U Got The Look.Once again, we’ve reformatted the newsletter in an effort to bring about a golden mean between no formatting and too much formatting. The Underground’s fine publications, both in print and on the internet, have always been humble things, and so we’ve done a bit of downsizing. Or is the term rightsizing? We can never keep track of corporate jargon these days...Welcome to Summer @ The Underground.We got a slow start with the weather, but it looks likes things are heating up. Which is a good thing, since we really do enjoy biking everywhere with as little clothing as legally possible.
Sloth Cycles 50 Miles for the MS Society!In June, Sloth was carted out to the west side of Lake Allegan in Allegan County and was left brutally stranded with nothing but his trusty cycle to protect him from the (threatening) elements. But sure as Presidential candidates fib, he was able to make it back to Kentwood (southeast Grand Rapids) and then to his humble abode, raising more than $300 for the MS Society in Michigan. Thanks to everyone who pledged; hopefully we can all work together to find treatment and a cure for Multiple Sclerosis!Sloth Invests in Community Beautification Plan.With his (small) tax return, Sloth was able to toss a couple Jacksons here and there to establish a nifty little flower garden to the rear of the Underground townhome, as well as pea, tomato, carrot, pepper, and various herb pots and troughs. We are looking very much forward to using fresh chives, basil, mint, et al in our cooking... and the idea of picking organic tomatoes and peppers for dinner dishes makes our collective mouths water. YUM... now y’all have to come over and have some!James Matthew’s Mind Becomes Hungry Sponge.It’s hard to imagine, now, that one year ago James couldn’t stay on a line to write a short sentence, nor read anything beyond simple three-letter words. But here he is now, a super-smart whipper-snapper whose mind soaks up knowledge like nothin’ else. (We just have to be sure Grand River water stays out of it.) James will take on 1st grade this upcoming school year and turn SEVEN in December. Weren’t we just changing his daipers last month? Hmmmmmmm...Excursion to the Wild West!Speaking of that brown-eyed young lad, at present writing, James is out in the state of Washington camping, hanging out with relatives, and soaking in the natural decor. A trip to Mt. Rushmore is planned (“the mountain with the heads on it”). James’ review of these amazing sights with be chronicled in our next newsletter - watch for it! |
Recent Happenings @ The Underground.
New Kitten Invades the Hearts of Underground Personnel.Yes, Aubell is a cutie, and a real match for our 20-pound beast Tiger with her stripes and spots. Aubell is less than 3 months old, wily, precocious, and adorable as all get out. She is a perfect addition to our home and one of the reasons most likely why we have to change the cat litter more often. Just look out for those little needles on her paws! WHOO!Sloth Takes on the Office World.Sloth has been hopping in and out of random office assignments for American Careers and will most likely hit a couple more before he’s done. But in his heart of hearts, he wants a place to call his second home, and he genuinely misses the soothing wooden bookshelves of Barnes & Noble. Where the carnaval ride stops, no one presently knows... but it better be something good!Joan Baez LIVE @ Calvin College.Folk singer/songwriter superstar Joan Baez traveled to humble Grand Rapids to deliver beautiful artistry, humorous stories, and time-honed entertainment to a standing-ovation at Calvin College. Joan is possibly even more talented, more beautiful, and wiser than she was back in her heyday in the 60’s, and the concert was one of the greatest we’ve ever witnessed. Joan’s opening act (a young and stunning guitarist/violinist from the U.K.) and her INCREDIBLE back-up band further impressed us. If only we could hang out with her ALL the time...Projects @ The Sloth Underground Production Studio.Sloth’s Digital Studio Receives a Second Upgrade.Another thousand dollars (thanks to a grant from the Edward Brausch Foundation) has afforded us with better mics, cables, and recording and transferral capabilities