Some friends came in to the Conference recording sessions to help with the singing of Let the Demons Die. (Check out here to see a vid of the making of that.) We provided them with this very professional aid to help with the lyrics:

We worked on 5 or so post-Conference songs or potential songs last night. It's promising stuff. Bootleg versions of some of this material in whatever state it's in may be available at some point on the iSM page. Stay tuned.

Thanks everyone for another nice sold out show at Lizard Lounge last night. Great atmosphere there as always. Here's what you missed if you weren't there (in the right order this time):

Put a Brave Face On

Call Me Elvis Now

Back Again

ATM Song

Stick Around Some More

Dreams to Forget

This Time the Angels Walk the Line

[a new song, possibly called Because of Me]

The Snow is on the Grass Again

It's Getting Late

Noly-Noly Crimbellum

Dance and Drink Wine

The Ship

Quinn the Eskimo

... and hear, they would tell you that these are the last 10 CDs I have listened to. Yup, still listening to those silver things.

10. Muswell Hillbillies by The Kinks

9. Paul Simon (self)

8. James Gang Greatest Hits

7. Garage D'Or by Cracker

6. With the Beatles

5. McLemore Ave by Booker T & the MGs

4. Leaving Wonderland in a Fit of Rage by Marcy Playground

3. Gravel Pit Manifesto by The Gravel Pit

2. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis

Responding to public demand, images are now uploadable by fans to sandmachine.com. Webmaster Tom has created iSM Community Gallery v1.0, located at the iSM section of the site.  Logged in users of sandmachine.com will see an orange "Upload Your Image!" button through which you can browse to the image you're after.

Upload away.

Anybody who is in the market for a new (old) song for their playlist should check out "Ma Belle Amie" by the Tee Set. I first heard the song when I was in 6th grade or so and it stuck with me. Probably heard it three more times on the radio since then until I finally bought it on itunes. It has the classic 60s cheesy organ going behind also cheesy love song lyrics. But the melody is very catchy, the bridge/chorus is a nice change, and the overall feel brings me back to a time when I wasn't yet born (the music video on youtube as well).

have to sometimes work odd hours and put the sand machine site up to listen to their music to make it easier? i'm just sayin' . . .

We're playing a bunch of songs Thursday night, from sources near and far. Your fave may already be in the works, but in case it isn't if you want to request something we'll give it consideration (meaning, can we wing that one?). You can reply here or wherever...

I was in New York City over the weekend, staying near Chinatown/Little Italy. On Saturday we wandered the Soho-Noho-Washington Sq-Lower East Side circuit and encountered a great number of Santas. Apparently there was a "Santa Convention" - they were on every corner and walking on every street. This night nothing attracted a crowd of Santas like a crowd of Santas. We passed a number of establishments where when we looked in all we could see was them. And also out and about were reindeer, snowflakes, elves, and other things I couldn't identify but were tied to the season somehow I'd guess.

For the first time ever we have a holiday single this year. It's called "Back Again" and you can't miss it front and center on the homepage. You can listen to it there or download it. It's our holiday present. Hope you like it. We weren't sure what your size is, but we hope it fits. Kept the receipt.

Special thanks to Ethan Stone for the tasty organ work throughout and especially on the instrumental break. And another special thanks to Keri Beckwith for the very nice original "Back Again" image (affectionately called bunnydrum).