The other shoe has dropped. “26 Scientists Volume Two: Newton – Zeno” is available right here, at cdbaby.com, and itunes. It’s Artichoke’s third CD released this year! And this one was long overdue. Thanks for your patience. I hope you enjoy this new chapter of geek rock. For further details or to purchase the record you can go here.

The live Artichoke had a great time playing “26 Animals” at the Future Studio. Chris Gonzalez on bass, Steve Collins playing theremin and acting like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and guest drummer Joe Babiak sitting in. Small people and big people filled the gallery with animal drawings, and there was some inspired dancing. I invited folks to dance like various animals, but I have since heard Oliver Sacks say that animals can’t dance. Sacks maintains dancing is a distinctly human ability, and that you shouldn’t waste money on lessons for your pets.

Artichoke recently played the “Bees” set at Steve’s big birthday bash up in Altadena. The night was misty, and the disco ball in the olive tree bobbed and sparkled over our heads. Steve’s friends and family were all there. It was great to be part of the celebration, and songs performed outside at night always seem a little mysterious.

howdy! it’s a grey monday, and i should probably be taking a nap, but instead, i’ll announce the “26 Animals” official release party this saturday, june 13, at 8:00 at the future studio in highland park. where exactly?
Future Studio Gallery
5558 N. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles CA 90042
the event runs from 7 to 10. i will cover one wall with paper for humans to draw animals on. or animals to draw humans on, if that’s how the evening goes. at 8:00 SHARP, bassist chris, thereminist steve, drummer joe, and i will play a bunch of the songs from “26 Animals.” there may well be dancing in the manner of cats, vultures, and jellyfish. there will probably be giggling when the joey kicks the wallaby in the butt. (there usually is.) the frog song may lead to hopping. (it usually does.) the lungfish song may lead to lunging. (it never has.) the mosquito song will provide an occasion for group whining. speaking of that, there will be wine for older kids, and vietnamese goodies for all supplied by the good girl dinette. the original watercolor illustrations for “26 Animals” will be on hand to peruse. and of course the “26 Animals” songbook + cd will be for sale. buy ten, get an 11th for free! thanks to amy and stuart of the future studio for hosting this event and helping make the book possible. thanks to everyone who bought a book in advance to help us fund the printing. bring your kids, your friends, your friends’ kids, your kids’ friends, and your friends’ kids’ kids’ friends — and let’s have a party this saturday!

thanks to kevin and amy and all the kids who brought their forbears to see our show on sunday! it was great to get to play with legendary drummer fredo ortiz for the first time since, uh, 2004? dang! we played all the “26 animals” except “octopus.” but “octopus” will finally get up to bat (there’s an image) this saturday at 3:00 erica’s house. more info tba.

in the meantime — TONIGHT in fact — another artichoke Venn diagram loop will play the “bees” set at mr. t’s at 9:00. that’s at 5621 1/2 north figueroa street.

tonight artichoke will sound and look like: chris on the acoustic bass, steve on theremin and tambourines, me on geetar and singing from the bee’s perspective. and also joining artichoke is antonia romeo, a wonderful singer and musician who performs “bees” and also sings on the (not-yet-heard-by-anyone-outside-of-yet-another-Venn-diagram-loop) “is this feeding back?” song cycle / rock record of hope and despair for the near future. but more on the later later! let’s summarize the right now right now:

artichoke presents “bees” tonight at t’s in the hp fer free @ 9:00

see ya soon,

timothy chris steve antonia
4/5 of the “bees” artichoke (dan’s busy moving but he’ll be back in the hive soon)

ps kevin’s photographs http://kevinsea.zenfolio.com/p468759573
pps the “bees” cover paintings are done. official cd soonish?