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2009 END OF THE YEAR SINGLE

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:54:19 -0600

We’re releasing a new single (and b-side), our gift to you for 2009 -- as is our custom, these are no-strings-attached end-of-the-year tracks for your enjoyment. The a-side is "I Can't Give You What I Already Lack," which I approached from a little different approach than past projects. Lyrically it's a reflection and snapshot of our times, economically speaking, and is a bit more of a lyrical ballad than soaring rock 'n roll. Musically, it features a stark and sparse arrangement that (hopefully) heightens the sense of sad isolation found in the lyric, rather than our typical dense and textured wall of guitars, keys, vocals, and noise. This time, the sonic glue comes simply from the wash of reverb splashed over the track.

And the b-side is a live recording of "Pacifico," recently rediscovered in the Tragedies vault and in an arrangement drastically altered from its original form on Lipstick Pickup. It features frenetic drums from Will Ayers, rock-solid bass from Brady Mills, and a fuzzy, dirty guitar tone that will just not quit. It's a lot of fun and goes to show that if you practice hard and spend lots of money on collegiate music school, you can STILL hide behind crunchy noise as much as any novice musician! If you've not yet seen us in concert, this is what you’ve been missing!

A very merry Christmas from us to you -- see you in 2010!

I CAN’T GIVE YOU WHAT I ALREADY LACK

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 15:07:09 -0500

Here’s a brand-new single for you, written and recorded in a couple of evenings. It’s one of the more “timely” pieces of “commentary” at which I’ve tried my hand. Maybe that’ll make it dated within a couple of years; I hope not.

I kept thinking of Springsteen’s “The River” after I wrote it. While that song is darned near perfect and beautifully cinematic, its melancholy and desperate mood is very inspiring. To watch dreams languish into memory is indeed a sad scenario. Not quite given up all hope but more doubt than faith, at the moment at least.

Although neither fuzzy nor country, this is the first installment of what I hope will be several tracks of “fuzzy country” -- basically, country and folk songs arranged and recorded as if in a series of fuzzboxes. All immersed in a 20-foot wave.

THE END - SET LIST

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:31:29 -0500

What a great rock ‘n roll venue!! We always refer to it as the CBGB’s of Nashville. A fun show w/ The Medders.

All My Friends Are Beautiful
The Condor
Lonesome Desperate Love
(When I Know) I’m Outta Line
Angelina
Diamond Head
When Time Began
Pacifico

TWIN KEGS - SET LIST

Tue, 19 May 2009 09:13:42 -0500

We got our feet wet in 2009 with a full set at a local dive. And we debuted a whole bunch of new songs slated for the next album!

The Condor
Lonesome Desperate Love
All My Friends Are Beautiful
Starburnt Child
Postcript & Silhouette
My Dirty Name
Diamond Head
Angelina
(When I Know) I'm Outta Line
Apache
Classic Picture Show
Cast Away
Daytime Girl/The Heart of the Sea
Rest of the Way
Diver's Knife
Needles and Pins
When Time Began
Pacifico

POSTSCRIPT AND SILHOUETTE B/W DIAMONDHEAD

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:18:41 -0600

And they’re back with another explosive end-of-the-year single! 2008’s autumnal single from Allan Douglas and the Tragedies is “Postscript and Silhouette” b/w “Diamond Head.”

“Postscript and Silhouette” finds Allan Douglas and the Tragedies at their most cinematic yet -- impossibly lush violins give way to washed out legions of guitar fuzz, and then back again through sweeping dynamics. Featuring timely dashes of vocal harmonies, military-style snare drum, and vibraphone, the song winds its way through evocative lyrical brush strokes relating the trials, joys and graceful aging found in the passing of a day. Constructing the intense extended coda are swirling organs, analog distortion, and Impressionist classical piano; just when the track sounds like it’s about to collapse on itself, the tension releases in a breath of melody as the song fades away.

The B-side, “Diamond Head,” can only be described as “mathematical surf rock” -- the band’s never sounded tighter than on this rhythmically-pulsing instrumental track, which was recorded live in the studio (only the organ part was overdubbed). Ventures-meets-Bartok. Fun stuff.

KIMBRO'S PICKING PARLOR - SET LIST

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:16:59 -0600

Saturday night we played at a fun little venue off Main St. in downtown Franklin -- Kimbro's Pickin' Parlor. A good time and a fun performance. A nice long set too, which went out with a bang -- a bunch of fast, loud songs one after the other.

