Saturday, March 20, 2010

Idiocy, Murphy's Law & Officer Campbell

 Friday night was an interesting night for Model Stranger to say the least. We were slotted in Lansing to play at Gus's Bar for a long set that was supposed to start at 9 pm. So when we didn't show up until 10:15pm and still had a P.A. to set up, we were left with no choice but to play from 10:45pm to 2:30am instead - with no breaks.

Playing 3 hrs and 45 minutes is just nutty. I can't decide...either I hate it or I love.

Now the question is - "How exactly does a band end up starting 1 hour and 45 minutes later then they are the only band playing?" I can let you in that it was one of the rare times in our careers that it wasn't the bar's fault.

First of all, we left 1 hour later than we planned. This was no ones fault and not worth explaining - just 10 minutes here, 1 forgotten key forgot there, confusion everywhere and suddenly we were an hour behind schedule. Next we forgot that there was a time change between Illinois and Michigan.....no comment. Then our distraction with trying to beat the clock was trumped by the new distraction that we were running out of gas. Once again....no comment.

Yeah....we ran out of gas.

Vincent and I went sprinting down the side of the highway to the next exit leaving Kevin and Coate to watch the trailer. I96 is a highway has no lights and the term 'pitch black' applies. Part painful from running in rock boots - and exhausting because running 2 miles is tiring in general. When we finally arrived in Olivet, MI, huffing and puffing, we were happy to see a gas station sign down the dark road.

2 random acts of kindness would soon happen. First, the attendants at the gas station lent us a gas can, and next a young couple by the name of Ben and Sarah actually drove us back to I96! Thank you guys for this. You saved us time and our legs.

When we arrived, the 'nicest police officer ever' Officer Campbell had been staying with Kevin and Coate to make sure they were safe on the side of the dark highway.

By the time we filled up and made it to the venue it was already 10:15pm. We unloaded the trailer at a frantic pace and were started by 10:45.

As if being sick in the first place wasn't enough, the 2 mile jog to the gas station and late start were quite draining. Our set was loose and...interesting. It included impromptu medleys and space jams fueled by free whiskey and the 2 am crowd. At one point I recall Kevin and Vincent taking over lead vocals for me on "Fire Fire". This show also marked the first time we played the same song two times in a row - at two different tempos and two different times! You do what you have to do to fill a set like that. Not to say that this is bad but sometimes it isn't good. At Gus's anything goes, and is the perfect place to do 1 verse and chorus of "Helter Skelter" before wanking on a guitar solo.

Upon conclusion of the show I lay on the dirty stage and stared at the ceiling contemplating our journey to Gus's, the 1 tee shirt and the 5 cds we sold and the trainwreck of a set we played. Murphy had nothing to with this one.

Idiocy. There is no question.

One last act of kindess....

Mike, a new friend, and his wife took us to their house, fed us and put us to bed. Thank you Mike for allowing us into your home... your couch is very comfortable.

Stephen Francis

Plug: WATCH NEW MODEL STRANGER VIDEOS on YouTube and Vimeo.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

"A Moment With Model Stranger" is BACK!

 *NOTE: This blog is best viewed on Model Stranger's Official Website - ModelStranger.com. Not all links/photos/videos may show up correctly on other sites*

Since posting the first two "A Moment With Model Stranger" episodes last month, Model Stranger has received an overwhelming response asking for more episodes.

Well, your requests have been answered.

Visit the Official Model Stranger YouTube or Vimeo pages to check out three new episodes, or if you're viewing on ModelStranger.com, just watch them below! Let us know what you think. Have any ideas for future episodes? Let us know that by posting a comment on ModelStranger.com!

Episode 3: Guitar Sounds


Episode 4: Moustache Cam


Episode 5: Vincent Cam

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Somersaulting Into a Backflip, Back Into a Sprint... The First Finish Line.

