The Bloomington Democracy Song Order

Posted in General, Music with tags , on November 25, 2008 by Matt

We need a new post here, and I’m here to provide it.

Of course the concept of an “album” is, as we’ve discussed, increasingly obsolete, and so is song order when listeners can organize the songs however they want on their digital devices. Nevertheless, an “album” as an organizing notion for popular music still retains some power: maybe I’m old fasioned, but I like to listen to my albums from beginning to end, and I never change the song order.

So, the songs on BD will be (I think), in no particular order:

Batphone
Clipboard
Block Party
Four H and Fourteen
Giant Robot
Kung Fu Lover
Poster Child
Powder Keg
Stay With Me
Way Back
202330

Eleven songs, all pretty good. How should we establish their order?

42 Comments »

Copyright Is For Losers©™

Posted in General, Music with tags , , on November 19, 2008 by Matt

With Lizards From Afar it’s never too early to jump the gun. It’s our MO. Back in 1991 when we’d just formed as a garage band and we had only a few original songs–many of which I didn’t even know yet how to play (I’d just watch Chopper Newt thrashing the strings of his old Ibanez Strat–which kills fascists–and come up with something that seemed to go along), we decided it was high time to record an album.

So now that our reformed debut “Bloomington Democracy” speeds toward a finale (with only two songs yet to be released, and a final mastering session to normalize all the tracks), I figure it’s high time to introduce the concept for another recording for 2009. Here in Brooklyn where I live at least part of the week, graffiti is ubiquitous and much of it is high art. On a wall near my apartment I recently came across the stencil-painted words “Copyright is for losers.” And I was struck with a realization that undoubtedly has occurred to many of you long ago: Copyright is, indeed, for losers. That is, the internet has transformed the way copyright is interpreted and has introduced new difficulties in the control of “right to copy.” Obviously. And we, Lizards From Afar, may sound like a garage band now, but we are essentially a band of the new internet era: at this point we exist entirely on the internet. Introducing our music for public consumption meant, for us, releasing it for free, and giving up much of the right to copy. The rules that controlled and benefited the music industry for so long have been torn down by a revolution in technology.

I make no judgments on this revolution now. It might be good for popular music, it might be bad (you might want to read this interesting Wikipedia entry). The revolution simply IS. And LFA is right there with the many other revolutionaries. Whether we assent to it or not, we have sided with the infoanarchists.

So, here is my first concept (still unfinished) for the next “album” cover, a collage of Brooklyn graffiti centered around that one stenciled notice to the world: Copyright Is For Losers.

copyrightforlosers

And for those of you who might be hungry for new LFA music (and who wouldn’t be?): I’ve started work on a few new ideas. If you liked our combination of rock, punk, pop, and blues, perhaps you’ll also get a kick out of my new combination of jazz and punk….

61 Comments »

Chopper Newt on Aussie Geek Podcast #009

Posted in Music with tags , , , , , on November 17, 2008 by Sir Pent

For the past weeks, the Lizards have been lucky enough to have a featured spot on the Aussie Geek Podcast. Each week had a spotlight song with an pre-recorded introduction. The culmination of it all to be a “LIVE” interview with a bandmember.

The day is finally upon us.

This weekend Chopper skyped in with all the members of the Aussie Geek Podcast. The title of this episode is cleverly named “Eye Of Newt”. From what I have been told/warned by Chopper, is that he is pretty much included in the entire episode…and that I am sometimes mocked. (EDITORS NOTE: NOT SURPRISING, THEY ARE ALL JEALOUS OF ME.) I have just downloaded the file and will be listening to what I am going to refer to as ‘The Celebrity Roast of Sir Pent’.

Check it all out here:

http://www.aussiegeekpodcast.com/2008/11/aussie-geek-podcast-009-eye-of-newt/

Thanks guys (& in advance I’d like to tell Chopper to bite me),

Sir Pent

91 Comments »

Vinnie Vincent owes me $150

Posted in Music with tags , , , , on November 15, 2008 by Sir Pent

Does everyone here know who Vinnie Vincent is? No?

Vinnie Vincent (previously Vincent Cusano) is a guitarist/songwriter. He almost became famous in the early 80s when replace Ace Frehley in the rock band KISS. Unfortunately for Vinnie, he joined after KISSmania had all but disappeared. Paul Stanley had him paint up his face with an Egyptian Ankh and soon he was playing lead guitar to mostly empty arenas all over the US.

Not long after joining, KISS took off their signature make-up and released the Lick It Up album. On the cover, for the first time ever, people could see what the members of KISS really looked like. The album was fantastic to boot and the band had a huge hit with the song LICK IT UP.

Vinnie didn’t last long after the Lick It Up tour. For reasons that are only known to the KISS men themselves, he was out of the band after the historical “no makeup” tour. He went on to form his own 80s hair-metal band called the VINNIE VINCENT INVASION. The VVI had a few very minor hits before Vinnie’s bandmates ditched him to form the hugely successful, late-80s hair-metal band SLAUGHTER. Vinnie was hardly heard from again.

