The low-quality recordings from Harper's Ferry came up while shuffling through my music today. I highly recommend listening to or stealing them from here.
Since moving to Delaware, I have identified many things that are immeasurably dear to me. One of those is making beautiful (or horrible) music with Isthmus and each and every last Lisp. I miss you guys.
I've gotta post "The Way You Cry," which is relatively done.
Jess Kelly-- Something will be arriving at your mailing address within the next week or so. Anticipate its arrival with bated breath.
Chris-- You've gotta record some strings for "Mama Was" and "Drank a 40."
Jim-- Record something and send it to me via the internet.
Ross-- Faccadulla!
The rest of you-- No specific messages.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Movin' On Up...
Hey Everybody. Isthmus and the Lisps is going to experience some changes pretty soon. Many of us are parting ways in a little less than a month, others in a few months. We will still exist in some incarnation either physically (in space) or electronically (on the internet).
Founding members, Jim and I, have decided that Isthmus and the Lisps will be to music as a black hole is to space: once you've entered, escape is impossible. Our band offers lifetime membership. This leaves the door open to any future musical efforts any of us want to pursue with each other.
This isn't a sign-off. There will continue to be updates, so this isn't a "sign-off" even in the SEMI-permanent sense.
I love you all (fellow members AND fans). Thank you for playing/listening/watching/loving.
Founding members, Jim and I, have decided that Isthmus and the Lisps will be to music as a black hole is to space: once you've entered, escape is impossible. Our band offers lifetime membership. This leaves the door open to any future musical efforts any of us want to pursue with each other.
This isn't a sign-off. There will continue to be updates, so this isn't a "sign-off" even in the SEMI-permanent sense.
I love you all (fellow members AND fans). Thank you for playing/listening/watching/loving.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I put a spell on you...
So, a friend of ours was assigned a project to design an album cover for a photoshop class at BC. He could choose any band in the whole wide world to design an album cover for, and who did he choose? Isthmus and the Lisps? Really?
Anyway, here it is:
Is Isthmus and the Lisps recording an album? Are these all or some of the songs that will be on it? Are those sweater-vests? Why isn't the whole band on the cover? Is this a dream? Are Jim and Zach ghosts in the first image? Why are their outlines luminescent?
If you found yourself pondering one or more of these questions, you'll have to direct them to Alex.
Anyway, here it is:
Is Isthmus and the Lisps recording an album? Are these all or some of the songs that will be on it? Are those sweater-vests? Why isn't the whole band on the cover? Is this a dream? Are Jim and Zach ghosts in the first image? Why are their outlines luminescent?
If you found yourself pondering one or more of these questions, you'll have to direct them to Alex.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Audio tracks from our set at Harper's Ferry
How It Has To Be
Getting Married
Mama Was
Weak Now
Could Have Been
New Blood
Blind
While My Guitar (Beatles Cover)
Favorite Tree
Time
The Way You Cry
To Me More
Drank a 40
Don't Leave Me
Getting Married
Mama Was
Weak Now
Could Have Been
New Blood
Blind
While My Guitar (Beatles Cover)
Favorite Tree
Time
The Way You Cry
To Me More
Drank a 40
Don't Leave Me
Thursday, January 31, 2008
My lyrical form is clouds on your brainform...
Awesome show last night at Harper's Ferry. Thanks to everyone who came out to see us. And thanks to all the bands who played with us.
Here's a review of last night's show by Mark Baumer of everydayyeah.com . We don't, of course endorse all the content in the review, as it represents only Mr. Baumer's experience and opinions.
Though Mark's are certainly more interesting, here are my personal thoughts on the evening:
The door guys were dick-heads.
The security folks from Wizard Security were all really nice.
Ben (the sound guy) was extremely helpful and did an excellent job mixing all of the acts.
The bartender was attractive, attentive, and efficient.
Jess Sola - Was/is/always will be fucking amazing. Ross and I decided during her set that she should never play cover songs. No matter how good the cover (Imogen Heap's Only Got One), the audience just wants it to end so we can hear another of hers. Jess Sola's voice and music will enrapture all those with beating hearts.
Patrick Cronin - I have never in my life been so interested for so long by one man with an electric keyboard/organ. He is definitely worth checking out.
