last update December 21, 2005 Cellsum
Links
And Now A Word From Our Sponsors
We can’t wrap up our news section without acknowledging
the many manufacturers who have aided the Brain Surgeons
in their quest for live sonic perfection. First a shout
out to ESP
guitars who provided an EC400AT to Deborah and an EC1000
to Ross for their 2005 gigs. Second a big thanks to Shure
who provided one of the best things of the year, the PSM200
Wireless in-ear monitor system, which made our vocals sound
great even if they were not so audible to the audience.
Thanks also to the Audix
Corporation who provided new OM5 vocal mics, which allowed
even underpowered PAs to make the vocals audible. Shout
outs also to Evans
drum head company who provided a complete line of drumheads
to allow Al to find the ultimate drum sound. Thanks also
to GHS string corporation
who provided many sets of strings for the many gigs we played.
Finally thanks to our regular sponsors, Pro-mark,
Rhythm-Tech, Zildjian,
and Drum Workshop who
will be providing new equipment to make 2006 the best year
ever.
That's All Folks!
Brain Surgeons NYC wrapped up their 2005 gig schedule with
another great show at the Brighton Bar in Long Branch NJ.
Bass player David Hirschberg got plenty of love on the occasion
of his birthday from fans, friends and even strangers as
the crowd chanted Da-vid, Da-vid, Da-vid over and over.
Planning now commences in earnest for the release of the
new record and the tour schedule in 2006. Have a happy and
safe holiday everybody. See you next year.
Wow Tour Report
The Brain Surgeons fall gigs were possibly
the most successful to date. BSNYC played with more great
support acts to more great fans than ever before. Check
out Deborah’s myspace blog and comments to see what
we’re talking about.
Perfect Punxgiving
Punxgiving Fest in Cortland was a truly special night, the
best of the 50 groundbreaking gigs and thousands of miles
we've traveled with Ross. Of course, it was made possible
by folks who really know how to throw a great party, put
together a slammin' bill of complimentary artists and make
everyone--from band to packed house-- feel like honored
guests. It was a total pleasure, and a perfect way to top
off a great year (though David's birthday Dec. 16 might
be cause to celebrate with a not-so-private exhibition back
home in NYC--watch this space). Here's the way Joe Bronowich.
one of the promoters (and a not too-shabby-guitarist himself,
even if he just got his personal pantheon properly sorted!)
just put it to the Surgeons:
"As you are well aware, you guys TOTALLY SLAYED the
crowd. How you kept the energy level up that long is a mystery
to me -- I guess that is the primary difference between
pros and weekend warriors! It was an awesome show.
You guys were total sweethearts as well, and we'd love to
have you again. Of course, the last thing Otto and I wanna
talk about today is next year’s event! But you made
some fans in Cortland for sure and I am certain you will
be rocking Lucky's again soon if you want to. As for me,
I live in NJand work in NYC so I'll be looking out for your
next gig down here too. I’ll speak for Bobcat and
Otto when I say I hope you consider us friends as well as
fans and let us know if there is any way we can ever be
of assistance. One major change happened this year -- my
old guitar idol, Top Ten Kempner, has been supplanted in
the number 1 spot by ROSS THE MUDDAFUGGIN BOSS! (But Stevie
Ray still has his chairman emeritus spot)"Joe
Sleepless in Seattle
And oh yeah, we've also played some unbelievable shows.
But the opening acts have set some pretty high standards...Kurt
Bloch reinvented BOC at the Sunset...where we first encountered
Rev. Fred Speakman... an awesome guitar picker in his own
right... Mike Peterson of JED is the best rock drummer you've
never heard of--anywhere--in both Albert's & my opinion---their
tag team solo on Godzilla last night was one for the annals...
each night is better than the last.... Friday night's Godzilla
solo with Mike Peterson in Olympia (the last show with the
JED guys) was not merely a cute idea...but the kind of inspired
musical moment that...you might have to listen to, say,
a Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie live date to get the idea...
