Dinosaurs in Vietnam is proud to co-release the latest effort from the SmallBoyPants camp (featuring members of Delicate Steve)–Comiano Materdo and N’dona M’buti present: Songs From Cape Tubbers.  Out now for free download. Give the album a listen on their BandCamp page.

This album comprises of a hearty selection of cover tunes including the likes of Sonny and Cher, Vashti Bunyan, The Kinks, Big Star, Bruce Springsteen and plenty more. A major highlight of this album is their cover of The Minutemen’s “History Lesson, part 2″ which features a contributing guest vocal by Sonic Youth‘s Lee Ranaldo (who is about to drop his solo album Between the Times & The Tides this coming March on Matador). Ranaldo had previously performed the tune with the guys in Delicate Steve this past May, celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the release of Michael Azerrad’s “Our Band Could Be Your Life”.

Check out a B-Side from the album, the Cape Tubber’s take on The Shirelles’ classic “Mama Said”

+++ Take a gander at Lee Ranaldo and Delicate Steve performing History Lesson, Part 2 below:

Stay tuned for the release of the album– for Free– on New Years Day. Dinosaurs in Vietnam has some exciting plans up our sleeves for the coming year. I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season and here’s to a happy healthy 2012!

~Will

Lately there have been lots of recent developments on Long Island that has made me conclude that the future is certainly bright for live music. Among the planned festivals out in the Hamptons this August, and the purchase of Huntington’s old IMAC Theatre, Nassau County has one major hurdle that we need to overcome, one that could prove vital for cultural expansion on Long Island.

Photo Credit: Howard Schnapp

As some of you may know, for the past few years New York Islanders owner Charles Wang has been appealing to the Town of Hempstead and Nassau County about his plans to redevelop Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, the Islanders’ home since their inception in 1972. Plans for the area include the renovated Coliseum, a minor league baseball field, a convention facility, hotels, restaurants, offices and some residential areas. Should the August 1 referendum pass, Nassau County’s future will be a bright one. Camoin Associates, an economic development research firm, projects that while the area is under construction 1,515 new jobs will be created, and in the first year the arena is operational, there will be 3,040 permanent jobs. This plan is expected to generate $1.2 Billion for Nassau County. County taxpayers are guaranteed a return of 11.5% (a projected $14 million) generated from all events at the Coliseum. I’d expect a slew of concerts, sporting events, conventions and more.

However, if the referendum does not pass, Wang says he will move the Islanders away from Long Island when their lease is up in 2015—a devastating blow to the county not only financially, but culturally as well. The county is expected to lose $243.4 million annually, lose 2,660 jobs, and the coliseum will remain a vacant wasteland, a shadow of its former self and a sad scar to remind us Nassau County folks that people on Long Island really don’t seem to care anymore. I urge all Nassau County residents to vote yes on August 1, the future of a historic team, a great coliseum and thousands of jobs are at stake.

the vacant IMAC in Huntington, now under construction

In other news, the town of Huntington has a brand new theater opening their doors this fall. Paramount Theatre, LLC has purchased the location of Huntington’s old IMAC (Inter-Media Arts Center) and signed a deal with Live Nation to book acts there. The first confirmed show is the Pixies on November 5. It is great news to hear about a new venue on Long Island; I feel it is exactly what we need, and what better place than the ever-colorful town of Huntington.

It seems that once again promoters are starting to test the waters with large scale music festivals out on eastern LI this summer. What I believe is the first major attempt at a LI fest since the failed Field Day in 2003, Escape to New York Fest will be held on the Shinnecock Reservation in Southampton, August 5-7. It is interesting to note that the Shinnecock Nation, who at one point was in talks of opening a hotel and casino on site at Nassau Coliseum, is starting to utilize their territory for events such as this. Escape to New York, which was organized by the people who put together the Secret Garden Party, one of the UK’s best annual independent music festivals, appears to be testing the waters with a modest, but certainly not unimpressive lineup which includes the likes of Patti Smith, White Rabbits, Best Coast, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, and more.

One weekend later, the Music To Know Fest in East Hampton features Vampire Weekend, Bright Eyes, Matt & Kim, Cold War Kids, M. Ward and plenty others. It is very refreshing to see promoters take another stab in giving Long Island a chance to have festivals. I hope they both are relatively successful and hope for many more in the years to come.