Sarah Blacker - I can't find the name of the percussionist with whom she performed, but the two had excellent musical chemistry. Miss Blacker has a very jazzy sound and a very snazzy voice. If you haven't seen her perform, you should.
The Project - Four guys who have found their sound and honed it to the limits. They packed the club with college students who cheered, yelled, danced, and drank their hearts out. The Project themselves said it best: "Their improvisational talents, fun-loving personalities, and love for playing their instruments combined with their deep understanding of the emotion of rock and roll make it a party every time these guys take the stage."
Isthmus and the Lisps - 30 or so fans stayed for our set. To be entirely honest, I was (at first) slightly disappointed that the crowd dispersed after our first couple songs. Then, I had a little epiphany: I liked, really liked, or loved every one of the people who stayed to watch us play. How many bands are lucky enough to ever play a show for only their closest family and friends? Not many. Looking out at the silhouettes of people I love, I realized that these are the only kinds of people I ever want to play music for/with (one of the many reasons I'll never be famous). I fucking hate the pretentiousness that seems to be inexorably linked to performing and networking in the world of music. With an audience like the one that stayed to watch us last night, we could be ourselves. We made Heath Ledger jokes. We forgot lyrics and chords. We fucked up. Some fucker broke a glass and then another dude dropped a plastic bucket. Ross punctuated jokes with rim-shots. And you people whom I love stayed and laughed and sang and danced and listened and eventually left, having made my evening one of the most memorable I've had in a long time. My only regret of the entire night is that you 30 people whom I love had to pay 5$ to be there. You had to pay 5$ to make my night. That just doesn't make sense to me.
Thank you again to everyone who came out to the show. Pictures and videos from last night will eventually be up online at some point.
Here's a review of last night's show by Mark Baumer of everydayyeah.com . We don't, of course endorse all the content in the review, as it represents only Mr. Baumer's experience and opinions.
Though Mark's are certainly more interesting, here are my personal thoughts on the evening:
The door guys were dick-heads.
The security folks from Wizard Security were all really nice.
Ben (the sound guy) was extremely helpful and did an excellent job mixing all of the acts.
The bartender was attractive, attentive, and efficient.
Jess Sola - Was/is/always will be fucking amazing. Ross and I decided during her set that she should never play cover songs. No matter how good the cover (Imogen Heap's Only Got One), the audience just wants it to end so we can hear another of hers. Jess Sola's voice and music will enrapture all those with beating hearts.
Patrick Cronin - I have never in my life been so interested for so long by one man with an electric keyboard/organ. He is definitely worth checking out.
Sarah Blacker - I can't find the name of the percussionist with whom she performed, but the two had excellent musical chemistry. Miss Blacker has a very jazzy sound and a very snazzy voice. If you haven't seen her perform, you should.
The Project - Four guys who have found their sound and honed it to the limits. They packed the club with college students who cheered, yelled, danced, and drank their hearts out. The Project themselves said it best: "Their improvisational talents, fun-loving personalities, and love for playing their instruments combined with their deep understanding of the emotion of rock and roll make it a party every time these guys take the stage."
Isthmus and the Lisps - 30 or so fans stayed for our set. To be entirely honest, I was (at first) slightly disappointed that the crowd dispersed after our first couple songs. Then, I had a little epiphany: I liked, really liked, or loved every one of the people who stayed to watch us play. How many bands are lucky enough to ever play a show for only their closest family and friends? Not many. Looking out at the silhouettes of people I love, I realized that these are the only kinds of people I ever want to play music for/with (one of the many reasons I'll never be famous). I fucking hate the pretentiousness that seems to be inexorably linked to performing and networking in the world of music. With an audience like the one that stayed to watch us last night, we could be ourselves. We made Heath Ledger jokes. We forgot lyrics and chords. We fucked up. Some fucker broke a glass and then another dude dropped a plastic bucket. Ross punctuated jokes with rim-shots. And you people whom I love stayed and laughed and sang and danced and listened and eventually left, having made my evening one of the most memorable I've had in a long time. My only regret of the entire night is that you 30 people whom I love had to pay 5$ to be there. You had to pay 5$ to make my night. That just doesn't make sense to me.