We were a little delayed en route to the gig due to Albert's
reuniting with Sandy Pearlman and Patti Smith for the first
time in 20 years in the hotel lobby.
Brain Surgeons Save
CBGB, Regal Tones Reunion
The Brain Surgeons are putting together a
special benefit show at CBGB on October 21st. The final
bill is to be confirmed but there will be many special guests
and a Cellsum-themed night. In other news Albert and Joe's
high school band will reunite on July 8th 2006 for a special
benefit show in Clayton NY. Details are being worked out
but it will be a long sweet trip down memory lane.
Brain Surgeons on MySpace
Check
me out!
Summer Tour 2005
The Brain Surgeons are back from our whirlwind tour of
the Eastern half of the United States, 20 shows in 24 days,
6500 miles, 99 hours in the van, 180 hours in smoky clubs,
and countless people who’ve been rocked so hard they’re
still trying to figure out how the hell to describe what
just happened to them. This plentitude of fun should have
really been illegal, but Deborah has developed a strange
new habit of asking everyone who wants to join in on the
ride for ID. That said, it was absolutely luverly to connect
with so many new and old friends. Many thanks to the club
owners, promoters and personnel who invited us to party
in their joints and attended to our every need, even, in
the case of the supremely vigilant Tom Looney,
going so far as to remediate our sad golf grips by insisting
we hit off his roof.
We couldn't have done it without some extraordinarily talented
sound people, especially April from Chicago, Ken from Pittsburgh,
Kevin from Lansing, Mike from Charleston SC, and Nick in
Fort Worth or dynamite bands like the
Needles, the Joint
Chiefs, The Cheats,
North End House Band, The
Lizardz and DeArmond
who shared our bills. Multiple salutes to Joint Chiefs
guitarist, Steve-O, for inspired riffing and emergency duty
for Ross the Boss in Memphis. This man deserves a bigger
statue for service to his town than Elvis. Special honors
are also due those who travelled almost (or in some cases,
as far) as the band did, attending multiple shows in different
towns : Chris Baker, Dawn-O-War, Doug VanDyke, Inflatable
Chris Trujillo, Modulus and Heather, Mark Ice Dog and famous
cookbook editor Kira.We now officially dub thee The
Brain Trust.
Other highlights include jamming with Ed from fIREHOSE
and hanging with Superchunk and Southern Culture on the
Skids members in Chapel Hill, kissin' cousins in West Virginia
and Godzilla’s gorgeous flasher in Greensboro. We
discovered the blues (and everything else) is alive and
ripping at the North Side in Georgia, courtesy of the incredible
House Band and Mike Lowery, a kid who seems to have channelled
everything we once loved about both Mike Bloomfield and
Rory Gallagher. He's someone to watch out for.
Mama Dip's fried chicken in Chapel Hill was all it's cracked
up to be, we got headlocks and cowboy boots in Nashville,
enjoyed the boundless hospitality of Dr. and Mrs. Maltz
in Chicago, had an excellent adventure with Steve and Ted
at I-Rock and another great tour-end show thanks to Joel
Greenfield (the Bill Graham of biker punk) in Pittsburgh.
Lookiing forward to Boston-area bill in September with ex-Joe
Perry Band vocalist Mach Bell's new outfit. Check the Shows
page for dates and details. Paul Special is mixing our forthcoming
Denial of Death in Manhattan. Meanwhile, there is only one
thing left to say: Onward, soldiers.
Fabienne Shine's Brilliant
Albert and Ross the Boss were joined by brother
Joe Bouchard to record a couple tracks for the new Fabienne
Shine (singer from Shakin' Street) solo album. The songs
were recorded at Dubway Studios in manhattan and were produced
by keyboardist Barry Gruber. The sessions went smoothly,
the tracks were stunning, old friendships were renewed and
all involved look forward to more days like this.
Brain Surgeons Street Team
Be part of the Brain Surgeons Street Team.
