Potentially Interesting Places.

This is one of several challenges I'm placing before myself this year: Once a week, I'm recording a performance for anyone who comes here and presses the play button. I make a lot of music, the vast majority of which never leaves my home. I'm about to loosen the spigot for the first time in a while, probably alone, probably unplugged and certainly in places where performances do not typically occur. Being on stage tends to be comfortable; it's the rest of the world where I feel ridiculous. My hope is to find a new location every week that is beautiful or awkward or scary and a way to be resourceful about recording a single take. That's it. One song, one take, once a week, a new place each time.

Please send feedback, requests, ideas, anything short of explosives, really. As far as I'm concerned, this is a fun art project, and I'd love if it was interactive.

... And on that note, here's my first go at Potentially Interesting Places. A new song of mine called, "The Opposite of Love" recorded in a place more beautiful than scary, a driveway in Closter, NJ. It's the first one... no major challenges, just a pretty place.


Songs in Potentially Interesting Places #1 from Cristina Bautista on Vimeo.

Structural integrity.

Visqueen shot a music video this weekend! It was primarily filmed in an auto wrecking yard in south Seattle... Just imagine fields and towers of smashed cars. Rachel even got to crush an SUV!

Meanwhile, the rest of us got to hang out in a sweet old '55 Buick Special. It actually was pretty effing special.

You'll get to see the whole car eventually... in the video.

Also, for the record, Boeing Field and that access road that goes into Georgetown is one of my favorite places in Seattle. I just want to go down there with a couple of sandwiches and watch planes.

Lately... lately.... lately

It turns out being home is busier than I thought it would be. Before that happened, though, my brother and Ollie and I went on an adventure to find a ghost town.

We got most of the way there only to find that the road to get there was still covered in snow since it hadn't been warm long enough. Super treacherous. Not Prius conditions, certainly. Bummer.

Then Sean Nelson and Jacob James played In the Round (with Eric on guitar, of course. That's just what you do for magic). Jon Sands performed also. They almost made me cry about five times. What a brilliant event.

A day or two later, I made my triumphant return to the House of Breaking Glass to dust off some old sessions to send to Ben to maybe mix. That's right, my songs are moving around again. ...like zombies!

That's a gun in the guitcello. Did you know Phil Peterson's middle name is Spector? (...That's 'cause it's not.)

And Visqueen got back to practicing again. I have a personalized parking spot at the space. Kinda.

Oh, and Strap Straps played! Ben Hooker plays bass, y'all!

Anyway, now there's a whole bunch of administrative work (and more practice) going on. I mean, it's actually chaotic and ridiculous. Gearing up for tour always is a little bit, but things are being shaken up a lot with this one. You'll see. And on top of that we have a show on Vashon Island and another video shoot this weekend.

ALSO!!!! The video for "The Capitol" is premiering REALLY, REALLY soon. I'm excited for you to see it!

I thought it was a bird...

Having to stay alone in bed for a few days does terrible things to my head. That should probably never happen. Despite being functional again, it's a fight to not miss playing shows every night and laughing with people I adore who live far away from me. But I am fighting, and my weapons include gorgeous brand new music and the promise/threat of gorgeous brand new music from 

+ Damien Jurado

+ Brent DeBoer 

+ Mick Bassett and the Marthas 

...and, you know, those favorites I keep writing about.

I've also been keeping myself occupied with piano and violin on top of my typical instruments. Maybe I'll be competent with them someday! I'm spending at least 10 hours a day making music right now learning other people's songs, practicing and writing a ton. I want to start something similar to Jonathan Coulton's "Thing a Week," but that might wait a minute because...

I just put up audition videos for Glee. Yeah, really. Go look at them if you don't believe me... or if you just want to see me play "Rehab" with a ukulele! And if you feel inclined to "give me a gold star," I sure won't stop you. 

We'll be back on tour in about a month. I posted some of our dates coming up, and you'd better believe I'm about to start ticking down days.

All this sleep is exhausting.

Home now. Sick, too. I woke up with a sore throat in Tucson and didn't even party in Vegas after the show. However, Rachel won $800 at a roulette table right before bed just on a whim. Pretty sweet!