We're putting the final touches on the new single -- titled "Postscript and Silhouette" -- and that should be up for download later this week. And we're starting to dust off some new tunes for the new year. Stay posted. Here's Saturday night's set list:

The Condor
Lonesome Desperate Love
When Time Began
Diamond Head
Oh, Pretty Woman (Orbison)
Angelina
Cast Away
Diver's Knife
Lipstick Pickup
Apache
It Makes No Difference (The Band)
Rest of the Way
Pipeline
Postscript and Silhouette
Pacifico
All My Friends Are Beautiful
If You Leave Me Now (Chicago)

DAYDREAM GENERATION 6 - RIVERSIDE

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:58:12 -0600

OK, so our independent music champions at Daydream Generation have released another double-barreled rocket of sonic goodness. This is VOLUME 6 already, my, how time flies. I'm really enjoying this installment in the Daydream Generation pantheon -- it's probably my favorite since Daydream Generation 3 from 2007. And it's totally free! You can't go wrong, really.

Check it out here, you won't be disappointed.

There's always something in these things for everyone; I've found them to be excellent afternoon workday music when you need something creative to lull you away from the sinister doldrums.

Smally (the Brave Captain of DG) has kindly included "Riverside" on Daydream Generation 6 -- the closing track from last year's LIPSTICK PICKUP. I hope lots of folks hear this track as a result. It's undoubtedly one of the most harrowingly personal songs I've released to date (or hope to release in the future, really). When I really think about the circumstances surrounding the writing of that song, it leads me to a difficult place. Suffice it to say: the vaguely powerful sense of feeling like no matter who you're around, you're completely alone. The outcast side of James Dean without the distantly cool rebellion. Or as Brian Wilson recently sang, "all these people make me feel so alone." A new city, new people you think might be your friends (maybe), but the same feeling as high school (middle school?). In a way you don't want to be accepted because you have trouble finding much in common with these people, but you don't necessarily want to be shunned either. So it's a lose-lose. I basically keep re-writing this sentiment a couple times per project. . . .

Here's what Smally thinks of it. I'm way beyond flattered and honored. This type of response confirms to me that all the work and tears going into these recordings are worth it:

"So I really hope you made it this far through what is undoubtedly a jungle of compilation, because we saved something really special for the very end. I once wrote that “Riverside” on it’s own was worth the price of Allan Douglas’ “Lipstick Pickup” - and though not strictly true as that’s one record packed with diggable goodness - it’s still true that this song sticks out like a solitary star in a sky of possibility. Beatlesque in it’s orchestral ambition, Beach Boys-esque in the complexity of it’s harmonies, “Riverside” is a giant epitaph of a song, profound, full of poetry and fire, hauntingly beautiful, kaleidoscopically intricate, and a burning example of the heights that this songwriter and this band are capable of scaling. It’s an absolute honour to spin a track like this on one of our humble compilations - I honestly can’t give it any more kudos than that."

Anyway, check out Daydream Generation 6 -- it's a swingin' good time.

FRENCH QUARTER CAFE - SET LIST

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:39:31 -0500

New songs, new singles, really great show.
We dig this venue and will be back soon.

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August 29
French Quarter Cafe
East Nashville TN

(Show-Opening Solo Set)
Pictures
Holiday (Bee Gees)
Lay Down My Guns

(Full Band Set List)
All My Friends Are Beautiful
The Condor
Lonesome Desperate Love
Angelina
It Makes No Difference (The Band)
Diver’s Knife
Lipstick Pickup
Diamond Head
Postscript and Silhouette
When Time Began
Needles and Pins (Searchers/Ramones)
Starburnt Child
Rest of the Way
Cast Away
Pacifico
Riverside

PACIFICO - MUSIC VIDEO

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500

We released a brand-new music video for “Pacifico” from Lipstick Pickup. Starring The Tragedies as themselves with guest spots from dignitaries & urban myths alike -- i.e., Allan’s wife, Christine, Brady’s famous railroad ties, several unwitting 18-wheelers, and timeless tributes to favorite bands (Plankeye, Kat Jones, The Bottletones) and pop culture legends (MAD Magazine, LA Dodgers) via the ancient form of t-shirt communication.

We had a blast making it -- enjoy!

THE 5 SPOT - SET LIST & LIVE VIDEOS

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:24:11 -0500

Two guitar amps for one guitar, hanging on for dear life.

July 21
The 5 Spot
East Nashville

All My Friends Are Beautiful
The Condor
Lonesome Desperate Love
Angelina
Cast Away
Diver's Knife
Pipeline
Apache
Needles and Pins
When Time Began
Rest of the Way
It Don't Come Easy
Pacifico