Murphee K dot com On The Road http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?ct=6 Murphee K dot com - Officious Website Two million evacuees http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=79&ct=6 [10/5/2005 Update:] Sorry for the lack of updates.  As you can imagine, I've been recovering from the past crazy couple of weeks.  Comic update (and its new schedule) next time.  Lesson learned: one sure way to get negative ratings is to not update.

Just a quick note to say that I am ok.  Hurricane Rita made me do the unthinkable (use a drill) and forced me to drive 17+ hours to Dallas with the sweltering 100+ degree Texas heat as convoy to our collective frustration over the mind-numbingly slow traffic rate.  (During the first five hours, I was driving less than 2 mph on average.)  At some point, right after the 15th hour, you become one with the road, and your arms begin to follow the curvature of the road automatically, utterly ignoring the commands from your brain.

It was during this Zen-like state that I decided to sleep at a parking lot.  But I couldn't sleep.  So I didn't.  When I "got up", I felt like turning around and driving back, but I've gone so far.  And thinking about New Orleans and the high chance of its horror repeating in Houston, I had to keep on, sleep-deprived and fully uncertain of my future.

At the time, I thought to myself, "What a telling statement".

But after reaching Dallas and sleeping at the airport and flying to Florida and appeasing/catching up with family and flying/driving back amidst Rita-induced turbulence and exhaustion, I was relieved to find that nothing was damaged.  Everything, other than my overdue R.E.M sleep, is back to normal.

During my escape, I took this picture from the counterflow lane.
]]> GP(MPK) got out. 2005-09-27T21:12:09-06:00 HNY means Happy New Year http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=50&ct=6 This is something bordering awesome:  out of the Top Ten Shows of 2004 in Gainesville, only one was held at a house party (read: ours).  (Here's an article screenshot, just in case.)  We, Pissing on Susie, and that "other" band The Boy and the Knife were mentioned.  And, oh yeah those kids in Select Start too.

(Hmmm...maybe we should just play house parties from now on, eh?)

I realize that I'm almost a week late in saying this, but HNY everybody!  Just got back from Florida after being held captive by my relatives.  But not held tightly enough apparently as I, Peter, Craig and special guest vocalists The Ridicules were able to squeeze in some quality recording time with Rob after Xmas.  The majority of recording and mixing I'd say is done.

On top of the album release, there are a couple of new adventures planned for this new year of 2005.  One involves some sketches, and another involves a DVR.  The former is more likely to be realized than the latter, but in any case, keep visiting this site for updates and to see if either will come to fruition.
]]> GP(MPK) still owes someone a hamburger. 2005-01-05T10:13:25-06:00 Blitzkrieg http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=48&ct=6 With synergy coupled with arduous effort, it's amazing how much stuff can be accomplished in one week. Such was the case in the MPK camp, to recap:

The House Party at The Boy and the Knife house went without a hitch and everyone was cool -- wait, that's waaay too much an understatement. As you know, house parties are egregious for engendering noise complaints and overall indignation due to bad apples and unexpected dissensions. Considering that none of these have happened, and the fact that a next-door neighbor actually told us ebulliently to TURN THE MUSIC UP during our set, you'd understand why the show went so well.

[Edit: MPK took some pics during the party and Peter posted them here. Good times!]

Everyone was genuinely respectful. After being away from Gainesville for a long while, I've forgotten, among the many countless things, how great this community is.

I can't move on to the next subject until I give props to my homies who played alongside us. I gotta admit, Select Start stole the show. As I'm writing this, I'm listening to their CD, and I can't help thinking, when you strip everything down, all you can do is whistle melodies from memory, and I kept jumping back and forth between the past and present during their set. But simple childhood reminiscence and classical instruments aren't Select Start's only appeal, as potent as those two already are. When you see an SS show, you see how well-seasoned they are as musicians -- their close attention to detail is apparent and they have the most heartfelt renditions of VG music I've heard in a VG band. As a spectator, I felt level 99 intrigued. As a musician, I felt inspired to sharpen my skills. And as a fellow band on the bill, all of us felt honored. Thank you guys so much.