*NOTE: This blog is best viewed on Model Stranger's Official Website. Not all links/photos may show up correctly on other sites*

Model Stranger has completed tracking and mixing of their upcoming debut release titled Dreams and Bones. The album was recorded and mixed over the course of 54 days in 3 different studios.

Album tracks include:

She Don't
You Only
Turn of the Century
Eyes Half Open
Carousel
What You Are Looking For?
Where Do We Go From Here?
Fire! Fire!
Dreams and Bones (Inside Outside)

TOUR + RECORD RELEASE SHOW

Beginning April 7th, Model Stranger will depart on a 16-show-in-16-day tour throughout the Midwest, all the way out to Colorado, before returning home to Chicago to a record release show at the Cubby Bear on Saturday April 24th, 2010.

More information on the tour is coming in the next week, however details for the release show are as follows:

Dreams and Bones
Model Stranger Record Release Show
1059 W. Addision St.
Chicago, IL

Saturday, April 24th, 2010.
Doors 8pm

Lineup:
20 Mark Helga 9:00pm - 9:40pm
Verona Red 10:00pm - 10:45pm
Model Stranger 11:05pm - 11:55pm
The Flavor Savers 12:15am - 1:00am
Cavalry 1:20am - 2:05am

Tickets available at the Cubby Bear Chicago location and Ticketmaster.
$8 in advance, $10 day of show.

You can RSVP HERE.

In addition to a 9 song CD being available, new tee shirts and select tracks - including an alternate version of the album track "Eyes Half Open" - will be available on vinyl.

The press shot below was taken by Mike Hari. Model Stranger has worked with Mike on multiple occasions and always been thoroughly satisfied with the quality of his work and his speedy turnaround time. A lot of
Mike's recent work can be seen at www.flickr.com/mikehariphotography and you can email him about live or promo shoots HERE.


Saturday, March 13, 2010

An Analog Band in A Digital World - Official Press Release for Record Release Show


Photo Credit: Mike Hari

RECORD RELEASE SHOW
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12th, 2010

CONTACT:
Andrew Coate
Collaborate Management
708-259-4372
collaboratemanagement@gmail.com
modelstranger@gmail.com


An Old School Meets New School Approach Yields
Model Stranger’s Debut Record “Dreams and Bones”

Official Record Release Show is Saturday April 24th, 2010 at Cubby Bear, Chicago

Model Stranger’s debut record release Dreams and Bones is set to raise the bar for the independent rock scene in 2010. An eclectic synthesis of psychedelic grunge and classic rock, the power trio will be embarking on a 16 day Midwest tour leading up to the official release of their debut full length record Dreams and Bones at the Cubby Bear Chicago on Saturday April 24th, 2010.

Model Stranger will take the stage at 11:00 pm on April 24th. Chicago native acts Verona Red, 20 Mark Helga, The Flavor Savers and Cavalry will also be on the bill. Tickets for the show are available for $8 presale and $10 the day of show on Ticketmaster.

Taking a live performance driven approach into the studio to record their debut record like so many of the great classic rock bands of the 1970s, the band captures an energy and excitement in their music vacant in most indie rock releases today. While the record exhibits an intoxicating raw and authentic quality in part thanks to an analog recording process, the band utilizes their production skills and chops to deliver a record with a twist of modern finesse.

While the phrase “making a record,” is usually used in a figurative manner these days in a digital world, Model Stranger is taking it literally. Following through on a record that began with an organic recording process, the band is planning a special release with select material to be released on vinyl as well as their full length CD.

Model Stranger is singer/guitarist Stephen Francis, bassist Kevin James, and drummer Vincent Joseph. During the recording of Dreams and Bones, Model Stranger was also able to play live shows with popular national acts such as Our Lady Peace and Local H.

AN ANALOG BAND IN A DIGITAL WORLD

For additional information on the Model Stranger Dreams and Bones record release party at the Cubby Bear visit www.cubbybear.com

Cubby Bear Chicago
1059 W. Addison St
Chicago, IL
773.472.7736

*Model Stranger performed under the name Reverie from 2005-2009.

