Analog Jetpack is far-flung across America

For those that haven't heard what the Analog Jetpack is out and about as of late, here's an update.

In the middle of last year, I moved to LA with plans of developing relationships in the music and television industry, hoping to expose Analog Jetpack, Indie Roots and all the many local DC talent to a wider audience. At the same time, bassist Dan Ryan and drummer Robby Sahm had taken up the rhythm section for a new DC act, Le Loup. They played their first show at the Velvet Lounge at the end of March a year ago, and following a show at Iota a couple weeks later, they were signed to the new Sub Pop subsidiary label, Hardly Art. They've taken the nation by storm, to say the least, with generous coverage in Pitchfork and all the right places. Currently Le Loup is down in Austin for SXSW, and following that, they'll be touring across America and back! Be sure to check out their MySpace page for tour dates.

Their album, "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly", is a broad concept conceived by lead singer/banjoist Sam Simkoff. It's lush with reverbed-out electronic sequences under mystic choruses and majestic roots instrumentation. Their live set, performed by a seven-piece act with keyboards, french horn, banjo, plenty of vocals and guitars and the compulsory drum & bass, does the album justice and promises huge things for future projects - check out the full album on iTunes.

My latest solo project is also a concept album at the other end of the spectrum, commissioned by a senior citizen in the midwest. It's my sixth album, entitled "For Mature Audiences Only," and it's like Muppet music for old folks. It departs from indie stylings to present a broad sampling specifically for senior citizens, from lounge to pop, cha cha, folk-rock and country blues. The resulting concept album is a whimsical tin-pan alley homage to old age for the +60 demographic. Executive Producer Judith McKelvey commissioned the project to tap the senior market, for whom little content is written. The album was recorded by Emmy-winner Jerome Maffeo in Baltimore, and mixed by Grammy-winner Dan Gellert in LA. Click on the image to listen and buy the album at CD Baby, or check it out on iTunes.

And of course, Analog Jetpack's debut release is now available in its limited-edition floppy disk packaging - click through to their MySpace page to see pics. This album was also recorded and produced by Jerome Maffeo in Baltimore, and it features lead guitars by Matt Jones of Jimmie's Chicken Shack and antifolk producer Spencer Chakedis. Check out the review by DC's City Paper, and click on the image to read more and listen to the full album at CD Baby, or check it out on iTunes.


That's what's up with Analog Jetpack, always keeping busy with some projects or others. Keep an eye out for a 'Net release of an Indie Roots tour documentary, covering the one-week DC Voting Rights Tour from 2007!