Letter by Adam Duritz from Counting Crows on www.countingcrows.com

March 2009

Dear Fans,

Eighteen years ago, when Counting Crows signed our first record contract, we were an unknown band signed to DGC, the cool indie-flavored boutique label of Geffen Records. Our label mates were Sonic Youth, The Posies, Nirvana, The Sundays, Maria McKee and That Dog, to name a few. Bands knew each other, played on each other’s records, toured together… It was a dream environment to be a musician, even for that time.

A lot of things changed in seventeen years. DGC disappeared except as a logo on our records, and Geffen became one of many labels of a much larger conglomerate. Still, Geffen and Counting Crows never stopped working together and never stopped succeeding together. We made great music and together we sold a lot of records. We’re still here.

But these days, it’s a different world for a band than it is for a label. A lot of people think it’s a tough time to be a band but we don’t feel that way. The internet opens a world of limitless possibility, where the only boundaries are the boundaries of your own imagination. We want a chance to push those boundaries back as far as we can. Unfortunately, the directions we want to go and the opportunities we want to pursue are often things that our label is simply not allowed to do. We’ve been friends for a long time and we’ve worked together for a long time so they understand the direction we need to go in and we understand why they can’t always go there with us. We all want what’s best for everyone which is why we’ve decided to part ways.

Eighteen years ago, Counting Crows was just a little band from Berkeley. Geffen Records helped put us on the map and then they were our partner for almost two decades. We want to thank every person who worked hard for so many years to make us a successful band. We’re going to go out now and see what the world has to offer a band with a lot of ideas and a lot of energy and, hopefully, a lot of years left in a career that’s already surpassed our wildest dreams.

This is a big change for us but it’s a border we’ve been wanting to cross for a long time so we want to celebrate it. The best way to do that seems to be to give a little something to all of you since, after all, you’ve been with us the whole time too. So, in the spirit of this new frontier we’re entering, we offer you our homage to a certain lady who honored us last year by expressing her longtime deep and abiding worship of our band by naming her entire album after one of ours. From us to you, Live from The Royal Albert Hall in London, our tribute to Madonna: “Borderline”. Dig it.

We’ve covered a lot of road on this ride and, as far as we’re concerned, the busses still have a lot of white lines ahead of them.

We are on our way. We will see you soon. We are coming, as Elton said, “From the end of the world to your town.”

Counting Crows on amazon.com

Counting Crows on amazon.co.uk

Counting Crows Official Website
MySpace

‘Alone – The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo’ has now been given a confirmed UK release date of 4 February 2008 on Geffen Records (US release – December 18, 2007).

Rivers, of Weezer fame, had this to say about the CD:

“This is a CD of my favorite home demos from ‘92 to ‘07 featuring a lot of never heard before songs, a few covers, a few songs from my unfinished rock musical “Songs From The Black Hole” and my original demo for “Buddy Holly.”

Why not be friends with Rivers Cuomo on Facebook?

‘Alone – The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo’ tracklisting:

1. Ooh
2. World We Love So Much
3. Lemonade
4. The Bomb
5. Buddy Holly
6. Chess
7. Longtime Sunshine
8. Blast Off!
9. Who You Callin’ Bitch?
10. Wanda (You’re My Only Love)
11. Dude We’re Finally Landing
12. Superfriend
13. Lover In The Snow
14. Crazy One
15. This Is The Way
16. Little Diane
17. I Wish You Had An Axe Guitar
18. I Was Made For You

Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo on amazon.com

Weezer Official Website
Weezer on Myspace
Rivers Cuomo on Myspace

Garrison’s voice and melodic songs are enchanting to say the least. She’s recorded albums released by Geffen and Vanguard Records, with her latest, ‘The Girl That Killed September’ set for release on October 18, 2007 by Media Creature Music/12×12. ‘The Girl That Killed September’ was produced in Nashville by Neilson Hubbard, who also co-wrote on the album. Garrison Starr has performed with artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Steve Earle, Melissa Ferrick, Mary Chapin-Carpenter and played on the Lilith Fair tour.

