Battle Hymn Video

Some Super 8 magic from my friend mat, taken during the first Canon Blue house show last fall.


Battle Hymn Video

Byrne Building

just because....

Efterklang/Rumraket/Canon Blue

Histories collided last night (in the bastion of southern style that is Atlanta) as the worlds of Rumraket/Efterklang and Canon Blue were brought together for the very first time. The occasion was Efterklang's stellar show at the Drunken Unicorn just outside of downtown Atlanta. A wonderful evening was spent with truly the nicest people in show business, discussing Danish Music, local cuisine & Politics (why do non-Americans care more about American politics than Americans do?)

Here with Rasmus and Casper from Efterklang celebrating our historical meeting.




the circle is now finally complete w/ smiles, toasts, and high fives all around.

Radiophonic Workshop

Robjn, remixer of Canon Blue's Treehouse, kindly brought to my attention a mini documentary on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (mentioned in the aformentioned songwriting article that might have come across pretentious, even though it wasn't meant too). line up and pay your respects kids. this is where it all started....

Radiophonic Workshop Tour

also, here is the main BBC 4 Documentary which i was talking about called "Alchemists of Sound"

Alchemists of Sound

enjoy...

Canon Blueprint

was asked to write an article of how i write songs. probably a little early in the career to be doing that. none the less its here for all to read.

Mr. Lonely

I went to the Nashville premiere of native son Harmony Korine's new movie Mr. Lonely. Harmony came out to introduce the film and then answered questions afterword. I wasn't sure what to expect as Gummo and Julian Donkey Boy definitely had a very specific style and feel. But surprisingly Mr. Lonely really felt like an entirely different director almost and was quite a marked change from all of his previous work.




"All he would ever be was an observer. He waited with serenity. Life had never been good enough to him for him to wince at its destruction. He told himself that he was indifferent even to his own dissolution. It seemed to him that this indifference was the most that human dignity could achieve, and for the moment forgetting his lapses, forgetting even his narrow escape of the afternoon, he felt he had achieved it. To feel nothing was peace."
-A Crackup At the Race Riots (Harmony Korine)

That was the Harmony I was expecting to see come through in the film, but instead it seemed to be colored by something more hopeful and optimistic. A desire for transcendence and a connection with the outside world came through in ways that I hadn't seen before in his other films and it was very moving. Who knows if thats what he was after, but suffice it to say it was definitely one of my favorite films this year.


and who knew abe lincoln was so funny?

I went to St. Louis last night to see Liars and Radiohead and packed up the car with a few friends to make the 5 hour trek. I had seen Radiohead play at the same place for the Hail to the Thief Tour in 2003, but had gotten there late and was basically in the weeds. So I was Looking forward to actually having a seat this time (Thanks Patrick)(Sorry Lawn Sitters).

First up was Liars. I got into them with They Were Wrong So We Drowned record & definitely loved Drums Not Dead, but I wasn't sure how they would come across in an ampitheater with the sun still out. They're the kind of band I want to see at 3 am in a dark cave after I haven't slept for 2 days. But they definitely pulled it off. 'Broken Witch' was as menacing and sinister as ever as was most of their set.

Radiohead were fantastic as expected. The light show was really unique, looking like a cage built of steel icicles (which was way cooler than it sounds) and was backed by a really simple video setup that still managed to be cooler than most every other video show i'd seen. They opened with All I need, then made their way through Jigsaw and Airbag before pulling out Kid A, which was definitely my favorite of the evening. The live version is almost somehow creepier and more haunting than the album. It has a quiet rave quality about it, like standing in the middle of a screaming crowd with headphones on.

And then they were done, leaving us all to wonder where would the world be without Radiohead?




probably still here, but definitely less enjoyable.....

Remixes and Such

Cambridge remixer to the stars, Robjn, has just posted his remix of Canon Blue's song 'Treehouse'. Take a sample of his goodness here:

In similar news, a deluxe digital single version of Odds & Ends is soon to be released by the fantastic people at Rumraket including remixes by Turboweekend, Kill Krinkle Club, Rival Consoles, & last but not least, Vincent Oliver. There are also rumors of the first official Canon Blue music video to coincide with said release.........


its a slow train, but it still moving......

