T M T S B L O G

here’s a snap from my Thanksgiving weekend that Jess and I spent with my family in Big Sur.  It was deeply peaceful and restorative and so much good for the spirit.  I always love to see my family, I am speechlessly thankful for them.

Today is feeling just about right.  Watched Peyton Manning’s face on TV frown a bunch, read a (nother) Batman graphic novel — recent obsession, long story — and sleepily endured the fading contrails of last night’s fun.

helped out my labelmate Jens Lekman at his show last night in West Hollywood.  sold some merchandise, plugged in some cables, purchased some confetti (it went unused).  a very cool show though.  so many people, so much Jens adoration going down.  pretty nutso to observe.  it was nice to stand back and watch him go, nice to hear his songs again.

wondering how things will be in the new year.  personally, politically.  different by far?  different by fractions?   i wish sarah palin would disappear.  can’t some helicopter hunting trip of hers go horribly wrong?  but i digress.  so much music and art planned for myself in ‘11, i will seek to keep me busy busy busy.  putting the blinders on and making lots of new work is the key.  ”We shall all have a ball!” said the man to himself.

please write to me with any thoughts of your own, i always love to hear from you:  scott@throwmethestatue.com

-S

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Our long-awaited and hugely-anticipated venture to the Asia finally came.  We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Shoko and John at MerryGate Records in Tokyo.  They have released our albums in Japan and brought me over last year to do a solo performance in Tokyo.  This time around we were able to bring the whole band and play a quick 4 shows — Arabaki Festival, Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya.  Along for the ride with the band and John and Shoko was Mr. Andrew, a dear old friend of mine who’s been living in Japan.  He chronicled our Japanese adventures on his blog, check out Part 1 and Part 2 of our adventures!  We met nothing but amazing artists and kind people, and it was entirely bittersweet to have to leave such a beautiful country.  And a week later, as a sublime summer breeze passes over your face, it had concluded.

We also owe a very big thank you to Nathaniel, Archie and Abby at Split Works who brought us over to Shanghai and Beijing.  While in China we had our “WOW” faces on at all times.  So incredible to visit That Country that consumes more and more of the American media’s attentions.  Kind people, Wild West levels of development.  They’ve got some rock n rollers over there in Beijing, make no mistake.  Delicious foods, wonderful prices, rad amounts of bustle and chaos, all swelling up around ancient tourist attractions (The Great Wall was….beyond).  Had a rad night at D-22 in Beijing listening to the owner tell us about Beijing’s budding scene and his efforts to promote in his additional role as captain of Maybe Mars Records.  There we also met Adam, a punk rocker working the bar from none other than Bloomington Indiana (!).  He wore his mohawk tall and his kindness was full-on.

So many good memories.  Can’t wait to make it back as soon as possible.  And most importantly, THANKS to all who came out to the shows!!!!!!!

-Scott

photo by Andrew Morris

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Dear good people of Japan and China and the surrounding areas:

Please come to see us play a club near you. We will be very far from home and very excited to come play in front of you!! Please come chat with us, we will try our best to communicate across the language barrier.

So excited!!!…..

Here are the dates::

Japan___
May 2nd – Arabaki Rock Festival, Sendai
May 4th – Shibuya O-Nest, Tokyo
May 5th – Huck Finn, Nagoya
May 6th – UrbanGuild, Kyoto

China___
May 7th – LOgO, Shanghai
May 8th – D-22, Beijing
May 9th – tbd free show, somewhere in Beijing

yes!

-TMTS

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Getting set to play our last hometown Seattle show for a while, and our FINAL one with Mr. Aaron Goldman. It’s an emotional goodbye we must say to each other, but Aaron leaves TMTS with nothing but love as he continues on his path to become The World’s #1 Microbiologist. Seriously Aaron, if you become the The World’s #2 MB and then want to come back for a reunion TMTS tour on down the road, you can just forget it right now man! We will only reaccept you if there’s a giant blue ribbon on your chest, and that’s just the way it crumbles.

Ah, jokes aside. I’m going to miss Aaron so much. Most people don’t know this, but the entire time that anybody has known about this band of ours Aaron has been my right hand man on keyboards, vocals and glockenspiel theatrics, and that entire time (the last 3 years) he’s also been completing a PHD in Microbiology. He’s finishing his degree this summer and then moving back to Philly where he’ll commute to Princeton University. He’s taken a job as Guy-You-Will-Say-You-Knew-Long-Before-He-Solved-The-World’s-Most-Elusive-Mysteries in training, and so it is with joy in my heart that I say bon voyage to one of my best friends. See you on down the road Aaron, you gd genius.

