Atlanta's Douchebags and the Dying Town of Dothan AL

So yesterday, we started out on tour.  Our first stop was Atlanta's Ten High Club.  It has gained some notoriety over the past six years by doing a live band karaoke event called Metalsome. Anyway, we get there and we meet the sound guy.  We notice as soon as we step in there that some one's equipment had been already set up.  He proceeds to tell us that we had to use  the equipment set up because "loading in and out is just a bitch."  We are all opposed to the idea, but we have no choice.  The other touring band named Victims of Public Education were from North Carolina.  Two of them were under age and the club wasn't having it.  They ended up playing a set a la' Against Me! with a punk version of The Weight by The Band.  By this time, we realized that they hadn't done any promotion for the show because there were only two people in the audience.  For Christ's sake, it was called metal Tuesday and we were the only "metal-ish" band playing.  Needless to say, we had a crappy show because no one came and I can't play someone elses' kit.  We left directly after we played on our way to Dothan. 

  At one a.m., we stopped in the middle of nowhere to sleep in the van.  We found a church so we parked.  Davie and I slept in the van and Adam slept outside.  At some point, Adam knocks on the van to tell us that there was some sort of beast in the immediate woods and he was piling in.  This morning, we woke up and made our way to Dothan.  We stopped at a Waffle House and met two bikers who were members of the Black Pistons.  We got to Dothan at about 11 a.m. and located the venue.  The town is very old smelling and has a Jim Crow vibe all over.  There are murals (very good ones at that) on almost every old building in town.  They also have statues of peanuts dressed in various labor related outfits everywhere.  It is hot as hell and everyone is really nice.  

We found a music shop and asked if there was a mall so we could go and promote.  We went to the mall and talked to some kids.  One guy who worked at Hat World told us of a music festival that was happening tomorrow.  It had 100 local bands playing and said he could try to get us on.  We declined, but this is important information that ties together later.  So a couple of hours ago, we meet the venue owners, who are super cool for letting me use their computer as well as being good people all around.  They told us that we are the only band tonight because that music festival tomorrow made every band sign a waiver saying that they couldn't play any other local shows until then. So that is that.  

Tomorrow, we go to Jacksonville.  

The Beginning of June

So, I don't know where life is taking me, other than Florida for the next week! Much needed social fun and musical discipline ahead. In other me related news, I have a new roommate named Matt Rowan. Yep, the young one has arrived in the Derby City. What I am excited about is that Freightliner can get a fresh start. We have been writing and practicing. It has been exciting seeing it form into whatever two people think to do in song. We have been trying acoustic instruments (banjo and guitar) and even vocals! Fantastic times await. Fantastic times are here. I am optimistic of such.

We have a camera to take. Pictures will be unloaded in a week.

Spring

Well, I haven't posted in a while because life has been rapidly speeding, so let me give you all the big stuff fit for print.

I moved into a new house on Bardstown Rd. here in Louisville with Adam and Davie. I will get some pictures of it up soon.

I have been working on a solo set for live performance. It's kind of dance music a la' the 1980's. More on that soon.
www.myspace.com/aaronsortmanmusic

Freightliner is now a trio.
www.myspace.com/freightlinersound

ZCFOS are chugging along and preparing for a tour in early June.
www.myspace.com/zcfos

Adam and I recently saw our friends in Bawn in the Mash. It was a hoot and the music has changed since their humble beginnings as a string band in West KY.
www.myspace.com/bawninthemash

Also, two of my friends have been playing bluegrass recently. They are great musicians, and you should all see what they are up to.
www.myspace.com/thejoshwilliamsband

Oh, and check out this stuff, too.
www.vbs.tv
http://jacksonpublick.livejournal.com/
www.pitchfork.tv


Other than that, there's always little stuff. The Venture Bros. Season Three DVD was released yesterday so our house is all buzzing with happiness. Overall, it's good here in the Derby City. I have been missing all of my super close friends scattered all over this nation of ours. So if you are reading this and you are one of the awesome people that I love dearly; know that you are missed immensely. I will hopefully have some really big, music related news by the summer. So until then, try to enjoy the weather.

Photos of New Setup

New Keyboard and the Ice Storm

aaron's new keyboard and the ice storm


I got a Nord Electro II on the first day of the ice storm. Here's a video from day two of me "jamming" a little on something I have been working on. Also, Maybee's got a shirt on.

New and Old Bands

So, I have been listening to a few things of late that my friends should know about.

Bon Iver- This band has been everywhere and it is obvious why. For fans of folkish music.

Magnolia Electric Co.- A band that I fell in love with last year and it has only gotten stronger. For fans of alt. country and working class rock a la' Neil Young.

Junior Boys- "Begone Dull Care" The new album for the Junior Boys just leaked and is very unique. It is a new amalgam of electronic music.

Here We Go Magic- Without a proper release yet, this band is going to create some talk in the year to come. For fans of good lo-fi with an experimental tinge.

The Whitest Boy Alive-"Rules" The new album from Erlend Oye and co. is an extension of the first album, but with actual keyboards. Much more funky than the previous.

Sixto Rodriguez- "Cold Fact" This album was released in 1970 with mixed reviews but since they rereleased it in 2008, people cannot get enough! Psychadelic rock with blatant profanity.

ZCFOS in Evansville

This is my roommates and myself having fun in Evansville, Indiana. I worked a full shift that day and left straight from work. I drove two hours to get there and spent probably fifty minutes or so setting up, playing, and breaking down. Then I immediately drove back home to make it to bed by 2 a.m.

Filmed by Margaret on her camera.