Shameless Self Promotion (Recorder WON!)

[XyloSesame]

So the "Creepy Prince Guy" is in a band...

We were flown to Austin, Texas to perform live for an online competition called Famecast. We performed a great set, won the audience, and were a critical success.

Trouble is, the contest is based on an online popularity vote rather than the reaction to, or critique of, our performance or music.

But the real problem is that most of our fanbase in Oklahoma is without power and can not vote. Our state electric company tells us power might be out for 6 more days, which will be after voting has closed. Prior to our "national emergency" ice storm, we were holding a secure number one spot...

If anyone wants to check us out and support Recorder, go to Famecast, watch the video of our performance, and cast your vote; willing participants can vote once per day, every day, until the end of finals on Saturday, December 15, 2007.

If you've got the time, watch the video anyway; it might provide a few chuckles at least...


^^ Rob, Lynn, and Xylo ^^


^^ me ^^

[ChadTower]

I need to replace my furnace.  Are you available?

[patrickl]

Hey, I had a costume just like that when I was 6 or so. Cool.

[ahofle]

Haha cool costumes.  Reminds me of the Flight of the Conchords robots:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jmHTXiNNO48

[ChadTower]

Please tell me you guys do the song from Revenge of the Nerds.

[XyloSesame]

I need to replace my furnace.  Are you available?

Home Despot turned the lights off and locked the doors when we were trying on their furnace apparel. I was afraid they were planning on beating us with a 12" vent pipe.

Hey, I had a costume just like that when I was 6 or so. Cool.

Me too - I'm wearing it's mid-life replica...

Haha cool costumes.  Reminds me of the Flight of the Conchords robots:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jmHTXiNNO48

Brothers-In-Robotic. Affirmative.

Please tell me you guys do the song from Revenge of the Nerds.

We're rehearsing a rousing version of "Kum Ba Yah" that will be sure to move your spirit. Or your bowels.

[DrumAnBass]

Sounds like Ah-Ha crossbred with the moog cookbook and daft punk. What are you using for a vocoder?

I played drums for one of the bigger "alt-rock" bands based in Tulsa in the early 90's...

[ChadTower]

I played drums for one of the bigger "alt-rock" bands based in Tulsa in the early 90's...

I can't find the "rock" key on my keyboard. 

[XyloSesame]

Sounds like Ah-Ha crossbred with the moog cookbook and daft punk. What are you using for a vocoder?

I played drums for one of the bigger "alt-rock" bands based in Tulsa in the early 90's...

We've only got a Microkorg for live performance - it works for what we need, but is very limiting. If we continue as a live act, a voice-transforming hardware purchase will be a necessity.

I've been in TTown since 88; what's the ex-band?

[ahofle]

So are you the theremin guy with the broomstick legs?  Or the singer with the nice legs?

He's the one in the picture that says 'me' underneath it. 

[XyloSesame]

Yeah, that's the rub - you have to register with the site to vote. I try to steer clear of those myself, and here I am pushing one. They've got an opt-out choice when you register, but I never quite trust that. However, I've been registered for a couple months and have yet to receive any mail in my newly created gmail account. Yet.

Those are either some misleadingly larger than they appear duct hoses or he's the skinniest non-meth addict I've ever seen.

I was amazed at the slimming effect vent pipes and duct hoses had; I've written a letter to Vogue in hopes of exposing the secrets of slenderizing hardware store fashion.

[bfauska]

Those are either some misleadingly larger than they appear duct hoses or he's the skinniest non-meth addict I've ever seen.

You appear to be making some assumptions about Xylo's recreational drug use... I don't think he's ever claimed to be a non-meth addict.

[ChadTower]

You appear to be making some assumptions about Xylo's recreational drug use... I don't think he's ever claimed to be a non-meth addict.

I think dressing up like robots in flexible ducts and cardboard boxes might say something about his drug use... 

Let's see your teeth, bro. 

That actually looks like fun.

[XyloSesame]

I think dressing up like robots in flexible ducts and cardboard boxes might say something about his drug use... 

Let's see your teeth, bro. 

Why do you think we wear boxes on our heads??

[bfauska]

Good music, but I gotta ask one question. How can a guy who likes Prince enough to put up with all the crap we gave you about your avatar when you first joined have his fellow band members look like robots. Lisa and Wendy were WAY hotter band mates than a couple of robo-boxes. 



On a side note, in the search for this picture I was reminded of Prince's band name from the past. Why aren't you building a cabinet with rotating monitor called "The Revolution?" Or are you? Has this been asked? How's you cab coming, I haven't seen many posts lately?

[XyloSesame]

Lisa and Wendy were WAY hotter band mates than a couple of robo-boxes.

Put me in touch with either and I'll ask 'em to join the band... Prince won't return my email. Bastard.

On a side note, in the search for this picture I was reminded of Prince's band name from the past. Why aren't you building a cabinet with rotating monitor called "The Revolution?" Or are you? Has this been asked? How's you cab coming, I haven't seen many posts lately?

