Greetings everyone!
I know I haven’t been updating here in a while. I’ve been using my tumblr account much more frequently, as it’s easier to update from my phone. My domain registration is due to expire soon, so once that happens I’ll have everything mapped over to one page. For now, you can check out the posts I’ve been putting up at http://www.bonezone.biz
Lennon
It’s true. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever be able to say it… but I am home. It’s been a whirlwind of a year with Ha Ha Tonka, and I couldn’t be more pleased with how everything came together for us. Thank you so much to all of you who came out to a show this year, bought a record, t-shirt, buttons, etc. etc. Without any of those things we wouldn’t be able to make it happen. It’s still tough. We still struggle to make ends meet, but we manage. I could go on a rant about the state of the industry, but I’ll refrain. Just (for our sake and all the other bands out there) continue to support your favorite artists. We all cut a lot of corners to be on the road all the time, and often if it wasn’t for our loved ones there would be times we might not be able to do this at all… none the less… I wouldn’t trade it.
The Ha Ha Tonka record is done. Album artwork is near completion, and the final touches are being put together. If you haven’t been following my tumblr account (http://www.bonezone.biz) you should know that I couldn’t be happier with how it’s turned out. I honestly believe it’s the best thing we’ve done… More news and more to say on that as it comes around. For now, let’s get onto more current projects.
While I’m home I’m going to have my irons in a few fires. We will continue to be getting the ball rolling with Sharp County Records, which will hopefully have our first set of releases this winter. There’s a note you can read about our plan HERE. If you have a passion for Kansas City’s music scene, or are the least bit interested in other music projects I’m involved in, please take a look. We’re putting together a team of people that really care about building a scene and making good music. It’s going to be a blast…
I’m working hard on writing music for a new solo release, as well as doing some collaborations. If you followed my solo project at all, it’s not called Varsity Club Sunshine Coach anymore… it’s just gonna be my name. I do too many little projects as is, so I should try and simplify as best as possible.
I’LL BE DOING A SHOW OPENING FOR ANTENNAS UP AT THE RECORD BAR IN KANSAS CITY, MO – DEC. 30TH, 2010! Please come check it out! I’m very very excited about it, and if you’ve seen me perform solo before, this will likely be very different. I’m looking to make some upgrades. Lord knows I needed them. : )
That’s the gist of everything for now. There will be more updates, so please check in and keep a look out.
LennonBone.com – All major updates on projects I’m involved in.
BoneZone.biz – Tumblr account. More frequent and random day to day posts.
Twitter @lennonbone – I tweet random shiz.
Sharp Country Records – Kansas City shows, releases, etc. etc.
The majority of any updates on things I have going on will come from those spots, and will always be posted here if it’s important.
Thank you all so much for your support. Please spread the word about these little things we have going on!
- Lennon P. Bone
So I’m feeling supremely guilty about not updating this site enough when I’m on the road, so I’m going to try to remedy the lack of updates by way of a different avenue. For the time being this site will be used for more lengthy posts, and if it’s brevity that you want, you can head on over to
Also, don’t forget to follow my beard on Twitter @lennonbone… and all that other B.S. (:
I’ve got 3 weeks left on the road… let’s see how this thing does.
Hey everyone.
I’m sitting in a Starbucks in NY state, getting ready to head to Boston for show #6 with the Tonk and Rocky Votolato. Things are going great. I’m having a blast… and Rocky and April just walked in… woah.
We’re chatting now, but I wanted you all to check this out. This band is fantastic, and some good friends of mine.
Presenting :: Tommy and the High Pilots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9CplYkz7QY
More updates soon.
Love.
Lennon
Sorry. It’s been a while since I’ve shared some things that I think you all should check out…. but if there’s a time, it’s now. The Bad Plus just released their latest record yesterday titled “Never Stop”. I’m going to go download it off iTunes (because I think they deserve the money) as soon as I’m done writing this post. If you’re a fan of Jazz, you will love this group. If you’re a fan of rock, you could love this group. If you’re a fan of musicians musicians, you will most definitely, absolutely love this group. If you haven’t heard them, they’re like the rock musicians of the jazz genre, and it’s incredible.
