(As before, this is a slightly altered version of the official press release.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2010
In less than two years, West Philly foursome The Josh and Pete Band have brought their sunny harmonies and unique brand of humor to venues such as North Star, World Cafe Live (Upstairs and Downstairs), The Fire, The Blockley, and The Troc Mainstage. They've been selected as "Featured Performers" by The Absolute Zeros at Tritone. They've shared the stage with acts including Agent Moosehead, G. Calvin Weston, Conversations with Enemies, and Caravan of Thieves. But all those feathers in their caps will not accomplish the goal of funding the first professional album by Josh Band, Pete Band, King Alon, and Dr. Lemonade; after all, one cannot pay studio bills with feathers.
So they're taking the route traveled by so many others who refuse to sit around waiting for a record deal: they're asking their fans to fund the recording of the album. One of Dionne Warwick's former psychic friends (or is that fiends?) has predicted dire consequences for the band's members should the album not get funded in time:
- King Alon will be forced to abdicate his throne, leading other musical royalty (Carole King, Ben E. King, B.B. King, etc.) to poke merciless fun at him in song. Meanwhile, his former kingdom will be taken over by The Queen of Soul, who will command plenty of R-E-S-P-E-C-T but will never be able to say she played both bass and oboe in a rock 'n' roll band.
- Dr. Lemonade, a tooth doctor by trade, will quit the music business for good and go into television. He will star in a pilot for "The Dentalist," in which he plays an American who occasionally speaks with an Australian accent. Every network will pass on the series after critics predict that it will last only a Simon Baker's dozen of episodes.
- Left without their rhythm section, Josh Band and Pete Band will soldier on as a duo, The Band Brothers. This name will be most unfortunate, as concertgoers will, upon seeing the duo, ask, "Where's the BAND?!?!" Josh and Pete will split in disgust, and Josh will go back to his day job of putting Weight Watchers out of business, one cupcake at a time. Pete will continue to play music as a solo artist, but a New York Times reviewer will lament the split of the duo, writing, "Pete was the Garfunkel to Josh's Oates."
But if saving The Josh and Pete Band from such misfortune is not enough of an incentive, those who contribute to the album fund will get the following amazing and fabulous prizes:
$0 to 10 - Josh and Pete Band sticker
$10 to 20 - above plus Demo CD
$20 to 40 - all of the above + your name on special "Thank You" page of the professional CD (and Josh and Pete Band 9th Grade CD Series)
$40 to 80 - all of the above + ticket to the next Josh and Pete Band show
$80 to 150 - all of the above + free copy of the professional CD
$150 to 300 - all of the above + custom-made Josh and Pete Band T-Shirts
...and finally...
$300 or more - all of the above PLUS a date with any band member -- or all! (You can donate the date, too - give The Josh and Pete Band to your daughters, your aunts, your grandmothers, even your pets!)
If you wish to donate, you can visit http://www.thejoshandpeteband.com/, and there is even a Facebook event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103310596388459
And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai and The Josh and Pete Band. All rights reserved.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Bad Apples in Origivation!
Quiet times for Bad Apples these days, but I did get them reviewed in Origivation! I haven't seen the print version yet, but here it is online: http://www.origivation.com/reviews/august2010/apples.php
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Score another for the Guggenheim Grotto!
No, I'm not still working for The Guggenheim Grotto. That project lasted for just a few weeks in June. But when I WAS working for them, I did contact Kate Bracaglia, who has been so kind to The Josh and Pete Band on Phrequency, and she has recently shown the Grotto some love on her blog, Underwater Explosions. Okay, so it's too late for the residency I was promoting, but you know what they say: better Kate than never!
Seriously, thanks again, Kate.
http://underwaterexplosions.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-video-mondayon-tuesday.html
And don't forget: this Saturday is The Josh and Pete Band's performance at the Jersey Shows finals!
Seriously, thanks again, Kate.
http://underwaterexplosions.blogspot.com/2010/07/music-video-mondayon-tuesday.html
And don't forget: this Saturday is The Josh and Pete Band's performance at the Jersey Shows finals!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
The Escape: sad news
This is difficult news to break....Stuart Olson, one of The Escape's guitarists and principal songwriters, is out of the band. Stu and I always connected on an artistic level, and he added a great deal to the performance aspect of The Escape/Reality Stricken whenever I saw them in person, so it's a tough loss for me to deal with. Click here to read the band's official statement.
I am still promoting the Signal Fire EP, which you might remember being the band's last release as Reality Stricken and first as The Escape. EP promotion is not easy; a lot of investigation and elimination of publications, a lot of trial and error, and even in this day and age, I have to ignore otherwise suitable magazines because they won't review anything less than a full-length album. Trying to avoid the fatal mistake of sending out too many CDs, we are nevertheless sending some out (and digital copies when we can!) and here's hoping we get some more reviews on this thing.