at The Underground. We are using this new equipment in our live show (see below) as well as our studio work. It’s good to record live sound with a full dynamic range. We can’t wait to build an actual recording studio as well! Stay tuned...The Sloth Psychadelic Bootleg Volume 2Sloth’s second non-commercial release is shorter than the first, but our first digitally-recorded piece. Although it is definitely less accessible content-wise than our first CD, it is much more representative of what Sloth is doing live these days. Order today to get a piece of the Sloth!The Sloth Psychadelic Bootleg Volume One - May 1999 The final recording of Sloth’s radio show on 88.1 FM WYCE. Digital transfer by Jeff Hudson. The Sloth Psychadelic Bootleg Volume Two - June 2000 Influenced by Sloth’s live show with Eric Newton, previously of Ultrahypnosis. The Sloth Millenium Party CD - December 1999 Quality weirdness: everything from Pink Floyd to INXS to the Beastie Boys to Prince. Live @ Arco Iris, July 4 2000 A live mix, dumped straight to CD on location, remixed by the Sloth @ The Underground. |
Sloth Trips the Light Fantastic... LIVE.As you can probably tell, Sloth is once again mixing live downtown in Grand Rapids at the fine establishment previously known as Total Sphung (now Arco Iris). Sloth spins and twists every other Tuesday with Eric Newton and gives new meaning to the term “soundscaping”. Come on down, have a latte, and chill to the sounds of audio oddities!
New Additions to the Sloth Underground Website.For the Pokemon enthusiast, the Underground has officially sold out with our drafting of the Cerebrum Gymnasium, the Underground’s humble addition to the world of Pokemon cyberscape-dom. Check out game tips for the Collectible Card Game, links, and fun! Plus, we have finally added pics of the characters from Operation: Snow Weasel, as well as a neat little informative tidbit for the actual mammal. Witness these wonderful wastes of bandwidth at:http://www.geocities.com/slothwerks_productions/Cerebrum.html http://www.geocities.com/general_sloth/index.html Be a Re-Enactment Fudgie with the Underground Staff!For those of you not familiar with the term, a “fudgie” refers to generic tourists at Mackinac island, armed with hip bag, camera, sunglasses, and fudge stains on the corners of their mouths. A Re-Enactment Fudgie, then, refers to those teeming masses at the Mt. Holly Renaissance Festival, the esteemed location of the “Ye Olde ATM”. The entire staff here at the Underground plans to attend this year, and you too may be a part of their merry band. Call us at our hotline at (616)977-0969 and be a part of the frivolity!MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC MUSICA half year’s worth of CD purchasing is a lot of CD’s. Let’s go right into it, then, shall we?
The Boom Boom Satellites Out Loud- From Tokyo comes one of the most powerful electronica albums in the past few years. The band opened for Moby (Underground Newsletter #23) in Detroit and blew away the crowd. Live drum n’ bass, keyboards, guitar, FX, and samples... placed on a studio album for all to awe. And what’s with their fixation on sonar pings?
Banco de GaiaThe Magical Sounds of... - Beats, treats, and true originality. From Six Degrees Records, Banco de Gaia transforms your brain with what we can truly call world fusion electronica. Kodo Sai-so - Bill Laswell produced Kodo’s “Ibuki”, from which the majority of this CD find its source. But now we have the powerful voices and arms of the now-not-quite-so-traditional Japanese kodo drum group remixed by the likes of Laswell, DJ Krush, and Strobe. WOW! Everything from a hip-hop, trance, and drum n’ bass influence on these tracks. 
Various Artists Plastic - Nettwerk Records’ series of electronica CD’s combine traditional pop groups with the world of the remix. Everyone from Fatboy Slim, Sarah McLachlan, the Chemical Brothers, BT, Moby, Cornershop, Beth Orton, and many more can be found... and heard. Check ‘em out!
DJ Andy Smith The Document - Portishead’s tour DJ releases a traditional DJ LP which is pure imaginative genius. Smith samples everything from the Jungle Brothers to Barry White to Queen to Peggy Lee. Unbelievable! If only WE could produce work like this... |