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Previously unreleased track!

HQ — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:58:00 +1000

Perhaps this could feature in an episode of Classic Albums one day? Who knows..but finally at last the truth about how the first Basement Birds song. Simply entitled "Keyboard Stand" this previously unreleased song can finally be unleashed!

Check it out on the front page of the site, or right here on Youtube!

Some awesome Basement news from Basement Steve!

SP — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:21:00 +1000

Hi everybody!

Basement Steve here with some truly cool Basement news.

Firstly, I hope this blog finds you all well, happy and missing your old mates The Birds. We miss you too.
Lots has been happening for each of the "solo" Birds of late.

Basement Josh has just finished recording his new record and we're all excited to finally hear it.
We're sure its going to be as awesome as his other ones - stay tuned!

Basement Kav's little band Eskimo Joe recently unveiled their brand new song "When We Were Kids" on Triple J. I'm sure you'll agree its a cracker of a tune. We want ALL you Basement Birders out there to request it and pay a measly chunk of change to buy it on iTunes!!

As for Basement Kev, he's going gangbusters with HIS little band Jebediah. I'm sure you, like me, already have a copy of their excellent Kosciusko album, which is dominating the airwaves as we speak.

As for me, "lil Basement Stevie", my album Mighty Big Light is also in stores and on iTunes, and could use a few of you requesting track "Sun Stealer" on your favourite radio station!! Steve Parkin needs your "like" clicking fingers!!

Now......drum roll please Mal..............

It seems our little tune "Bus Stop" has won FIRST PRIZE in the AAA category of the INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION!! We are all stoked with this news, especially as Josh and Kev wrote it in Kav's backyard, in an inebriated state, at about 11pm, and it took about 10 minutes for them to write!!

We also have to thank the lovely Julia Stone for lending her sweet, sweet voice to the tune, and I'm sure that helped sway some of the judges, who this year included Tom Waits, Kings of Leon and Peter Gabriel!!!!

"Waiting For You" also received an honourable mention in the folk category too! Anyhoo, the four of us wanted to share this great news with you all!
Basement Birds may be gone, but our awesome legacy continues....

Now, its time for us to fight over who gets all the prizes!!!
NO KAV! That's MY microphone! KEV! Let Josh out of that headlock! There's enough guitar strings for all of us! KEV!!!!
xxx
Basement Steve

Over and Out from Steve

Steve — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:13:00 +1000

G'day old mates FOBBS

Steve Parkin here, the "talented one".

Yep, so we've all heard about my weekend in LA. Lets just get the story straight here.

Kevin Mitchell lured me into the sordid world of Chat Roulette. (He gets lonely after 2am) I moved to LA when offered a major part in the new Green Lantern movie (sadly I didn't make the final cut)

After hooking up with the Hoff and Charlie Sheen (true gentlemen, may I add) the entertainment press decided to cover our 3 week-weekend together in what can only be described as a "stitch up". In reality, we merely entertained some delightful cabaret workers from Las Vegas with our witty repartee and keen canasta skills,

while simultaneously devoting our time to World Peace and learning how to make the perfect paella!

As far as Kav's "Nepalese Mis-Adventure", I'm sure all will be revealed in the rather candid lyrics he has written for the next Eskimo Joe album, entitled "Mountaintops and Fungi". Kev has decided to re-invent grunge again as a very bankable artform, and is currently seeing Courtney Love, if you believe the dailies. His clone-like appearance had led to some "Paul is dead" style rumours, all of which are true.

Mr Josh Pyke PHD, although his modesty would forbid him to tell you, is doing great work as the UN's international ambassador for "really clever lyrics" and World Peace. All proceeds from the sale of his new album (disco-polka! wish I'd though of that!) are being donated to the Maritime Veterans Association. Good on him!

I'd like to thank all the Basement Bird fans out there for supporting us, voting for us in the Hottest 100 (I think we came 1734 with Bus Stop - and that was only because of Julia) buying our lavishly packaged album, and embracing me warmly, even though I was the not-famous one. Luckily, Hoffmeister and the Sheenius have fixed that problem for me once and for all!

