a new song live

This is a song we've been playing since March. We've done it a bunch of ways now, but this is where we're working toward taking it for the album.



Filmed March 20th at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo. We did a bit of music after a very informative lecture from Marc Kielburger of 'Free the Children'.

The first bit of video is from sound check. Jamie Usas (visuals) just happened to be filming. The audio in it's entirety is from a zoom h2 in the audience. Near the beginning you can hear someone ask, "Should I be videotaping?" The answer is, "Yes." No big deal though because the way it worked out you can imagine that the first bit of video is from the past, but the audio is happening right before your ears! Sensory time travel ladies and gentlemen.

:) We still love you April.

g

a new song live

Thought you guys would like this...



p.

haze transforms into steam

I try and try to keep up on this thing but am super easily distracted. I don't think I'd get anything done if there weren't 3 other people in this band.

We've been recording away. last two weeks haven't been super productive. The wind is picking up and we'll be sailing along in no time. I was just listening to a song of ours from 1998. Wow.

In other EXCITING news... we will be playing with SPIRITS and SEXDWARF at STARLIGHT on SEPTEMBER 17th. Clear your schedules ladies and gentlemen because for $10 it does not get any better! This is going to be an excellent night. Working on my sales pitch - how's it coming?

I have sent out the digital carrier pigeon to collect the details, but have not yet heard back. If/when the details come in I will share them with you. I'm pretty sure it's an early start. 8pmish?

Well. I hope everyone is enjoying the swelter here in KW. Can't wait to get this record to you all.

Cheers.

g.

Ps - I thought this was a pretty cool article. especially about the type of people who seek power/control over others

haze transforms into steam

Studya Vidya 01

here's another little bit of random video. recording some acoustic guitar, me trying to figure out a melody on accordion (not the easiest instrument to figure something out on) Emeri reviewing a drum take and Emeri and I working out some details for a drum part.

These poorly chopped up videos aren't going to replace our "Onward, Downward" series. We just don't have a lot of time to be editing mini movies at the moment. I hope you enjoy this stuff, stay tuned for more.

Cheers.

g.

Studya Vidya 01

more words from the studio

We celebrated Emeri's birthday on Monday with a cherry fritter and some slurpies courtesy of Hilary and Paul.

We are making good progress on drum/bed tracks. Emeri is committing some great takes to 'tape'. Right now I'm really into multiple drum kits/beats happening at once and there'll be some of that in there. It's amixing nightmare, but totally worth it.

Here is a short video clip of what we were working on today.




g

more words from the studio

Drums... drums... drums. Not a whole lot to say but drums. Emeri is starting us off for the next Vacuity album. Weird to say that... the next Vacuity album, I guess there will be a lot of these "albums". You would think that I would be use to making records by now... but I am not. It's different every time.

We'll have some quick little snippets of the new tunes soon enough... stay in touch and check back. Sorry we have been dropping the ball on updates etc. Lots going on, business to music... crazy.


Looking forward to hearing what you guys think, stay tuned.
Thanks
p.

video talk. recording talk.

This past week we met up with our good friend and visual collaborator Jamie Usas. The subject of discussion was music videos and the creation of them. He has some really great ideas that we're all quite looking forward to working with him on. If you've been with us for a while now, you might recall a time when we were shooting a video for 'The 5th of November'. While Jamie was in Rome and we were on our fall tour out west his hard drive containing all of the footage was stolen from his desk. Needless to say, that video is not going to reach completion. That is a tragic shame given that the shots I took during production look pretty promising.

Emeri and I have spent a number of afternoons working on drums and computer beats for a song of ours that we are currently calling, 'Farsight'. For a while it was looking like this one wouldn't make the cut. At this point I cannot say how many tracks will be on our next release. People believe me - I am pushing for an album of at least 10, but if the magic isn't there, it could be an EP of 5-6. Not sure, too soon to tell, to early to try and say.

Maybe some video clips and audio snippets next post. I will try.

Best,

g.

video talk. recording talk.