Canon Blue To Play Roskilde

The Danes may be known for churning out good childrens stories, philosophers, and beautiful people, but they are also known for putting on amazing music festivals. The Roskilde Festival being no exception:




We're very excited to announce that this year Canon Blue will also be performing and have the honor of 'kind of' playing with Radiohead and performing 'near' Efterklang. But alas i'll take that any day. We'll be there on the 5th and 6th of July. There is a little write up here. bring your wellies:

Jayhawk Jam / Last Minute KC Show Added

if you're in kansas city this weekend, we'll be performing at the boiler room:

3829 Main Street Unit 2
Kansas City
Missouri 64111

probably around 9 or maybe later. might be some other bands. might not.

obviously a little last minute.....obviously

10,000 Downloads For Halcyon EP

Thanks to everyone who has downloaded the Halcyon Ep and helped us to reach 10,000 downloads! I’m really happy this little project has been able to connect with some people. hopefully i’ll be able to do some more similar projects in the future...

let the party begin


.


In other news, this just came in from Rumraket today:

Today we can announce that Our Broken Garden has signed to Rumraket.

Late April we will release their debut EP and late summer we will release their debut album. We will only release this album in Denmark - outside it will be released on the british label Bella Union (Midlake, Explosions in the Sky and many others). Our Broken Garden is based around Anna Bronsted who to some is known as the angelic voice and pianoplayer of the Efterklang liveband. Become friends with Anna and have a listen to the music at her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/ourbrokengarden

Colonies & Halycon Lyrics

a few people have been emailing about the lyrics for colonies and halcyon so i’ve posted them here in full:

CANON BLUE
COLONIES:

TREEHOUSE:

ALONE ON THE WAY UP
NO SOUND COMING OUT OF THE RADIO
ALONE ON THE WAY BACK DOWN

FOLLOW WHERE THE VOICE LEADS
ESCAPE INTO THE WALLS
CREEPING DOWN THE HALLWAYS
AVOIDING ALL THE DOORS
THE TREE GROWS THROUGH THE WINDOW
HANGING WITH ITS FRUIT
PULL AWAY THE FINGERS
AND CHOP AWAY THE ROOTS

I CAN HOLD FAST
GROUNDED TO THIS WOODEN FLOOR AT LAST
WHILE MY HANDS REACH OUT
THE SPIRIT LEAVES ESCAPING FROM THE GROUND

HERE SUCH A LONG TIME HERE SUCH A...

WHO BUILT SUCH A STRANGE PLACE
WANDERING THROUGH THE DARK

PILGUIN POP:

I SAW IT ALL IN A FLASHBACK
MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
COLORING THE BACKGROUND
OF MY LANDSCAPE

WITH A LOOK LIKE A LOADED GUN
YOU MADE ALL THE COLORS RUN
AND NOW I SLEEP BY THE WINDOW
DOESN’T EVERYONE

I SAID YOU WERE NO-ONE,
CAUSE YOU JUST DON’T KNOW WHEN TO STOP
I SAID YOU WERE NO-ONE,
BUT TRUTH IS THATS NO WHERE TO START

I SAW A GHOST IN A BIRDCAGE
LOVE WITH YOUR LATIN NAME
I SWEAR THAT I BURIED YOU
IN THE CHURCHYARD

A SONG FOR A DEAF EAR
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE
OF A MODERN MAN

ODDS AND ENDS:

THERES ALWAYS TEMPTATION
ON TOP OF THE WORLD
WITH NO HESITATION
OR WAY TO BE HEARD

NOTHING EVER LOOKS GOOD
WHEN YOU’RE IN THE BOTTOM OF A HOLE
SO TELL ME YOUR REASONS
I’LL WAIT ON YOUR REASONS HERE ALONE

OH NO, WHY WAIT OUTSIDE

LOOKING FOR LOST SOULS
ON THE BACK OF THE BUS
THINKING OF LEAVING
THERES NO ONE TO TRUST

NOTHING EVER FEELS RIGHT
WHEN YOU’VE GOT A KNIFE
IN THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD
MY TEETH ARE TEETHING
IT HURTS, BUT I’M EATING,
LET ME LIVE

THE BEST THAT WE CAN DO IS TO LOVE THE PIECES...