And to quote the only Bond worth shit: "...never say never, Miss Moneypenny". Love you all, and while you're buying the new Jebediah, Eskimo Joe and Josh Pyke albums, give "li'l" Stevie Parkin's new record Mighty Big Light a listen too!

Kav from Nepal...

HQ — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:54:00 +1000

Dear FOBBS...

This account was not actually written by Kav but dictated by his Sherpa at his bed side on the mountain slopes of Nepal, it was translated into English after much confusion. Apparently he was semi unconscious and feverishly delirious at the time, he had that night consumed a local mushroom delicacy that didn't agree with him....possibly giving him food poisoning, quote-un-quote.

"The Phoenix while rise up one more time from the basement to shine in the nights sky on the seventh day of the fourth month in the year of the white rabbit.
Some will watch her rise and say she's like a comet.
and some will question if it makes them happy,
and some will disappear to LA after meeting a man who claimed to be a 23 year old girl on a roulette of conversation, only to come 3 days later realizing he was the new third wheel in Charlie Sheen's "wedge".

But from these ashes a sound will rise for one final time, for real this time
.....sahgduuo....gluk....get back to work dickheads...fubber blub"

That’s all that could be deciphered

Rama Sanjeev
51st Sherpa division
Nepal

A message from JP

JP — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:37:00 +1000

Dearest, sweet FOBBS,

Well it's time to dust off my BB monogrammed smoking jacket, call my pilot to organize the private jet, and head back to the place where it all began....Perth.

Of course when I say "where it all began", I’m not talking about the origins of the human species, but of the inception of a humble, back yard project, called Basement Birds.
It was pretty much a year to the day that we were finishing off the record in Kavs backyard, and making plans to hit the road, and now we're at the end of that very same road. One last show in "my home town away from home towns", at the hub of art and culture in WA, the ARTBAR.

It's going to be an emotional roller coaster, playing through the songs, looking into the eyes of my fellow BB's and letting our voices mingle in the sweet harmonies that have forged a bond that perhaps only ABBA and the Bee Gees' could truly understand.

A lot has changed since the last time we all met.

Steve was swindled out of thousands in a strange event involving Chat Roulette, a spontaneous online flight booking to LA, a professional karaoke competition that led to a lawsuit, and, inexplicably, a movie deal. More details to follow.

Kav trekked through Nepal, but became seriously ill after consuming what looked like dehydrated Shitake mushrooms, (Kav is ever the gourmet.) A celebrity doctor was flown in, who reported to the paparazzi that Kav had succumbed to altitude sickness, and indeed, witnesses did report hearing him cry out "I'm too high, I'm too high, Oh God, I'm so terribly high".

The music press are not the only ones to have noted a suspiciously young looking Kevin Mitchell fronting the rock band Jebediah. People have hinted at plastic surgery, Botox, or even more outrageously, clean living. But in actuality, Kevin finally unleashed the clone he'd made of himself 15 years ago, to take on the front man's duties in Jebediah. Now he can finally split his time more appropriately between Jebs, Bob and BB, and his new collaboration with Darren Hayes, titled "Savage Kevin."

I on the other hand, have spent the last few months writing and recording my 3rd album. Sorry I didn't return your messages Kev, there's no reception in the studio. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks for all your support FOBBS, we really do appreciate you guys making it an amazing ride!

JPxx

Basement Kev checking in

KM — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:38:00 +1000

Dear FOBBS, (or, Fans Of Basement Birds, Sick!)

Basement Kev here just riffing away in blog land as I eagerly await my early morning flight to Perth tomorrow to hook up with the other Birds and play our last show - EVER! Yeah I know we've said it before but this time we really almost mean it.

Tomorrow we shall reconvene in the rehearsal room and after conducting our requisite ceremonies and rituals we shall rehearse up our set for the Art Bar show on Thursday night in Perth town. There is so much that I am looking forward to sharing with the other guys!