That’s all the news I’ve got for now, in the mean time, please feel free to enjoy the two Dinosaurs in Vietnam Compilations I put up on the BandCamp page. Compilation 3 is due this Fall. And remember please vote yes August 1!!

sitting here in my bedroom on Long Island, during a chilly spring night in Wantagh, a place where I’ve lived for a very long time. I can’t help but smile as I type this. I haven’t smiled like this in quite a long time. Why am I smiling? Because I have renewed faith in all of you.

Long Island’s extended music community has been drastically changing over the past ten years, and the prospect of what could happen in the next ten, twenty years is absolutely tremendous. It is no secret that more and more of Long Island’s best and brightest artists have realized that House Shows are the spark we need to make all of our own respective art flourish. There have been many house shows that have existed all over Long Island now for well over a decade, and while the numbers are small at first, more and more people have been coming home, bored, with nothing to do, but they still have desire in their hearts to create something beautiful.

Though I do feel the need to clarify a few things. I must say, it deeply upsets me to hear that some people seem to think I have some sort of a personal agenda invested in this. It really does. Because I truly believe my intentions with Long Island have been nothing but selfless. I’ve invested years of my time doing my best to go to various shows and support local artists. Perhaps you’d notice me from the stage; I’d occasionally photograph and film almost every show I go to. And with Dinosaurs in Vietnam I’d put out the occasional compilation  or book the occasional show from time to time as well. I’d either buy your CD, or I’d give you a reason to give it to me for free. Oh yeah, I’d also happily listen to it more than just once. In fact, I’m the kind of person who would listen to it over and over again, just because I truly think it is something beautiful. I’d also play it for my friends too, and I’d be more than happy to let other people know when someone has released an awesome work of art. When I feel inspired, I tend to blog about what I see, and post up what here. Though, for those of you who’ve taken a good look at this blog, it should upset you as much as it upsets me to see that there isn’t much here. There certainly have been instances where I’ve felt the need to post here, but as you all know, life unfortunately gets in the way. I knew that when the time comes, Dinosaurs in Vietnam’s use and purpose would present itself in its purest identity, because my intentions have always been more than just to benefit any one artist alone. Why? Because despite how overtly critical I’ve been known for being at times, I truly believe that not just one of you, but all of you inspire me. I really do.

Is it wrong that I love to support a cause that has helped me deal with so many personal things in my life?  I think the fact that there is so many talented people right here on Long Island is a very beautiful thing all in itself. Just because you might not see me as an artist or musician, or someone else who you could use to benefit you right off the bat, why do you judge me and write me off for having the desire to do something more here? Just because I haven’t released any recordings myself doesn’t mean I don’t have the mind for it. Why do you single me out, saying I have this personal agenda when all I really want to do is show you how you can all help each other out and collectively thrive as one? Am I so wrong? Do you see that as a personal agenda? The only thing I see that’s personal about this is my desire to make it my life’s work to make a difference right here. And if you’re just as passionate about these issues and want to make a difference as I do, I’d love it if you’d join me.

And yes, while I do certainly have a plan, I had never meant to keep it to myself. I’ve been but a mere spectator for years now,  just like many of you reading this. Since I’ve been going to shows as a kid,  I’ve been able to study every aspect of all different shows from a non-musician observer’s point of view purposely for the very desire to fix the flaws Long Island’s artistic community collectively has. Over the years I’ve explored various scenes in my studies, and because of that I’ve been able to appreciate not just the good and the bad but every angle, every aspect of what Long Island’s talented has to offer. There are a lot of gifted people here on Long Island. Not just musically, but in all forms of the arts. My intentions were never meant to exploit it, I wish to make it thrive, so instead you can all make the most of yourselves and benefit for your own well being. There are too many people here who take advantage of the arts for personal gain, and not enough people who sincerely appreciate it. Quite frankly, that disgusts me. It is my desire for everyone who is passionate enough about what they love and to succeed and to benefit from this. Tell me, is that so wrong? I believe that this dream is in fact a reachable one.

Many who live here know that Long Island’s best resources are it own people. Yet there still hasn’t been enough of a spark to motivate any major long-term changes that need to happen here in terms of encouraging overall community growth. However, I believe that this is no longer the case. Why? Because Long Island’s kids have been flocking home in the masses, fresh out of school and many with a purpose, more and more each year.