PALE HORSE:

THE RACE IS HARD
THE BELLY ACHES
THE STUBBLE GROWS
TO HIDE THE FACE

TOSS AND TURN
DON’T LOSE YOUR PLACE
THE EYES THAT BURN
STOMACH INTAKE

ANIMALS TRAPPED IN GATES
THE HELP IS HERE
IT CAME TOO LATE

HEAD IN HANDS
SINKING SHIP
KEEP THE PEOPLE QUIET

ITS HARD TO LEAVE THE PIECES THAT YOU NEVER DID WITHOUT
HARDER THAN IT SEEMS

BUILD AND BREAK
BAD LUCK OR FATE
A FUNERAL FIRE FOR THE STATE
TELL ME IS IT SAFE TO SAY
THE THIEF THE SAINT
(ALL) STAND IN THE RAIN

RUM DIARY:

WERE YOU AFRAID
WHEN YOU RAN OUT OF BREATH?
WHEN THE WATER TOUCHED YOUR LIPS

I HEARD A VOICE
CALLING LIKE A GHOST
BUT THEN I.......I LOST IT AGAIN

WHERE DOES ALL THE LIVING GO?
RUNNING FROM THE UNDERTOW
THAT NEVER ENDS DRAGS YOU DOWN
INTO YOURSELF
WITHOUT A SOUND
WE LIVE AND BREATHE THE CENTURIES
AS I WAS THEN SO I WILL BE
DROWNING UNDER MY BELIEFS
WHERE WERE YOU TO COMFORT ME

HURRY IN LIKE A CHILD
GETTING DRESSED TO LEAVE
TRYING NOT TO FORGET ANYTHING

YOU TOOK THE WORLD WITH YOU INTO THE DARKNESS
BUT DIDN’T BRING IT BACK
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM

BATTLE HYMN:

STEP UP TO THE GATE
PLAY,
COTTON MILL
3 RING CIRCUS
I CAN’T HELP MYSELF
THEY’LL HAVE TO CARRY US AWAY!
STAY
MAGISTRATE
ALLIGATOR GASOLINE SKULL
WATCH OUT FOR THE WAKE
MISTAKE,
ONE EYED JACK
GYPSY HEART AND SOUL
DANCE OF THE DEAD
MACABRE
ABSINTHE ABSINTHE
WE ALL FALL DOWN

I SAID YOU COULD NEVER HAVE IT
BUT ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
I SAID YOU’RE BETTER OFF WITH OUT IT
BUT NOTHINGS EVER BLACK AND WHITE

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMP ROULER

(GET OUT OF THE WAY)
HEY
WE’RE OUT HERE LIKE PURE ANIMALS
I DON’T TREAT MY DOG LIKE THAT
I BURIED MY DOG
WHERE DID THEY GO
MY HEAD SPINS
WATER LOGGED SKELETONS
WHAT DID YOU REALLY SEE
PLEASE PLEASE
DO I REALLY HAVE TO TELL YOU?
WE ARE ALL IN NEED
"I USED TO LOVE THAT PLACE"
TV DINNER
NO TIME FOR THE DEAD
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH LIVING
YOU KNOW YOUR GOING TO WANT TO
PUT YOUR HAND IN THE FIRE

SEA MONSTERS:

RUN UPSTAIRS AND HIDE
THE RIVER HAS COME TO
BUILD A CHURCH AND BAPTIZE
COLD AND CRIPPLED HANDS
RECEIVE AND UNDERSTAND

HOLD TOMORROW HOLD
MY CITY AND MY SOUL
NEVER NEEDED MORE

SOMEDAY I WILL TRY
WITH AN ANGEL ON MY LEFT
A DEVIL ON MY RIGHT
HOLDING BOTH THEIR HANDS
BURIED IN THE LAND

DARE YOU TAKE IT ON
GONE, THE CITIES GONE
ALL THATS GAINED IS LOST
ALL THATS GAINED IS

MONSTERS FROM THE SEA
STOLE YOU AWAY TO BRING YOU BACK TO ME

TARGET PRACTICE:

TOSS AND TURN THROUGH SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
THAT FAIL TO BRING ME REST
A STOMACH FULL OF BIG IDEAS
THAT PRESS UPON MY HEAD

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO LEARN

MY BODY RUNS TOO FAR AHEAD
AND LEAVES ME TO MYSELF
BUT WHEN I OPEN UP MY MOUTH
NOTHING DARES COMES OUT
WINDING WIND AND TALKING TREES
BRING THE WORLD DOWN TO KNEES AGAIN

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO LEARN
THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO LEARN

I FALL AND I LEARN I AM AND YOU ARE

WALKING BACKWARDS THROUGH MY ROOM
CIRCLE IN THE DARK
WAITING FOR THE MY TIME TO COME
BUT WAITINGS LEFT ITS MARK
STICK MY HAND ACROSS MY MOUTH
TO KEEP MY THOUGHTS FROM SPILLING OUT

THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO LEARN
THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO LEARN

I FALL AND I LEARN I AM AND YOU ARE

IF I AM SLOW TO ANSWER YOU
YOU’LL KNOW ME BY MY BREATH
THAT RAISES HAIRS UPON YOUR SPINE
AND PUSHES ON YOUR CHEST

MOUTH TO MOUTH:

SWAM OVER TO YOU
SPEAK IN YOUR MOUTH
HOLLOW LIKE IT IS
SO YOU ARE
HONEY
COME BACK TO ME
I DON’T KNOW WHERE MY HEAD WAS

YOU SAW MY HEART FAILING

THE LEVEE BROKE
AND LET ALL THE THOUGHTS RUSH IN
LONELY AS MY FIST
TOUCHED YOUR HAIR
I FORGOT TO LOCK THE HOUSE
I PROMISE IT WAS MY FAULT

WAS IT ME OR BAD LUCK?
SAY SOMETHING

HATCHET THROUGH THE SKY
RISE UP ABOVE THE ROOF
THERE ARE NO BIRDS HERE
IT IS SILENT LIKE DEATH

MOTHER TONGUE:

ONE LIE IS THE SAME AS ANOTHER
I WAS BITTEN BY A BUG
AND I SWELLED UP JUST LIKE A BALLOON

PARALYZED NO MOTOR FUNCTIONS
I LOOKED UP PEELING BACK MY EYELIDS
AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS YOU

WHEN THE WORDS COME
CREEPING OUT LIKE SPIDERS

MY WORDS ARE TURNING ON EACHOTHER
LOOKING FOR SOME SORT OF COVER
TO REST MY MOUTH

BUTTERFLIES CHURNING IN THE STOMACH
REACH OUT FOR SOMETHING THAT COULD NOURISH
A BOTTLE THEN MET MY HAND

WHEN THE WORDS COME
CREEPING OUT LIKE SPIDERS
AND LEAVE THEIR TANGLED WEBS INSIDE

WHO GOT BIT BY THE MOTHER TONGUE
YOU GOT BIT BY THE MOTHER TONGUE

AND I STEP OUT TO FIND MY WAY

I COULD RUN I COULD STAY
I COULD SAY A MILLION THINGS
BUT IT WOULDN’T MATTER NOW
NO IT WOULDN’T MATTER NOW

BAPTESME:

CANON BLUE
HALCYON EP:

HALCYON:

AND THE WORLD IN THE LIGHTS REBORN
WILL AWAKE FROM ITS SLUMBER
TO THE CALM OF THESE HALCYON DAYS
AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD

IN YOUR HEART YOU KNOW
THAT IT WILL BE SO

IN THE STILL OF THE WINTER’S SNOW
I AWOKE AND EXPANDED
TIL MY EYES COULD SEE ONLY HOPE
AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD AND ITS GOOD

WILL YOU KEEP ME AWAKE?