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Modernity…Progress…Gizmos!

We jumped into the swirling techno-flood and we’re swimming like frightened little bugs.  In our flailing we spotted an iPhone and grabbed on for dear life.  Is this making any sense?

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“‘93…New Year….New World Champions.”

Thus spoke Souls of Mischief, on their debut 93 ’til Infinity.  This album cools very, very hard.  I vote the sounds of 2010 learn something from these laid back smooth sailors of bay area hip hop.

It is a new year/decade.  Time for a renewed wave of positivity.

Coincidentally, the Sonics had the best record in the NBA in the ‘93 season.  Sigh…….damn you Oklahoma City.

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Elvis Costello, your voice on “King of America” is pure butter.

Highly expressive butter.  And let me add, a lower salt content than I had expected.

Please take me on home to whatever America it is that you’re singing about.

I once heard on the radio this quote, which I found ticklish.

“All music journalists love Elvis Costello because all music journalists look like Elvis Costello.”  – David Lee Roth

Once in a while you hear a true thing by someone from whom you least expect it.

Hmm.  Anyhow, Costello rocks despite his looks.

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We had such a blast touring the country with Nurses, really missing these dudes now that we’re home.  They’re touring the country again already, playing shows with Le Loup.  Highly recommend that you go out and see these guys.  Such good dudes, but even if you don’t have a chance to eat diner food with John Aaron and James you’ll still be in awe of their music.  So good live.  oooff.  ok, enough gushing.

John From Nurses chowing down at Mecca Diner, Seattle

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Sinking into the feeling of being home.  Drinking favorite coffees, record shopping, enjoying the week of indian summer.

Got some new tour plans in the works, as well as a couple of really exciting local shows that we will be announcing very soon.

And now that I’m home in front of a *functioning* computer I’m finally posting some pics from the tour…please enjoy!  Thank you so much to everyone who came out to the shows, we had a blast playing for you guys and talking to you after the shows.  Really hope to see you all again very shortly!!  Take care and enjoy the coming Autumn.

Best,

Scott

The Shed, Mobile Alabama. Great bbq lunch. unfortunately did not play the outdoor stage.

Aaron being judgmental about my undies

Record shopping in Austin

Charlie making a new friend.

desert, arizona. sooo beautiful.

Old woman owns this huge lot next to Waffle House, Lafayette Texas. She mows it 3 times a week, and this enormous lawn wraps around her super tiny house off in the distance. family members will inherit it soon when she passes and aren't allowed to ever sell it. Bad ass!!

Curra's in Austin. Carnitas marinated in Coca Cola, OJ and Milk. Frickin Snap!!

Super Target. Anywhere.

Why so wet and terrifying to drive through, Texas?

Ooof!! Pow!! Glacck!

Van. Nap. Hair.

best breakfast of tour, possibly of lifetime. Sun In My Belly Cafe. Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks Susan for taking us!!!

Aaron and the Super 8 Pool

Squints. Needs. Coffee.

lunch at club congress, tucson arizona.

Mt. Shasta

Middle of CA. I-5. So close to seeing parents and friends in More of Central CA.

Aaron dropping the patented GhostHammmer. His moves, to say the least, are sick n nasty, don't you agree?

hanging with The Brunettes -- lovely tourmates. Phoenix, AZ.

Philip Roth and Edward Gorey teamed up for a Xmas parody book -- Sign me up!

so we're about to hydroplane off the Texan road at any moment in this weather, and the sign says "Fin"? Like, "The End"? eeeeeesssshhh...

Blythe, CA oil change pit stop. homie working there bought a CD. Nice.

Charlie being very Noir. Austin, TX.

lets turn that wind into energy! cmon people it just makes sense.

Home. At. Last. What a tour.

to everybody who came out to a show and all the folks we met this time around, thank you so much for being a part of our lives. hope to see you very soon.

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Guys we are almost home, only about three more shows!! Really looking forward to getting back home to the comforts and loved ones. Many many many retrospective tour pics and stories to come in the coming week, please stay tuned for all these tidbits and more (possible new very exciting tour dates to discuss . Hope everyone is keeping well, xo Scott

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