Garrison Starr interview with Band Weblogs
Compiled by: Dave Tommo

Hello Garrison. How are things on the road at the moment?

Hideeeeeeehooooooooooe my friends. Things on the road are going well except for the fact that I’ve done something to my back and I’m a little gimpy at the moment. Never a dull moment. You should see the way we’ve rigged up the car so I can recline and take the pressure off my back! It’s pretty funny. Alice (Peacock) has been so sweet – she’s driving all the time and taking really good care of me.

We’re liking your video for your song, “Understood” with Chewbacca. Is this influenced by body dysmorphic dysfunction and what are your thoughts on this illness – or are we reading too much into the video?

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!! That’s funny. Margaret Cho was the brainchild behind this video, so you’ll have to ask her for the deeper meaning.

How and where did you meet Neilson Hubbard and what sparked your musical relationship?

Neilson and I met in college, and we had a mutual friend who was playing in his band at the time. The band was called “spoon”, but they had to change their name for obvious reasons. So, of course, they changed it to “this living hand” because, well, that was much cooler. We hung out some and I ended up playing drums in the band and singing background vocals. I would also open for them solo. We’ve been rolling in it ever since, and have become very codependent.

Are the musicians in your band session musicians or friends that you’ve met along the way?

No session players… I like to be keeping it real.

What are your favorite websites?

www.stephaniemiller.com, youtube.com, google.com!!!

Is there really extraterrestrial life out there?

I certainly hope so.

How many guitars do you have and which one do you like the most?

Hmmm. I have three acoustics and four electrics at the moment, and I must say my favorite is my 72 tele custom. She’s black and very sexy. That guitar never goes out of tune. It’s badass.

Do your guitars have personalized names?

Uh, absolutely not.

Do you have any pre-gig rituals?

Not really. I do try to just hang and not think about the gig at all. I like to relax.

Who is the best band or artist that you’ve seen lately?

I have to say I can’t think of anybody at the moment. I don’t get out much.

What makes you laugh out loud?

The Stephanie Miller show.

What is a good definition of freedom?

Feeling good in your skin.

Do you have a favorite painter/artist? If so, who?

I don’t.

Who would be the one musician that you would love to play with someday?

It’s interesting. When I was younger, I would have been able to answer this question with no hesitation at all. Now, though, it’s so different. There are a lot of artists out there I would love to play with. Tom Petty, Bjork, Annie Lennox, Butterfly Boucher, Heart, Peter Gabriel, Justin Timberlake, I mean, just to name a few.

Any plans for a tour in the UK?

Not at the moment, but I’m determined to get over there on this record.

Thank you!

No, thank YOU!! My pleasure.

Garrison Starr tour dates are as follows:

Dates could be added or changed! Go to Garrison Starr’s Official Website for the latest tour dates and information.

September 22 2007 Private Event, St. Charles, Missouri
September 26 2007 Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas
September 28 2007 Workplay Theater, Birmingham, Alabama
September 29 2007 Mucklewain Festival, Pinewood, Tennessee
October 5 2007 Housing Works Bookstore Cafe, SoHo, New York
October 12 2007 Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, Tennessee
October 20 2007 The Tin Angel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 21 2007 Jammin Java, Vienna, Virginia
October 22 2007 Club Cafe, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
October 23 2007 The Lizard Lounge, Cambridge, Massachusetts
October 24 2007 The Living Room, New York, New York
October 26 2007 The L Club, Raliegh, North Carolina
November 9 2007 Eddies Attic, Decatur, Georgia
November 10 2007 40 Watt, Athens, Georgia
December 7 2007 The Basement, Nashville, Tennessee
December 8 2007 Eddies Attic, Decatur, Georgia

Garrison Starr on Myspace
Garrison Starr Official Website

By: Jenny May