Long Island has constantly been growing, and it will continue to do so. All kinds of people live here, and most importantly it is our right as citizens of Nassau and Suffolk Counties to voice our opinions on topics of concern here at home. It excites me to see that the ones who have yet to take advantage of this privilege are coming home, motivated to do something, and more and more young people are starting to vote too. My informed peers return by the boatload—back to that place that they’ve resented for the bane of their existence, to a place that they’ve once taken for granted—with a purpose. For those of you who, like myself, haven’t left this place, you should be happy to realize that this truly is a great place to live. We’re really fortunate to have turned up here, and to all of you who are returning; I think you’re really fortunate to come back here too.

We’re not kids anymore, and yet we still cling to our youth. Personally, at 22, fresh out of college, its safe to speak for my peers to say that we’re still not quite accustomed to being adults quite yet, in our twenties and thirties. But we’re still learning, constantly connecting and realizing how useful we can be to one another. Because of this, more and more pockets of communities centered in music and the arts have formed on Long Island, and they seem to flourish all around. Healthy competition in our youth has brought out the best in us, and together we can thrive, enhance, and enrich this island to be something truly worth loving.

And yet there is one thing that stands in our way—the fact that as Long Islanders, we’re cliquey as hell; the fact that it can take so long for people to accept someone here is sickening. Where is the love? Where is the community? Where is the open-mindedness that this generation is supposedly known for? Growing up as the son of a Vietnam Veteran in the Boy Scouts, I learned how good community values can greatly benefit a good cause. As an Eagle Scout, I was able to grasp, appreciate, and apply this concept to benefit my community on a smaller scale.  It is my hope to apply that very concept here and inspire others to see the potential within you to do the same thing.

It pains me to say that not accepting people is our regions biggest weakness and the leading cause to our potential downfall. That sort of jaded resentment we as Long Islanders tend to have toward one another is the direct result of the fact that there are too many here who use their strength, talents and brains to exploit others to gain selfish ends. We, for so long, have failed to realize that if we dedicate our skills and abilities for a common meaningful purpose, everyone will absolutely succeed in what we do, and that is what desperately needs to happen here on Long Island.

I charge you, Long Island Youth, to be among those who dedicate your skills and abilities to reach out for the common good. America was built on the solid foundations of clean living, honest work, and unselfish citizenship. As a country, we’ve made a major impact on the world, and especially over the past few decades, our country has  acknowledged what sort of power and impact that our artists can wield. We’re able to make a major impact just by starting up something positive in our own community. I still find it sad, and a little bit scary that it took events as catastrophic as what occurred on September 11, 2001 to remind many Long Islanders that its still okay to go and ask your neighbor for a cup of sugar, or its not a big deal to visit your neighbor to have a shoulder to cry on if you really needed one. Sadly, that reminder of  community had phased out as the previous decade wound down;  it goes without saying how we all needed to move on from that horrific day. So we put other thoughts in our minds, and let life consume us once again. The fact that we’ve gotten so wrapped up in the routine of our day to day lives has worked against us and clouded our vision to realize that we’ve forgotten one of the biggest tragedies of them all—the disgusting lack of participation in local community and local culture here at home.

We’re fortunate that our home is a mere stone’s throw away from the greatest metropolis in the world— with so many opportunities, so many places to see, and events to go to. Don’t get me wrong, I love all five boroughs of New York as much as the next guy, but please, do yourself a favor—open your eyes and realize how realistic it is to make major changes here at home and bring back that sense of community America was once known and admired for. Don’t forget, Long Island is the place where we were born, where we were raised, and where we were given the skills and tools we needed to succeed in whatever we put our minds to. We owe it not only to ourselves here in the present but everyone else who’s lived here before us, and most especially to the people who will live here in the future. Whatever others may say or may do, if we all work together for one common goal, we will prevail and leave behind a record for which all who come after us will see and be justly proud and inspired. It’s our turn to give back.