I thought about "The Revolution" for a rotating monitor cab. My problem is that the first thing that comes to my mind is "won't be televised" rather than Prince's band. For some reason, an arcade cab just doesn't fit with Gil Scott Heron's call to arms... So, I'll be searching for a name when the time comes; I'm hoping the cab will name itself once I get around to production.

I've ordered and received a plank of kerfed wood for the CP, have the sheets of ply and most of my major parts, and am just waiting on a free moment to start. Since I'm not sure how the CP will end up, I'm holding off on any other cuts until this is at least somewhat completed. I'd hoped to begin on this quite a while ago, but this band thing added one-too-many items to my plate.

[SithMaster]

If you need a better voice changer get the optimus prime helmet.  It has one built in and looks kickass.

[XyloSesame]

Alright freak baby, I registered and voted for you.

:/

I've heard some of these hooks before, though.  Where'd you lift them from?

Thanks for the vote PBJ 

All of our music is original, scored and tracked on a PC, then structurally modified for live performance. The trouble we've had (as most musicians have, I would assume) is that we come up with a melody or bass line that immediately reminds us of something that's already been done. As an example: The main synth chord progression of the second song we performed in this video has similar notes to "Lean on Me." I can assure you that was not on our minds at the time of composition, but that's all we hear now that the connection was made...

Lean on me when you're not strong, and I'll be your [robot] friend, I'll help you carry on. Ugh.

[ahofle]

Holy crap, how long has your avatar had moving eyes?  I just about soiled myself LOL.

[FrizzleFried]

Holy crap, how long has your avatar had moving eyes?  I just about soiled myself LOL.

Hahaha!  I've never noticed that!!!

Sounds very "Devo"ish....

Listening to Sputnik right now and they suck...

So you get my vote.


...and is the singer a hottie?

[XyloSesame]

Holy crap, how long has your avatar had moving eyes?  I just about soiled myself LOL.

He's been that way for a little while, now. Figured I'd try to spice up the avatar haters' experience; most folks avert their eyes too quickly to notice....

Listening to Sputnik right now and they suck...

So you get my vote.

I had to give Degville props for his place in history, but yeah - not much has changed in their music or style since I first started listening to Sigue Sigue over 20 years ago. You either love 'em or hate 'em, 20 years ago or today...

  Thanks for the support, half of our town is still out of power and unable to vote...

[FrizzleFried]

Jesus Phunkt is phukt...or should I say suckt....

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---...Fiona is worse!

I can honestly say yours is the BEST...seriously.

[shardian]

...and is the singer a hottie?

Nice set of legs either way.

[XyloSesame]

...and is the singer a hottie?

Nice set of legs either way.

legs?


"The Eight: Reindeer Monologues," by Jeff Goode. December 2006

[XyloSesame]

Agreed.  I'm almost afraid to see the rest though.  Why ruin the fantasy?

Now I feel obligated to post "the rest" in her defense. I guess no one believes we're really robots anyway; we were only fooling ourselves.

DJ gig, 2007, below.

[ahofle]

Stop, you're giving us full-on robot chubbies. 

[XyloSesame]

Holycow...

Thanks, everyone, for the support and off-off-off-topic indulgence.

...if you guys release an album or let out some mp3s, let me know.

Currently, Recorder can be heard on Minuta Records and MySpace. Our latest release has been licensed to iTunes, so we can't post it anywhere for download... However, if anyone wants a CD, PM me.

[shardian]

Congrats!

[XyloSesame]

Damn, you guys really going to get $10,000 from that?  That's awesome!

Thanks, guys... They sent us an email saying we should expect a check within 30 days, an "award suitable for display," a DVD of all of the footage, and a mentorship with J.S. Clayden from Pitchshifter.

Will they tell you what the vote breakdown was?

They're pretty secretive with their actual vote counts; auditing was handled by a third-party after each voting round finished. The only thing we know is that our videos have had 13,204 views since the beginning of the contest.

This has all been very strange, as it was only a side project for each of us... We've received a number of email and calls from folks wanting to book/record the group, so I guess we might start taking it a bit more seriously. As serious as you can get wearing cardboard boxes, that is.

[shardian]

This has all been very strange, as it was only a side project for each of us... We've received a number of email and calls from folks wanting to book/record the group, so I guess we might start taking it a bit more seriously. As serious as you can get wearing cardboard boxes, that is.

Look where Slipknot's gimicky act took them.

Your outfits are simple, but for some strange reason, they just work. I can't quite put my finger on it, but they are really cool outfits.

[JimmyU]

You guys can play at Destructoid's Christmas Party.

[DrumAnBass]

Congrats!! Glad I didn't register for nothing...!

Very cool; hope to see you opening for Daft Punk on their next tour!

[ahofle]

Congrats!
I can't believe one of the judges picked that annoying lunatic "Pfunkt" guy.  I would rather sit down to a root canal than listen to that guy yell.  I also laughed at that rock band that mistakenly entered the 'electronica' competition.  I really liked your music, but you honestly didn't have any competition from what I saw hehe.

[Donkey_Kong]

Congrats XyloSesame! That's a pretty remarkable outcome for a side-gig