cuddle magic

2008-04-25 13:19:34

all over the place

Recording studios are so damn cool. After a single, massively long and wonderful session at beautiful Wellspring Sound in Acton, MA, we've got some sweet recordings of some new songs. A couple of them have briefly appeared on our MySpace page in the last couple of months in older, home studio versions but have now been realized in obscenely meticulous hi-fi recordings made with all manner of incredible microphones and preamps. We'll definitely have to go in the studio a couple more times to finish off the record, but the results so far are very promising, indeed. We've even got some guest spots by Matt Plummer, an increasingly regular cuddler, on trombone.

In fact, Matt will also be joining us this weekend at Googie's Lounge (upstairs at The Living Room) with a somewhat abridged version of the band at 8:30 PM sharp. Not only are we playing with our dear friends Lake Street Dive (half of whom, I should add, are amongst the cuddlers as well), but we also won't be back in New York until the end of June, so this will be an extra-special show for whoever comes out.

We also had some wonderful recent travels to upstate New York, homeland of our bassist/guitarist/songwriter/singer Den Bavis. Rochester treated us well – actually, Rochester did treat us decently, but it was really Ian and Michael who treated us really well, so thanks again, guys! Ian's band Baby Shiver's Boutique opened for us in front of a good crowd at Boulder Coffee and we played our first radio appearance at WRUR with our pared down band of bass, violin, percussion, guitar and, of course, singing. Then we hiked back to Albany and had a really great show at Valentine's. Alec, Bridget, and Cole all came in from Boston and New York and we played with some other large, very good bands (oh, and the guys from this great band called Museé Mechaniqué lent us some drum stuff, which was a lifesaver - you guys rock).

There were also a couple of other shows in Boston, include Mr. Bavis's graduating recital from the New England Conservatory (thereby becoming the final member of Cuddle Magic to have endured this process), but enough blabbing!

- cm

2008-01-21 01:03:16

the cds are in & the release party is near!

That's right, we've finally received our CDs: boxes and boxes of shiny, beautiful digipacks. So we're going to have a little party to celebrate here in Jamaica Plain, MA at a place called Spontaneous Celebrations, which is only a couple blocks away from the Orange Line Stony Brook T station. It's a big old boomy room with a nice big stage (though we probably won't use it), and we'll be joined by two incredible groups: American Hornets, featuring our friend Josh Carrigan, and Ronald Reagan, the best damn 80's saxophone duo cover band that I've ever heard (and featuring our very own Alec Spiegelman). There's more information about the release party and the like on our live page.

So that's that. We're going to play some new songs at this show, and we're a little more than halfway through the new album, too. We've also got shows planned throughout the spring and the beginnings of a tour with our friends Lake Street Dive in the early summer! I should also add that this CD marks the first release of a new record label - more information on upcoming projects for the label soon. Finally, I forgot to mention that the picture below also shows us with two upright basses at the same time! That's Ben & Bridget laying it down on one of Ben's new songs.

See you soon!

- dave & ben

2007-12-03 05:42:28

the time is coming...

Our first record should be with us in printed form within the month - the artwork is in, the digipacks are being printed, and we're sending out the master tomorrow. It's all very exciting. In the meanwhile, Ben & Christopher came up with a couple of new numbers and we've played a couple of shows.

These pictures are from a recent show at our friends' house here in Jamaica Plain. We're not exactly a party band, but it's nice to play for your friends in a small space (and there was a grand piano to boot!). This was also our first show with three percussionists at once! We'll let you know soon when the new CD is for sale and how you can have one for yourself, but in the meantime, please check out some of our new music. We're also going to put up some pictures of Christopher's recital sometime this week. Stay tuned...

2007-10-17 04:18:45

more pictures from lucy

this is a pretty fly picture from our new york gig thanks to lucy. this is ben's song about packaging - it's the only one that I play vibes on at the moment. we've just recently recorded this song in our basement (see below), and holy sweet patootie! by the way, that's a bass clarinet in alec's hand...

this one brings back memories of bear. he was such a good sport. he very graciously muted my drums at the first magic chica rehearsal, and he never once complained about the long van rides. i know he looks a little severe here, but he really is a gentle and fun-loving beast. he is pictured with our friends mr. quackers, mr. quackers, and flabby monkey.

- dave

2007-10-17 00:42:39

crazz

CRAZZBERRY HADMADIPAN ASSURed MR+ the CREEAM SNEAZE MASTERS

-ben

2007-10-02 04:19:14

pictures from our tour

here we are at pete's candy store. i'm not entirely sure what song we're playing on top. the bottom one is a little break between songs. you can see almost everyone in the band. pete's has this incredible train car that they use as a concert space, and even though it was a little tight with all of our instruments, everything sounded really good that night.

i like this picture - good lighting. bridget and ben are having a quick conference before playing a tune. i think that this one might be lonley red, because christopher about to play guitar. the vibes look nice in this picture, too. big big big thanks to nick for letting us use your vibe bars!!!

and here's a great band picture. i think this one might just have to stay up here for good. the burrito place was where we played in new brunswick and met c.j. boyd and the brown christmas and realized that we left the bars to the vibes in pittsburgh and put a dent in ben's bass. thanks, new brunswick!!!
there are some more photos below, too.

awesome fun.

- dave

2007-10-01 07:10:46

end of tour, beginning of rest of website & rest of life

christopher & lucy up early this morning to overdub
praise them for their industriousness
but alas, hallie and lucy are gone, the magic chica tour is over,
and the world goes on.
thanks for coming if you did.

in the meantime, please enjoy this new website
with nice art and pictures and things
and no advertisements
and it doesn't take too long to load

thanks again

- dave

2007-09-29 19:55:17

the thing about the thingy

the thing about the thingy
was walking down the line

we record music in our basement or anywhere else and we would like to
propose an idea about a walk in the woods and a concert at a campsite,

we can play completely acoustically so an actual backpacking show on
the top of a mountain is in store,

also the canopy is fine
and also I would like to add something about that fine canopy

- ben

2007-09-28 15:47:28

magic chica -> vermont

more recording tonight: two new tunes about the first lady and packaging on food and cleaning products. this will probably be our last recording session with lucy, as she'll be heading home to london on monday. we will miss her and her most beauteous cellistics. hallie has been amazingly patient during these late-night sessions, and her space-bar-hitting has proven most invaluable.

- dave