The Conniption Fits

2012 and New Songs

2012-01-09T11:56:00.000-08:00

Well here we are.

When I was in my early 20's I thought I'd never live to see 2012. Now that it's here, it feels kind of anti-climatic; another year in the rear view. We officially cut Andy loose after our New Year's Eve show at The Pines. He is free to embark on his next adventure and we wish him well. NYE was a great time at The Pines in Chelsea, VT. That's right, Chelsea, in the middle of nowhere Vermont. We could have played in any number of cities and we chose this place because good people mean more to us than stature. Those of you who drove hours to see us, or took a limo (Dave & co.) or lived next door and were psyched to see us, you really made the night shine. To that we say, "Thank you!" Here's to more great shows in 2012!

Jamie Hosley officially joined the band over this first weekend in January. He comes to us from the band "About Gladys". Leaving that band was hard for him, I understand as band politics can never be easy. Nobody wants to leave anyone in a bad way because you never know who could be in your band further down the road. Jamie really brought his "A" game over the weekend. Our hardcore fans already approve, although they say he needs to sing. We are working on it, all things in time. The fact that he learned 45 songs and now jumped into running the light show speaks volumes for his dedication.

That's whats up with the live scene, what about the new album you ask? We just finished up two more songs which you can listen to right now at conniptionfits.com The first is called "May Day". This is one that I wrote after listening to Vampire Weekend for a solid two weeks. I was hearing all these great Paul Simon "Graceland" references and thought, "I love that album, we should try that style". I started with a really bizarre chord progression in 12 / 8 then I made it as simple as possible for the verse. When Jamie came in and played the bass, we used parts of his very first take. Then I simplified the bass as much as possible for the verse, as that is the whole concept of the song. Shawn played the most flawless drum parts I have ever heard, really bringing the song together. The lyrics came in a mad rush after a week of writers block (seems to be the way). I wrote about the events of one day in May; loving the play of "There's a mayday in every day of May". Seems every spring brings relationship challenges.

The next song finished was "Completely Wasted". We had this one kicking around for over a year, mostly done but without lyrics or vocals. I love how it eventually turned out, basically verbal diarrhea of the mouth. I'm actually quite proud of the lyrics, but I describe it like that because I wrote them in fifteen minutes or less! I just started saying words, expressing a feeling, and that is what happened. I feel lucky to have captured the moment. In fact, all the songs we write make me feel lucky. I don't know how it happens really, but I'm glad it does! I guess it helps to have had a wide range of experiences and emotions, then to be present enough to say in the back of my mind, "Hey, save this for later, there is a song or three here!"

There's a war inside / And it's trying to guide / My choices / But I don't listen to the voices
There's a horse to ride / I could let her fly / I could make it / It just sucks that I'm completely wasted

When I first wrote that I thought it wasn't right. That I didn't really want to say "it just sucks that I'm completely wasted". It felt weird to come right out and say that, then I thought, "of course you want to say that". Have you ever made a decision that you knew full well was a bad choice, but you did it because you had too much to drink? The inner voice, the part of you trying to guide you to a good outcome, giving you a way out, a horse to ride, you can do it, but you don't because you are completely wasted. I think we all know that one. So there it is, in a song.

Now to finish a couple more an release this album... Be well and happy 2012!

Stevens Blanchard

Here is my Zen thought of the day:

"To expect the truth to come from thinking signifies that we mistake the need to think with the urge to
know." - Hannah Arend

Farewell to a Trusted Friend

2011-12-06T11:55:00.001-08:00

Bailey's Tavern in Fairlee was so much fun, I am still riding that high. Our crowd was really there for us and it felt good. I know Tammy got some great pics, I'm dying to see them and share with you. It's a small place in my hometown of Fairlee, Vermont, that is part of what makes it so special. We played great and the tavern was wall to wall with people dancing and having a great time. It really is an honor to be at the center of an event like that.

The show also marked our fist full performance with Jamie Hosley on Bass. Yes, I've mentioned it before, we are sad to see Andy go. Andy has really grown with us and has been an key part of the conniption fits years before he even stepped on stage with us. Andy started out as our sound man, taking care of all things technical. First as and internship for college and later as a sub contractor. When Erik left, Andy was a natural choice for the Bass role and he really took off. Once he got his footing and built up his confidence he blossomed into the commanding performer we know and love today. I am probably the most sad to see him go as it feels to me like Andy has always been there, through it all. He has stuck with me through thick and thin and I count him among my very best of friends. When he told me he needed time to do something else I was bummed, but my only choice was to support him, whatever he chooses. Andy will play most of the shows in December as he phases out. He leaves us better than he found us and we wish him well. With that, every chapter that comes to an end, marks the beginning of the next.