So why does he owe me $150?

After his band left him in the dust for the golden ring, Vinnie unsuccessfully tried to release albums on a bunch of different dinky labels. He never got anything out. He released an indie EP that sucked balls, but that hardly counts.

Then in the late 1990s Vinnie suddenly appeared on the internet. A site advertising the Vinnie Vincent Archives. A boxset of all of Vinnie’s demos and unreleased materials. Supposedly 6+ hours of music in a collector box. All you had to do was print out the form and send a money-order for $150. Since I’m a sucker for all things KISS related AND for collector sets, I really had no choice but send the money-order.

About a year later I received a form later with some VVI guitar picks asking in a very long winded manner that “we all be patient. Vinnie is a genius, perfectionist and you can’t rush a genius, perfectionist.” A few years later I read online that Vinnie had declared bankruptcy and that no boxsets would be going out to anyone.

So here I am, all these years later. $150 poorer and Vinnie Vincent Boxset-less. So if anyone out there knows where Vinnie is at, please tell him to send me my money.

Sir Pent

24 Comments »

MSPaint Adventures

Posted in General on November 14, 2008 by Gator

As long as Chopper’s posting Web-timewasters, MSPaint Adventures is hit or miss. By which I mean I didn’t care for the other two, but Bard’s Quest was … well, it had me laughing hard enough to bring my boss over and ask what the hell was going on. After which he joined me on my epic quest.

Of course, I can’t play it without thinking that it was written by Sir Pent.

7 Comments »

Way Back (Mr. Peabody) on Audio Gumshoe podcast #100

Posted in Music with tags , , , , , on November 11, 2008 by Sir Pent

I just found a new friend on myspace a few minutes ago. It’s a podcast from Dr. Gecko’s home state of Ohio called Audio Gumshoe hosted by Rich Palmer. Upon clicking the link I was lucky enough to find out that we are on today’s podcast.

This is episode #100 of the Audio Gumshoe show. So we are continuing to be part of some landmark episodes of these podcasts. I think that’s a real honor. This particular episode is dedicated to bands that have submitted their music to Audio Gumshoe…which I did. Listening to the show really illustrates what Rich refers to as a “diverse” mix of music. It’s a cool mix and we are in good company.

So go ahead and give it a listen over at:

http://richpalmer.com/podcasts/

Thanks for the opportunity Rich!

Your amigo,

Sir Pent

9 Comments »

OK, I Laughed At This Flash Game.

Posted in General with tags , , on November 11, 2008 by choppernewt

It’s the sound the guy’s head makes when it hits the ground that got me.  Here, waste some time.

5 Comments »

LFA Graffiti in New York City Neighborhood!

Posted in General with tags , , , , on November 11, 2008 by Matt

This just in:

Anarchist Insurgent Lizards From Afar Fans have succeeded in spray painting giant Lizards From Afar logos in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn (for non-New Yorkers, Dumbo is so named because the once industrial slum, now artistic haven of Brooklyn is Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). Here the logo is seen over the Damascus Bakery, and again over a Jay Street apartment building. No one knows how the anarchist vandals managed to reach these high walls. One theory is that they suspended from harnesses attached to the roofs.

lfa_dumbograffiti

An anonymous statement presumably from the LFA Fans warns residents to watch out for further daring anarchist escapades in New York.

9 Comments »

Batphone on True Independent Music Show #25

Posted in Music with tags , , , , , on November 10, 2008 by Sir Pent

I received an email over on the LFA myspace page today letting me know that they had spun Batphone on their Halloween episode a few weeks ago. (One of our most popular weeks in podcasting!) Harry and Sage are celebrating their 2nd anniversary podcast and 25th episode. So it’s an honor to be included on such a momentous occasion.

Give a listen to the heartfelt monologue from Sage. It comes right before our song and gives her thoughts on 2 years of podcasting. I think they are doing a great job and a good thing over there.

Check it out at:

http://true_independent_music.podomatic.com/entry/2008-10-30T23_44_18-07_00

Your buddy,

Sir Pent

5 Comments »

Giant Robot on Aussie Geek Podcast #008

Posted in Music with tags , , , , , on November 10, 2008 by Sir Pent

Today saw the release of the second Lizards From Afar episode of the totally kick-ass Aussie Geek Podcast #008: Revenge. As usual, the guys are both informative AND hilarious. This week saw the return of Cait and what is quite possibly the LONGEST podcast I’ve ever encountered.

This week’s introduction was by none other than myself. I think I really dug deep and came up with an introduction that was truly original and unique. My goal was to show a different side from what Gator presented the week before. Mission accomplished.

So I encourage everyone to head over and download this podcast. The guys are great and we appreciate their support and hope that you all support them as well! (& stickaround after Giant Robot is through for the great blooper reel.)

Get the epic here:

http://www.aussiegeekpodcast.com/2008/11/aussie-geek-podcast-008-revenge/

Your Friend,

Sir Pent

90 Comments »

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