Byrdhouse

Today is Your Day Off

Hello Kev, it's June 15th, 2008. It's an otherwise normal Sunday aside from being your very first Father's Day. I'll admit that as I write this (reflecting as one does on such hallmark occasions), I'm astonished most by the fact that I've even made the time to write you. Other musings and pursuits have been on the front burner. I just want you to know a few things:

You now have a baby girl with Florrie, a fine woman who has held your hand for some six years now. She's walking in Candler Park today with your daughter Annabelle, Mom and Gigi. Though she was concerned with the burden of walking to the car with a stroller and a mammoth dog in tow, she didnt even quip when you intentionally did not volunteer to assist like you normally do in these instances. It's as if she's whispering, "be self-indulged today hon," by not saying anything at all.

And so you write and work on a summer CHIRP mix and think about how Annabelle is fast approaching three months. She's smiling, speaking mumblecore and getting fat thighs, and oh gawd do you love that.

There are several mini projects in various stages of development to mention.

You've started wrangling Flickr images tagged with "friedchicken" and/or "waffles." It's simply called Fried Chicken and Waffles. Your next step is to arrange this gallery into a limited edition hardback celebrating... well, you guessed it.

There's a 35mm E6 slide light casing you're working on too, inspired by Grayson's Slide Lamp. It's your first time experimenting with laser cut acrylic. 

The Monster Quest motion-sensing wilderness camera you got is still in test-mode. One day you hope to attach it to a fence and make a photography series on people picking up after their dogs. (Like I said, it's still in test-mode.)

Oh and that oil painting of Gigi for Annabelle's room; it's on its way. She is one stately explorer of the Alaskan tundra, just like you all dreamed. Do compare the image vs the painting:

You're working at Armchair, and you love it. 

OK the call just came. The ride is here to go to for brunch. 

Talk soon, 

Kevin

Chirp T-shirt

 

Threadless Select is a line of tees where an artist is invited to design a shirt. My favorite red headed giant, Justin Van Hoy has modified the CHIRP cover art he did last summer so it's ready to wear. Get it at Threadless

CHIRP Spring Mix

Here's a new CHIRP mixtape for you to grab. Gabriel did the cover art.

Chirp Winter Mix

Grab the new CHIRP mix. Video cover art by Aaron Byrd.

Happy Holidays

Here's some video fun for the holiday season. Have your holiday checklist handy?

Atlanta 1690 AM

I've recently abandoned the crammed FM dial for Atlanta's 1690 AM. Eclectic, musically educational and broadcasted in the refreshing world of mono, WMLB streams a wonderful plethora of unknown, known, legendary and peculiar songs from digital to dusty. Most endearing are the stations top-of-the-hour id's, a random bird call.

Sorry WRAS and WREK, Im just tired of the college music scene. I have mp3 blogs for that now.

Thanks to Nate and Wade for converting me.

CHIRP in the summer

Justin Van Hoy did the cover art for this month's CHIRP. Get the summer mix here.

Octopus Hands

In high school you branched off from your buddy's band and started your own solo act. You swore on 1700's French court attire (think Amadeus). Octopus tentacles instead of hands peeked from your coat's sleeves, as you tapped your Casio with such a focused intensity, completely oblivious to the mostly inaccurate notes the tentacled fingers produced. Your music was very hard to listen to, but your live shows were amazing to witness.

Cops on Bikes

We made a music video for Thriller 2's "Cops on Bikes." See it here

Happy Holidays

I do declare nothing says "Happy Holidays" quite like a puppy.

Check out the Armchair Media's 2006 Holiday Card.

Commander Chameleon

We just got a new site up for the Athens band Commander Chameleon. The band is made up of a handful of good friends from our formative years. They have a new album out, free mp3's you can grab from the site. Be sure to turn on the sound when you visit the new Commander Chameleon website.

Left On The Dial

Short of a fully-integrated connection to the car stereo, my favorite device for listening to my ipod while cruising is the iCarPlay from Monster. It produces a radio signal so you can tune in on any clear FM station. iCarPlay's strong signal keeps the static and interference at bay most of the time. That is, until this morning at a stoplight when my playlist was hijacked by Patsy Cline from the F-250 in the neighboring lane who, coincidentally, had the same FM device tuned to the exact same station.

I followed closely for five additional blocks just to hear "Walkin' After Midnight."

.

Say It Is So

Nate Steiner from Twinsparc invited me to participate in Say-So, a fantastic way to get feedback from friends and total strangers. Cruise on over and vote, will ya?

Which makes a better band name: The Forgotten Ponies OR Muff?

Rocking the Musical Baton

Dan has passed along the musical baton. It's a way to find out what others are listening to RIGHT NOW.

Total volume of music on your computer:

2.34 GB (on the new laptop)

The last album you purchased was:

Of Montreal | The Sunlandic Twins

Song playing right now:

The Party's Crashing Us, Of Montreal

Five songs you’ve been listening to a lot recently, from several genres:

I can give you 8 because I'm an over-achiever.

