Barnacle Bill: News

Back from L.A.; posted by yianni

Last week we returned from a four-day trip to Los Angeles, where we recorded the basic tracks for what is becoming our second record. I will mention more about the recording in another post. Here, I will share some of the strategic tips for music professionals that we heard from a few of our dear, dear (long-time New Yorkers but-now-living-in-LA) successful music industry friends:

1. First, you must become famous. The reason for the fame is not as important as the fame itself.
2. You must be on a t.v. show before you get a record contract.
3. If you don't care about 1 and 2 above, then it's really about the music and you
must be resigned to the likelihood that you won't get to number 1 above.

Very scary, to industry outsiders like Barnacle Bill, but our friends are in it every day and we love, respect and admire them even more for that. Maybe we, too, should write songs for "tween" t.v. singers and fans. Perenially, a very important segment of pop music listeners are tweens. This is not a new concept.

One of the first songs I obsessed over, at age 9, was "Sugar Sugar," by the Archies. See, the Archies followed all the tips. They were famous from a comic book that went on to become a Saturday morning t.v. cartoon, which in turn was a perfect forum for launching their pop smash hits.

And of course, those of us older than the Jonas Brothers' parents may recall the significance, for the Beatles, of the Ed Sullivan show.

I executed tips 1 and 2 by playing with the Pedantiks (my first band, in the 80s) in a school-cafeteria scene on the t.v. show "Fame" (and we did get a record contract). But now I'm happy to finally get to tip number 3.

Wait - did someone say they had an idea for a reality show...?

We have been designated a "featured artist" at 1000Tracks.com (go to http://www.1000tracks.com/main.htm and scroll down).

The site provides music for TV shows and commercials, film, radio, web sites, video games and theater.

So, if you are just aching to have a Barnacle Bill clip as part of the soundtrack to your next production, visit 1000Tracks.com.

P.S. By the way, our music is also available for licensing at Pump (http://www.pumpaudio.com)

New York-based indie film company Barleau Street Films has selected our songs "I Want You" and "One Last Time" for use in the new film, "Peripheral Vision."
We're pleased that director Michael D'Andrea felt that portions of those songs would enhance his film, and congratulate him on the completion of the project.
The premiere is scheduled for Friday night, May 2, 2008, at the Boulton Center, on Main St. in Bay Shore, LI ("Strong Island"), NY at 6:30 pm, with a reception to follow.
According to Michael, the Boulton Center is a wonderful, recently refurbished theater in
the heart of Bay Shore, across the street from
where auditions were held and not far from where some important scenes for the film were shot.

Streams of Whiskey is a band formed by the members of Barnacle Bill to play the music of Ireland's Shane MacGowan, The Pogues, The Popes, The Dubliners, etc., both original and some traditional.

Check more at:
http://www.myspace.com/streamsofwhiskeyusa

It started before last St. Patrick's Day, when Barnacle Bill drummer Steve somehow corralled us into playing Irish songs at a great venue, Egan's, located in his hometown of Montclair, NJ.

For the show, on St. Patty's Day, Steve took over on vocals and we expanded the band to include a new drummer (Matt Raymond), keyboards and tin whistle (Karen Kelly) and fiddle (Susan Mitchell). Our guitarist Stu switched to acoustic guitar and banjo. Today the drums are played by Paul ("Paulie Walnuts"), and fiddle by Jeffrey Young.

Why do we do this? Though it's enough that it's tremendously fun, the challenge of learning and playing great songs that are different than what we're used to writing is also rewarding. (Oh, and the money's pretty good...).

Earlier this month we learned the sad news that Dean Johnson died late September in Washington, D.C. and was in the morgue for a week before his friends were able to find him.
We send our condolences to Dean's family and friends, and hope that the circumstances and details of his mysterious death are further revealed.
Stu (Barnacle Bill's guitarist) and I played in the 1992-1993 configuration of Dean's first band, Dean and the Weenies (though Stu was in the band for a longer period than I). It was the first of several bands in which Stu and I would both play.
Dean was a unique and spirited performer and I cherish the experiences and memories I have from that time. The NY Times had a recent article about Dean:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901EFD71F3AF937A25753C1A9619C8B63

RIP Dean.
Yianni

We'd like to thank WRZX's music director and show host Dave Dugan for their support playing our CD:

WRZX 103.3 FM Indianapolis, IN: "Santa Fe" on the "Hangover Cafe" show

We'd like to thank the music directors and DJs of the following stations for their continued support playing songs from our CD:

KACV 89.9 FM, Amarillo, TX:
"I Want You" on the shows "Under The Radar" and "The Indie Show."

KSWI, 95.7 FM, Atlantic, IA: "What It's Like Before."

All twelve songs from our CD are now available at Apple's iTunes music store. 'Search' for artist 'Barnacle Bill' on your iTunes application or at the following site:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/

We'd like to thank the music directors and DJs of the following stations for playing songs from our CD:

KSWI, 95.7 FM, Atlantic, IA: "What It's Like Before."

KUPD, 97.9 FM, Tempe, AZ: "I Want You" on the show "The Lopsided World of L."

WQXA, 105.7 FM, Harrisburg/Hershey, PA: "Santa Fe."

We'd like to thank the music directors and DJs of the following stations for playing songs from our CD:

WFNX, 101.7 FM, Boston, MA and 92.1 FM, New Hampshire and Maine: "Santa Fe" on the show "First Contact."

KACV, 89.9 FM, Amarillo, TX: "Asylum" on "The Indy Show."

KIOZ, 105.3 FM, San Diego, CA: "Sante Fe" on the "Inside Track" show.

WAVF, 96 FM, Charleston, SC: "Best For Last."

We'd like to thank the music directors and DJs of the following stations for playing songs from our CD:

KACV 89.9 FM, Amarillo, TX:
"I Want You" on their show "Under The Radar"

KQRA 102.1 FM, Springfield, MO: "Feels Like Seven"

WAITT Radio, Omaha, NE: "Santa Fe"

WRIR 97.3 FM, Richmond, VA:
"Feels Like Seven" on their show "Future Perfect

Our song "Feels Like Seven" has been selected and will be aired as Music Director Jeff Raspe's 'Underground Pick of the Week' tonight, Friday May 26, on WBJB-FM's "Altrok Radio," the station's program that airs Friday nights 10 pm to midnight, hosted by Sean Carolan. WBJB, aka "90.5 The Night," is in Lincroft, NJ (Monmouth county) at 90.5 FM and live on the web at:
http://www.wbjb.org/
At their web site, click on the "listen" menu to pick your stream preference. Our thanks to Sean and WBJB's music director, Jeff Raspe!

This great site for indie pop and rock has added our song "Santa Fe" to the playlist for Thursday (but you can listen to Thursday's list any day - and fast forward or reverse to other songs for that day or any other day any time!)
http://www.Radio-Indie-Pop.com

We have joined the millions already at myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/barnaclebillnyc

Download two songs FREE.

We're proud to have "Towards The Pebbled Shore" added to the catalogue at Not Lame Recording Co.:
http://www.notlame.com/CDBARNACLEBILL1.html

"Towards The Pebbled Shore" has been added to the 'new releases' section at the "Online Pop Catalogue" store, at Kool Kat Musik. Here's the link:
http://koolkatmusik.com/NewCDCat2.aspx?subcat=1
(scroll down)
We're happy to be included at this pop specialty store.

'Towards the Pebbled Shore' has been selected as CD of the day for February 17 at:
http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_absolutepowerpop_archive.html
Scroll down to February 17...
Thanks Steve!

Feb. 1, 2006: Our first CD is available at CD Baby. http://cdbaby.com/cd/barnaclebill