If you are close to a date the Brain Surgeons are playing
this summer you can help get people to see the show by printing
out flyers and posting them up in
any appropriate place- music stores, record stores, community
bulletin boards, laundromats etc. Write to us with your
plans to help promote the shows and we will send you free
stuff.
Mike Watt Rules
On my birthday, May 24th, I went to see a
screening of “We Jam Econo” the Minuteman documentary.
This film is highly recommended but what makes it especially
important is that it proves that Mike Watt is the ultimate
musician’s musician. He makes an articulate argument
for finding yourself as an artist. You see how a bunch of
kids misunderstand their idols’ motives and try to
rise to their misunderstandings and in the process create
a kind of music never heard before. Without Captain Beefheart
there could be no Minutemen. Without the Minutemen there
could never be Mars Volta. Anyway we are grateful that we
continue to inspire and be inspired.
To Helen With Love: The
Concert
The long awaited Helen Wheels Tribute
concert video has finally been completed. It is
available for sale now and you can see the trailer
by clicking here.
The concert, which took place in New York City on
December 4th, 2001, features performances by Buck
Dharma, Manitoba's Wild Kingdom, the Brain Surgeons,
Bouchard, Dunaway and Smith, Static Cling, Tish
and Snooky, Crispin Cioe and many different combinations
of musicians. It also features interviews with performers
and audience members and behind the scenes peeks
of this special night.
Tsunamistock
While CBGBs remains locked in a life-or-death
battle with its landlord (go to www.cbgb.com
for more information) in a New York court, the thrills were
flowing even before the Brain Surgeons officially blew the
place apart with their set. First, Albert contributed "more
cowbell" to the Tuff Darts' classic "All For the
Love of Rock & Roll" as Annie Golden, making a
rare visit from Broadway, chimed in. But when the unadvertised
Lenny Kaye showed up with Patti Smith bandmate Tony Shanahan
and invited Al to jam on a transcendent "Gloria"
that turned into a 16 song set that traversed all the points
between "Are You Experienced" to "Jessie's
Girl" as only these guys could figure 'em out, the
never-ending night evolved into true magic. You shoulda
been there.
Home Again
Brain Surgeons returned home to hundreds
of email messages with positive comments about the
shows in Europe. If we don't reply to every one
please accept our apology and know that we really
do appreciate your support. There are lots of new
pictures on the pictures page. See if your face
is there. Work now begins on mixing our new record
and finding the best possible distribution system
for it. There will be some local gigs in New York
in the next couple months but touring around the
country will have to wait until August.
Albert on TotalRock
Albert will be talking to Malcolm
Dome live on the air at 5PM UKT. noon EST on TotalRock
Wednesday January 26th. The show is available on
the web at totalrock.com
or over the air in UK at "On Air" SKY
Channel 938. As of Dec 1st 2004, this is TotalRock's
temporary channel until SKY provide a permanent
channel. Channel 938 is operated by WRN www.wrn.org
Brain Surgeons Invade
Britain
The long delayed and awaited return of Albert Bouchard
to the shores of the British Isles is finally about
to happen, ladies and gentlemen. The Brain Surgeons
will play their first and only UK date at the legendary
100 Club in London on February 11, 2005. In addition
to the blistering material they perfected last summer
their set will feature many of the face melting
new songs that the Brain Surgeons just recorded
at the conclusion of 2004. More historic dates will
follow in Germany and a special Valentines Day Rocks
You show in Paris on Monday February 14th. See the
Shows page for more details about the individual
shows.
New Brain Surgeons Album
Completed
Work on the new Brain Surgeons album is done except for
the mixing. It is the first Brain Surgeons that has no covers
or previously recorded material. It has spring fully formed
from the fertile minds of Albert, David, Deborah and Ross.
The songs were written over four months, rehearsed over
two months and recorded in two days
with another month of vocal and guitar overdubs. The Brain
Surgeons are now looking for a great mixer to complete the
project.
