WV Project Series 2009: Danielson from Weathervane Music on Vimeo.

“Everyday, twice a day, mornings and evenings, my family and I play a game we made from Grandpa’s theories, against the was and will be, so enjoy the now…”

It is not difficult to pine for a similar way of framing one’s day, for some sort of celebratory discipline to enjoy and truly connect with what and who is around us. With all of our societal striving for immediacy—for information (now!), communication (now!), food (now!), accomplishing (now!)—the present moment has become a curiously elusive commodity. Often riddled with regrets about the past or anxieties about the future, we are unable to take in “the now” that we so ardently pursue. We restlessly check our email (again) since our microwave burrito won’t be done for another twenty-seven seconds, then race to the park gulping down our lunch to relax and feed pigeons.

Is there an antidote to this kind of existence? What if it were possible to hover above the chaos of jostle and activity and doing, to float above it all, as a hot-air balloon floats past busy highways and bustling cities, and breathe in cool air and good company while the pressures and to-do lists worry about themselves? Moment Soakers 7”, the latest recording from Danielson, is a joyful exploration of these questions.

The occasion for Moment Soakers 7” was provided by Daniel Smith’s good friend Brian McTear, the engineering genius behind the mixing-consol of several excellent Danielson and Sounds Familyre recordings, and also the director of the newly formed nonprofit, Weathervane Music Organization. Weathervane represents a profound commitment to the idea that at all stages of the process, community must be part and parcel of what it is to make and share music, from recording to presentation, from funding and resource allocation to promotion and arts advocacy. If anyone in the independent music world could get behind community being a whole-hearted pooling of resources benefiting all involved, it would be Daniel Smith. So get behind it he did with Danielson’s participation in the Weathervane Music Project Series, and “Moment Soakers” was realized.

“Moment Soakers” is everything we’ve come to expect from Danielson, the musical articulation of a singularly poetic and ecstatic vision; music that simultaneously welcomes and surprises, moving both body and soul. Seven-inch vinyl was deemed the perfect format for this recording, and with its complimentary themes of flying and floating, ABBA’s “Eagle” (a long-time favorite of Smith’s) was quickly decided on as the perfect cover for the B-side.

On October 26th, two beautiful and compelling videos of the “Moment Soakers” studio sessions will be posted at Weathervane’s website, and during the first week of November, an animated video of “Moment Soakers”, created by Marji Fortin (animator for the PBS children’s show “Word Girl”), will be You-Tubed, Vimeoed, and blogged about all over the internet. On November 12th, in cooperation with Weathervane Music Organization (and in support of their first annual fund-raiser concert), Moment Soakers 7” will officially be available from Sounds Familyre Records. Finally, on November 17th Moment Soakers 7” will be available through your favorite digital retailer.

A lot of exciting things coming down the pike, but until then, soak in the moment…

(Go to http://weathervanemusic.org to learn about and support Weathervane Music Organization, and make sure to sign up for their mailing list here!: http://bit.ly/ne4tc).

Took this picture of a painting of a wave in a hotel hallway in Hawaii a couple weeks ago. Dan Zimmerman has been painting waves for years and I thought he might enjoy it. He also wrote a song about a wave named “Howard.” Dan what do you think?

L, Daniel

It’s Off The Ground!
On behalf of Danielson, we at Sounds Familyre are delighted to share with you a very special piece of news. Lenny Smith and his lovely wife, Marian (father and mother of the Danielson Famile), together with Daniel and Elin Smith, the dynamic duo behind Sounds Familyre, have just launched a new record label called Great Comfort Records. Great Comfort seeks to extend the palette of modern sacred music, to hopefully provide more colors and hues to the rendering of our collective search for and experience of the divine. In short, Great Comfort Records exists to make sacred music for the invisible church.

Lenny, Marian, Elin, and Daniel are very pleased to announce Great Comfort Records’ inaugural release: ‘Come O Spirit!’ - Anthology of Hymns and Spiritual Songs Vol.1 by Bifrost Arts. It is a record that brings together an impressive cadre of uniquely gifted artists, including Dave Bazan, Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas, Shara Warden (of My Brightest Diamond), J.Tillman (of Fleet Foxes), Laura Gibson, Denison Witmer, The Welcome Wagon (featuring Sufjan Stevens), Leigh Nash (of Sixpence None the Richer) and others, to revive four hundred years of long-forgotten melodies and liturgical music. ‘Come O Spirit!’ is remarkably winsome, singularly rich, and uncommonly beautiful, and it’s available here.

Take A Gander!
Want to hear a couple tracks right now? Click here to listen to track one, "I Sought The Lord", and here to listen to track three, "Come O Spirit".

Finally, if you’d like to be kept abreast of upcoming releases (there are some great ones coming down the pike!) and other news from Great Comfort Records, please consider signing up for the Great Comfort mailing list. Your email address will of course be kept strictly confidential. To sign up, click here!