If you’re anything like me—someone with an absolute passion for everything that you believe in, I charge you, Long Island Youth— you teenagers, twentysomethings and thirtysomethings, to motivate yourself to do something, anything inspired at least once a day. It is my belief that if we embrace the Arts at all angles, we can unify this broken community that is Long Island. So please, by all means, go ahead and snap a photo at Jones Beach, or strum a bit on a guitar at home. Write some poetry after exploring Sagamore Hill, or start an independent wrestling league out east. Create a short film outside of that old run down movie theater out in Patchouge, or sample that weird sounding creak under the attic stairs for that new tune you’re working on. Sing in the shower, or choreograph a dance. Bake awesome cupcakes, or prepare an incredible meal for a picnic out at Montauk Point.  Create breathtaking three dimensional design landscapes, or house and host an event that showcases artists, something that’s meaningful and beautiful that would be open to all who want to take a part in it—all ages, races, sexual preferences aside. Heck, take all these things, bring them together and do it all under one roof, and then document it for the whole world to see. Write about it in the local paper even! Do you get what I’m saying yet?! Bang on a Can, Long Island!! Never discourage yourself from doing what you truly love, and don’t let normal day-to-day activities prevent you from doing what you truly enjoy. Now is the time for us to prosper! Let us take our talents and use them to contribute to the culture here on Long Island. It needs us desperately.

Long Island is packed with so many inspirational places to be, and such awesome things to see. As kids we would always complain about their never being anything to do here, but we’ve been so busy with our New Yorker lives of constant motion that we tend to forget to stop and appreciate it. I encourage you to explore Long Island to your hearts content. Support local live music, museums, and historical sites. It is imperative that we support local businesses and favor them over any other major non-Long Island based corporation that has taken root here. Small businesses need a vivid and caring community in order for them to be successful. We all need to remember to depend on each other. It’s the most important thing.

I’m curious to see what the Long Island of 2020 is going to be like. I’m looking forward to watching the progress being made. In order for us to thrive, it is my belief that we need to peacefully co-exist, be aware of each others doings, open up to all others like us who are around and exist on Long Island, doing the same things we’re doing. Together, we can inspire others to truly appreciate all forms of the arts for what they are and show others how they continue to still have an affect on us, by motivating and inspiring.

Dinosaurs in Vietnam as an entity are moving forward to fulfill its original purpose. Dinosaurs in Vietnam Artist Movement’s purpose has always been meant to motivate and encourage anyone and everyone on Long Island to do something that they truly love, whatever it is. We never intended to exclude anyone, any musician, no matter what style of music you play. Though in time, the inevitable fact of the matter that it is impossible to cater to the requests of all has alienated some. In most circumstances, DiV is only one person; it hurts me to turn people down. And while I still am just one, I plan on continuing to utilize Dinosaurs in Vietnam as a positive tool with the intentions to benefit all Long Island artists who wish to participate and take a part in it. If things end up going on the track as I hope, I’d like it so there will be a long-term permanent home for all types of music on Long Island to equally be appreciated and accepted by people of All Ages. I encourage anyone else who feels just as passionately about these issues to start up something of your own, create your own community and grow, just like we all should.

I wish to extend a hand of friendship out to anyone and everyone who agrees with these views. Don’t get me wrong, Dinosaurs in Vietnam is just a name. I don’t plan on that name getting in the way from me from making some necessary change here. Lord knows we need it. However, if you come to the table with intentions of use for purely selfish reasons, please, please, stay at home. For everyone else who is able to step back and see the big picture, please feel free to contact me at dinosaursinvietnam@gmail.com. I’m curious to hear your two cents on these very important issues and would love to hear from anyone and everyone who thinks they have something worth saying or contributing toward the topic.

If you’re as passionate about this as I am, lets put together a committee of all who are involved every art form on Long Island, and especially all communities of music. Lets make a true mark on Long Island’s culture and make people aware of what we do. I would like to start by campaigning to change the many outdated laws that are currently in place in many local governments around the island that legally prevent us to blossom and do what we love. I hope to change these laws with the best intentions of Long Island’s citizens and government in mind. I sincerely believe that together, we’re stronger.

If you’re in a band and would like to get more involved in any way, please contact me. I’m probably not going to be booking any shows for a little while, but I plan to soon enough. In the meantime, I’ll be accepting submissions for Dinosaurs in Vietnam, Compilation 3 (TITLE TBD), due out this Fall.

For those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Will Forthman, and I hope that together, we can succeed and make Long Island a place we can truly say we love.

I hope to hear from you sooner rather than later.

With Faith and Love,
Will Forthman

Recorded in the wake of mixing Helicopter Goes KABOOM!‘s “Vegas in a Basement” (due later this year), Bdee sheds meaning on specific events occuring in his life during each of the the twelve months of the year.

I’d recommend listening to it in a few different settings: driving after 2am, running on a treadmill, or by the side of a pool while doing laps.  Please digest and enjoy it for free download on our BandCamp Page! Hope everyone has a Happy, Healthy and fun New Year. More updates to come, I swear.