I want to know all about Steve's lost weekend in L.A. I've heard it through the grapevine that after a few months blowing all his Basement Birds royalties on crack and hookers, Steve had to go to rehab for a few weeks just to get on the plane back to Perth for this show! I want to hear all about Kav's trek through Nepal, where I'm told he had a spiritual reawakening while drinking mushroom tea and discovered his (eski) mojo. I want to find out why Josh hasn't returned any of the five hundred and sixty three thousand and fifty four text messages I've sent him since we last saw each other. But most of all I'm looking forward to playing these songs again with the fella's to an old home town crowd.

This gig will be especially intimate as we shall be performing sans Mal and Lee. That's right, it will be just the four of us, our guitars and the old kit bag of tunes as well as some of that famous banter we've all grown to know and tolerate. All of us have albums of our own coming out this year too so this will be the last time we shall take the stage as friends. After this, whenever we meet on stages, we shall be sworn enemies, each trying to destroy the other with our superior songs and stage presence.

Anyway, I best go back to practicing the songs for our rehearsal tomorrow. Every time I make a mistake Kav raps me on the knuckles and makes me swim laps of his Olympic swimming pool.

Love,
Kev

Interview with Basement Birds

HQ — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 10:06:00 +1100

Steve sits down with KT Bell from music blog Timber and Steel for a chat about the year that's been, folk music in Australia and the impending final Basement Birds gig.

Check it out!

Wrapping up a journey

JP — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:49:00 +1100

Well as the year wraps up, the BB project is wrapping up also. It's been a real "journey" in the Masterchef sense of the word...filled with hopes, fears, tears and triumphs.... and a healthy splash of booze.

One of the final challenges we face as a band of men as much as musicians, is the potential nomination of our hit pop song "Bus Stop" in the now famous Hottest 100 competition.

Please feel free to vote for us at the following link: http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/10/

When you have, send your confirmation of entry to info@basementbirds.com.au to enter the running for some BB merch...i believe some tshirts, and some classic BB stubbie holders were mentioned at BB HQ for the lucky winners.

All of us here in the Basement Birds camp want to thank everyone who came to a show, bought the record, watched the videos or just generally got behind the project...it's honestly been a really amazing experience for us all to see it come to life.

We do have a few final shows over the NYE period!

For those of you at Woodford, we'll be kicking out the jams at approximately 620PM on the Grande Stage on the 29th of Jan, and then boarding Angus and Julia's Big Jet Plane to fly ourselves across our great brown land to play at Pyramid Festival at 440PM the following day.

I for one want to thank my fellow feathered brothers for a hell of a ride, and hope that one day in the next 20 years, we can re-convene and do it all again! Walking frames and all!

In the mean time, everyone is gearing up to return to what Kav calls our "day jobs", in 2011, albums all around i believe!

Until then, take care and many happy returns for the festive season.

JPxx

Only a few more shows...

Kev — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 10:13:00 +1000

Hello there good friends!

Well the last few weeks have been a bit quiet around here haven't they? Having spent the first half of August rehearsing and the second half touring around the country me and my fellow basement boys needed to take a bit of a breather. The tour really was quite the celebration. Now as we have said countless times that tour was very much the only tour we plan to do but as I'm sure many of you are aware we are playing a few very select shows over the next few months before we truly say goodbye.

On September 24th we will be playing a very special iTunes show at the wonderful Apple Store on George Street in Sydney. I personally have never been there but I am told on good authority it is a place where magic happens and dreams come true, particularly if you have dreams about technological gadgetry. The iTunes show is a free event however it does have a limited capacity so be there early - first in, best dressed - showtime at 9pm. The only other shows we are playing after this are a few select festivals so this show will be your very last chance to come and see us in an intimate setting!

The day after the iTunes show we will be heading up to the Coaster Festival which we are all very excited about, particularly Steve who is a Cypress Hill fan from way back. Actually Josh is quite keen on rapping too...

Also, for those of you in WA don't forget that we are playing our final WA shows at Chesters Winery for Spring in the Valley on October 9th & 10th.

Cheers all and we look forward to seeing you all at a show!

Basement Kev

We need you!

all — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:52:00 +1000

Who wants to help form street teams in each show city?