IRIS birthday.... Piano

Saturday night we played a show at Maxwell's Music House for Carrie and Todd - I.R.I.S. -one year birthday celebration. KW/Hamilton band Spirits headlined the evening. It would be a modest statement to say it was a most excellent night.

We first met Carrie in my shitty old apartment back in 2004. We were just releasing our first record, 'The Middle Ground'. Now here we are 2 albums later and onto number 4.

Oh the places you'll go! A back alley almost as far west as the roads of this country go. Across the parking lot a door opens. A slice of light brightens the pavement. The day's warmth lingers, or is it the cigarette Longevity John - the promoter/owner - is smoking that is making my head light? Suddenly a flood of miniature furrballs pours from the doorway. 14 dogs surround me. I reach for my camera, but the moment has passed.


On Sunday - after moving a van full of gear for the IRIS show - we drove to Walkerton to pick up a piano for our studio. It needs a tune, and a little bit of love, but we're happy to have it aboard. Even if it did break all of our backs. What studio is complete without a piano?

We're going to go make a new album now. Stay tuned for lotsa bits and bites until it's ready for you.

Cheers!

g.

IRIS birthday.... Piano

SURPRISE SHOW!!!

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow night we will be performing at Maxwell's Music House in Waterloo.

Carrie and Todd from IRIS asked us to perform as a part of their 1 year birthday celebration. We love birthdays and 1 Year for anything music related in this town is worth celebrating! Hi fives Carrie and Todd!

We will be opening the evening at 10pm. Afterward you will be delighted by a performance from SPIRITS.

This is not an evening to be missed.

See you there?

g.

SURPRISE SHOW!!!

snag grab catch (in the title)

We have been recording demos and doing something that feels like 'pre-production' thought I'm not sure what that means in the land where you pay per the hour to record :).

The last few weeks. High moments and low moments, but I'm excited about our new music. Behind the scenes we are going to be organizing a really cool string of shows to support this next release. We're going to be working closely with Jamie to bring the visual aspect of the set to new places. Also scheming on ways to really roll with the Kill The Format campaign.

Why offer your music for free?

g

snag grab catch (in the title)

Onward, Downward: Episode XI

Hello,

I've prepared another video for everyone to watch.



You might be thinking, "This particular episode has taken him so LONG to complete!?!"

Yes.

Enjoy.

- Emeri

Onward, Downward: Episode XI

I was looking over some shots from the road tonight that I took randomly around the Coast.
Hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.
























We had some great times on this tour... sigh. Back to the studio...
p.

studio move

Just back from a meeting at our new studio. we're preparing to record some new songs and to release something in September. Not sure what at this point, but I'm hoping/expecting these things to reveal themselves in time.

g

studio move

turn the page

Last night our good friends in The Free Press helped us officially close up another chapter in Vacuity history. A big warm thank you to everyone who has been involved in any aspect of this trek during the last year and a half. Ups and downs and lefts and rights.

It's been a pleasure sharing our efforts from 'At the Command of the Blanket Sky'. If you haven't downloaded the album yet, please do so right here.

We are moving into a new recording space this week. Stay tuned.

g.

turn the page

We're baaaack

I've been delaying this blog intentionally. Trying to write up something witty or profound to say about the tour. The magic sentence to sum it up perfectly. But it's not happening and it's not happening and it's not happening. I try some more and it still doesn't happen. I conclude that such a sentence does not exist.

We've been back for almost two weeks now. I've had enough time to process most of the experiences. There was a feeling of undoing along the road this time. We were righting many a wrong from the tour in the fall. Justice being dished out the back of a flat black short bus. Something sinister, something grieving. We managed to survive 6 pretty intense weeks, 30 some odd shows and a lot of kilometers. There were some great shows and we met and shared the stage with many a great person. Massive thank you to all of our friends who put us up on the road.