Before Pissing on Susie played, I didn't know what to expect other than SiLo's stage prescence. After his stint with The Monistats (who btw, recently released a CD), you come to expect that in-your-face attitude in any bands that he's in, and it shows in POS. Thanks for lending us the PA, even though it kept crapping out but made the set fun anyway. You my dawg. Craig and Peter then played a double-set in The Boy and the Knife to close the bill before 1am, and I must say I'm proud of my mates for doing this. They've come a long way and I'm excited for them.

I suppose I should mention something about our set other than the aforementioned ebullient next-door neighbor. The dancing and cavorting by everyone was something I dearly, dearly, 3 times dearly missed for the past 8 months. I also learned a new word which was used to describe MPK: "genki", which apparently means "happy and energetic" in Japanese. That makes me smile. Yay to all! Arr!

On Sunday we met Rob McGregor in Golden Tone Studios to start recording our CD. For three straight days we ran multi-hour marathon sessions on a minimal protein diet. Working with Rob, the consummate recording professional, was a pleasure and unique learning experience. I won't get into any details other than my observation that ours and Rob's principles, recording-wise and life in general, are pretty similar. If you've been checking out my moblog and Peter's livejournal, then you can see us at work.

[Edit: Some sample pics:]
Taking NotesRobCraig at the Helm

After three days, our rough mix is done and we can't wait until you guys hear this. We're thinking of streaming a couple of songs either here or here so keep an eye out on that. Details on final mix are still being worked out. I don't want to say anything more than that. Quite honestly, I'm still a little fatigued from the flight and the show and the recording and the flight back to Texas.

All in all, this past week's activities put a lot things I've been experiencing for the past several months in Houston in perspective.

Just a little.
]]> GP(MPK) is back in TX. Again. 2004-11-18T01:15:53-06:00 This is a service call http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=47&ct=6 Heyya kiddos!  Right now I'm well within my four-hour stay in Atlanta.

In other news, I am drowsy as hell...

I must've been saturated with crazy juice when I booked that flight out of Houston at 5:40am.   This is, of course, validated by the vicious flogging I've received from my alarm through cyclic shrill cries, as if to say, "You're late! You're late!", with each deafening blow.

The nerve...

So I missed my flight.   Good news is, I'll be there only 2 hours later than planned.

Speaking of later (holy bad segue, Batman!), there's a secret party at The Boy and the Knife house on Thursday, Nov. 11th.  If you're reading this, then there's a good chance you already know what I'm talking about.  If not, then did I mention that there's a rare performance by Select Start?  How about Something in the Absence Pissing on Susie?  And "post-accident" The Boy and the Knife?  Or how about...

This is a service call to Delta flight 4129 to Gainesville...

See you shortly.
]]> GP(MPK) out. Have a good flight. 2004-11-10T08:52:39-06:00 Admin-schmadmin http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=45&ct=6 This is a quick test -- I am entering this from my cell phone.  Of course, this has enumerable implications that I would like to impart, but my fingers do not, at the moment, have the dexterity nor patience.  When I get home however, I expect to exclaim this delayed outburst out loud:

Huzzah!
]]> GP(MPK) out. Literally. 2004-07-24T23:54:04-06:00 Coming Going Leaving http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=40&ct=6 Hello allz, I'm back in TX. Thank you for coming out to Eddie C's for an incredible night of music -- it's like the energy never let up! Yay to Team Mascot for an awesome first show. Great jorb! Thanks also to SNMNMNM for steppin' up and rockin' out when Second Saturday's van broke down. And of course, you all know, Karmella's got Game. I got them to sign my copy of their EP. That's right, I'm a fanboy. Shush!

All in all this past weekend was a good trip -- got my El Indio and Bento fix (twice each!), had fun with Ted and his expensive camera, messed around with the Japanese song (a lot), scanned some new sticker/T-shirt designs, changed some lyrics for the 31st time and even opened up the possibility for some piano pieces -- which I scrapped for the show due to insufficient practice and hardware. It's pretty exciting, especially considering we practice together only once a month -- and we cram as much as we can into one madcap weekend! Iono, to me this is still a lot of fun, and besides, I derive a lot of pleasure out of just flying.

