Jude/Ross

I moved from Houston a year ago following the lead of my good friend (and now producer) Randy Reynolds (Leatherbag). I spent that year listening to Leonard Cohen, Big Star, VU, Richard Hell, the Kinks, and various mixtapes, while writing and throwing away songs until I got ten that might make a great record...our record* is due out January 2009 and I'm proud of it already.

It was recorded by Scott Oliphant at Ohm Studios entirely analog on 2-inch tape. We wanted it to sound like "the Velvet Underground" & "Sister Lovers/Third" and have a generally untouched, no-effects, 60's aesthetic stereo mix. It will be mastered by Seth Gibbs at Superpop Studios (Leatherbag, the Archibalds, Brother Machine).

*early masters of two songs are posted here and on Myspace.

Jude/Ross is what we call the band, consisting of former/current members of Tammany Hall Machine, Mike & the Moonpies, the Come Latelys, and the Deaf Ears. I couldn't ask for a better, tighter, looser, easier, harder band to work with. The shows are always different because Kyle and Drew hold down the song while I try to find some new vocal hook or stop playing or beat the hell out of the guitar or whatever I have to do--while Geoff sets his guitar on fire or maybe just plays the toughest damn three notes you've heard in awhile.

That was kind of a joke? ambitious? sincere?

We just want to write better 3 minute songs, play them like we mean it and stay as far away from My Morning Jacket as possible.

--Michael