This Saturday is our tour finale at El Mocambo. We'll be playing a longer set, which is fun for us, and hopefully good for you too. The talented Jamie Usas will be joining us. Our good friends in The Free Press will be performing. They never disappoint so bring your dancing shoes. $8. Doors at 9pm.


g.

We're baaaack

cheeseburgers and tequila

Below is the interview we did with Amped Up TV back in Winnipeg. One of the highlight evenings of the tour no doubt.



Check out Amped Up TV here.

cheers.

g.

cheeseburgers and tequila

carrot chasers

motivation and inspiration have eluded me the last few days. the days have been fine - slightly boring at worst. Nothing a good book cannot fight off. I've been fully immersed in a book my sister gave me a while back, 'Confessions of an Economic Hitman' by John Perkins. A first hand account of how the author convinced many developing nations to accept massive loans based on falsified economic predictions. The loans come with strict terms that funnel the money right back into the US. That synopsis does the book no justice. I wish I could hold a straight thought these days.

the gypsy caravan has setup a camp in a big box plaza. semi discreet at best, but we don't care. last night we didn't end up playing night one at the apollo. we had some vehicle problems and arrived late. we were lucky to be welcomed with open arms by sheila, tina and alex. a home cooked meal is a very welcome change at this point. on top of the food, the band that was playing, Flowers of Hell, were amazing. trumpet, flute, saw, guitar, bass, drums, synth, sequencer. It was mind blowing.

as for the vehicles problems, nothing Paul and his sidekick/hold this here person Emeri could not handle. The starter was replaced quickly and Atlas came back to life.

We are headed home very soon. This tour set a lot of things right from our tour in the fall. we learned a lot, met some very cool people and had a blast. However, 6 weeks of living off shitty food, bad sleeping arrangements and a lot lot lot of stimulation wears a person out. The band is tired. Last tour we were so tired, we started getting sloppy. That hasn't happened on this tour, but with everyday that goes by I can see us fading. It's normal and natural. Time for us to retreat into the studio (notice I did not say disappear) and work in a quiet and controlled environment for a while. recharge if you will. my mind moves faster than I can keep up with. I get bored easily so a change is welcome. talk to me 2 weeks into recording and I'll be ready to tour again but that is just the way it goes. we all chase after our own carrots I suppose.

I'm looking forward to tonight. We haven't played since Saturday. We were joking, for too many reasons to list here, that everywhere we go a black thunder cloud follows us around. When we get on stage is pretty much the only time the sun comes out. Feeling sorry for ourselves. Another sign it's time for a break from the road.

I will do my best to post some of our adventures from here until we get home. We have a lot of km to cover... who knows what will happen?

g.

carrot chasers

Deer eater

After the show at Clancy's in Brandon we went to a house party. Did some jamming, played ping-pong, drank JD. Retired to Thor for the night.

Rob's shoes are ready to fall off his feet. Thor's battery was dead again - quick boost. Bumped into some of the people from the party the night before. They gave us a crash course on the unicycle and then we hit the road.

Our ultimate destination is Thunder Bay for two nights at The Apollo. We're taking our time through this stretch and decided Kenora was enough of a trek for the bus convoy. We could perhaps rename Thor and Atlas - Yin and Yang.

Night driving is highly dangerous in this part of Ontario. You are pretty much certain to hit something. As the evening gave way to night, deer flooded the sides of the highway. I must have counted at least 30 along the last 200km to Kenora. Just as we entered the city limits I passed a deer backed against a large rock wall. I noticed it tense up as Paul and I whizzed by in Atlas. At the last second I saw it dash. Behind us Thor slowed down, but it was already too late. Bambi's larger, older aunt was crushed under Thor's massive chasis. The only trace was hair matted into the tire treads and a single streak of blood. Our license plate holder was slightly damaged.

We pushed on to a 24 hour fueling station to sleep for the night. Today we have splurged for a hotel. Laundry, shower, pool, sleep. It always shocks me how large northern ontario is. We drove almost 500km yesterday and we still have over 500km to go to Thunder Bay.

Crazy. Peace.

g.

Deer eater