’t I is streaming early on there, as well as another unreleased tune from the archives.
 

I plan on using the page to share unreleased music, insight into my process, and more.

Alright, thanks for listening & more before too long...

- Seth

 

 

PRE-ORDER: 

USA/CANADA

UK/INT'L

Thrilled to finally announce that pre-orders for the WIND’S GONNA BLOW vinyl are live! You can order one at the links posted above.
 

If you order today, all $ goes to me, as it’s Bandcamp Friday.

Immense & endless thanks to Mikee at Boslevan/Vino Sangre for his kindness, care, and attention to detail in bringing my ideal-physical-version of this album to life!

On the Draw by Options is out today! I made it in my room in one week in early May, and this release features contributions from friends and roommates. Listen on Bandcamp, or wherever else you can stream/purchase music digitally.

Great Deceivers' final LP was released on 4/30 via LandLand Colportage. buy a tape here and listen everywhere you can find music. I played drums in this band since 2016, and also contributed harmonies and other knicknacks to this record. It was recorded, mixed, and mastered by me and Russell Harrison. Much love and thank you for listening- I'm glad I got to be a part of this band.

 Today *only* for Bandcamp Day, I'm releasing a remastered version of 6 songs from my final pre-pandemic show, where I was accompanied by Joe Suihkonen (The Deals) on guitar & singing.

Originally released on the Puddle Splashers youtube channel. You can watch the videos here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5TzBpk5AJBRhZs5h5_hthP1SX_MnaBKj

These recordings will be taken down after today, but the youtube videos will remain on the channel. Hope you enjoy!
- Seth

 

 

 a new Options song called Lure is out today (2/5) !

listen on Bandcamp, also available on all streaming services

I recorded it last month at Ohmstead with Adrian Kobziar
mixed and mastered by me
art by Morgan Paije