Just spent the weekend editing a new video together for The Town Pants - everyone's favorite West Coast Celtic band. They had headlined a show at Venue as part of the Celtic Fest here in Vancouver a couple weekends back. After a brief series of shows in New York state surrounding St. Patrick's day they returned and we started looking at the footage. The following video, their version of Bad Religion's song Sorrow, was shot at Venue and subsequently edited here in the Boutique Empire studio.
Have a look, I think it really conveys the spirit of the band and shows off the energy of their live show.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Last Days of Mushroom Studio
A great venerable recording studio in Canada is closing it's doors this week. Hipposonic (more popularly remembered as Mushroom Studio) has been sold and this country's equivalent to Abbey Road is shutting its doors forever. It is with both regret and some selfish excitement that I can announce that we'll be in there tomorrow evening to record a new Guilty About Girls song with Jordy Birch and Lucas T Poth. These last day sessions are part of owner Rob Darch's desire to offer something memorable and historic to the audio community before we witness the departure of his great sounding studio. Tomorrow should prove an emotional day, but I'm excited to be a part of one last sessions before it transforms into an office space.
An additional note for posterity is that we've asked John Webster to help record our session. Way back in the late eighties John once produced Jordy and Todd Simko's first band After All. Even though Todd is no longer with us I think it's a rather pleasant way to say goodbye to one of my favorite studios anywhere in the world, and rather poetic for Jordy to retrace a few old steps from his past.
Please stay tuned for the reveal of the song Riot Riot a moody piece that I'm suspecting many old fans of Pure might be pleasantly surprised to hear. Another great song from Mr. Birch.
Thanks for reading,
Mark Henning
An additional note for posterity is that we've asked John Webster to help record our session. Way back in the late eighties John once produced Jordy and Todd Simko's first band After All. Even though Todd is no longer with us I think it's a rather pleasant way to say goodbye to one of my favorite studios anywhere in the world, and rather poetic for Jordy to retrace a few old steps from his past.
Please stay tuned for the reveal of the song Riot Riot a moody piece that I'm suspecting many old fans of Pure might be pleasantly surprised to hear. Another great song from Mr. Birch.
Thanks for reading,
Mark Henning
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Vince Tuckwood's new Album- Sparse
Author /singer-songwriter Vince Tuckwood has completed his first of a two part album series. This initial offering, titled Sparse, is a stripped back acoustic collection of songs that features Vince's love of poetry and guitar. He's been refining this material for the past year with consistant live performances in the New England area. The album also features cover art by none other than artist Robert Edmonds, the man who has created the cover art for all the Boutique Empire releases.
Please have a listen and let Vince know what you think.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
New Single-Guilty About Girls-The Boys in the Band
Jordy Birch has returned with a brand new Guilty About Girls single "The Boys in the Band." It was just released on iTunes today. Please check it out and pick up a copy for your playlist.
Click here to Link to single on iTunes
Friday, January 25, 2013
New Site for Robert Edmonds
Just wanted to share Robert Edmond's new site, which generously displays many of his designs from over the years. It is with great pride that we note how many Boutique Empire covers, posters and special events he has created for us over the past five years.
If you appreciate inventive graphic arts please have a peruse through his online collection, you may even find a few images of paintings that need to have for your own home! There are also many of his favorite posters he's designed for artists such as Metric, Black Keys, Willie Nelson, Lee Scratch Perry, BB King! Far too many to name them all!
http://robertedmonds.blogspot.ca/
If you appreciate inventive graphic arts please have a peruse through his online collection, you may even find a few images of paintings that need to have for your own home! There are also many of his favorite posters he's designed for artists such as Metric, Black Keys, Willie Nelson, Lee Scratch Perry, BB King! Far too many to name them all!
http://robertedmonds.blogspot.ca/
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Karaoke Criminals - spoken word
Novelist Vince Tuckwood has begun recording chapters from his prior novels. The clip included here is a segment from his novel "Karaoke Criminals." Enjoy his cadence (and accent) as he quite adeptly reads the sixth chapter.
A brief synopsis would be: an English girl is on vacation in the Spanish riviera and is soon to be discovered by an excised British gangster: there is a great deal more to than that, but that's approximately where we are in the story. Vince gives lovely detail to his words. Check it out!
A brief synopsis would be: an English girl is on vacation in the Spanish riviera and is soon to be discovered by an excised British gangster: there is a great deal more to than that, but that's approximately where we are in the story. Vince gives lovely detail to his words. Check it out!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Merry Xmas! Latest news and a year in review!
Merry Xmas everybody. Just wanted to put a few words together to wrap up the latest ongoings of everyone involved (or once involved) in the Boutique Empire family.
