Shows / Other Announcements

[Ben Franklin]

Dear Friends,

We've got a show coming up in the near future:

Thursday Sept 2nd @ Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ -- probably around 10 or 11pm -- we're fourth out of five bands plyaing that evening, including Killing the Messenger. $8, starts at 8pm. Gonna get radical.

Also: we're playing in the Asbury Rockstars Charity Softball Game next weekend, in order to help raise money to fight auto-immune related diseases. If you could spare just a couple of dollars to help us fund-raise, we'd be quite appreciative. And if you throw down $50, we'll send you one of those hot new Ben Franklin lightning-bell t-shirts designed by Adam Copeland. Kick it.

We won't be playing again until October, lots more writing to do, and nit-picking over tracks. If you want us to come play in your backyard, basement, or bedroom this Fall, get in touch soonish. We will gladly empty your liquor cabinet in exchange for howling sing-a-longs.

News about the next EP and LP:

So far, the process has been incredible, recording in our basement studio/lair with Adam Copeland of Black Water. Nothing I've been a part of before has sounded this good, and we're not even mixing yet. And being able to work without the harsh time/money constraints of a commercial studio is liberating. Songs seem to undergo a kind of second round of writing when you start setting them down and trying to capture them in some way. It's very hard to keep them under wraps, but I'm determined not to leak anything until all's ready for publication. I can tell you that these tunes are quite a bit more dense and carefully crafted than a lot of what's on our first record. Adam's doing an incredible job producing the thing and putting up with our inanity, the stuff is really coming alive. 

Relatedly, it's looking like the cover art for Urgency (the EP) will be done by one of my favorite artists, Hiroshi Kumagai. I'm chomping at the bit to name the label for the vinyl release, but the details aren't finalized yet. Soon! The track list:

* Urgency

* No Pleasin' You

* Team Work

* Smile

Not all of these tunes will end up on the LP, as we're brewing lots of material. So you won't want to miss this one, should be out this Fall sometime. Along with some footage of the recording sessions. Lots of video. Lots of embarrassing video.

Regards,

Billy

--
BEN FRANKLIN
http://WeAreBenFranklin.com