A February weekend should be just as exciting as we are preparing (read: emailing each other demos) for a show in Gainesville. More details will be posted here once all bands are confirmed.
]]> GP(MPK) is a class function call. 2004-01-23T20:52:21-06:00 We keep our pants on! http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=36&ct=6 Sunday we played with four bands, all of whom were excellent at their respective musics, but I was most happy with Whatevers Left. Those kids are awesome and heartfelt and learning and doing their best which blows my mind and my heart. Not that I ever forget, but it reminds me of years when I didn't know how to forget myself and it reminds me of wonderful powers of music. I have lots of social theories about music, but it's difficult because we can't just stop our lives, and nothing makes us ten again. So thank you Whatever's Left guys. You rocked my world. Stay with it as long as it's positive. Thanks also for the SNMNMNM weekend. Thank you to My Fav'rite Dancer, shoeless wonder and My Hotel Year, who amazed and unsettled me. Thank you to the woman who brought me a stack of old fliers when I passed out. And Pat, thanks for bringing the evening together. And thank You for being there or reading, here.

And now some orders of business. Murphee K, Inc. has 4 shirts from our first printing: two of the black and two of the blue, all size mediums. If you want one, get ahold of us. They are still eight dollars and I can practically guarantee that you will never see these styles ever again.

George leaves us tomorrow for Houston and a future. Consequently, Murphee K will drop behind the scenes for awhile, but don't get all comfy! We'll be back to rock off your new winter socks in December, hopefully with some new 'songs'.

Those of you in the Murphee know are on our mailing list. If you're new, please get with the Murphee K program and join today (see right hand column). It's safe and it's free and exclusive to those who sign up! And we'll occasionally surprise your email! It's betcha time and I betcha there'll be something up before December rolls around. Good Yontiv!
]]> PWW loves you. 2003-10-06T20:49:01-06:00 A new post-tour news post http://www.murpheek.com/archive.asp?NewsID=29&ct=6 I didn't know exactly when it happened when it finally dawned on me that we were actually on tour.  Maybe it was during
  • my anxiety-turned-to-elation graduation,
  • the crash course sessions Peter and Nancy Mae had to endure (Matt couldn't make the trip so Peter learned how to play the drums and Nancy studied the bass lines -- each within three months),
  • the wonderful destruction of our practice warehouse after the last act whilst disregarding the importance of slumber,
  • the anticipation of meeting each other's families,
  • the camaraderie within confined spaces in the back of a 80-mile-an-hour Chevy and the capricious directions said Chevy (and mostly sleep-deprived Craig) had to careen through,
  • the undertaking of confirming/re-confirming/performing a good, nay, great show, both planned and impromptu, outside the circuit parameters in Gainesville -- all without prior knowledge and all by ourselves,
or perhaps, most likely, it was during the stress and bruises we imbibed and cultivated, respectively, from a stew containing a dash of all of the above that made the 2-week South x SouthEast tour seem like it was dreaming a white water raft ride with Kevin Bacon, mc chris style -- something to a "wet" degree indeed.

I think it was when we spent a night in New Orleans sleeping on a graveyard that I realized, "So this is what touring is like. Cool!"

In our efforts to heal our wounds with a bit of irregular inactivity, we might have dissuaded some newbies trying to access this site.  So, back from the brink, we proclaim that Murphee K is on a summer hiatus.  However, this hiatus would not consist of the same methods employed to accelerate our convalescence, but rather will be filled with non-show-related activities that will keep us busy (thereby keeping YOU busy) during the next couple of months.  One of them is the H.O.M.E. Compilation on Signal Path Records which will come out very soon!

Until then, I want to personally thank you, the Murphee K listener/readership, for keeping up with our very young band and for making all of this worthwhile thus far.  The experience has been much greater than I would ever have conceived.  Even after so many drinks.

But so far, so good.

P.S. Our newsletter contained a more detailed description of what transpired in our tour as well as a list of people that we have thanked personally.  If you received it, go you!  You received one of the spoils of being one of our dedicated fans.

P.P.S. We have shirts left over from the tour!  Call Craig or Peter.  Or email us.
]]> GP(MPK) out. 2003-07-02T20:41:24-06:00