2015: our re-invention as a virtual idol group

We're getting old! The 11th anniversary of our inaugural gig is coming up and phoo-ee, in that time we sure have killed a lot of time in bars: load in at 6pm, sound check scheduled for 7, sound check starts at 8, first band starts at 9, second band starts at 10:15, we start at 11:45, we wrap at 1 am, strike the stage setup and load out by 1:30, get paid out by the bar once the end-of-night cash tally is completed at 2, drop band members off at their homes and get to bed by 3 am... up and at the day job by 7! But it was well worth it to play to the eight people who were still there at the end of the night. We're still going out to play shows whose bookers are motivated to host us (and, y'know, wedding receptions and interesting and well-remunerating functions), but our drive to seek out further punishment has been diminishing.

Instead, we've devised a new approach. We still enjoy each other's company, getting together and playing music, but why does it have to happen at places we wouldn't otherwise want to be, at times that are inconvenient for us? Instead, we can meet up in the evening in one of our living rooms and jam on comfortable sofas, with a cup of hot tea at our side and no flatscreen television sets subjecting us to brutal MMA mishaps. And by setting up a camera, we can allow you to sit in that living room with us, at your convenience, from your own comfiest chair, regardless of just how far away you live or how much room there is for additional human beings in our living room. You're all welcome to join us!

This is a way of saying that we've launched a YouTube video series of us workshopping and playing standards, originals and covers (and who knows, perhaps your suggested song could be next on the hit list?) The channel overall can be found over here, where recent recordings will always be available for interested parties to get up to speed. As of press time, we have four videos available for your enjoyment:

• Our version of the Virgin Prunes' lost gem from 1982 "Sweethome under White Clouds":
  
• Gena the Crocodile's Russian birthday song (Jason Webley translation):
  
• Autobiographical Planks original (heck, you can hear echoes of it in this post's introductory paragraph) Your Sister's Wedding:
  
• And one more Planks original, Boo Jupiter's request for "music for a pie-eating contest" at a 2008 county fair-themed warehouse party:
  

There will be ... quite a bit more of these -- basically, we intend on continuing to meet and record songs a few times a month until we reach the end of music. I figure that will take a while. There are more in the works already recorded at this moment and just being pieced together in spare moments on MacBooks. Will I update this post to reflect the new additions? Well... no. But probably they will get their own announcements here on our blog! So stay tuned (or, y'know, SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube feed) to keep yourself posted...