Meanwhile, don't forget all the Josh and Pete Band news from my previous posts, and....I thought a new Bad Apples review was forthcoming......I'll need to check on that one.....
I am still promoting the Signal Fire EP, which you might remember being the band's last release as Reality Stricken and first as The Escape. EP promotion is not easy; a lot of investigation and elimination of publications, a lot of trial and error, and even in this day and age, I have to ignore otherwise suitable magazines because they won't review anything less than a full-length album. Trying to avoid the fatal mistake of sending out too many CDs, we are nevertheless sending some out (and digital copies when we can!) and here's hoping we get some more reviews on this thing.
Meanwhile, don't forget all the Josh and Pete Band news from my previous posts, and....I thought a new Bad Apples review was forthcoming......I'll need to check on that one.....
Thursday, July 8, 2010
New Josh and Pete Band story
Check out this great new Phrequency blog on The Josh and Pete Band's current endeavors.....thanks again, Kate!
http://www.phrequency.com/blog/98049746.html
http://www.phrequency.com/blog/98049746.html
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Josh and Pete Band: Jersey Shows finals and EP fund
(This is a slightly altered version of the actual press release.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
The Josh and Pete Band's sunny harmonies, driving rhythms, and unpredictable sense of humor have gotten them an ever-expanding fan base and rave reviews in Metro, Phrequency, 215 Magazine, and other local publications. Now, the West Philly-based foursome have two big news items to share with you.
THE JOSH AND PETE BAND IN THE JERSEY SHOWS FINALS
The Josh and Pete Band have made it all the way to finals of Jersey Shows' $10,000 Philly Showdown! The date is Saturday, July 24th. The venue is the Trocadero -- the Mainstage, not the Balcony. The Josh and Pete Band could win as much as $5,000 cash! The guys could use all the support they can get. Advance ticket sales count towards the band's success! If you want to help the band with an advance ticket purchase (or know someone who wants to), visit http://www.thejoshandpeteband.com/ and click on the PayPal link.
Show details:
Jersey Shows presents The $10,000 Philly Showdown - The Finals
Trocadero Mainstage
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Doors @ 1:30 PM / Show @ 2 PM / The Josh and Pete Band @ 4:30 PM
$14 in adv / $15 DOS
All ages
http://www.thetroc.com/events.php and http://www.jerseyshows.com/index.php?botb for more info.
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138195119527392
HELP THE JOSH AND PETE BAND RECORD AN EP AND GET... A DATE?
You know the story...band wants to make its first professional record. Band won't sit around and wait for a label to come along and fund the project. Band asks fans for help -- and offers rewards for donations.
The Josh and Pete Band plan to start recording in August, so they need their fans' help! In return, they will offer the following "Thank You" gifts:
$0 to 10 - Josh and Pete Band sticker
$10 to 20 - above + Demo CD
$20 to 40 - all of the above + your name on special "Thank You" page of the professional CD (and Josh and Pete Band 9th Grade CD Series)
$40 to 80 - all of the above + ticket to the Trocadero show
$80 to 150 - all of the above + free copy of the professional CD
$150 to 300 - all of the above + custom-made Josh and Pete Band T-Shirts
...and finally...
$300 or more - all of the above PLUS a date with any band member -- or all! (You can donate the date, too - give The Josh and Pete Band to your daughters, your aunts, your grandmothers, even your pets!)
If that's not a story, I don't know what is.
Visit http://www.thejoshandpeteband.com/ to donate, and if you are so inclined, use the Facebook event page to its fullest potential:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103310596388459
If you have any questions, please send them my way!
Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai and The Josh and Pete Band. All rights reserved.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2010
The Josh and Pete Band's sunny harmonies, driving rhythms, and unpredictable sense of humor have gotten them an ever-expanding fan base and rave reviews in Metro, Phrequency, 215 Magazine, and other local publications. Now, the West Philly-based foursome have two big news items to share with you.
THE JOSH AND PETE BAND IN THE JERSEY SHOWS FINALS
The Josh and Pete Band have made it all the way to finals of Jersey Shows' $10,000 Philly Showdown! The date is Saturday, July 24th. The venue is the Trocadero -- the Mainstage, not the Balcony. The Josh and Pete Band could win as much as $5,000 cash! The guys could use all the support they can get. Advance ticket sales count towards the band's success! If you want to help the band with an advance ticket purchase (or know someone who wants to), visit http://www.thejoshandpeteband.com/ and click on the PayPal link.