Thank you again to everyone who came out to the show. Pictures and videos from last night will eventually be up online at some point.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Minute after minute... hour after hour...
2 UPCOMING SHOWS (in chronological order)
CZAR TARA CHOY VII and/or EZRA KACHI - LIVE at The Livingroom in Providence RI: Monday January 28, 2008. With THE CHUMPS and others. 18+ $5 (at the door) Doors at 8 PM?
The night was planned/booked by Rafay Rashid of The Chumps, and promises to be a great time for all.
ISTHMUS AND THE LISPS - LIVE at Harper's Ferry in Allston MA: Wednesday January 30, 2008. With THE PROJECT, SARAH BLACKER, PAT CRONIN, and JESSICA SOLA. 18+ $5 (in advance) $7 (at the door). Doors at 8 PM?
Isthmus and the Lisps' Chris Huang (with the help/cooperation of the folks at Harper's Ferry) organized this amazing lineup. There will be cheap drinks, great music, and good company.
We hope to see you at both.
CZAR TARA CHOY VII and/or EZRA KACHI - LIVE at The Livingroom in Providence RI: Monday January 28, 2008. With THE CHUMPS and others. 18+ $5 (at the door) Doors at 8 PM?
The night was planned/booked by Rafay Rashid of The Chumps, and promises to be a great time for all.
ISTHMUS AND THE LISPS - LIVE at Harper's Ferry in Allston MA: Wednesday January 30, 2008. With THE PROJECT, SARAH BLACKER, PAT CRONIN, and JESSICA SOLA. 18+ $5 (in advance) $7 (at the door). Doors at 8 PM?
Isthmus and the Lisps' Chris Huang (with the help/cooperation of the folks at Harper's Ferry) organized this amazing lineup. There will be cheap drinks, great music, and good company.
We hope to see you at both.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
When I'm on the mic, the suckers run...
Check out this writeup about our band by Ezra Pendragon of everydayyeah.com:
" Isthmus and the Lisps is the brainchild of James Y. Giguere and Zach Forsberg-Lary, who began playing and writing music together as students of Boston College in 2004. The mellow folk-pop sound the two created soon outgrew their tiny two-guitar/two-vocals arrangement to include Chris Huang, a fellow BC student (now alum) and accomplished violinist/cellist, who shares with them his unique gifts for string arrangement. Isthmus and the Lisps is now an oft-changing collective which may at any given time include the talents of Victoria Forsberg-Lary (vocalist), Lee Meryash (percussion), Ross Fielding (auxiliary percussion/keyboards), Erika Young (vocalist), and Jess Kelly (auxiliary percussion). In whatever form, Isthmus and the Lisps is guaranteed to deliver a relaxing evening of inspired songwriting and musical arrangements, as well as entertaining and frequently unexpected covers. Previous contributors to Isthmus and the Lisps include Jenn Unter and Jeff Senk. "
I'm not sure why he was so nice to us and so critical of Bruce Springsteen's new album. Like I always say, "never look a gift horse in the mouth."
Three new recordings to be up shortly.
" Isthmus and the Lisps is the brainchild of James Y. Giguere and Zach Forsberg-Lary, who began playing and writing music together as students of Boston College in 2004. The mellow folk-pop sound the two created soon outgrew their tiny two-guitar/two-vocals arrangement to include Chris Huang, a fellow BC student (now alum) and accomplished violinist/cellist, who shares with them his unique gifts for string arrangement. Isthmus and the Lisps is now an oft-changing collective which may at any given time include the talents of Victoria Forsberg-Lary (vocalist), Lee Meryash (percussion), Ross Fielding (auxiliary percussion/keyboards), Erika Young (vocalist), and Jess Kelly (auxiliary percussion). In whatever form, Isthmus and the Lisps is guaranteed to deliver a relaxing evening of inspired songwriting and musical arrangements, as well as entertaining and frequently unexpected covers. Previous contributors to Isthmus and the Lisps include Jenn Unter and Jeff Senk. "
I'm not sure why he was so nice to us and so critical of Bruce Springsteen's new album. Like I always say, "never look a gift horse in the mouth."
Three new recordings to be up shortly.
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