malblum

www.myspace.com/malblumI should probably start updating this more. Of course I start a million social networking venues for myself on the internet and then don't maintain any of them.

Right now I'm waiting to see if I made LOGO's top ten videos of 2009 list.. I keep refreshing my inbox but it's clearly not happening at the moment. But someone from University of Florida just sent me an email inquiring about performing at their Pride month in April which would be so fun and makes me happy.

BTW: You can now buy my new EP ("For Making Art") on Itunes. Click the image to go check it out, buy tracks, write a review on the itunes page, etc. etc. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Let me know what you think! I think you'll like it. The format ended up being: 2 studio tracks roughly mixed off the new album, one bedroom recording, 2 live tracks recorded at The Sidewalk Cafe in NYC over the summer (one being an acoustic version of Tumbleweed!) and another bedroom recording.

Also, brand new myspace layout, go check it out!: Mal Blum on Myspace

Annnnnnnnd pics from our Southern tour/College Shows last week up at: My Other Blog

Over break we're mixing & possibly tracking a little bit more up in MA. And then my last semester of college EVER. After which, I'm getting ready to hit the ground running. More on this later.

Stay warm!

This album is taking sooooooooOOooOoOoOoOOOoO long. We're (Simon & I) opening for Melissa Ferrick for a strong of dates in October (woohoo!) so I really want to have a pre-release EP done by then and then the actual full length by January/February. I'm trying really hard! Here's what I want to put on the EP:

New song off album
New song off album
Wagon Wheel (Cover) - live @ Sidewalk
Country Song - live @ Sidewalk
Tumbleweed - live @ Sidewalk
1 unreleased and never to be released track except for on said EP


Is that a good line up for an EP? I keep thinking it's too many, then too few, and so on and so forth. Also, I'm nervous to release 2 strong tracks off the album because then, why buy the album (I mean, for the 9 other songs, probably, but what if)?

Here are two videos:

Performing "Baltimore" w/ the band @ Sidewalk in July:





Simon & I covering Wagon Wheel at his parents dinner party in Aug.:

I'm hopping in the studio next week with Clay, Simon and Sarah to continue working on my new album. The projected release date will depend on how much we get done during the session but I will have something available for the fall, at least an EP if the full length isn't finished. I made it so you can now purchase physical copies of my last album (Goodnight Sugarpop) at CD Baby too.

I have 2 solo shows coming up this week in Philly and a "band" show at The Sidewalk Cafe in NYC on July 3rd (details below). All are all ages!

Thursday, June 25th @ 7PM
Featured Performer Slot @ Burlap and Bean Open Mic
204 South Newton Street Rd.
Newton Square, PA
http://www.burlapandbean.com
Free

Friday, June 26th @ 12PM
High Point Cafe (Allens Lane Location)
7210 Cresheim Rd
Philadelphia, PA
Tips

Friday, July 3rd @ 9PM
"Birthday Show" @ The Sidewalk Cafe
94 Avenue A.
New York, NY
playing with a band (upright bass, fiddle & harmonica) set up for half the set.
Caroline Couture is also playing!
All ages, buy food or drink/tips

My summer is about to get pretty exciting. In a week and a half I'm going to be helping little girls rock at the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls which is so awesome. I'm also going to be turning 21. If you're wondering what you could possibly get me, here are two things that I want:

1)Vote for me again on LOGO's The Click List. Every time the top ten show airs I make new fans which is great. Here is a link to vote: http://www.logoonline.com/shows/dyn/the_click_list/video_voting.jhtml

2) Along the same lines, introduce one of your friends to my music (I stole this idea from Amanda Palmer because it is a good one) and tell them to vote! Word of mouth is so important for indie artists, telling one new person about a band that you like goes farther than you would think.

Last but not least, the Blum family just got a new addition. Meaning, a really cute puppy who is sleeping in my lap as I write this.

10 years of livejournal? really?!

Click here to see my past week in picture form! 'cause I blogged about it. 

 

Now pool party

Okay, so I know my livejournal has kind of been reduced to pictures of me with people who I think are famous that other people don't even think are famous and flyers for shows but did I mention that I had this?:



And also this, although it is a bit of an unfortunate picture:

House Shows are rad.

Some last minute house shows this week in Albany & Baltimore! :)

Date/Venue/Address/Time/Cost

• May 19th: 98 Grand/98 Grand St./Albany, NY 7PM--House Show, $5
  w/ Ryan Clover & Elliott Harvey
  


• May 21st Baker Park/121 N. Bentz St. /Frederick, MD 7PM--Park Show, $5
  


• May 23rd "4610 1/2"/4610 1/2 College Ave./Baltimore, MD 3PM--Backyard Show, donations!
  