While you wait in eager anticipation to find out, you can satisfy your thirst for all things Danielson by checking out a great new extended interview with Daniel Smith by Matt Fink in Busted Halo.  Click here!  You can read it while you order tickets to the date that was just added to the Danielson Concert Calendar:

June 12
Toquet Hall, Westport CT (All Ages!)
w/Sidewalk Dave, Midi & The Modern Dance
http://www.manicproductions.org

ALSO…THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR SQUAWKIN’!:
The new limited-edition, custom-designed Danielson Shoe by John Fluevog is now in stores! Those who beheld these shoes with their own eyes during last November’s Danielson tour can attest to the fact that never has a cooler piece of footwear graced a foot. Furthermore, any of the fine Danielson musicians who played on this tour can attest to the fact that never has a more comfortable piece of footwear graced a stage. They’re good for dinner parties! Weddings! Bowling Championships! Kicking around the house! Napping! Whatever the occasion, you’ll want to wear them. Call your local Fluevog store to reserve your pair now. Get em’ while they’re hot, as there is no guarantee that more will be made!

MOVIES!:
Finally, we are very pleased to share with you two brand new music videos created especially for Secretly Canadian’s Season of Danielson this past November. Click on the images below to watch! "Body English" (created by James Elaine, edited by Brian Rogers & William Basinski, and starring Deng Tai).

"Fetch the Compass Kids" (created by Harrell Fletcher; Live at Real Art Ways, Hartford, CT 2003).

Take care, all. We’ll see you at the shows (in your new Danielson Shoes)!

"Clarksboro-1955" photograph by David Eugend Edwards

]]> http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/up-in-your-grill/feed/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/get-cosmic/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/get-cosmic/#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:54:19 +0000 danielson http://danielson.info/site/?p=143

Hello Everyone,

Daniel Smith has been busy producing a lot of different projects over the past several months, and one of them is the latest Dan Zimmerman record.  It’s a thing of beauty, and well worth checking out.  Read on for details!!!

Dan Zimmerman Biopic - Woodshop Films
Woodshop Films is an independently owned multimedia company housed in a working woodshop in Philadelphia, PA. Founded by artist Marc Brodzik, the company serves as a think tank for the creation and production of cutting edge documentary films and multimedia work pieces. They have just recently finished a mini documentary about Dan Zimmerman. The backbone of the film is a fascinating interview of Dan by Daniel Smith at the Zimmerman home. Pull up your Easy-Boy recliner with a bag of popcorn, and click play on the screen below!

‘An Afternoon With Dan Zimmerman’ - Woodshop Films from Sounds Familyre on Vimeo.

‘Cosmic Patriot’ Release and Pre-Order
On April 21st, Cosmic Patriot will be unveiled to the wide-world, and pre-orders start April 1st (today!). Important note: if you pre-order from Sounds Familyre, not only will you get your copy of Cosmic Patriot on the release date, but you also get a special code to download THREE FREE BONUS SONGS! These bonus songs come with pre-order only, so don’t miss out. Order here.

Also, we’ve set up a ‘Cosmic Patriot’ listening station. Hear the whole album for free here!

The Word on the Streets
“In a music landscape often dominated by twentysomethings and their casio beats, Dan Zimmerman descends from the mountain glowing and wild-eyed, the madman prophet singing molassed-gravel sonnets and with a burlap sack of rattlesnakes slung over his shoulder. A supreme joy and danger to listen to.”
Michael Kaufmann/Asthmatic Kitty Records

“The happy marriage of Dan Zimmerman’s ever-deepening songwriting skills in concert with Daniel Smith’s coming-of-age as a producer has produced what just might be the most starkly beautiful and entrancing collection of songs I have heard all year. This LP is a force to be reckoned with.”
Kramer

“…I’ve always been surprised by how such a big voice with such great words of thunder and lightning could come from such a mild and gentle guy. I tried to kick up some fuzz, literally, whirling around like monkeys, but he seemed to enjoy it like a baby enjoying its pillow for a nap.”
Emil Nikolaisen/Serena Maneesh

Shows

May 1 - ‘Cosmic Patriot CD Release Party’. This will be an incredible show at The Auction House in Audubon, NJ. Joining in the celebration will be Danielson, Ben + Vesper, Ortolan, Leopulde, and Lenny Smith. An unbelievable night of music that is not to be missed!

May 15 - The Mercury Lounge. Come to one of the hippest venues in New York City to enjoy performances by Dan Zimmerman and Danielson. For more info on these and other shows, click here.

Take care, happy spring, and get COSMIC!

Danielson and Everyone at Sounds Familyre

]]> http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/get-cosmic/feed/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/scrapple/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/scrapple/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:49:42 +0000 danielson http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/scrapple/

]]> http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/scrapple/feed/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/danielson-tour-diary/ http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/danielson-tour-diary/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 14:44:13 +0000 Josh http://danielson.info/site/index.php/archive/danielson-tour-diary/

One of the more recent additions to the Danielson lineup is Patrick Berkery: drummer extraordinaire with a rapier wit and an all-around wonderful guy to be with. Patrick also happens to be a pretty terrific writer and regular contributor to Modern Drummer magazine. One of his latest columns is a tour diary of last November’s Danielson Sojourn Across These Here United States (19 shows in 23 days–whew!!). While the Danielson van drove hither and yon, Patrick kept everyone in good humor, on the right roads, in time on stage, and hipped to the better dining establishments throughout the Lower 48. It’s a fun read, so check it out here.