CIS Blog

We're driving through the state of Kansas right now. If you look at a map of the state, you'll see Salina right in the middle. We're pretty much right around there. The absolute middle of nowhere. I keep seeing weird, small billboards that look like they were made and erected by hand with creepy right-wing, Christian fundamentalist messages like, "Jesus is here." and "Repent." Also, I just saw a billboard that said, "2nd Friendliest Yarn Store in the Universe". Cool.


So I put out a question on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/spickler) asking what I should write about in this post. First response was "tour stories". So let's talk about Vegas. I had never been until a few days ago. We played Chain Reaction in Anaheim on the 20th and had the next day off, and then played in Vegas on the 22nd. So naturally, we headed to Vegas on the 21st to get loose. Let me reiterate; I had never been to Vegas before. It's not quite for lack of want or opportunity. I've sort of wanted to go and could have gone any number of times before now (and almost did, once. I think.), but there's been a fear in the back of my mind about it for quite a long time. I am a man with...vices. Practically all of which are, if not legal, readily available in Las Vegas. I've had thoughts of me going there and then just disappearing off the face of the earth. Use your imaginations why. I've probably pictured it already.

In the end, however, I am still alive. Sort of thankfully, I only had about 30 expendable dollars with, so I really couldn't go all that crazy. We headed out around 11pm. We gambled a little bit (have you played casino war? wtf.), drank a lot, went here and there, and then I ended up back at our hotel's casino floor around 5am at a poker table by myself, up to about $50. The drinks kept coming, and the poker table got shut down, and so I found myself at a $5 blackjack table. Soon enough it was noon and I was drinking bloody mary's. Somewhere around 12:30 I was out of money. At one point I had $75. At another I had $10. Then I was up at $40. And a minute later I'm done. Back to the room at 12:30. Asleep by 2pm. The end.

I would like to return to Vegas with more money, but that's probably a bad idea. If I gambled and drank for 13+ hours on $30, things might go incredibly wrong with more money. We'll see.


The next suggestion I got to write about was Lost. I'm a huge fan. So are Gary, Kristian, and Alex. We've been talking about what it's going to be like when the series is over. What a huge void will be left in my life. Alex says watch Flash Forward, but reallly... nothing will ever be the same.

I think Sawyer will die. I think Kate may die. I think possibly Sun will die, and Jin will have to go back to the real world to take care of the 3 year old daugther he has never met. Jack will probably stay on the island as the new Jacob. Is he not acting a bit more Jacob-ish lately? Hell, look at their names. Jack. Jacob. Is that not obvious enough for people? Cheesy? Yes. Would I put it past the Lost writers? Nope.


Ryan Fox wants to be mentioned this time. If he has facial hair right now, he should definitely shave it. Get some loafers, Ry.


What the hell is going on with the weather here at the end of April? It fucking snowed in Denver last night. I'm not ok with that. It's been windy and cold for weeks. I want SUNSHINE. I want to be wearing shorts and tank tops and flip flops. I'd like to be able to be strapped to the roof of the van and get a fucking tan while we drive for hours across the most boring places in the US. I miss Florida sometimes. Put me poolside for a few days. I look great with a tan.


Arizona. Kinda got nothing to say about it.
We leave for Europe in exactly one month.
Tweet at Joel McHale from NBC's Community and E!'s The Soup and tell him about me. Tag it with #spickler. Tell him I need to be on his show.
#spickler is just all the ridiculousness, eccentricities, and awesomeness that is me. Use your imagination.

Anybody want any advice on anything? I'm good at that. Come ask me shit at the merch table. I'll answer anything. Or even ask me on here. I'll help you out. Spickler's advice column. Make it happen.





Catch us on our upcoming tour with Terror, Kiss, Rihanna, and The Moody Blues. We'll be everywhere. Ok bye.

Quit asking me to blog! Do I come up to you when you're not doing a goddamn thing and say, "Hey do this thing you said you'd do"? NO. I DON'T.

Why is it still cold in April? I want the Florida sun right now. Madison, Wisconsin is windy. So was Elgin and so was Chicago. My hair is just a mess. I kind of look like I haven't slept in a few days. Or that I have ONLY been sleeping for a few days. Not sure which.

So we've got a bunch of house shows coming up. I'm going to go crazy and hang from ceiling fans and then jump through windows and blame it on stray dogs. I've seen it happen, so why not? Wear your best party clothes. Use your own discretion as to what I mean by that. Here's the scoop:

Sun Apr 11 @ House of Wang in Moorehead, MN
Mon Apr 12 @ Ghost House in Lincoln, NE
Weds Apr 14 @ The Basement in Ogden, UT
Thurs Apr 22 @ The Bunkhouse in Las Vegas, NV
Sat Apr 24 @ Gold Manor in Albuquerque, NM
Mon Apr 26 @ Salt Water Taffy House in Kansas City, MO

All other shows are like normal. But those are all house shows. Not to be confused with old, limping doctors. Who I've been told I look like. But there is no relation. Moving on...