Show details:
Jersey Shows presents The $10,000 Philly Showdown - The Finals
Trocadero Mainstage
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Doors @ 1:30 PM / Show @ 2 PM / The Josh and Pete Band @ 4:30 PM
$14 in adv / $15 DOS
All ages
http://www.thetroc.com/events.php and http://www.jerseyshows.com/index.php?botb for more info.
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138195119527392
HELP THE JOSH AND PETE BAND RECORD AN EP AND GET... A DATE?
You know the story...band wants to make its first professional record. Band won't sit around and wait for a label to come along and fund the project. Band asks fans for help -- and offers rewards for donations.
The Josh and Pete Band plan to start recording in August, so they need their fans' help! In return, they will offer the following "Thank You" gifts:
$0 to 10 - Josh and Pete Band sticker
$10 to 20 - above + Demo CD
$20 to 40 - all of the above + your name on special "Thank You" page of the professional CD (and Josh and Pete Band 9th Grade CD Series)
$40 to 80 - all of the above + ticket to the Trocadero show
$80 to 150 - all of the above + free copy of the professional CD
$150 to 300 - all of the above + custom-made Josh and Pete Band T-Shirts
...and finally...
$300 or more - all of the above PLUS a date with any band member -- or all! (You can donate the date, too - give The Josh and Pete Band to your daughters, your aunts, your grandmothers, even your pets!)
If that's not a story, I don't know what is.
Visit http://www.thejoshandpeteband.com/ to donate, and if you are so inclined, use the Facebook event page to its fullest potential:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103310596388459
If you have any questions, please send them my way!
Copyright © 2010 S.J. Dibai and The Josh and Pete Band. All rights reserved.
Guggenheim Grotto recap
I didn't explain publicly how I came to work for The Guggenheim Grotto, but I feel like I should do so in order to frame this project. As I noted earlier this month, I'd reviewed the band on One Note Ahead last year, and I attended the first show of their Tin Angel residency as a fan. The turnout for that show was not what it should have been. Given the sizable Philly following the guys had developed in 2009, I wondered if maybe the Tin Angel residency just needed an extra promotional push. So I offered my help in promoting the remaining three shows. This was so last-minute that I couldn't even consider it a proper campaign, which ideally would've begun 3-4 weeks before the first show in the residency! But I thought I could at least help to spread awareness about the remaining shows, which could in turn have a positive effect on the turnout.
The turnouts did indeed improve for the remaining shows, the 2nd and 4th in particular (which, for various reasons, I promoted somewhat more heavily than the 3rd). I had to be creative because even though I am a press agent first and foremost, I knew that things often move slowly or get crowded in the press, so I knew better than to expect much from the press on such short notice. I had to utilize Facebook, MySpace, Craig's List, and word-of-mouth. I also made a point of reaching out to my radio contacts who would be interested, which yielded this:
http://xpn.org/allaboutthemusic/my-morning-download-62410-guggenheim-grotto-7241
If you don't know the significance of XPN getting behind the new album, well.....let's just say it's a big deal! That said, I can't guarantee you that I can get you onto XPN!
You'll also recall that I said I'd be manning the merch table. I did that for the last two shows. I'd never done merch before, but it was a mostly fun experience and I did pretty well considering I was new to it. I'd definitely be open to doing merch again, for The Guggenheim Grotto or others, in the future.
Now, I must get back to my regular clients because there is some ENORMOUS news about The Josh and Pete Band.....so huge I need to think about just how to announce it!
The turnouts did indeed improve for the remaining shows, the 2nd and 4th in particular (which, for various reasons, I promoted somewhat more heavily than the 3rd). I had to be creative because even though I am a press agent first and foremost, I knew that things often move slowly or get crowded in the press, so I knew better than to expect much from the press on such short notice. I had to utilize Facebook, MySpace, Craig's List, and word-of-mouth. I also made a point of reaching out to my radio contacts who would be interested, which yielded this:
http://xpn.org/allaboutthemusic/my-morning-download-62410-guggenheim-grotto-7241
If you don't know the significance of XPN getting behind the new album, well.....let's just say it's a big deal! That said, I can't guarantee you that I can get you onto XPN!
You'll also recall that I said I'd be manning the merch table. I did that for the last two shows. I'd never done merch before, but it was a mostly fun experience and I did pretty well considering I was new to it. I'd definitely be open to doing merch again, for The Guggenheim Grotto or others, in the future.
Now, I must get back to my regular clients because there is some ENORMOUS news about The Josh and Pete Band.....so huge I need to think about just how to announce it!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Something different: The Guggenheim Grotto!
