Here I Am

(I'm Back and Unashamed to Cry)

Hello, world!

I'm apparently pretty bad at this timely manner stuff.  In the time since you've last seen me, this blog has grown a hefty beard, befriended a volley ball, and has gotten into do-it-yourself dentistry.  Turns out that Folsom prison is actually just a cave with a facebook-ready computer and accessible wifi next to the 1 train.  I'm ready for resocialization, and I swear I'll be a better blog next time.

(A Timely Manor)

I've also just recovered from a case of laryngitis.  At least I think it was laryngitis... It could have been a relapse of puberty in my mid-twenties, but I'm positive I battled that into remission years ago.  I did enjoy repeatedly singing "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Baby," for what it's worth, though.  Too cheesy?

No?  The 90s?

The Kind is writing.  Just this last weekend we began writing a song dedicated to all you red-headed girls out there.  This was Henry's (our keyboard/accordion player/hunting-dog's) idea.  Henry loves red-headed women.  We plan to have a good amount of new tunes for you all by the time May rolls around, which is when Residency will be paying a visit again (refer to blog post #2) for a month long fling, and we'll be playing every week at The Village Lantern.  We're especially excited about having this in May, as the weather will be warm, the doors will be open, and we will be ready to rock your socks (and what little else you're wearing) off.

Aside from writing, there's a lot going on behind the scenes right now.  As a band, we want very badly to make it, and we want to take you guys along with us.  You might have to carry something.

We're working on stirring the pot a bit, changing a few things around and evolving our image, getting some great merch for you guys to sport around, and increasing our web presence.  Next time you see The Kind, it's not just going to be a mutual wave-hello-to-each-other sort of thing; We're going to tackle you and give you raspberries until you pee your pants.

Also, our singer Matthew Hashimoto has been continuing to make audiences swoon at The Apollo.  He just won FIRST place at his second round, and will be going back to partake in semi-finals on May 16th.  Join us in chanting eerily for him.  I figure if we can make him into a deity, he'll surely win.

Okay, that's enough of me.

</RandomMutterings>

P.S. The artwork is all of my creation, but you have my permission to use it should you ever be making manor or cheese jokes. <3

You Say You've Seen Seven Wonders

Hey, Stranger.

Let's just get this out of the way right at the start:

In summary:  Yes, it's been a minute.

Some of you have asked me when I would write another blog entry.  Some of you have driven back and forth by my apartment thinking I wouldn't recognize your car (I'm talking to you, green unicycle).  Some of you have even complained, and sent your mother to throw me down the stairs.

After a bottle and a half of advil and my moving to the 1st floor, I can happily say I'm back, even if it is with a hobble.

How've you been?  Your shirt really accents your shapely face.

I've been zesty.

It's fortunate that my sleep schedule went on vacation.  I wouldn't be able to write this blog right now with it constantly looking over my shoulder and nagging me to come to bed.  The other night I stayed up far too late and slept right through the French Renaissance.

Let's talk about The Kind.  We just played a show on Tuesday (3/20) at The Village Lantern, and have one coming up on April 2nd at 9pm at Spike Hill in Brooklyn!  For those of you that made it out to The Lantern, you'll notice the warmer weather has made it possible for the manager (Same name as me (Derek) with extra letters (Derrick)) to keep the huge front doors open, allowing us to play to the springtime, too.  We're told we are getting another residency there come May, so be prepared to dance like you've potentially danced before (that way you won't embarrass yourself by trying new things).

Our singer, Matthew Hashimoto, who wowed the audience at The Apollo when he lifted his glasses and sang at someone, ended up winning 2nd place on Amateur Night!

Because of this, he's been asked, in a kindly manner, to return and sing again for a second round.  This second round will be on Wednesday, April 4th!  You should all come out and potentially injure your vocal chords with us by screaming in support of Matthew and his glasses.

(A Kindly Manor)

We're also doing a lot of writing right now!  We've been fortunate enough recently to be playing mostly originals for you, our loving audience, and because of all this positive reinforcement (one bell means dinner?), we've been writing a ton and will have more originals for you before you can say, "Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons -- Balancing them badly," several times in a row with any sort of proficiency.

So, on that note, I will say good evening.  We here at The Kind care for you deeply, and would love to see you go on to do great things, which includes coming to all of our shows and throwing any panties you can find at us.

And your bird is green,

The Kind

Everybody Loves the Sound of a Train in the Distance

I am a moody guy.

Lately I have found myself in a slight more serious one.