So Robbers is just GREAT. Very groovy type band. I highly recommend checking them out. http://www.myspace.com/robbers/

Here's a list of things that make me laugh:

• "I am Carl Brain"
• People farting in their sleep
• Telling someone that they are whatever the last word they just said.
• The word "mofongo"
• Sex Drive. "WHERE DO YOU LIVE?!"
• Science
• My brain. I'm my own biggest fan.
• People doing impressions of me.
• Texting people with lewd lyrics. Generally from R&B songs.
• Animals wearing clothes. But more than just a shirt or something. Hats and glasses are a plus.
• The Chapelle Show sketch that includes, "I wonder what Arsenio's doing right now?" and "I'M THE BLACK SHEEP, I'M THE REAL BLACK SHEEP"

So I'm at a place called the Goodman Community Center. And I keep thinking it says Goddamn Community Center.

Carter Breazeale.

Later.

Sooooooo....how was everyone's day?

I've meant to write but I've just been buried in paperwork for the past 19 days. I mean, it's been crazy around the office. It is our busy season, after all. So you'll have to forgive me.

Ok, enough with the cute business metaphors. Whatever. I haven't written. I tried to at one point, and was almost done with a post, and then I accidentally clicked away from the page and lost it all. That made me pretty mad.

So what's been happening. Let's see...
We're on tour with The Wonder Years. That's fun.

A steam pipe burst in the room we were sleeping in a few weeks ago. That was fun too.

Played a place in Newport, KY (it's just outside of Cincinnati) that the Rat Pack used to perform at. That was really cool to me.

Lost is in full swing. Always a plus. It's annoying to have to try to catch up to it a day or two after it airs, though. Especially without other people talking about it. Alex is still trying to catch up to current anyway. He's on season 4 and wasn't floored by my favorite episode, The Constant. That Penny and Desmond scene at the end there is such a tear-jerker. Desmond rules. I'm trying to think of ideas for a Lost tattoo.

Harvest of Hope was pretty fun. Saw Leatherface almost insight a riot. Security shut their set down and Frankie Stubbs said, "THERE'S 3 OF THEM AND 600 OF US," and I just stood behind the stage going, "Wow... this is going to happen. Holy fuck." The set was great regardless. Matt Pond PA was wonderful too, though they played nothing off of Emblems. PS - hippies fucking suck.

Upcoming shows:
March 20 @ The Soapbox in Wilmington, NC
March 21 @ Legitimate Business in Greensboro, NC
March 24 @ Webster Hall in NYC
March 26 @ Looney Tunes Records in West Babylon, NY
April 3 @ Ethical Humanist Center in Garden City, NY (Long Island) - THIS IS THE TROUBLED STATESIDE SHOW. CIS is gonna play stateside start to finish.

I'm pretty stoked on that one. GET TICKETS HERE. IT WILL SELL OUT.

After that we're back out on the road for most of April with a band called Robbers. Then in May I think we'll be out with someone who I'm not sure I can reveal yet, but I'll just say they're pretty swell. And then we get to go to Europe, which I couldn't be more fascinated and excited about.

Ok I've got pretty much nothing else to say.
All I've been listening to is Blacklisted - "No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me" and The Antlers - "Hospice". That's all any one ever needs to listen to from here on out. And the new Crime in Stereo. But that one I hear live every night, so that's different for me.

Ask me things on my formspring to pass the time.
Follow me on twitter.

Don't forget to write.

The NYC record release show has been rescheduled for MARCH 23rd. It's now ALL AGES instead of 19+. All previous tickets will be honored. Also, The Wonder Years are on the show too.
 
Good talk. See ya out there.

The United States has just lost the hockey gold medal game at the Vancouver Olympic games.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday's shows have all been canceled and rescheduled. We're now playing The Middle East in Boston on Tuesday, and then The Note in Philly on Wednesday, and then tour picks up as usual as you can see on the tour dates page.

I'm drunk. Today is Sunday. My nipples are hard.

We have added the rest of our headline shows with The Wonder Years to our tourdates page.  We are also going to be playing Harvest of Hope festival this year!  as well as a special in store at Generation Records on feb 23rd.   West coast all the rest of the US/World... we are coming soon.

Have you heard Drugwolf yet? It's track 2 on the upcoming album and it's been posted on Crime in Stereo's Myspace. I think it's a great song. Definitely helps people feel and hear what direction the new album is going in. 

Another song's going to be released in a few weeks too, before the album comes out. Should definitely give people an overall feel of the scope of the record.

I'm pretty certain that fans of Crime in Stereo, old and new, will be pleased this year.

Tour announcements!

 We're back on the road in March with support from Philadelphia's The Wonder Years. Check the tour dates section for the first batch. Only a few can be announced right now, but I'll be adding to it all the time as I get the go ahead to.

 This should be a good year.

The cover for Crime in Stereo's 4th full length album (due out on February 23rd, on Bridge 9 Records) was unveiled yesterday. Have a look.

That's Kristian, if you didn't know. This has me wondering what the rest of the layout looks like. No, I haven't seen it yet. In due time, I suppose. I can tell you this, however. I have missed hearing the album every day.