The drummer (Dave King) just so happens to be my literal hero. The guy is everything I aspire to, but will never quite succeed to be as a musician, and I was lucky enough to tell him an abbreviated version of that face to face on one Minneapolis, MN evening. He was supremely grateful, and very humble… but it’s quite possible that he’ll forget that moment. I of course will not. For a short amount of time though, I think he was reminded that the work he’s done is paying off. So, if you ever get the chance, tell your heroes you appreciate them. They deserve it. And spread the word. They deserve that too.
Now, check it out.
Well, don’t think we’ve gone off and started an actual record label. Some friends of mine and I have decided to put a name behind all the little projects we do. It’s a chance for us to share each others fans by presenting them with each others music and art. I know I discover some amazing things by checking out the community that some of my favorite musicians are involved with, so that’s what Sharp County is for us… a (very small and growing) community of people passing around each others art in hopes that people will discover more endeavors that they can enjoy.
From the facebook page:
Just so you know, we’re not a record label. That is, if you’re basing us on what the standards are in the industry. We know people that run great record labels in the truest sense, and we are not prepared to make that sort of jump just yet. We’re here to try something different.
Sharp County Records is an expanding family that simply put, pools their social resources together to promote art created by artists that are dedicated to their craft. We play on each others music, we talk to each others fans, and each artist is as active and important in the process as the other. It’s much more of a community than a “record label”.
We honestly think you’ll like a lot of the stuff we do. We hope to eventually have a wide array of options, from aural to visual… a little something for everybody. We’re planning to continuously keep some free options around, and to of course always have our art be affordable.
If you’re interested in being a part of Sharp County Records, or just have some more specific questions about how we do things around here, please contact us at sharpcountyrecords@gmail.com
Sincerely.
The Staff
So, if you see an email or hear something about S.C.R. on Facebook or Twitter, you’ll know what it’s about. Check it. “Like” it. “Follow” it. We think you’ll “enjoy” it.
Love.
Lennon
As I’m working on my new EP and a million other things, I’ve decided to release a collection of my favorites from the EP’s that I’ve put out so far. It’s sort of a way of saying goodbye to the “Varsity Club Sunshine Coach” handle, and hello to using my own name. Finally.
I’ll probably release it the next couple of weeks. It’s called “Company”.
Inspired by a few key composers/writers that have used video to help them in their process, I’ve decided to do my own take on the exercise. In the recent weeks I’ve been taking video of what I feel are notable portions of my travels and chose to use this video as my first attempt. On the day this video was shot, I left my brothers apartment in Chicago at around 6:30 am to find it pouring rain. I took a megabus to Cleveland to meet Jamie after about a month long tour, and for such a gloomy day I was still feeling a lot of excitement about meeting back up with her and her family. I did my best to have the piece express those feelings in some way.
As a nod to some of the more “chance” ideas that I’ve been toying with lately, I left the original audio from the video in the piece itself. I made a point to write the music without listening to the original audio, and any lining up between the two is all by happenstance. There are a couple of moments in there that I’m really proud of… the ending especially…
I wrote and recorded the musical portion of the piece in Phoenix two nights ago, and figured this should be part of my personal promise to keep sharing projects, even if the whole project idea doesn’t come to fruition. There may or may not be changes made to the piece in the coming days, but I still like where it’s at now and thought it would be worth putting out there.
I certainly hope you all enjoy! If you do, PLEASE “like” and “share” and all those other great facebook terms we’ve learned to love. Thank you!
Lennon
We’ve been rolling down the 101 in Cali. for the last week. Not ideal times for internets, so please forgive my absence. I’m working on many new things in whatever spare time I have right now. I hope to share more with you all soon…
Love.
Lennon
I began working on some instrumental ideas in the van this week. The following is an untitled and unfinished piece that I enjoy listening to. Hope to have more finished thoughts soon, for now I figuredt this was the perfect opportunity to share the beginning of the process with you all.
UntitledA <—– Listen Here
Love.
Lennon
