ok. i don’t really blog too much these days. i know.

nevertheless, i need to briefly weigh in on this iphone/touch/noise.io thing. we’ve been seeing it show up quite a bit on some pretty tech-y sites (engadget and synthtopia, for two), and we here at good night, states, are getting that the gadget-and-synth-savvy world gets this.

i’m quite flattered by the attention, but make no mistake: i didn’t program these sounds for synthheads (though i probably qualify for that label myself). dear reader, you who claim to play no instrument, who do not own your very own modular synthesizer, who frankly are not even sure you can do this, know that this project is for you! gn,s thinks synths are so great, everybody ought to have one; we like making noise over a pretty song so much, we think everyone should do it.

and what’s the worst that could happen? so you don’t play it exactly right this weekend. it’s ok. you’ll get better. (maybe we’ll even invite you to a rehearsal or two.) in fact, several of the sounds will probably respond wonderfully to any mistakes you might want to make, and that tiny speck of unpredictability in a universe of planning is really the point. art is humanity. humanity is unideal.

again i say, you can do it, dear reader. you can stride confidently to the front of the stage, device in one hand, lowly earbuds in the other. you can make the happy accident.

So, any questions?

Megan here, reporting live from the Franktuary kitchen.

This weekend, 2/3 of Team Pittsburgh will head out to New Jersey to learn some new songs and program the newest addition to our gear family, a Roland SH-201 synthesizer, which will replace the Roland Jupiter 6 for live performance. (The other third of Team Pittsburgh will remain in town chillin’ with Baby Jack, the newest addition to our people family, who is just hitting double digits of days old.) The new synth weighs something like 6 pounds - the same as Jack! - and can actually be lifted by my own small self. It also has motion control capacity in a gadget called The D Beam. Wave your hand over The D Beam, and you are manipulating volume and frequency. Or at least space and time. Actually, I’m not really sure how it works. Such modern day wizardry!

Mostly I am excited to no longer travel with the Jupe, a piece of analog synth history that has long desired retirement to the safe haven of a recording studio. Now I will be able to load my own gear, and add even more spastic arm and hand movements to our live show. And soon, Steve will build me a giant keyboard that I play with both feet, sort of like Tom Hanks in that movie I wasn’t allowed to watch as a child.

Speaking of our live show, don’t forget that Good Night, States is playing at the Thunderbird with two great bands, Middle Distance Runner and Eulogies, next weekend: Friday, March 27, 9 pm. The Thunderbird has consistently provided us with a great sound experience, the stage is just the right amount of small without being cramped, and the beer selection is pretty great. Arrive early and you can sit in the balcony and throw things at us!

So, All morning I’ve been mulling over a growing list of things that I have to remember to pack in the car to take to the Garden State. Of course there are things like underwear and socks, but more important stuff, too, like the vinyl test pressings that came in the mail on Wednesday, and the tiny, two octave synth that I will be playing at the show in Nyack, NY.

I seem to always put things off until the last minute and think that I can hold the list of everything that I need to pack in my head, but inevitably I forget at least one thing. You think I would learn to pack the night before or make a list on paper, but no, I’m too stubborn or lazy to do practical things like that. Someday I will mature into a person who is not a procrastinator and gets his lists on paper.

I really am excited about the show tomorrow night. Like I said previously, I get to play my parts on a 2 octave synth. It has been fun practicing (I’m not much of a piano player) and creating the synth bass sounds. It’s also been refreshing to see the songs in a new way.

I’m also excited that we can fit everything that needs to go into our teeny tiny VW Golf. Being the pack-master that I am, it will all fit and have enough room leftover for 3 of us to ride comfortably on the 6-7 hour trip. Should be a rockin’ time on I-80.

Driving the Golf is a relief because every time an out of town show looms near, I start to tremble with fear because of our ailing van, Blanche. For a long time I have been concerned that the wheels will simply fly off when we’re on the road because of the way she looks and feels on the road. It’s also got more rust than most abandoned Pittsburgh factories. I refuse to let anyone else drive because I somehow believe that due to my past employment as a professional school bus driver, I will be able to handle Blanche safely in case her wheels actually do come off or all of our gear fall through the growing rust holes on the floor of the cargo area. I know it’s ridiculous, but I’m also a bit of a compulsive control freak. Maybe someday I’ll grow out of that, too. It will probably happen when we get a new van.

The strong mug of gunpowder green tea that I drank and the Field Music album that I’m listening to is getting me excited to drive on I-80. The caffeine may explain my stream-of-consciousness style post.

Apologetically yours (for the rambling post),
Trevor

Have you noticed the tiny change we’ve made to our site?

We’re massively excited to have our new album, Short Films on Self-Control, available for preview and download on our site.

We’re also putting the finishing touches on our new, full-featured site. Keep your eyes peeled for that. We’re pretty excited about it!

Until then, kick back and let the warm analog synths on Short Films on Self-Control wash your cares away. We hope you enjoy it!