03/22/08

We just got back from our tour to Austin and back for SXSW. It was a blast. Thank you to everyone that supported the tour. Our showcase at The Bay Area Takeover was especially fun and got a mention on Spin.com.

In addition to that, our song "Ocarina" is included in April's Paste magazine sampler (issue #41).

And we're proud to announce that all of our booking is now handled by Kevin Sur at Artist Home Booking.

02/14/08

Yet again our friend, for some reason, volunteered his knowledge, expertise and time- in this case, to help us install a factory seat in our van and we are forever indebted to him. I've just gotta give him a shout out and say thanks, and it seems appropriate to do it on Valentine's Day because B&B hearts Sacha. His carpentry/construction company is called Sting Ray Builders and by my standards, they are completely bad-ass. They're in the midst of their first project building the interior of the new Fritz at 581 Hayes St. and its gonna look amazing. Thank you Sacha!

01/20/08

On Saturday night we played our first show with Christopher Walsh on pedal steel and electric guitar at the Partisan in Merced. It was incredibly fun to have Chris on stage with us and it feels so right to have some pedal steel back in the live show. We're very lucky to have him joining the B&B fam.

Also, our albums are now available for sale directly through our website! Just go to the Music page and do it.

01/14/08

Tour was a little rough at times but all in all, a great experience. In spite of some very intense driving conditions, we played 13 shows in 16 days, got some great press along the way and made some new friends. Shows like the Rocket Room in Colorado Springs, the Launchpad in Albuquerque (jump suits) and the Surf & Saddle in Solana Beach were highlights with out a doubt. Thanks to everyone that came and checked us out and thanks to those that let us sleep on their floors and couches.

We're playing our next SF show headlining a pretty sweet bill at the Rickshaw Stop on February 13th with Talk Demonic and The Drift. Hope to see you there.

11/22/07

The East Bay Express picked B&B as #3 in their top 10 music picks for 2007! Shazam!!

11/02/07

Did I mention that most if not all of our photography was done by a guy named Brian Stevens? You should check out his work.

10/31/07

Happy Halloween everyone! We're happy to be home in SF after a crazy one-month tour. Now we're getting ready for more touring and working on some new songs. Stay tuned.

09/21/07

Birds & Batteries is featured on NPR.org!

08/26/07

Thanks to everyone who came out last night and thanks again to Kate Weeks (Viola), Shain Carrasco (Cello), Alyssa Rose (Violin), Tommy Phillips and Matt Vasca (Trombones) for making it extra special. It was really an incredible evening for us and we hope to do it again soon.

08/13/07

We're leaving for a short tour today. We had a great time at a coffe shop on the ocean in Pacifica (with Band of Annuals) and made it back in time to check out Rademacher and Mezzanine Owls at the Make out Room that night. So much amazing music!

07/08/07

Our record release show went off with out a hitch and was, in fact a grand success. Thanks to all that attended, documented and supported. And now for some big news: On August 25th, we'll be sharing the stage with Or, The Whale and Social Studies at the prestigious Great American Music Hall!

05/22/07

We're excited to announce that we'll be in good company on June 27th at Cafe Du Nord! Dame Satan and 20 Minute Loop will join us in celebrating the local release of our new album, "I'll Never Sleep Again". It's gonna be a wonderful night. Meanwhile, we just played a couple of local shows (Hotel Utah on 5/17 and Thee Parkside on 5/21) that were both great bills. Its always nice to share the stage with excellent bands. Then there was Or, The Whale's cd release with Last of the Blacksmiths which was amazing. Not to mention an exceptional performance by Thread Productions' own Silian Rail at the Knockout with The Aimless Never Miss. All in all, just a great week for live music in SF.

04/22/07

Our next full-length, "I'll Never Sleep Again" is coming along nicely. It should be available for download in late May and in print by mid June. Meanwhile, check out some photos we took in Golden Gate park with photographer, Brian Stevens. Also, we've got a show coming up at the Hotel Utah in SF, my old stomping ground. Should be a blast.

03/09/07

Birds & Batteries is laying low for the next month or so to complete our long overdue second album. It should be done and available by June, and we plan on doing a record release show in the summer.

02/23/07

On Wednesday night we played our first show with Jill on bass and Julie from Or, the Whale on keys. They kicked all kinds of ass. Looking forward to playing more shows with these lovely ladies. And. . .we're still nominated for band of the month at The Deli

02/13/07

This past weekend in the northwest was a lot of fun. On friday night we played the Comet Tavern in Seattle. As a duo, Brian and I played what may have been our best set ever with myself on rhodes, synths and guitar and B-Snuggles on drums and laptop.

We're gearing up for a show at the Hemlock next wednesday night with Garrett Pierce and will be joined by some very special guests.

01/16/07

We just had a great show put on by Thread Productions at El Rio on Saturday night. The turnout was pretty amazing, so thanks to everyone who came and checked it out. And thanks to Tartufi, Low Red Land and Sillian Rail. In other news, we are gearing up and looking forward to a Northwest mini-tour in early February.

12/22/06

Our Fall tour with Low Red Land has come to a close. 32 shows in 7 weeks (including a week off for Thanksgiving.) It was a hell of a ride. Thanks to everybody who made the shows special, bought cds, put us up in their apartment or just got up close to the stage and showed interest in our music. We'll be back! Motel Balboa was a saving grace. Bort was a trooper-dog. And the brophy goes to. . .? Thanks to Mark and Ben for booking it. Thanks to Neil and Ben for playing.

10/01/06

After an amazingly fun summer tour, we're excited to announce that we will again be hitting the road November 1. But not before a huge sendoff show on October 30th at the Elbo Room with Low Red Land, Or, The Whale and Mr. Divisadero. And its Mark Devito's birthday, so buy him a drink. It will also be an opportunity to pick up a copy of "Selections from Nature vs. Nature" which will be hot off the presses, as well as a free compilation from Thread Productions which includes music by B&B, Low Red Land, Tartufi and Silian Rail.

4/19/06

July 4th BBQ and show at El Rio! 4pm-8pm with Low Red Land (CD release), Solar Powered People (Modesto) and Mr. Divisadero. Our Northwest tour begins July 15th all the way up to Seattle for July 24th and back down to SF by July 27th. For more up to date info, go to www.myspace.com/birdsbatteries

4/17/06

- On May 25th, we are playing a benefit show for AIDS research at the Hotel Utah. Our buddy Pete is riding from SF to LA on his bicycle. the proceeds of this show will be donated to the AIDS Life Cycle. with Two Sheds (an amazing band from Sacramento) Low Red Land (an amazing band from SF) and Master/Slave.

3/07/06

After living in San Francisco for 5 months, I can finally say that Birds & Batteries has arrived. The present line-up is me singing, playing rhodes/juno/guitar and running the laptop; Neil Thompson singing, playing guitar/pedal steel guitar and Brian Michelson playing drums/special percussion. We've be en playing shows and they've been going well and feeling good. I've been playing in bands for 12 years and this is definitely the best music I've ever made and the best band I've ever been a part of. I wish we were playing a show tonight. More to come. . ..