-WFFIV

I’m really excited about the Black Friday Show happening in just two days. For three years, we here at DiV have put on these crazy ten band shows on the day after Thanksgiving. Its always nice to see familiar faces who are home for Thanksgiving and some familiar bands doing their thing. Whats special about this show is my good friend, Chris Maguire, aka Monsignor Ghost will be the emcee of the evening. He has plenty of surprises in store for y’all too. The show is $10 and 16+ at the door. Check out the settimes:
1:30-2:00 Carousel From Hell (Steve Gruber)
12:45-1:15 Nifty Breed
12:00-12:30 Kill Your TV
11:00-11:45 Exemption
10:00-10:45 The Grand Cannons
9:00-9:45 Vision Through Sound
8:15-8:45 Fortune & Spirits
7:30-8:00 Family Lumber
6:45-7:15 Riot Punch
6:00-6:30 Rice Cultivation Society

Additional details can be found on Facebook.

See you then!

Will

- Ishcan Luugua McManus

I first saw Derek play in 2008 in a local band called Moose Moose, which consisted of four songwriters who constantly switched instruments and played each others songs. They were loud, raw, and noisy. Later on, he formed Circle the Whale with Joe James from Moose Moose and they released an EP on Joe’s label Dinos Aren’t Dead. “Hey Man, Whats Up?” is personally one of my favorite local debuts of all time.

Meanwhile, Derek was constantly recording and playing live, both with Circle The Whale and Rice Cultivation Society. Last year he joined another Long Island band, Family Lumber and released the third Rice album, Consider the Snow White and the Ravens’ Black.  Derek invited me to his house for a listening party of the album and it was certainly a highlight of last summer. I was watching some footage that I had taken from it and I figured it’d be cool to share a rendering of the song “Heath The Horse Thief” from the listening party. Derek explains what the song is about before he plays it. Check it out:

In anticipation for the release of Rice Cultivation Society’s fourth album, Leaves Again, the previous Rice album, Consider the Snow White and the Ravens’ Black is now available to download for free on our releases page, via the brand new Dinosaurs in Vietnam BandCamp. DiV included the track “Miller High Life” from Leaves Again on our second compilation this past June. You could give that a listen here:

We’re all really looking forward to the release of Leaves Again. Check back in the coming weeks for more updates, videos, pix and all that jazz regarding Rice and everyone else. If you want to get involved with DiV in any way please contact us at dinosaursinvietnam@gmail.com

Thanks for supporting your local music!

-WFFIV

So June was a really awesome month. Dinosaurs in Vietnam had a few showcases at Don Pedro, as well as the Compilation Release Show at The Cup.  There was plenty of other fun things going on all month.. I personally went to a bunch of awesome shows. I kicked off the month by catching my friend Delicate Steve open for Yeasayer at Governor’s Island. Steve and his friends put on an outstanding show. I believe they’re going to be playing some more shows opening for Yeasayer in the future, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

We had our first showcase of the month at Don Pedro on the 9th. Bdee + the venomous oranges, Rice Cultivation Society,  Family Lumber and Fortune & Spirits played. On an interesting note, it was the first time since the recent split up of El Rio Humano that Bdee’s original venomous oranges lineup has played.  The band, which features both members of the El Rio Humano– Johnny Hoblin and Michael McManus, also features Exemption‘s Thomas Moran. Derek Smith, of Rice Cultivation Society fame played some new material accompanied with regular drummer John Carbone.

Check out Rice’s new song, “Louis Leaky’s Sink” :

Our Compilation Release show at The Cup in Wantagh was also a great success. It again featured Rice Cultivation Society, as well as Franny Pi (Ex- Vision Through Sound), The Holy Soviets, Jay Briggs & The Oily Rainbows,  and Michael McManus (of Vision Through Sound/the venomous oranges, ex-El Rio Humano). I was told that it was opener Franny Berkman’s first solo show in quite some time. Franny played an eclectic selection of covers and original songs with plenty of collaborators.