  Flyers for Maryland shows!!!
  


• May 21st:
  
  
  


• May 23rd:
  
  
  

Here are flyers for the 2 shows I'm playing this week!:

The Pink Party @ SUNY Purchase College:



RFC @ Wellesley College:



Also, I'm really doing my best to keep up with this twitter thing: www.twitter.com/malblum

This band's video aired #3 on the show last night and the vocalist is my new celebrity crush. Watch this & you will understand (elliott, I thought you would like this song):



Here is a little video clip of me giving ballard wads & wads of money to pay for close captioning the vid. The six of us watched it in his apt. and partied at ginger's a little bit.:


Paying Ballard & watching video premiere on LOGO @ his apt in Bklyn from Mal Blum on Vimeo.

Today, tom. & wednesday I'm headed to the studio and on Friday I'm going to see Richie Havens with my dad. And as I said before, somewhere in there I have to start planning a summer tour. And study for midterms. Busy week!

Okay, so, first off- the show on Thursday was really fun. We baked so many cookies, there were lots of people there for my set (thanks everyone!) & Simon and I sat on Kimya Dawson's lap. I am not lying. here is a picture to prove it:



& here is a picture of the nice crowd that came out even though we played super early:



Second off-You know those queer music videos you watch on logo late at night when you can't sleep or when you are drunk and eating midnight snacks? Guess what, I'm going to be one of them. Tonight! At midnight! On your tv! Details under the cut below so you can catch it:

( Read more... )

Okay, so watch me invade your home through your tv tonight. Well, not literally me (I will probably be in BK at the director's house) but my music video. Also, I'm recording & starting to book my summer touring plans this week. I'd really like to head to the west coast but more immediately I want to go back to Baltimore and play a few shows in New England first. Please get in touch if you want to set stuff up in your town. Ok, gotta go my grandma is visiting!

I finally jumped on the twitter bandwagon...I know it seems superfluous but Kate Bornstein and Shaq and my sister all have one so don't make fun of me, okay?!

www.twitter.com/malblum

Snagged a pic with Hamell @ the show tonight:



Also, watch this:

Marnie Stern tells her version of the aristocrats (and has lunch at sidewalk for a second):

I'm opening for Hamell on Trial and Lach on February 25th at The Space in Hamden, CT !

I'm really excited because Hamell on Trial is one of my favorite songwriters and performers in the universe and Lach basically single-handedly created the nyc anti-folk scene. There are 2 noise rock bands playing too if you're into that sort of thing. Come check it out (what else are you doing on a Wednesday night?).

The space is located at: 295 Treadwell St. Hamden, CT for more info visit: www.thespace.tk

In other news, college is great.

February 14th
(Anti) Valentine's Day Show @ Sidewalk w/ Hee Young
94 Ave A.
New York, NY
11pm. All ages.
This is the perfect Valentine's activity for single people.
Come have a beer or some food while listening to late night love/anti-love songs and maybe meet some other people doing the same. Hee Young is playing the 12pm slot. You can listen to her here: www.myspace.com/listen2christine


February 19th
Vagina Monologues Benefit Concert @ Purchase College
735 anderson hill rd.
purchase, ny 10577
8 pm
sets are very short, but a lot of cool people are playing and it's a good cause.

February 20th
Postcrypt Coffeehouse @ Columbia University
3508 Lerner Hall
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027
8:00 PM
This is a cozy venue that has housed a lot of greats over the years(Jeff Buckley, Ani Difranco, Dar Williams..). It's in the basement of St Paul's chapel at Columbia University. There is no sound system, and it only seats about 40 people so shows there are very intimate. I have the first set of the evening.

I thought I should write a follow up to my most recent blog!

I'm now a member of ASCAP. My publishing company is called "Betterweather Music."
Simon came up with the name. I tried for "Earthworm Music" but it was already taken.

As of Monday I'm back at purchase to finish up my junior year. Things are good. I'm cooking a lot of healthy food and keeping organized so far. I'm excited about my roommates. 2 on campus shows this weekend. More to come soon!

ahhhh ascap is driving me crazy. I can't submit my video for air until I secure the publishing rights to the song and I have been in various stages of "on hold" all morning just to check on the status of the application I submitted a month ago ahhhhhhhhhh