Release Day!

Kev — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:26:00 +1000

Greetings my feathered friends!

Basement Kev here with another little bloggity blog about all things Bird. Although this is not actually just any old blog, for it seems I have been lucky enough to be entrusted with the official “Release Day Blog”. I’m not sure exactly how such good fortune happened to come my way. Some would suggest that it was simply my turn to write a blog. Quite possibly. It matters little. The fact is that the stars aligned and the universe dideth speak.

I believe it was Spidermans gramps who said as he lay on the road, slowly dying, “with great power comes great responsibility”. Baloney! Those are nothing more than the crazy ramblings of a wounded old man! What he meant to say was “with great responsibility comes POWER and lots of it Boyo!” So it is with a hugely inflated ego that I take on the task of writing this blog. There is a bit of pressure involved in following up Kav’s blog, entitled “Edge of Release”. That’s an incredibly exciting title. It sounds a bit like the name of an erotic thriller, or perhaps an eighties “new romantic” tune.

As you can probably imagine we are all brimming with giddy pride at our creation and I can reveal to you, in all seriousness that I feel quite relieved about that. When we first started this project none of us knew whether we would create something together that we would love just the same as that which we create ourselves. Fortunately over time the record took shape, you might say, like the ugly duckling that turned in to a beautiful swan. I listened to most of the album just today and I really enjoyed it. For the record, my current favourite songs are “Ghosts”, “Skin Of The Sky”, “Hamilton Hill” and “Holly”. “Cinnamon & Smoke” also makes me smile. Hopefully that song gives you, the listener, a sense of what it was really like in the recording studio when all of us were in there together!

Alas, this is no time for indulgent contemplation, for as one chapter ends, another begins, (unless of course it is the final chapter, in which case that would mean there would be no more chapters to follow. But for the sake of my metaphor, just forget about that). We will soon be taking the show on the road and that means we will have to rehearse our fluffy little feathered backsides off to make sure the show is as special as the one I routinely fantasize about when I lie awake in bed at night. Of course, the fantasy show in my head does include a few little extra special moments that I dare not suggest to the other guys. Steve hates musicals and I’m pretty sure Kav and Josh wouldn’t want to dress up like the little kid in the bee costume from the Blind Melon “No Rain” video. If you are unsure or too young to know what I’m talking about, check out the clip here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYlAwvz8uwc

Anyways, the “Good Evening & Good Night” tour begins in Adelaide on August 12th and travels through Perth, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, Sydney and Brisbane. I know many of you have probably already got your tickets but in case you haven’t, please snap them up here: http://www.basementbirds.com.au/tours/ to avoid disappointment! We shall be playing all the songs from the album plus a few choice Aussie covers!

Our new single, "Not The One" has just gone out so ring up your favourite radio station and ask them to play it. We even shot a clip for it! Look! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLyzmxvpzU

Right, well that’s me done I think. On behalf of all the Bird boys, I would like to extend a massive thank you to everyone who has been downloading the bundles, pre ordering the album from JB Hi Fi and going to their local record store to buy the album from a shelf. We sincerely appreciate all your support and look forward to showing our gratitude to you all when we hit the stage on tour.

Cheers!

Kev

Edge of release

Kav — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 11:22:00 +1000

Hey Folks,

Well we're right on the eve of the Basement Birds album release and we're all very excited. The physical album has an extra tune that has not been released on iTunes. It's the closing song on the record that see's Josh rip it up with a blistering solo like the ghost of Hendrix was haunting his fingers.

Everyone's putting their head down and getting ready for the super duper once off live tour. Not long now before we sit down to rehearse up the live show. So we'll keep you updated.

Cheers,

Kav

Not-so-hidden talents

SP — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 14:11:00 +1000

Now, much has been happening on Planet BB of late.

Basement Josh gave the "hard facts" a pretty thorough rundown in his last blog.