Here’s a video of Franny premiering a new song called “Hurdy Gurdy” with collaborator Michelle Femminella:

We had our final show of the month once again at Don Pedro on the 20th. This time we featured Exemption, Vision Through Sound (who just released their new album), Lost Boy ? , and once again, Bdee + the venomous oranges. It was the first time I’ve seen Exemption play the closer off their forthcoming album, Public Cemetery Party. The song included a drum battle reminiscent of something I’d see at a Boredoms show. Opener Lost Boy ? is one of my favorite Long Island songwriters. Mr. Davey Jones’ drummer was unable to make the gig so the Lost Boy himself assumed drumming duties and played an outstanding set. His live band features members of Camara-Head Shark. It was the first time I’ve seen Davey drum live since he was in Psycho Rainbow.

Here’s a video of Lost Boy ? and the band playing a song off his new album, “MTV”

In other news, Vision Through Sound has released their sixth album, These Things Happen… the CD release show was at The Bitter End this past Saturday. It was loads of fun and the band was in superior form. VTS and I are about to hit the road to support the album. The tour begins on Thursday. Some cities and we plan to hit include Philadelphia, Ithaca, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Chicago, Saginaw and plenty of places in between. Contact Vision Through Sound @ VisionThroughSound@gmail.com for more details, or if you want to help them book a show in your town soon. VTS is playing a homecoming show on Long Island with Exemption and Wild International at Mulcahy’s on July 29. Check back soon for details on how to order the new VTS album. If you can’t wait that long, e-mail dinosaursinvietnam@gmail.com and we’ll see what we can do for you, I aim to please.

Stay tuned for some more fun suprises in the not so distant future!!

-WFFIV

~~~~~

Greetings folks.

It’s been quite a while.  A long, tumultuous while to say the least.  As it has been almost 2 years since I have last updated this blog, I figured I should come and set the record straight about how things have been and where things are going for this band.  On top of that, I am here to officially announce the release of our new album These Things Happen… in less than two weeks from now on Independence Day.  (You can accept the overtly symbolic implications of that release date however you please)

A lot has changed since our previous release.  Throughout the writing and recording process of this record, 5 different people left the band.  When Mike Sarna and Mike McManus left the band in 2008, Fran and I enlisted Hugo Lopez to be our new drummer.  Jay Briggs, who had been our bass player that summer, who was I believe the fourth or fifth different bass player we had that year, decided to not move out west and wound up staying in the band.  We spent all of my final year in college, 2008-2009, rebuilding the band and writing the original versions of a couple of these songs.  Then, literally several days before I graduated, Hugo more or less dropped a bomb on us and told us he was leaving the band.  The plan we had come up with that we had spent the entire year working towards went entirely out the window.  Having at the time recently met Gary O’Keefe, Angela O’Reilly, and Tom Lee, Fran and I decided to roll the dice again and completely reform the band with this group of people we hadn’t played with before.  Within a couple weeks of reforming the band, Fran decided he didn’t have it in him to go through another rebuilding period and very abruptly quit the band.  Thus I remained the only VTS member of the previous albums.  The reason I bring all of this up is to clarify once and for all that I did not throw anyone out of the band.  I often felt that when this major line up change occurred that a bunch of people had the attitude of “this isn’t vision through sound” or that I was some kind of dictator who decided what band I wanted when I wanted it.  This just simply isn’t true.  During the time of the previous lineup, we had an agreement (at least Sarna, Fran, and I did, McManus was complicated due to Fastizio) that Vision Through Sound was our life and career.  For what it’s worth, I would just like to say that I never gave up on this band, I kept my promises towards its body of work and existence even after the other guys decided to leave it behind.  The reason we have kept the same moniker was not an act on my part to say that this is “my” band, but was merely just the circumstances that fell into place.  It is undeniable that Vision Through Sound has had as much to do with anyone who has come and gone in the band as I do.  This is not a solo artist with a backing band, this is a band, exactly what it has been since the beginning.

But enough about the past…

In light of this, I would like to say that that band that you and I knew is now over, and that we have finally, thankfully, left behind (fingers crossed) our 2 year identity crisis.  What we have now is the best version of the band that has ever existed.  Saying we’ve been through a lot together is the understatement of the century.  Here are the boys:

Jason Briggs – The temp turned permanent member, whose resilience and determination is unparalleled in my eyes.  Jay was essentially told on at least 3 separate occasions that he was being replaced during the first year he was in the band, and somehow still stuck it out. He’s become a damn good bass player, a pleasure to work with, a friend, a brother.

Gary O’Keefe – Given the circumstances that we met each other, I never could have predicted that Gary and I would be able to comfortably be in the same room as each other, nevermind being in a band together.  But you never know what card fate’s gonna deal and apparently fate dealt us each other.  Reluctant at first, Gary has become a huge influence on the musical direction of this band, and really came through in the creation of this record.  To get the record done on time for the tour, Gary finished the mixes at CCNY remaining in the studio working for 31 consecutive hours.  Fucking baller.

Mike McManus – Alright, so there’s a familiar face in the mix, though he’s changed instruments.  Another strange twist of fate brought Mike back into the band, and though one can never tell how permanent these things actually are, Mike will always be family to me, and as far as I’m concerned is a lifetime member of VTS.

Together we’ve made an album we’re incredibly proud of.  We did this one ourselves, Jay and Gary produced it.  It’s real, it’s raw, it’s ours.  I will give you some more details on the record within the next week.  For now, we’re going to put up 3 new songs from the record.  Please let us know what you think of them and please tell everyone you know about them.  Thank you to everyone who has stood by this band and to everyone who continues to love our older records.  I promise you, you’re in for a real treat.

peace and love,
Andrew