1. Ladyflash, the Go! Team
2. How Long, Out Hud
3. A Joy, Four Tet
4. Finding Out True Love is Blind, Louis XIV
5. Who Wants to Fight?, Thunderbirds Are Now!
6. One For The Head Skit, MIA-Missy
7. Little Girl, Death from Above 1979
8. Sixteen Military Wives, The Decemberists

Five people to whom you’re passing the baton:

• Team Good Guys, John Mchale is always rocking the shuffle.
• Halfass, Scott Partee has a secret podcast.
• Lemniscate Blues, My cousin Matthew comes straight outta Japan.
• I Am Alert, Virgina Murdoch is all about the now, now.

Why We Use the Clicker

The clicker is a tool that signals when a reward has been earned, it is not the reward iteself. Many people like to praise their dogs as a reward. If you then use praise to signal when a reward has been earned and use praise as the reward, things can become confusing. Praise loses its impact because dogs hear their owners talking all the time, and much of that talk has nothing to do with the dog. She learns to tune it out.

An advantage of using the clicker is that it is very distinct and easy to hear. Verbal praise is not always distinctive. The clicker is clear, precise, unambiguous, and free of emotion.

Welcome to puppy training school, lads.

For Sale

One gorgeous four bedroom home located in Atlanta's Lake Claire neighborhood. The house is designed by architect Carlos Tardio, and is currently owned by musician Shawn Mullins. It's one of Atlanta's finer modern gems if you ask me. You should get it. I'll wave to you everyday on my way to the studio.

Can You Hear Me Now?

So you're yapping on your cell phone and suddenly the other person is not there, the signal cuts. You are talking without an audience.

What do you call it?

1. lone wolf
2. rubber jaw
3. empty canyon
4. home alone
5. hemmennnahemmenaahemenna
6. orphan on the half shell

-

Call Your Mother

Oh Mother...

[iTunes URL]

We Love the Subs

Quizno's new commercial has me captivated each time it airs. Absolutely hilarious. It features the Spongmonkeys- two lovable singing critters so badly photoshopped that it's good. Perhaps you remember their other hit, the moon song? I try so hard to resist singing along when company is over. Looking for a clip, this intro is the closest I could find.

UPDATE: Slate tells us more and links to the clip.

Gang of Green

"So I have a new concept for a band," Bill says to me as we round the corner for a bite to eat, "They're called Gang of Green."

Gang of Green is a heavy metal band. They dress in fatigues. They cover Village People hits.

At lunch we give the idea roundness in a quasi-brainstorm session. The results:

Gang of Green will have five lead performers, each from various arms of the military. Three are special forces, like the seal, the ranger, and the delta force solider. One is a fighter pilot. The other, I don't know, maybe he's into demolitions. Their back-up (we can't have them actually learning instruments) is a four-piece, decked out in various camo patterns. All are hunky, beefy men with aviator sunglasses.

The front men spend much of their time flexing on stage. Other performance activities include high-stepping through tires, vaulting climbing-walls, and dog piles. And did I mention flexing? Gang of Green will be a hit on the gay bar circuit.

We have plans for Gang of Green action figures. There will be a fan club. Autographed photos will resemble survellience images. Other merchandising will include dog tags and MRE's (Coqauvin, Foie Gras, and Salmon Croquettes).

If they expand out past the VP covers to produce their own material, "Officer and a Gentleman" and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will surely be winners.

The Christmas Chillout

So you're throwing a little Christmas shindig and need some holiday tunes to get your guests in the spirit. Why not go with a twist, both for your martini and your stereo? The Reindeer Room Volume II is a collection of seasonal favorites wrapped in the sounds of electronic lounge. No fireplace to get cozy by? Not to fret, the album is accompanied by its own yule log DVD. It's a perfect backdrop for any holiday activity. Now where to hang that mistletoe...

Who's on First

Ghostrunner on First (yes, that ghostrunner) premieres this Thursday, November 13th at Vinyl (that's next to Earthlink Live). Screening starts at 9:30. In addition to the film, Prophetix will perform following the showing of their latest music video for Gotcha. You so should go.

Prophetix

Prophetix is an Atlanta-based hip hop outfit that is currently working on a music video directed and produced by our friend Matt Hutchinson. Check out a few images I took during the blue screen session last evening below or view the entire collection.

D-d-don't Don't Stop The Beat

Come on people, get on the bus. Junior Senior is that ex-hippie driving you to school in the morning obviously still buzzing from the morning's wake and bake. This is the quintessential party bus, equipped with sing-along melodies, rocking guitar riffs and beer bongs a plenty. It's a cross section of everything that is fun about the last fifty years in music. Check out their first video over at Veer for the delightfully catchy, "Move Your Feet". Hello? You found a seat yet?