I approached Jamie Hosley due to a recommendation of a trusted friend. I was thrilled when he expressed some interest, although he did tell me he was 80% sure he didn't want the gig. After the show this past Friday, Jamie has more than proved himself, things were pretty damn tight! Jamie is one of those rare musicians you meet that has more hours invested in his instrument than he does sleeping and the talent to prove it. I have high hope and expectations for the future, and why not? We have worked very hard at what we do and are prepared to work even harder to show you a good time. So we move forward with our faces to the sunlight of the bright future.

We are back at The Woodstock Inn & Station in Woodstock, New Hampshire this weekend . They brew their own craft beer and the place is a destination for travelers to NH. One of the best places to go drinking, you'd be hard pressed to find better. We are also looking forward with much anticipation to our New Years Eve show at The Pines in Chelsea, Vermont. This is a MUST see event and a guaranteed blast. Friends are already renting limo's for the night and hotel rooms, the whole nine yards.

If I learn anything from this music business it is this: Go with the flow of life, don't fight it, but run (down't walk) down your path.

See you out there - Stevens

Will Turpin & A Mustache Party

2011-11-14T13:04:00.001-08:00

Turns out the Woodstock Station and Brewery in Woodstock, NH is expanding! They even just finished moving an adjacent building to make room. It's such a great pub, and now they will have more stage room too. Pretty cool, I love to see the bars we play do really well.

We just wrapped up a great weekend over there, complete with "mustache party". Crazy '70s style. This is usually a slow time of year for Woodstock. The leaves have fallen and the skiing has not yet started. You wouldn't have known it this weekend. We had the place jumping both Friday and Saturday nights. A big thanks to the crew from Lebanon for making the trip! Bridget sang the crap out of "Don't Stop Believin". (she is now our 'plant' when we invite ladies up to sing that one). The "mustache party" was hilarious, see attached photo. I don't know why, but it's a riot.

Last week our song "secrets" was added to a slew of radio stations across the country. We are pretty pumped about that, even though I'm not sure it matters as much as it used to. We make more fans when our music is shared online. Speaking of which, help us out and share your favorite tune. We need all the word of mouth we can get. It's harder and harder for an indie band to get noticed over the din of countless bands these days. I'll never stop believing that we have a hit song if only... (fill in the blank).

I just got off the phone with Will Turpin of Collective Soul. He has a new EP out (it's really good) and we chatted about the industry at length. His thought is to do smaller records, hence the EP, and release them more often. I'm starting to think he's on to something. Collective Soul will be touring next summer and we talked about doing a gig here in Lebanon, we shall see. Check him out - http://www.willturpin.com

We'll see you at Mulligan's in Barre this Friday and over in Chelsea at The Pines this Saturday night.

Until then...

We are all made of stars

2011-11-10T12:37:00.001-08:00

I was watching a show in Netflix called "Stephen Hawking's Universe". If you are the scientific sort, you need to check this out. This particular episode was called "the History of Everything". My mind is still blown. The first element ever to exist was hydrogen. It collected and compressed under gravity until it began to fuse. The fusion reactor created helium. Helium compressed to create carbon - the building block of all life. Carbon fused to create iron. The iron did not fuse and slowly stopped the reaction. The star then collapses in on itself. It explodes in a super nova. The intense pressure of the explosion creates the heavier elements, like gold. If you have a piece of gold, it could have only come from an exploding star.

Has it hit you yet? We are made of stars. We play a temporary host the the matter we are made of, then it returns to the cycle of the universe. I find this idea, well it's more than that, this science, incredibly beautiful. It dawned on me, life is what matter does under conditions like this planet. We are fortunate, but more importantly, there is a 1:1 chance that we exist. Of course we are here, it was bound to happen somewhere, and the fact that we are here is proof. The fact that we exist is 100% probable, here we are. Life is out there somewhere else too.

We are all made of the same matter, we are made of stars. Stars have a vibration, so does the earth. It's exactly 33 Octaves below middle C. Coincidence? I don't think so. We respond to music because we are made as a result of it.

I had to share. Now I need to find a drink and a guitar.

Come and vibrate to our brand of music at The Woodstock Station this weekend. We'll be there Friday and Saturday nights. Great micro brew on tap, and a bunch of star-born friends you don't know yet.

We are all made of stars.

The Job

2011-11-07T10:37:00.001-08:00

I love this job. It is a ton of fun, but never forget, it is a job. We made it to Dover alright. It was a good night, not a packed house, but I know we can build on it. We sounded good anyway, and that's the most we can do - our job.

Saturday at Shenanigans was such a welcome surprise. We celebrated Michele's 30th birthday with a full house of friends. How many times have you witnessed a stretch hummer outside Shenanigans? I think we did a good job of making everybody feel like part of the fun. That's just it, making us all a part of something. No one wants to be an outsider looking in on some inside joke or event. We all want, or even need, to feel included. That's our job. Inclusive. That should be the word of the week. Still, we can only include those who want to be included. All you have to do is show up, we'll make you feel at home.

So, that said, include yourself this week when we play the Woodstock Station in Woodstock new Hampshire this weekend. We'll be there both Friday and Saturday night. Saturday is usually busier than Friday if that helps you choose your night. They brew their own beer and have been named one of the very best brew pub / Resturaunts on the state. We can attest to that.