~~~~

Vision Through Sound plans on touring extensively this summer. If you’re in a different state and want to see VTS play, or could help them book a show or two in your area especially, please contact them @ VisionThroughSound@gmail.com

I can personally vouch and say VTS’s newest lineup is phenomenal, and together, Andrew, McManus, Jay and Gary created an outstanding record. You can go to their MySpace now and listen to three new songs. You can also Download the Dinosaurs in Vietnam compilation for two songs, or go to DiV’s Myspace to stream “Guest Check Love Song,” featured on the Compilation but not on the VTS myspace.  Check out their show in the City on 7/3. They’ll be on the road most of July, but will return to Long Island with a show on 7/29 at Mulcahy’s Wantagh with Exemption and more TBA. Pick up a copy of the VTS album when you have a chance, it’s available at VTS shows for only $5. It will also be available on DiV dot com sooner rather than later.

Tracklist:

1. Be More Careful
2. Rinse and Repeat
3. What’s Yours is Mine
4. I’ve Forged a Woman in My Mind
5. Secret Songs
6. Watch Me Disappear
7. Guest Check Love Song
8. Thea
9. Let The Right One Out
10. Your Voice
11. These Things Happen

In other news, DiV was challenged by The Holy Soviets House Shows to a kickball tournament, that we’re turning into a BBQ/Hootenanny. Its July 5 at Eisenhower Park. All are welcome. Details are on Facebook. Hope to see you there!

See you soon! Thanks for supporting yr local music.

-WFFIV

1. Vision Through Sound – Rinse & Repeat
2. Exemption – Mutating Skulls
3. Lost Boy? – Love Undercovered
4. Joyce & The Nancy Boys – This Is Where It Begins
5. Jay Briggs & The Oily Rainbows – The Animal Within
6. Delicate Steve – Attitude/Gratitude
7. Helicopter Goes KABOOM! – Pubic Sentiments (The World Is War)
8. Rice Cultivation Society – Miller High Life
9. Christian Peslak – Officer
10. Family Lumber – Awhile
11. The Holy Soviets – Garbaggio Symphony Truckstomp
12. Fortune & Spirits – Septembirds
13. Vision Through Sound – Guest Check Love Song
14. Thomas Moran – Morning Guilt
15. Franny Pi – Ice
16. Bdee – Alone In My Room I Wallow
17. El Rio Humano – Used Up

This compilation features singles from new/upcoming albums DiV artists and like-minded allies of DiV, included Vision Through Sound, Exemption, Lost Boy?, Joyce & The Nancy Boys, Delicate Steve,  El Rio Humano (formerly Fastizio), Bdee, Rice Cultivation Society,  Jay Briggs & The Oily Rainbows and many more.  Not all tracks are singles. The compilation also includes either a track off the band’s respective new album they’re trying to promote, a b-side by each artist that is formerly unreleased, or something from a previous release.  Physical copies also include a brand new Dinosaurs in Vietnam Sticker, which will be available at all subsequent DiV shows starting at the show at Don Pedro, this Sunday the 20th.  Please give it a download and give it a listen, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment below. We’d love your feedback/criticism/concerns/complaints/all-that-crap. Come down to The Cup show tonight in Wantagh for some fun as well.

Download the Compilation on our Releases page, and while your there,  be sure to grab other releases from all of our fine artists.

Thanks for your support!

-WFFIV