I, however, am going to focus on some worrying trends in the Basement Birds camp of late. Specifically, Basement Kev's love of musical theatre, especially Cats. In no less than THREE separate interviews, Basement Kev has managed to shift the conversation around to his free-form, interpretive dance medley of the hit showtunes from that ubiquitous Andrew Lloyd Webber mega-musical. It really is quite disturbing just how much of "Mr McCavity and friends" KM seems to know off-by-heart. Seriously, watch this!

Almost as disturbing is Basement Kav's sudden need to break out into booty-busting disco moves at the drop of a hat, on SEVERAL national TV promotional opportunities! Aren't these guys professional, platinum selling frontmen??? What are they playing at, I ask you good people of Australia?

Now, I can't speak for Basement Josh, but Basement Steve here thought the Basement Birds was a serious, emotive and heart-string-pulling album we'd made, directed toward sensitive, music loving connoisseurs of the lyrical and compositional form and YET! these two ARIA-hogging reprobates seem to be having the time of their all-dancin', all-singin' lives!!! I'm appalled!!! If Basement Josh starts freestyle-rapping, or yodelling, or performing a striptease routine at the next junket, I'm off I tellsya!!!

I'm Basement Steve. This has been today's rant.

PS Basement Birds: The Album is OUT FINALLY!!! July 16th! Hope y'all like it!

Make sure you get your tickets to the tour soon, too, cuz its actually selling out quite quickly!

Peas out

A visit to Melbourne

JP — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +1000

Thursday and Friday last week saw the whole BB gang in Melbourne, where we used the unique situation of us all being in the same place at the same time, to hit the promo trail, including the first live airing of our new single 'Not the One' on breakfast radio. In between radio interviews, we ran into Jimmy Barnes at a cafe and discussed the future of flying cars (it was an article in the paper Kav was reading). Jimmy told us that Ian Moss has his pilot's license... a terrifying fact that i now share with you.

Another terrifying fact i discovered in a radio interview, is that Kevin Mitchell used to play football against Ben Cousins....Apparently Kev was quite the sportsman in his high school days.

Friday night saw us perform at a charity event for Support Act Limited, a charity that aims to help musicians who have fallen on hard times, more info here http://www.supportact.com.au

It was a great night, and we got to play a few songs in the beautiful Melbourne town hall, and hopefully they raised some cash for a great cause.

We're all getting very excited about the physical release of our album. The impending release next week, meant that we also signed almost 1000 cd covers. This is never the greatest fun, but when you combine it with a bit of food, some beer and a Master Chef elimination challenge on the tele, well....things could be worse.

It was awesome to see the finished covers though, they look great, so we hope you don't mind us ruining them by writing all over them!

Starting to get that nervous anticipation about the upcoming tour, make sure you get in fast for your tickets, and see you then!

APRAs and more

Kev — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:37:00 +1000

Well, I've just arrived home to Melbourne after spending an action packed last three days in Sydney doing all manner of funtastical things all in the good name of Basement Birds, (or "the Birds" as we will inevtiably become affectionately known as).

Last night we played at the APRA Awards, performing a cover of the wonderful Sarah Blasko tune, "All I Want". Although anxiety levels were a little higher than normal, this being our very first official public performance, the crowd seemed to like it and we all felt really good about how we went. Kav and Steve had to unexpectedly rush off to collect an award for "Foreign Land" about a minute before we were due to start playing, which added a touch of extra excitement to proceedings, despite the fact that Josh and I were quietly fuming that neither of us had EVER been nominated for an APRA Award, let alone won one...(In truth, I am not too fussed but I pretended to be angry in an act of solidarity with Josh). I'd say there is a pretty good chance we will give the song another run on tour in August so those of you with tickets will be able to hear it. Speaking of which, tickets for all the shows are on sale now so go buy some!

Go on....

I'm serious you should do it right now!

Hmmm...it looks as though you aren't going to leave your computer or this screen doesn't it?

Very well, I shall continue then....