Here's a pic from work... Because I can.

See you on the path. ~Stevens

Kelly's Row

2011-11-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

Looking forward to this weekend. Halloween is over and with it all the extra hassle of dressing up, going out, making it home, blah blah blah. We are psyched to be back at Kelly's Row in Dover, New Hampshire this Friday night! We used to play Kelly's as a regular stop back when we were a four piece. Digging deep, I know. It doesn't seem like all that long ago, but I guess that was 3+ years ago now. There is alot you can do with a second guitar, but the trio makes you work harder. There isn't anything else their to cover mistakes either. It certainly has been great for us as musicians. We've had to sharpen our skills ten fold I'd say.

I'm hoping the fans in Dover, Rochester, Portsmouth and surrounding towns show up Friday. We used to play a place called "Big Head's" in Rochester years ago, as I recall we always had a good time. The place is gone, but the people are not. Hopefully the word reaches them. It's a hard thing; working hard on your skills and musicianship, keeping the band moving forward, and not knowing whether you fans are getting the word that you are playing near them. Promotion is the key, still working on that.

Saturday we are back at Shenanigans in White River Junction, Vermont. The die-hard fans will be there, but I really hope we can build on it this time around. It's a really great sounding room, in it's hay day it used to be the place to go. The Hartford cops have done their best to put a stop to that. Sometimes I wonder if they are really trying to protect people, or just raise cash and show how needed they must be. Anyway, the place is great, close by, easy load in, great sounding room. It just needs people to feel safe getting in and out of there. Grab a DD and head out to WRJ this Saturday.

Our song "The Call" hit radio across the country this week. Shawn and I both feel that it is a "hit" but I hope saying so doesn't jinx it or make me look egotistical. The song just has something special, if it doesn't break through then I don't know; we just keep writing.

Got a new iPhone, so look for more pics and vids on the FB page in the coming months. I have to say, it is a fantastic device that connects people. All for now. ~SB

The Weekend in Review

2011-10-24T16:12:00.000-07:00

What a good weekend. I don't know what I was thinking booking shows so far apart; Friday night we were up in Burlington, Vermont for a great show at "On Tap". There was a decent crowd and some friends that we recognize. It was great to see my parents even make the show. Even Josh and Dickie made it, we haven't seen Dickie for years.

The band sounded pretty good, pretty tight as usual. We recorded the show as we are trying to work in a new bass player in the coming months. More on this later. Saturday we headed down to "Whippersnappers" in Londonderry; let me back up...

Saturday morning I had to get to two to remote broadcasts. One was at Hannaford's, the new Hannaford's in West Lebanon. Some of you already know I am a radio disc jockey on 92.3 WGXL. We had a contest where shoppers had to run through the store and try to buy $92 worth of groceries as fast as possible. The event was great, but I was pretty tired after that. Then I moved down the road to broadcast from Un-Dun and Un-Doo celebrating their new grand expansion. If you haven't checked out Un-Dun, It's a great store at the bottom of Seminary Hill in West Lebanon.

Saturday night we headed down to Londonderry New Hampshire in a bar called Whippersnappers; which we haven't played for maybe even more than a year. It was great to see that one of the waitstaff there that we knew I had graduated to become the bar manager. She's an awesome person and it was great to see that we still had some friends at the bar. We played pretty well, although I don't feel like my singing was exactly on as I flubbed a few notes here and there. It is the truth that I typically have trouble this time year, being October the weather plays havoc on my mucous membranes in the back of my throat. The result being I have a bigger sounding voice than usual which complements some singers but for me I don't think it works out all that well. My favorite times of the year for singing are definitely in the spring and summer months. All in all the show was decent, but certainly not one of our very best. Again we recorded the show to help Jamie Hosley and Nate Bagley learn the parts when they eventually take over on bass. Hopefully one of the two will become "the man" but but we'll have to wait and see how that shakes out.

Again, I was reminded how sad I am to see Andy be leaving the band. He's leaving, not due to any reason of us, bad vibes or anything like that, he simply wants to move forward in his life. I have to respect that, as always one must respect players when they need to move on to do something else. I understand that not everyone is waiting as insanely driven as I am about this whole music thing. Yet, it's still sad to see such a great friend move on. Shawn and I will continue to search for the perfect bass player but at the moment I know it's going to be either Jamie Hosley or Nate Bagley or some combination of the two. Both have showed some interest, but there are time constraints that need to be taken into consideration.

This weekend brings a weekend off for family stuff, being Halloween weekend. We will take some time to be with our family. Next weekend we get back at it with a show at Kelly's row in Dover and again at Shenanigans on Saturday night. Also, I have to remember to check in on our radio promotion and see how that's going. I'm hoping that quite a few stations have added our song "The Call" but I haven't seen the reports yet. info when I get it. Stay classy! ~Stevens