ENNUI:

IT STARTED AND IT LET GO OF MY HAND
I TRIED TO GET IT BACK BUT IT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU STARTED WOULD YOU END?

ITS EASY IN THE LIGHT OF THE MORNING
BUT IN THE DARK ITS HARD TO TELL IF SOMETHINGS THERE
WHAT YOU STARTED WOULD YOU END?

STOP THE MYSTERY IS OVER
THE MYSTERY IS OVER
STOP THE MYSTERY IS OVER NOW

THE KIND OF THINGS THAT HANG OVER MY HEAD
ARE HANGING FROM THE CEILINGS OF LONESOME MEN

IF ALL IS LOST THE BOY CRIED FROM HIS BED
AT LEAST THERES SOMETHING LEFT TO BELIEVE IN STILL

ITS ALL OUR LIVES

AVATAR FURR:

I’LL STAY IN THE WARMTH OF THE FIRE
KEEP THE COLD OUT IN THE SHADOWS

LIFT A MONUMENT ON THE SURFACE
TO GUARD US FROM WHATS DOWN BELOW US THERE

WHERE IT RESIDES
IF WORDS ARE WARS OF GREATER BEINGS
WHAT MUST I WRITE?

(IS THIS ALL WE HAVE TO TRY TO KEEP THEM WANDERING IN THE NIGHT?)
WILL THIS BE ENOUGH TO KEEP US BREATHING
WILL THIS BE ENOUGH TO KEEP BELIEVING IN

I WOULD DRIVE THE DEVILS AWAY FROM HERE
BUT THEY WOULD TAKE THE ANGELS WITH THEM

STRANGER THINGS ARE SAID IN THE DARKNESS
WITH BREATH LIKE SMOKE WE’LL FILL THE WINTER AIR

ALWAYS THE LINGERING FEELINGS
ALWAYS

SOMETHINGS WILL NEVER STOP PULLING
SOMETHINGS

KINGFISHER SWEET:

Stereo Subversion Interview

the wonderful people over at ’stereo subversion’ have posted a canon blue interview here.

halcyon EP at 9000 downloads / New Erik Levander Album

just a quick note to say that the halcyon ep is now at 9000 downloads!! thanks to everyone who has listened and passed it along. we're well on our way to our goal of 10,000.....


in other news, the fantastic fellow rumraketeer erik levander, is releasing his brand new album 'kondens'. hear a little taster here by clicking on the song 'oskarpa'...out now on itunes. hard copy drops march 17th, 2008


more news to come soon...

Amateur Chemist / West Coast Recap

Back from a fantastic week of west coast shows with our friends We Barbarians & Delta Spirit. Both bands are currently on tour right now, so if they are near to you its definitely worth the trip!

Also, here's a brief review of the Detroit Bar show by Mr. Amateur Chemist himself:

"Their set seemed to be criminally brief and another observation was that I noticed the bar chatter in the club was extremely low as many patrons were taking in their set....I don't know too much about the Nashville scene but I think Canon Blue could easily find a welcome home in California."

Read the review in full at Amateur Chemist

Finally, stay tuned for some very exciting international news coming soon. globalization is the way of the future..or something like that...





SILVERLAKE LOUNGE:















DETROIT BAR:

Halcyon EP Downloaded 7,000 times

thanks to everyone who has downloaded the ep as now we're well on our way to our goal of 10,000 downloads! the link will stay up for the next little while, so if want, please pass it on to anyone else you think might like it.........shameless

( http://www.rumraket.com/music/Canon_Blue_Halcyon_EP.zip )

in other news, a few more shows have been added. one more in california at the starline in fresno, and then one this week in nashville at the end. besides nashville, these will be our first west coast dates, and we'll be sharing the stage with our friends we barbarians.


finally here are some reviews of halcyon if you're bored. narcissism is underrated:


my old kentucky blog

i guess i'm floating

the milk factory

puddlegum

3hive