778 days

Greetings readers! Let's make up for lost time....

The other day, in passing, a friend asked "How's the band?" I paused for a moment before I offered my response. "This is the busiest we've ever been without the word 'busy' meaning we're playing tons of shows," I said. Later that day I realized how contradictory my reply seemed. Naturally when we think of bands, we think of shows. Busy bands must be busy playing lots of shows, right? Well, not exactly.

In late 2007 we started our quest for NACA. Insanely long and complex story made more digestible: NACA is an organization divided into geographic regions affiliated with all universities and colleges that functions as a marketplace for providing schools with entertainment of all kinds including: comedians, poets, motivational speakers and (you guessed it) BANDS. Upon discovering NACA, thanks to our Producer and friend Eric, our minds were blown. We quickly realized how many opportunities could be around the corner and frankly, how much WORK needed to be done. We were in the middle of recording our 'Signature' EP and were behind schedule. We actually had to start over after all of our initial tracks were lost in an unfortunate hard-drive crash. As excited as we were to get involved with NACA, the delay caused us to miss our submission deadline and forced us to wait a year.

During that time we finished the EP and began planning how best to position ourselves in terms of entertainment viability within a flourishing college music market. Conversations bubbled in person, percolated over conference calls and flooded hundreds of emails about things like image, logos, photography, artwork, fashion and it all felt so weird. September 6, 2008 (1/778) we had a CD release show for the 'Signature' EP at our beloved Spark Lounge and that was the last 7k show where anyone saw the old logo, the big purple drumkit or the three of us perform without our now-familiar matching ties and vests. Fittingly, that is where this story truly begins.

The months following that show were different. The holidays came and went. Emails generally had MP3 attachments of rough song ideas or artist renderings of things in different color schemes. We entered the studio with new songs that came to life as they were being recorded. We decided on a new logo after consulting attorneys. We went shopping together on Rodeo Drive in search of a 'new look'. Things were different and they were starting to feel a little less weird. Not unlike a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, we had transformed.

One thing we realized is that in this day and age very little happens by accident. When you turn on your TV or listen to the radio everything that you're experiencing was designed to give you that experience. In our time since creating and releasing the 'Signature' EP we had started actually designing 7k.

A key element in our design for NACA was shooting a music video for our then-new single "My High Life". Not only is it a submission requirement, a music video is the most complete modern time capsule marrying everything NEW: music, image, fashion, etc. Making the video was a fun and labor-intensive venture. Seeing the finished product was sort of our collective 'a-ha' moment...and no, I'm not referring to the 80's band that played 'Take On Me' (though that is another cool video).

Our applications and submissions were under review. Everything was in place and then (cue dramatic music here) it all hit us:

David- "Does it hunt?"
Jeff- "Will they buy it?"
Corey- "Can I play drums in this?"

It was time. In June of 2009 we were finishing a new recording (7k) and so began 'The Summer of Test Shows'. We played ten shows that summer which featured new music and unveiled the new look. June 20th at Harry O's was the first time anyone saw us in our matching ties and vests or heard live versions of songs like "Little Bit More" and "My High Life". Between shows we were like mad scientists. We tinkered with everything from the setlist order to subtle changes in our individual versions of 'the look'. Meanwhile, our NACA applications had been accepted and we were planning our first National tour which would span 7 weeks and take us as far East as Hartford, Connecticut. The new look and the new music, here at home, were a hit. Now it was time to take the show on the road....lots of roads, actually.

October 3, 2009 we had a CD release show for our new record '7k' at Spark Lounge in Anaheim. The next day we packed the trailer and slept in our beds for the last time until Thanksgiving. October 5th, we kissed our loved ones and cried as we climbed onto the bus.

The triumphs and tribulations of any band's first 'real' tour were well-documented throughout my blogs. When we got home, after rebuilding our personal lives, it was time to leave again. In February, we were flown to Indiana for one show at Valparaiso University which I also blogged about. By April, you guessed it, it was time to leave again. For Jeff, David and myself it was truly exciting to hit the road for our second National Tour. A 5 week tour which started in Oklahoma, ended in Connecticut and spanned over 8,000 driving miles was truly the pinnacle of 2010. There are blogs extensively detailing all that too. Upon returning home, we couldn't bring ourselves to rest. Less than two weeks past before local summer shows were booked. Then, emails started choking my inbox with MP3 attachments of new song ideas.

The summer came and went. On October 23, 2010 (777/778) we entered the studio to begin recording our new single "I Will Hold You Up" and the very next day 7k performed at the wedding of some of our dearest friends. Through this era we played a total of 45 shows, 19 of which in our home state of California. What an amazing journey this has been thus far, and we feel like we're just getting started.

Each of us loves each of you. Thank you for being what you are to us.


Love,
David, Jeff & Corey


THE SHOWS:
09/06/08 Spark Lounge- Anaheim, CA
06/20/09 Harry O’s- El Segundo, CA
06/24/09 Blue Café- Long Beach, CA
07/10/09 Paladino’s- Tarzana, CA
07/12/09 Blue Café- Huntington Beach, CA
07/14/09 Gallagher’s Pub- Huntington Beach, CA
07/29/09 Blue Café- Long Beach, CA
07/30/09 Cat Club- Hollywood, CA
08/03/09 Skinny’s Lounge- Hollywood, CA
08/09/09 Blue Café- Huntington Beach, CA
08/11/09 Good Hurt- Los Angeles, CA
10/02/09 Back Alley Bar & Grill- Fullerton, CA
10/03/09 Spark Lounge- Anaheim, CA
10/08/09 KOB TV “Good Day New Mexico”- Albuquerque, NM
10/08/09 Monte Vista Fire House Brewery- Albuquerque, NM
10/09/09 Mooney’s Pub & Grill- Norman, OK
10/10/09 Joe Momma’s- Tulsa, OK
10/15/09 NACA Mid-Atlantic Conference- Lancaster, PA
10/22/09 Wander Inn- Mishawaka, IN
10/23/09 Scatz Nightclub- Madison, WI
10/26/09 Kingstead- Bloomington, IN
10/27/09 Max’s Place- Bloomington, IN
10/28/09 Vernon Club- Louisville, KY
10/29/09 NACA Mid-America Conference- Covington, KY
11/07/09 Campbell Room- Worcester, MA
11/12/09 NACA Northeast Conference- Hartford, CT
11/20/09 Scatz Nightclub- Madison, WI
02/06/10 Valparaiso University- Valparaiso, IN
02/26/10 Back Alley Bar & Grill- Fullerton, CA
02/27/10 Spark Lounge- Anaheim, CA
04/09/10 Mooney’s Pub & Grill- Norman, OK
04/10/10 Joe Momma’s- Tulsa, OK
04/15/10 Adrian College- Adrian, MI
04/17/10 Marietta College- Marietta, OH
04/20/10 Wander Inn- Mishawaka, IN
04/22/10 Ohio Dominican University- Columbus, OH
04/23/10 Jake’s Nightclub- Bloomington, IN
04/24/10 Vernon Club- Louisville, KY
04/28/10 Alvernia University- Reading, PA
04/29/10 Penn State University Berks- Reading, PA
05/01/10 Central Connecticut State University- New Britain, CT
06/26/10 Back Alley Bar & Grill- Fullerton, CA
07/24/10 Back Alley Bar & Grill- Fullerton, CA
08/28/10 Back Alley Bar & Grill- Fullerton, CA
10/24/10 Hacienda- Santa Ana, CA