So after the awards ceremony there was the obligatory knee's up. Kav was in a particularly celebratory mood, having performed in one band and won two awards with another one. I had won nothing but still managed to get swept along with that winning feeling, helping myself to the champagne that was bought and involving myself in the many cheers-ing that was going on. I think Steve and I were the stayers, deciding that we had better do the responsible thing and go to sleep at 6.30am, allowing us a very sensible three hours sleep before we had to leave for the airport. I've always said, I'm up for a good time and all that but when you have responsibilities you just have to take them seriously. That's why I always enforce myself a very strict 6.30am curfew every single night on the road. Hey - it's just what professionals do.

Josh and Kav made a cameo appearance on an episode of Good News Week while we were in the harbour city. I'm not sure when it will be aired but I myself am quite keen to see it as it sounds like some strange and funny things went down. Will let you guys know the air date when it comes to hand. We all participated in songwriting workshops as part of the APRA Song Summit, which ended up being quite fruitful and enjoyable, despite the fact that I stayed up til 3am the night before getting drunk and watching the World Cup match between Australia and Ghana. (FUN FACT: Basement Bird Steve Parkin is one eighth Ghanain. I know, whodathunkit? To be honest with you, I've never met his African grandmother to confirm that he is telling the truth. However, his impression of her accent is most impressive and provides some pretty compelling evidence). A bunch of budding songsmith's paid money to be part of a workshop that involved working on songs with a huge cast of songwriters, like us, Robert Forster, Gotye, Dan Kelly, Clare Bowditch and many many more. I'd never done it before but I'm now well practiced as the following day I did a similar thing, this time with Julian Hamilton, Megan Washington and a bunch of Triple J unearthed winners. This also gave me a chance to excitedly tell Julian that we had covered his song "My People" not but a few weeks ago for Like A Version. He didn't know about it but seemed genuinely intrigued and said he would look it up online.

We now have a finished, mixed and mastered record and finished artwork as well, so it won't be long til we will have a real and physical thing to hold that is our album. The album is released on July 16th, (you can pre order it now if you want at JB HiFi online) which gives all of you roughly three and a half weeks to learn all the words to all the songs and sing along at the concerts.

We shall also be unveiling a brand spanking new single with an accompanying video clip very very soon, so keep your eyes and ears peeled.

Cheers all

Kev

Busy times...

JP — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:56:00 +1000

It's been a busy time in BB world....art work to approve, film clips to sign off on, mixes frantically sent through the ether to be heard and commented on.

But, it does seem that it's all coming together now. We've announced the one and only tour, and I'm looking forward to doing what I've always wanted from this thing, which is to play some great songs with my friends, in some cities that i don't live in. Good times.

This week the BB guys are hitting Sydney again for an appearance on Good News Week, a workshop at the APRA Song Summit, and a performance at the APRA awards, where we'll be doing a cover of one of our favourite female Australian artists.

I can report that the mixes of the remaining songs are sounding awesome, and it's great to hear them together as an actual body of work, so keep your ears to the ground.

Looking forward to seeing you all at the shows!

The week that was plus the special opp to come

Kav — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:03:00 +1000

Hey gang

So Basement Birds did our first week of being interviewed by people last week and performing for our supper.

It was a pretty weird experience after spending what seemed like idyllic days out on the back porch at my house recording and having a bunch of laughs...we are now out in the big bad wide world.

We started the week by doing Sunrise which was our first live performance ever, and then Like A Version (our second) followed by Channel V Guerilla busking (our third, i think you get the jist).

We also went into the famous Big Jesus Burger studios and recorded some live acoustic track for iTunes which will be coming out real soon

Whew, all in a days work...

Another big "coming soon" tip off I quietly mentioned on Sunrise could involve some live performances. To our mates who have chosen to receive our newsletters, you will find an extra special opportunity in your inbox early next week. If you want in on the opp, sign up to the mailing list by Monday night 7 June.

Kav

The first week of public performances...

