Video From Monkeywhale.com

Little P, Emily Stewart, and myself recently did a video for a song off our upcoming album with the amazing Harvey Robinson of Monkeywhale Productions. All of the footage you see is us pretending. Even the spoken word intro. Harvey says it's good practice for making a "real" video, but to me, it's pretty real. This is an acoustic version of the song that we played in his hallway, the version off the album that we recorded at On Pop of the World Studios will be much crazier. A huge thanks to Harvey, Carolyn deBerry, and Donna Smith for helping us out and being awesome.

http://www.monkeywhale.com/sightandsound/this-was-live-once-ep-1-matty-sheets-and-some-of-the-blockheads/

-matty sheets

Blockheads Octopus Album Update

We've been recording an album since May. Yes, I know it is taking forever, but this is going to be the best recording I have ever been a part of.

We're in the final mixing stages out at On Pop of the World Studios in Reidsville, NC. My dear friend Randy Seals and I have been vigorously mixing the eight tracks that will be on our first album.

I change my mind all the time, but today I think the order will be :

Octopus

Swimming Pool

Three Big Squids

Slow Driver

Al's Diner

Shitty Day

Walking on Shark (Your Dog is Dog)

When You're Gone

I spent the weekend out there, and we're really getting close to being done. We mixed Swimming Pool for four hours, Al's Diner for about eight hours, Shitty Day took most of yesterday, and Three Big Squids took almost a day.

We only have three more to get done- with very small adjustments to the other five. I'm excited.

The biggest rush I get from mixing these tracks is realizing how damn good the Blockheads really are. Everyone played amazing stuff, and the vocals are divine. I get goose bumps every time Little P hits certain notes, or Erin takes some of the lead vocals on Shitty Day, or Jerrod comes in with a stellar harmony, or Emily's back up vocals just sound so spooky and perfect. These performances are outstanding, and the work Driveway Moore did to ensure great recordings of the instruments is equally outstanding. The vocals, and the mixing work that Randy has done out at On Pop of the World is super duper. We are really working well together on the mixes, and that goes a long way with me. I'm sure I can be a pain in the ass sometimes, as I tend to get rather particular about some things. Randy's patience and cooperation and general know-how is making all of this possible.

On Pop of the World is really a great place to work. Donna Smith, studio manager, is an old friend of mine and her presence seems to add to the good feeling I get when I'm over there.

We should be done within the month, and then it looks like we'll have to play some shows to earn the money to get this sucker duplicated. I can't wait.

-matty sheets

some photographs from the road (Charleston, SC)

The Blockheads play Kudu Coffee in Charleston, SC. All photographs by Melodi Fentress.

Little P takes us to what she called the secret art spot, behind an old strip mall to see some amazing street art.

Emily in the Tin Roof parking lot.

Little P talks to one of her many Charleston friends outside the Tin Roof.

Playing the Tin Roof was a lot of fun. Thanks to the sound guy for working his butt off for us (13 microphones).

The Blockheads rhythm section on the Tin Roof's outside area.

During the set. Little P, Jon, and a blur of Matty.

All photographs by Melodi Fentress. See you soon, Charleston.

the search for the Pond Monster continues...(Arlo gets wet)

Blockhead extraordinaire, Emily Stewart (vocals, banjo, dulcimer, Dixie honkelulu), has a dog. This dog's name is Arlo. I think his full name is Arlo Spaghetti Freddy, but I may have that wrong.

Anywhooo, Arlo is a bit afraid of the water, and has recently started swimming. Today we took him on a quest. A quest of the pond. A quest to find the Pond Monster.

We saw some weird stuff and got a bunch of blurry photos that look way worse than that footage of Bigfoot (shout out to my boy Bigfoot- miss you, buddy. Little P says playing the melodica just isn't the same without you).

The day was not a total loss, however. Emily and Melodi both caught exactly thirteen fish a piece.
-matty sheets

more on the Pond Monster.