Remember my music blog One Note Ahead? Remember how much I praised Dublin, Ireland's Guggenheim Grotto on it? No? Let me refresh your memory:
"Throughout two generous sets, Kevin May and Mick Lynch filled the room with their superb harmonies and skilled instrumental accompaniment. And yes, they came prepared with lots of quality material. [...] And while The Guggenheim Grotto's sound is based in British and North American folk/pop, [their 2nd album] Happy The Man is fleshed out with elements of electronica, rock, traditional Irish music, and whatever else the lads could throw in to mix things up a bit."
Oh, Happy The Man -- One Note Ahead's 2009 Album of the Year! Yes, now you remember!
The Guggenheim Grotto have a solid new album out, The Universe Is Laughing. To celebrate this, they're in the midst of June residencies in New York City and Philadelphia -- and here's where I come in. Last year, during a January residency at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, Mick and Kevin developed a tremendous local following, allowing them to make a triumphant return to the venue in April. This month, they're playing every Thursday night at the Tin Angel, and after attending the opening show as a fan, I'll be helping the band out with the remaining three. How?
First off, supplemental promotion. I have the Philly connections, you know, so I might be able to help the lads build the same kind of momentum they got at World Cafe Live last year. The shows are just $10 apiece, 21+, doors at 8, shows at 8:30. The remaining dates are June 10th, 17th, and 24th. And get this: for the first time ever, Mick and Kevin are touring the US with a rhythm section! If you want advance tix, check out http://www.tinangel.com/schedule.html and click on the showtime links.
Secondly, I will be branching out from PR and manning the merch table at the remaining Tin Angel shows! So come say "Hi" and while you're at it, pick up any or all of The Guggenheim Grotto's three albums!
I'm very excited about this because, even though it is a small side project, it marks the first time I'll be doing Philly PR for a non-Philly act. I've been wanting to do that for quite a while now. As for the merch table, well, I'm open to trying new things!
Coming soon: HUGE news about The Josh and Pete Band, and (I hope) updates on The Escape and Bad Apples!
"Throughout two generous sets, Kevin May and Mick Lynch filled the room with their superb harmonies and skilled instrumental accompaniment. And yes, they came prepared with lots of quality material. [...] And while The Guggenheim Grotto's sound is based in British and North American folk/pop, [their 2nd album] Happy The Man is fleshed out with elements of electronica, rock, traditional Irish music, and whatever else the lads could throw in to mix things up a bit."
Oh, Happy The Man -- One Note Ahead's 2009 Album of the Year! Yes, now you remember!
The Guggenheim Grotto have a solid new album out, The Universe Is Laughing. To celebrate this, they're in the midst of June residencies in New York City and Philadelphia -- and here's where I come in. Last year, during a January residency at Philadelphia's World Cafe Live, Mick and Kevin developed a tremendous local following, allowing them to make a triumphant return to the venue in April. This month, they're playing every Thursday night at the Tin Angel, and after attending the opening show as a fan, I'll be helping the band out with the remaining three. How?
First off, supplemental promotion. I have the Philly connections, you know, so I might be able to help the lads build the same kind of momentum they got at World Cafe Live last year. The shows are just $10 apiece, 21+, doors at 8, shows at 8:30. The remaining dates are June 10th, 17th, and 24th. And get this: for the first time ever, Mick and Kevin are touring the US with a rhythm section! If you want advance tix, check out http://www.tinangel.com/schedule.html and click on the showtime links.
Secondly, I will be branching out from PR and manning the merch table at the remaining Tin Angel shows! So come say "Hi" and while you're at it, pick up any or all of The Guggenheim Grotto's three albums!
I'm very excited about this because, even though it is a small side project, it marks the first time I'll be doing Philly PR for a non-Philly act. I've been wanting to do that for quite a while now. As for the merch table, well, I'm open to trying new things!
Coming soon: HUGE news about The Josh and Pete Band, and (I hope) updates on The Escape and Bad Apples!
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Escape on Volta tomorrow!
One more time for Volta! Tomorrow at 7:30 PM (EDT), tune in at voltaradio.com for a special on The Escape! There's no excuse for missing this one.....unless you're too busy voting in the primaries.
EP promotion continues for The Escape, so I'll let you know if we get anything else.
EP promotion continues for The Escape, so I'll let you know if we get anything else.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Bad Apples: Volta and possibly more
Hey! Just a reminder to go to voltaradio.com tomorrow night, May 11th, to hear a radio special on Bad Apples! Click the "listen" button on the homepage; the show starts at 7:30 PM (EDT). Bassist BJ Felsted will be in the studio chatting with Cindy about the band's second album, Today Begins At Night. As always, you'll hear the music if you haven't already.
And another thing....there might be some big Bad Apples news coming up, but as always, mum's the word until everything's official!
And another thing....there might be some big Bad Apples news coming up, but as always, mum's the word until everything's official!