Steve — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:56:00 +1000

Hey everyone its Basement Steve here. I'm filling in for Basement Kev's blog coz he's touring the UK (as Bob Evans) with his old mates Powderfinger. Well I'm typing this in the comfortable womb that is Qantas Club, dosed up on pastrami sandwiches and vodka sodas. Our first Sydney press engagement as Basement Birds seems to have gone off without a hitch. Kochie and Mel were very lovely to us on Sunrise (despite calling me and Josh "a whole bunch of other musos" - we forgive you Kochie) and it was truly rewarding for the rest of us to watch Basement Kav dancing up a storm with the Wiggles. Tom and Alex and the crew at Triple J were also most accomodating, furnishing us with J Mags and letting us totally screw with the Presets' floorstomping electro-hit song "My People" (sorry to Kim and Julian - hope you guys liked it!??) as well as christening me "lil stevie parkin" on national radio, thanks guys! We met the lovely Faustina aka Fuzzy from Video Hits for a chat. We also pulled a strange "Guerilla"-style gig for Channel V, the four of us standing in the middle of a shopping mall at 10am in Bondi busking three of our songs (a couple of us, me mainly, with a healthy hangover) We've also recorded a few songs which'll be used as "bonus" tracks available on iTunes. Basically live, weird, and messed up versions of our BB songs, interspersed with lots of irrelevant, drunken banter! Kevin Bloody Mitchell was a trooper all week, marching on despite a really nasty flu. Good luck in Ireland tomorrow Kev, you Bob fans should post some encouraging messages on his Bob site to cheer him up.So, anyway, thanks to all of you who've downloaded our first "bundle", and requested us on the radio, and we shall be touring to a venue near you REALLY soon! Thanks too to Basement Josh and his lovely wife for letting Kev and myself crash at their place all this week! SP

Recording done, guest vocalist and a trip to Sydney...

Josh — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:48:00 +1000

Well, we finally finished tracking the record, and have received the first 4 mixed and mastered tracks, via this amazing machine called the Internet. It actually sends music through space and time, straight into your home computers' brain box. Amazing.

Anyhoo, I'm really loving hearing the finished products, especially hearing how Julia Stone's voice works in with us all on the track Bus Stop, she did such a great job, laying down her vocal in a hotel room somewhere in Amsterdam i think. She really came through, and we appreciate it!

As much as i love WA, it's a nice feeling knowing that i don't have to do that flight again for a while! The boys are all coming to Sydney next week to record some stripped back, alternate versions of the songs and to do some promo. Kev and Steve are staying in the spare room in my apartment, and i plan to treat them like my recalcitrant, unemployed sons, who should have left home years ago. I will make them call me "Father".

So it's all coming together, and i must say that it's a different, and sort of "free-er" feeling finishing this record, than when i've finished my own ones. Less pressure i guess, and the knowledge that we achieved our simple goal, which was to have fun and to make a record.

Recording, a film clip and a young guru

Steve Parkin — Fri, 07 May 2010 12:54:00 +1000

Well we're drawing close to the end of the last week of Basement Birds recording folks.

Its been a pretty full week, finishing up four new songs: Ghosts, Heartache On The Radio,

Cinnamon and Smoke and Waterlines. We're also doing all sorts of interviews and photos,

AND filming a video for Not The One, AND putting the finishing touches on all the other songs.

Phew. Not as much beer consumed this week!

Everything is starting to sound pretty sweet, if I say so myself.

Andy Lawson, our faithful studio magician, has been awesome - working long

hours, drinking lots of caffeine laced drinks and somehow remaining patient and professional as always.

Malcolm Clark has been popping in to play more drums for us, and it looks like we've

roped the poor guy into being in our next video! Look out for him, Sleepy Jackson fans.

The response so far to our first song Waiting For You has been amazing.

We were expecting it to just quietly pop out on iTunes and get a couple of plays,

but it has been really heartening for us how many of you have downloaded it,

requested it on Triple J and Nova, and Facebooked us about it. Thanks heaps!

As I blog this, Kev and Josh are making up songs for young Hunter Temperley (our 21 month old

studio manager) about nappies so I guess its not all hard work!

Anyway, I'm about to do a backing vocal take for Kav's latest song Waterlines,

which is kinda sounding like CSN&Y if they'd joined Ride...so I better

put the laptop down and get back to it.....can't wait for you all to hear the full album of

tunes - some more will be coming to you via iTunes very shortly.

Keep listening!

Steve Parkin