Starting with Guilty About Girls who have just arisen from a productive hiatus to deliver two new songs, the latest of which was singled out by Alan Cross on his music blog. Once again Jordy Birch is proving he is among Canada's finest pop song craftsmen! Have a listen to his blistering new single The Boys in the Band.
Old friends Sex With Strangers have just released their fifth album Behaviors. The first video from the new album, once again produced by the brilliant folks of BKS Crew is called Times Electric. Check out the video below for their new sound and style. They seem to be gathering a lot of press with this release and we wish them all a great success.
Combine the Victorious has taken the inspiration from their first European tour to begin writing and recording their third full length. Scheduled for a spring 2013 release, the duo plans to return to Europe next year for an extended tour in its support. Their new EP, Crumbling Hearts, indicates the tone of their new material, some of which may appear on the full length. Vinyl pressing is being sourced out as well, with cover art to be commissioned from Robert Edmonds.
Isabelle Dunlop has had several very successful pop up shops during 2012 which has spurred on the idea of setting up a permanent shop for her designs in the new year. It seems her wool scarves and shawls are becoming more popular each season. Stay tuned for more news.
Robert Edmonds, the man behind the images of all the Boutique Empire releases, is currently planning expositions for the new year. We are discussing many ideas of how to make each series unique and exciting. Once again we'll be offering more information as we near the time to reveal his works.
Vince Tuckwood, our resident author, not only released his Escalation novel this year but has been hard at work on a dualistic music album as well. He has been revealing certain works from the sparse side of the album which show dramatic artistic leaps from anything he's done before. Have a listen to some of his latest works on his reverbnation page.
Though not officially a member of the Boutique Empire collective (yet) The Population Drops have quietly started to amass attention around their first four song collection. More songs are being recorded in January and hopefully a several more live performances will be scheduled to showcase this remarkable new band and their unique style. Check out Enough from their first EP.
In closing, if we're very lucky we should also hear some new music from the elusive Gilles Zolty in the 2013. He's been busy working away in Saskatchewan this past year, but there have been rumours of new works that might escape from his private studio into the world. At very least we hope he can make his way out to Vancouver for another live performance!
Here's hoping all of you will have a happy holiday season, and though 2012 has been a challenging year we are all looking forward to the new year and the opportunity our new works shall bring.
Thanks for reading, be well and merry xmas.
Starting with Guilty About Girls who have just arisen from a productive hiatus to deliver two new songs, the latest of which was singled out by Alan Cross on his music blog. Once again Jordy Birch is proving he is among Canada's finest pop song craftsmen! Have a listen to his blistering new single The Boys in the Band.
Old friends Sex With Strangers have just released their fifth album Behaviors. The first video from the new album, once again produced by the brilliant folks of BKS Crew is called Times Electric. Check out the video below for their new sound and style. They seem to be gathering a lot of press with this release and we wish them all a great success.
Combine the Victorious has taken the inspiration from their first European tour to begin writing and recording their third full length. Scheduled for a spring 2013 release, the duo plans to return to Europe next year for an extended tour in its support. Their new EP, Crumbling Hearts, indicates the tone of their new material, some of which may appear on the full length. Vinyl pressing is being sourced out as well, with cover art to be commissioned from Robert Edmonds.
Isabelle Dunlop has had several very successful pop up shops during 2012 which has spurred on the idea of setting up a permanent shop for her designs in the new year. It seems her wool scarves and shawls are becoming more popular each season. Stay tuned for more news.
Robert Edmonds, the man behind the images of all the Boutique Empire releases, is currently planning expositions for the new year. We are discussing many ideas of how to make each series unique and exciting. Once again we'll be offering more information as we near the time to reveal his works.
Vince Tuckwood, our resident author, not only released his Escalation novel this year but has been hard at work on a dualistic music album as well. He has been revealing certain works from the sparse side of the album which show dramatic artistic leaps from anything he's done before. Have a listen to some of his latest works on his reverbnation page.
Though not officially a member of the Boutique Empire collective (yet) The Population Drops have quietly started to amass attention around their first four song collection. More songs are being recorded in January and hopefully a several more live performances will be scheduled to showcase this remarkable new band and their unique style. Check out Enough from their first EP.
In closing, if we're very lucky we should also hear some new music from the elusive Gilles Zolty in the 2013. He's been busy working away in Saskatchewan this past year, but there have been rumours of new works that might escape from his private studio into the world. At very least we hope he can make his way out to Vancouver for another live performance!
Here's hoping all of you will have a happy holiday season, and though 2012 has been a challenging year we are all looking forward to the new year and the opportunity our new works shall bring.
Thanks for reading, be well and merry xmas.
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