A quick summary of what’s been happening.  5 songs are completely finished tracking at Claymore Studios in Abbottsford – all that is left is for final mixes to come about – then what?  We’ll see, I still have no idea how to properly release an album.  We stayed at Andrew Allen’s place in Vernon last night and he had some excellent advice on running a successful radio campaign, and he should know, his single is #7 on the charts in Canada at the time I’m writing this.  I basically learned that it is challenging to get a song on the charts as DIY artist because, by the time you get to radio stations in the east, the ones in the west already ran it for 2 months and have now stopped playing it.

I’m changing cities, going to roam around for awhile, but it looks like San Francisco will be the first major stop.  I’m going there with someone special!

Anyhow, it’s late, I have to drive in the morning (drove 8 hours today before setting up and playing, hehe, but that’s life on the road – which is awesome I must say).  Tomorrow a private event in Edmonton promises to be a blast!

Some quick news for the loyal and the avid:

- Shaun has left the band. The scoundrel who has taken his place is named Julien – we sincerely promise.. you won’t notice any difference.
- In the live set there are 8 new songs you’ve never heard us play before.
- There are 4 members, 2 of whom you’ve never met.
- ‘Hey’ made radio waves here in Vancouver, check out 98.1fm every Wednesday at 5:30pm to hear Dan McPeake spin tunes and trash chat

Neat.

Hmm. Since Shaun has left, he will no longer be posting his rants here. I’m sure a personal place for his airy dissertations will arise in the undiscernable future.  From now on we’ll reserve this space for things relating to Closing Iris as a unit, a tight package.  Well oiled – ready for action.

~ Julien & Closing Iris

While in London it was amazing to find more than one of my Canadian friends visiting at the shows – like a home away from home.  Also had the chance to sign a disc that was purchased months before at CD Baby – a pleasure to meet you Heidi! 

Another UK highlight included accepting a random, post-show invitation to some posh house party.. complete with Michael Jackson theme.  Yes, abundant white gloves.. golden turban.. and black, sequin-covered spandex?  Fortunately, I missed that phase of Michael’s career.  The mansion was brimming with the high-society brats of London’s elite rich.  Wall-to-ceiling glass doors leading to the back yard, (any kind of yard in London is exceptionally rare).  Me with my Canadian accent, show-broken-string guitar, and sweat drenched Bowie t-shirt.  In the end, Canada’s ambassador to the ruined attitudes of UK’s “inherited wealth” young adults was a big, fat middle finger.  It was necessary for me to ask one fellow – with as much diplomacy as I could muster – “No offence, but would you fuck off”.

Then New York finally rolled around.

It’s hard not to love New York, even though you have the nagging sensation that it’s trying very hard to kill you.  The murderous intent of NYC is everywhere; black soot in your sinuses, taxis raging around every street corner; even the mosquitos in Central Park leave a swollen vengeance on your flesh.

But it’s great!

This trip was more of a relaxed time spent visiting friends as opposed to an adventure through the city.  The shows went well.  This was the second time Closing Iris has made the journey to play New York and certainly not the last.  Some new found fans, new made friends.  A few souls ventured out with the sole intention of seeing Closing Iris play for the first time.

Encouraging anyhow.  Take care, I’ll write you soon.

~ Shaun

Thank you everyone who came out to the last few shows we’ve had in Kelowna this past week.  It was genuinely good to see you again – age old friends, and you new ones too (nothing beats a steak-breakfast, picnic-table, patio performance).  And if you’re one of the ones with me at the Fed, we made short work of that bottle hey? <- you know who you are

My life challenge for today was getting up this morning and driving to Vancouver, haha.. oh man – at least the road was calm, the skies were clear, and Shiloh Lindsay’s CD from the show last night was playing loud.

In Vancouver, Aaron and I hurriedly unloaded all the gear into our space, then put the deposit on my new October home, then packed the bags, and lo’ .. a ride on the new ‘Canada Line’ skytrain – convenient.  Now, as I write this, British Airways’ stewardess is calling the first passengers to board the plane to London.  Last year this trip would have been unfathomable.  This year, at least 3 shows in New York and 2 shows in London will have happened by the time Christmas rolls around.

Anything is possible, even with a hangover.

Here the Monkey’s video looks like it’s straight out of the 60′s:

Fans in our hometown Kelowna will get a special treat on Thursday, September 10th – a free ‘Binge’ performance – 3pm, Okanagan College – KLO Campus.  It’s Back-To-School fun for the college kids and we are serving loud, angst-ridden, dark-side riffs for hungry ears.

Binge has taken a back seat so we can develop the other side of Closing Iris in Vancouver – ‘Purge’.  In other words, this is a genuinely rare event. The immediate future (aka: 6 months – 1 year) – the next tour, single, etc.. will all be Purge based.  Don’t worry Kelowna – we guarantee to keep giving you (only you) an occasional dose of Binge.

If you have no clue what Binge & Purge means, you’re welcome to hear the difference by comparing music at the following links:

Binge – (studio recording of our debut release ‘Another Reason’)

Purge – (live off the floor, solo, demo/shadow of what’s to come)

Four shows are booked for this mini-tour, 2 in London, 2 in New York.

The first Closing Iris show in London is a Landmark event.  We have a nucleus of really solid fans and friends in this city – excited to see and play for you, thank you for your patience.  I open one early show – 8pm, September 16th at the Windmill Pub in Brixton.  The next day, the main support slot at the Hope & Anchor in Islington – 10pm on Thursday, September 17th.

In New York, Closing Iris plays two Purge shows on the same day.  Saturday the 19th of September.  First there is a very early show at Arlene’s Grocery, then Closing Iris was invited to play again at Googies Lounge (above the Living Room).  I played Googies in July during my first trip to New York, and anticipating playing again because its a great venue.

Vancouver hold tight – we’re saving the best for last.  You’ll see.

“If I wait for the perfect sentence, the perfect artist statement, the perfect time, a better understanding of punctuation . . .this blog will never happen.”

In this month’s issue of adbusters there was an article about how we are trained in school to write for an external judge instead of using our Self as the guide.  Who am I writing for and am I writing for the right reasons?  There is a journal where my most private thoughts are written.  A friend is attempting to live a ‘telepathic’ life.  Which, to her, means living as if everyone could read her mind.  Our last discussion was uncanny – the things she knew without words.

I sometimes strive to be:

Unique.

Original.

Genius.

We, as People crave these titles.  Why?  Given enough time and circumstance nothing any of us do will be remembered.  Maybe it’s more valuable to crave these titles:

Generous.

Wise.

Fun.

~ Or maybe we should crave nothing and simply soak in every moment?

Joy & Misery – Honor & Shame – Hand-in-Hand

Yeah, sure, close enough. But, Purge is more than just the ‘soft’ side of the band. It is also the international ambassador, the 15-second elevator speech, and the we-only-have-a-couple-hours-live-off-the-floor demo. Purge goes where no band can go and creates opportunities that no band can create.

That said, if you’ve been around for awhile you will be surprised. All I’m going to say is that fresh blood courses through these old veins.

For those who love the cutthroat sounds of Binge, no need to lament. Nothing’s changed, well, except there’s even more new songs.

Thank you all for understanding and encouraging us along our way. We still make trips to play in Kelowna more than anywhere else and miss all of our loyal fans. We love it when you sing along and sip on the whiskey with us – before, during, & after the show. We need your support more than ever, believe it. We are just starting out in Vancouver and working now to make a name for ourselves.

Oh, we’re coming home for a visit.. September has 4 Kelowna shows booked. See you there.