You may notice it took me a while to write a new post, as my last two were about the current difficulties in inventing the wheel (we gave up and invented the boat), and the breakout of something called the bubonic plague, and the funny red "X" on my door.  Vandals.  Anyway, I've attempted and saved drafts of a few blog entries lately, but they've all been about random reflective thoughts I've been having.  Seeing as you aren't paying me, I figured something along the lines of: Who wants to read that stuff?

(Why use Photoshop when you can not?)

The band has got a few surprises in store for you in the coming weeks.  Not only is our single, "Be Here," very near completion (I know, I've been telling you that since we were paired up on the Ark), but we've also  been messing with a few new tunes.  You're in for a treat.  If you sit.  Okay, now roll over.

I'd also like to say thanks for helping give this blog a good, strong start.  It turns out that when you start a blog, you become obsessed with how many views you've gotten, and where they are from.  Also, can anyone perform an exorcism?  Ever since I signed up for blogspot, I can't keep pea soup down.

A bit of band news:  Our singer, Matthew Hashimoto, will be performing at the Amateur Night At The Apollo, on March 14th starting at 7:30pm.  On top of that, he'll be trying out for a chance to be on The Voice.  We hope that he'll be picked up by Cee Lo (he looks to be the strongest of the bunch, and Matt is dense), and that it will help propel us into Pop stardom.

Also, check us out at our gig tonight (Monday, March 5th) at Spike Hill in Brooklyn.  Playing before us at 8pm will be Zach Mayer (www.reverbnation.com/zachmayermusic)  followed by us, The Kind, at 9pm.  Then, see our Rock duo, Dead Flamenco, play at 11pm!

I'd like to leave you with something, and leave you I must.  Enjoy.

P.S.  Post title compliments of the intensely poetic Paul Simon.

<3,

The Kind

Sweet Dreams and Flying Machines

Greetings Fellas and Filets,

The month of February is nearing its end.  It certainly isn't going down without a fight, but it, unfortunately, is taking our residency at The Village Lantern down with it.

We've had nothing but good times, me and Residency.  We've laughed, we've cried, we've purified ourselves in the waters of lake Minnetonka...  we've grown together, but now it's time to say goodbye.  If you love something, you have to let it flee the country with February.

(I do not own this.  That being said, notice how it gets funnier the longer you stare at it)

We're using this time to reflect (find us if you need to check your hair), and to re-evaluate our place in this universe.  As such, The Kind has shaved its head, robed up, joined the church of soul, and taken a vow of ROCK.  You have to buy your underwear from the church, and you're only allowed to drink from leopard print sippy-cups.  We'll be at your door with a pamphlet soon.

But now, we're focusing on writing.  Soon we will have many more great originals.  So many so, that Residency will inevitably be jealous of our success and a bit remorseful that it left us in the first place, and  will come back.

Join us at our last residency show this coming Tuesday, February 28th, where we will do our best to go out with a BANG.  Or at least a BOING.  8pm-12am, at The Village Lantern.

After that, we're playing a show on March 5th at Spike Hill, at 9pm.  We got our buddy Zach Mayer and his band (www.myspace.com/zachmayermusic) playing before us at 8pm.  It's gonna be big.

This is The Kind, signing off.

Chocolate Chip and Ukulele

Welcome to The Kind's blog.  In honor of our grand opening, we hope you'll give yourself a celebratory pat on the back (depending on which part of your back that you're able to reach, you might be doing yoga).  Join us as we set sail with our big fancy new ship, and aid us by yelling "ICEBURG DEAD A-F***ING-HEAD," juuuuust a little bit sooner than that other guy on that other ship.

You might be wondering, "What are The Kind and all of its members up to?  I love them so dearly," and, "Where can I pick up a pound of cookie dough at 2am?"  Well, we want to start answering that first question for you on a regular basis, and as far as the second question... well, you've got a problem.  We hate to be the ones to tell you.  We're going to start calling you "Cookie," out of love.

So, Cookie, I decided to start a band blog for a couple reasons.  One is because my Email newsletters were getting far too long given that I like to include all my random mutterings, and secondly I was tired of being the only one writing them and speaking to you.  Now every member of The Kind will get their chance to pee in the snow.

And, just to blog your memory, remember to check us out on other media fronts:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kindband

@kindband on twitter

We're mixing our first single, "Be Here," so get ready to see that on iTunes and other media outlets, soon.

I leave you with some Elvis Costello you've probably never seen:

Until next time, this is Derek, drummer of The Kind, getting rid of the life boats.

Ciao, Cookie.