Here's the tracklisting for it:

1. queue moderns
2. drugwolf
3. exit halo
4. not dead
5. odalisque
6. young
7. type one
8. republica
9. I am everything I am not
10. dark island city
11. I cannot answer you tonight

If you saw Crime in Stereo on the Brand New tour, it was track 4 that they were playing off of this album.

Here's the upcoming shows they've got.

January
8 Montclair, NJ @ Meat Locker

February
16 London, UK @ Monarch - Rocksound and Club Fandango Present Crime In Stereo
18 London, UK @ Monto Water Rats
25 West Chester, PA @ The Note - RECORD RELEASE SHOW
26 NYC, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall - RECORD RELEASE SHOW
27 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East - RECORD RELEASE SHOW

After that we'll be out on the road extensively for most of the year. I'm excited. And anxious.

If you're just joining us, chances are that you saw Crime in Stero on this tour with Brand New and Thrice/Glassjaw. Welcome to the party. I'm Josh Spickler, your narrator, merch guy, and frequent drunk. If you talked to me or bought something, thanks. If you tipped me, thank you even more. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think of Crime in Stereo, me, the shows in general, cows, bridges, rivers, the stupid Twilight movies, the healthcare dilemma, or 30 Rock (the greatest show on television). I'll appreciate all of it.

Today is November 25th. It's the last day of tour for a while. Wallingford, CT with Brand New and Glassjaw. The venue is the most giant concert hall ever. It's intense. I know I haven't updated much at all on this leg of things for us, but I just haven't felt particularly motivated to. It's a bit exhausting being on a tour like this. You load in so early and sit around all day and work till midnight-ish, just to do it all over again the next day. Granted we've had a bunch of days off throughout the whole thing, but on those days, we either like to take it as easy as possible, or we have to drive, or the band wants to practice. Despite what any of you may think, touring is not luxurious. Not on our level. Not yet at least. It's physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. I'm not going to try to explain this. You either get it or you don't.

So if you saw Crime in Stereo in Canada this past weekend, you may or may not have noticed that it was a shorter set and the drummer wasn't the guy you may have recognized. That's because they had a fill-in. Karl Hensel, former drummer of Holding On, and Martyr AD, former Label Manager of Bridge 9 Records, and who now works for Epitaph Records (quite the resume if you ask me), was awesome enough to offer his services as a fill-in for the weekend, because Scott had an emergency back home. Karl Hensel. Good dude. Backed hard.

I'm getting increasingly interested in the music industry. My mind wanders with where this path I'm on can take me career-wise. That's the end of that thought.

So tonight we head back to New York, and bright and early in the morning, I get to brave midtown to get on the Bolt Bus to DC. I didn't realize when I booked my ticket that it would be during the stupid parade. Hopefully I don't get trampled. I'm not looking forward to this, but at least I get to be in the comfort of my Dad's home for a few days, where I can watch every tv show ever and hibernate. Then on Tuesday the 1st, I get on a plane for Atlanta where I get to spend time with someone. Then somewhere around the 7th or 8th, I need to find a way to Orlando. I'm looking forward a bit to just acting like an idiot until 5am with my friends in my living room. And riding around on my scooter, of course. I'm gonna try to get in some kind of shape, too. We all know how difficult that can be, however.

Not quite sure what I'm really going to do until we head back out. I think that's going to be February. There are some crazy awesome options on the table right now for Crime in Stereo in the new year, but I don't know which is/are going to happen yet. So I'm a bit in limbo. I know I'm looking forward to being home and not in a van or at a show right now, but I'm expecting that to wear off shortly. I'm sure I'll be itching to get back on the road come February. There's also the readjustment period in the beginning. Last time I toured (many years ago), it took at least a week when I got back for me to feel slightly normal again. You feel like you don't belong, and that everything has changed, and there's no place for you in your own home anymore. And the last time I toured was only for a month. This has been four. Every single person's going to ask the same questions. "How was it!?" "What was your favorite city??"  "Have any crazy stories?" "How were the shows?" "Did you get laid all the time?" "How was Brand New?" Just thinking about it all is exhausting.

I wish I had something funny to say right now. Nope.

During the writing of this post, I finished reading the critically acclaimed comic books series known as Y - The Last Man, written by Brian K. Vaughn. 60 issues in about 52 hours. Not bad. The series is about a plague/disease/event that kills every male animal on the planet, except for Yorick Brown and his male capuchin monkey named Ampersand. Last males on a planet full of women. It was a great read with an intersting ending. Sad at times. Kind of touching. I'd recommend it. Here's a link to Amazon for the first trade of it. While you're at it, pick up Identity Crisis too. That's one of my favorites.

Crime in Stereo has a few shows lined up in December and January here and there. I'm sure either Gary or myself will update the site and let the internet know about them, as well as any upcoming tour information. I expect I won't be posting much else in that time though. Keep following Crime in Stereo on Twitter. Keep following me on Twitter too. I post more often. And I'm interesting. I swear.

Thanks for the memories. See you in season 3.