MODEL STRANGER LINKS

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

What The __________?

*NOTE: This blog is best viewed on Model Stranger's Official Website. Not all links/photos may show up correctly on other sites*

So for those of you who follow Model Stranger on Facebook or Twitter you may have noticed a series of fill-in-the-blank style status updates of the past week or so. You may have asked yourself "What the _____ is this all about?" at one point or another.

Well, it's time for a quick explanation.

About a week ago there was a discussion at the practice space about labeling Model Stranger for promotional purposes. As much as many bands may dislike being compared to other artists or using them as recommendations ("i.e. if you like this band, you'll like our music"), it has become a necessity in the music world. Model Stranger decided it would be better to allow fans and friends to aid in this process; so with the intent on generating some ideas of who people think Model Stranger sounds like, a post like this was made:

If you like ______ you will like Model Stranger.

Maybe that should have been clearer, because the responses ranged from "lesbians in lingerie" to "magnum pi as a Beatle" to "Reverie". Who the f*ck is Reverie? Now, that's not to say there weren't some useful responses. One fan said "neo-pyschadelic Silverchair mixed with a little Stereophonics sexiness and add a side of some Roots funk", and another said "psychedelic Disturbed and funky Daft Punk."

For the most part, the responses ranged from mildly entertaining to downright ridiculous (See them all HERE). Because of this, Model Stranger decided to post a few more fill in the blanks, looking for some serious responses, but seeing what would happen instead.

For your reading pleasure, listed below are the questions Model Stranger asked, and the *cough* helpful responses from fans. Enjoy.

Seeing Model Stranger live is like ___________.

"Banging a porn star. Awesome!"

"A wet dream"

"Belgian chocolate for the ears"

"I dunno I haven't seen Model Stranger live yet"

"Chicken soup for the teenage soul"

"Licking leftover food out of the facial hair of all the band members... Mmmm mmmm good!"

"An audio visual cocktail containing:
1 part George Harrison 1 part Brian Wilson 40 oz of Tom Selleck's moustache trimmings (substitute with the guy from Kansas if not available)... See More
1 Fender Telecaster, shaken not stirred
1 part boom
1 part crack
and some shizzle sprinkled on top - Serve best when at high volume"

"Watching childbirth... simply beautiful (after you wipe up the blood and wrap up the cord)."

Model Stranger's music makes me feel ______________.

"To see if my nipples are hard..."

"Like polyphonic rectitude"
"Moist and Wanting...."
"Bad about myself..."
"Like dancing!"

"Boobies!"

I just love it when Model Stranger plays _______________.

"Nude, in Spanish."
"Madlibs on Facebook."
"Period. We just love it when you play!"

If I could request Model Stranger to cover a song it would be ___________.

"What a Fool Believes" - The Doobie Brothers!"
"BEATLES! (anything)"
"Pink - u + ur hand"
"Dr Dre or Snoop Dogg."
"Seal - Crazy"
"Cats and the Cradle"
"Darling Nikki"

"Steve and Kev play jump start my heart by Motley Crue win the crowd lol"
"Tales of Brave Ulysses - Cream"
"Party in the USA"
"Those Thieving Birds pts 1 & 2"
"FREE BIRD LOL"
"Crimson and Clover. Billy Jean would be mighty sick too."
"Lets Get Physical - Olivia Newton John"
"The Man in Me - Dylan"

"Summer of 69 or anything by Hanson"
"Dylan's Shelter From the Storm and Otis Redding's Try a Little Tenderness have my votes"

"Bad romance"
"veteran of the phsycic wars (B>O
-------
Fascinating. There were certainly some Model answers and definitely some Stranger answers in the bunch as well. If you didn't get a chance to respond, what would you have answered for any of these? Knowing the reason behind the ________s would you stand by your answer or is there something else you'd add?
Tell us at ModelStranger.com!