SXSW was a vortex of mostly wonderful things. It was my first time! I've been hearing about the festival since I was 11, and the most recent words came from people comparing it to "intentionally stepping in dog shit" (someone please tell me where that quote is from?!). I, however, had a great time. Visqueen got to play some amazing shows, including the NPR showcase at Stubb's on opening night with Spoon, Broken Bells, Sharon Jones + the Dap Kings and the Walkmen (listenable here!). I felt completely honored and spoiled, and in a place literally overflowing with bands, I am so grateful that people came out and saw one that I play in.

I spent just about all of my free time hitched to the Hounds Below (this time with a trombonist!). They played something like six shows throughout the festival (which is insane). I was there for all but one, which is maybe not how you're supposed to do SXSW, but you know what? It's rare that I get this excited about a new band, and I'll take my obsessions where I can.

Also, I got style-blogged on the day that I probably most needed a shower and a change of clothes. I honestly hadn't showered in two or three days and was in the middle of carrying Rachel's guitar across town. The crew stopped me and I thought they were joking.

Anyway, rather than attempt to do a full recap, I'm just going to unload pictures from my phone from the last couple of weeks...

Cans of High Life the size of my forearm in Lubbock, TX!

Summer Snow!

I ate barbecue under this while the people at the next table talked about the Bible. I think the deer lost an eyelash in my food, too.

This is Puck. Puck was a houseguest where Visqueen were also houseguests! Rachel's girlhood friend Janine and her family were kind enough to put us up at their epic home in Austin. They also cooked amazing dinner. Thanks, Jacobsons!

This was at the Hounds Below's house. Little packets of vodka. Good thing everyone in their band can't stand the stuff!

Ben's food at Uncorked marked the second time on this trip that I realized just how much potatoes can resemble testicles.

We've got a bit of work to do this month before we hit the road again, but it looks like I'll be spending this weekend in footie pajamas catching up with this gentleman:

Goodbye, snow... please?

The last couple of nights we played in Boise, ID and Denver, CO. Good times and epic driving. Eleven hours in the van across three state lines yesterday after four hours of sleep the night before. It's effing cold and we're turning toward Texas today. I never thought I'd be so excited to get to Texas. Here are some photos...

We usually eat healthy. Sometimes we party.

Sorry, Best Western.

Rachel's new and incredible mug. We think it might be a potato, but we're not 100% sure.

Here are the announced shows Visqueen's playing at SXSW. Please come say hi or tell your friends to!

3/17 - Levi's/Fader Fort (1:30 PM)

3/17 - Stubb's/NPR Showcase (8:00 PM w/ Spoon)

3/20 - Beauty Bar/SXSeattle Party (12 noon)

3/20 - Official Showcase Habana Calle 6 (9PM)

I'm gonna catch up with you if it's the last thing I do

I am packing... or I should be. Here is what I am listening to. You can even download some of it for free!

1 - Lightning Love November Birthday! What a great record! I kind of can't stop listening to "Wait, Wait" especially. I get about halfway through it and already know I need to listen to it again.
2 - Ted Leo + Rx Brutalist Bricks! I was streaming this for a few days before it came out after totally losing it when I first heard "Even Heroes Have to Die" a few months ago. Thanks for never letting us down, dude!
3 - The Hounds Below 7"! Free downloads currently available at the link! You know how I feel about them. See previous posts. Love love love.
4 - The Juliets (s/t)! Free downloads available until tomorrow! Go now! Gorgeous orchestration, totally inviting. I'm really starting to like Michigan.
5 - Ben Collins Ghost Stories! He made it available for download for me and hasn't changed it yet! I highly suggest a purchase. Such a great idea, delivered by probably my favorite voice in the world right now.

So now that we can all listen to beautiful music together, really, I am packing. Really. Excited to jump back in the van tonight! Boise tomorrow! (pssst, Matt, if you get this in time, will you tell the Very Most to come see Visqueen? I don't know how to contact them!)

Oh yeah, and we're NPR Song of the Day today! Free download over there, too!

...Okay, okay, I'm packing! Really, I am!