Earth Day.  After Christmas its my second favorite holiday.  And all because of this song…Click to listen to Earth Day 2002

I know I posted this last year, but I have to spread the holiday cheer as much as possible.

Click to purchase Volumes 1-4 for $25

Just checked one of the many items off of the band idea/to-do list (which also includes taking over the world, doing a cover album of ONLY Nickelback songs, and a bunch of other stuff.)  Now for the first time ever you can get ALL four volumes from our song a week project in one place for a low low price of $25!  That’s a year’s worth of music for $25 dollars.  Just to put it in perspective for you…

New Music Monday Volume 1-4 on itunes – $40 (totally worth it)

A Harrier Jet – $20,000 ( if you’re lucky )

Your own private island – $1,650,000

An Alpaca – $10,000 (I want one)

See?  $25 is practically a steal… but if I had an extra $30,000 sitting around I would seriously consider going to pick up an Alpaca with my new Harrier…

Pics courtesy of flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sewpixie/3433537720/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/archangel12/3047034399/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lamazone/2567782401/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathaninsandiego/3982563254/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74274915@N00/3332032161/sizes/l/

Kyle Blake: A 2SA Special from two seconds away on Vimeo.

One of the cool things about doing this music thing is we get to meet some other really talented musicians. So we thought since we’re only writing a song a month for 2010, why not feature some of those musicians every now and then? To kick things off we decided to feature Kyle Blake. He’s a super talented guy that we met back when we were at K-State in Manhattan, KS.

Kyle just finished up his second album “Kid From Kansas” and it sounds awesome. We went over to his house and did a little interview with him and had him play an acoustic number for us. So check him out and if you like what you hear then go buy his stuff!

Oh and if you didn’t get the memo… he’s having a CD release party next week and we’re lucky enough to open for him.  Hope to see you there!

Links to stalk follow Kyle online are below…

Buy Kyle’s music on iTunes

twitter.com/kyleblake

myspace.com/kyleblakemusic

facebook.com/kyleblake5

www.kidfromkansas.com

Who: Kyle Blake, two seconds away, Jordan Chesley (of Fox and the Forest)

Where: The Tipping Point @ MNU Campus (map)

2030 E. College Way, Olathe, KS (139th & Mur-len)

When: Saturday, February 13th @ 7PM

How Much: $7 and includes free copy of Kyle’s new EP “Kid From Kansas”

We’re happy to announce that we’ll be taking part in Songs for the Cure 2010.  Its a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society put together by fellow musician and composer Josh Whelchel. Its pretty simple.  Over thirty musicians from an eclectic mix of genres are writing/donating unreleased music for the project.  All the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.  We’ll be writing an original song for the project as well.  For further details on the project visit http://www.cancerdrive.org/

You can pre-order a digital copy for $10 and $25 will get you a hard copy.  Donate here.

I don’t know if there’s anyone out there that doesn’t personally know someone who’s been affected by cancer.  So pass on a couple trips to Starbucks and support a good cause… plus you get some cool tunes.

For Immediate Release

Indie Music Cancer Drive to Release Songs for the Cure ‘10 Album
Twenty-eight artists join together to raise money for the American Cancer Society and aim to raise $10,000.

Cincinnati, OH, January 24th, 2010. – The Indie Music Cancer Society will release it’s 2010 compilation, Songs for the Cure ‘10 on March 1st, 2010 and forward 100% of all donations and profits to the American Cancer Society through its Relay for Life event held on April 23rd, 2010 at the University of Cincinnati.  The album will feature music from over twenty-eight (28) diverse artists, including Select Start, big giant circles, Alec Holowka, Two Seconds Away, Jay Tholen, Josh Whelchel, Renee Winter, and others.  The organization is currently accepting donations, and all donors of $25 or more before MARCH 1, 2010 will receive a free physical copy of the album.  Supporters with $10 or more will receive a free digital copy.

Genres represented include Pop, Rock, Alternative, Chiptunes, Instrumental, Opera, Classical, Avant-Garde, Jazz, Fusion, and many others.  The organization raised over $6,000 for the event last year and is still forwarding profits from last year’s album, available on iTunes, Amazon, and others.  A full list of artists can be found at the Songs for the Cure ‘10 website at http://www.cancerdrive.org.  The fundraiser aims to raise $10,000 by April 23rd, 2010, preceding a digital release of the album to iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby, and other retailers.

Donations are accepted through http://www.cancerdrive.org.

For more information please contact:

JOSH WHELCHEL
(513) 549-2336
www.cancerdrive.org

Its that time of year… the time of year when anyone and everyone does a top (insert number) of the (insert measurement of time).  I’m going with my top nine(ish) songs/albums in 2009.  Feel free to share your fav tunes from the year in the comments.

Ambulance from the Firekite EP – Eisley (eisley.com)
My wife and I both cannot get enough of this song and I think it is officially my favorite song from 2009.  Its like I’m 12 again and just got my first CD player and only had one CD so I put it on repeat. If you get one song off this list then buy this song.  And if you have some extra moolah lying around then buy anything else by Eisley.  You can also stalk follow all of them on twitter.

Noble Beast – Andrew Bird (andrewbird.net)

This was an all around solid album.  There weren’t any tracks in particular that jumped out at me, but very good as a whole.  And his live show is amazing.  Plus he does looping, which we happen to be fans of…

Blood Bank EP – Bon Iver (boniver.org)

I missed the “For Emma, Forever Ago” bandwagon, but the blood bank EP is most excellent and maybe even a shade better.

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked from Cage the Elephant – Cage the Elephant (cagetheelephant.com)

I challenge you to listen to this song and keep your body from moving in time to the music.

Hard to Be from Curse Your Branchs – David Bazan (davidbazan.com)

If you want to talk about “honest” music then it doesn’t get much more authentic than this.

Fiction Family – Fiction Family (fictionfamily.com)

Two of my favorite musicians from two of my favorite bands.  Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek and Jon Foreman from Switchfoot.  Awesomeness ensues.

Manchester Orchestra – Mean Everything to Nothing (themanchesterorchestra.com)

Its been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a rock album as much as this.  Lots of great tracks on here.

MUTEMATH – Armistice (mutemath.com)

It took long enough, but the new MUTEMATH album finally came out.  Still better to see them live though.

Paramore – Brand New Eyes (paramore.net)

It sounds a lot like their last album.  And I’m not complaining.  I can’t get enough of Paramore.  Its kind of a guilty pleasure.

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (wearephoenix.com)

Poppy and infectious.  This album has a handful of songs that will stick in your head all day long.  1901 is the song on most lists, but Lisztomania is equally awesome.

honorable mentions (not from 2009 but I didn’t make a list last year so here they are):

Land of Talk – It’s Ok from Some are Lakes (landoftalk.com)

Just discovered this song courtesy of the good folks over at Chop Shop music.  If I had to pick a default style that I love, this song fits it perfectly.  Sad, moody, beautiful.

Copeland – The Day I Lost My Voice (The Suitcase Song) from You Are My Sunshine (thecopelandsite.com)

Probably in my top ten of most listened too bands in my life.  And their last (and final) album was perfect.  They’re splitting up so catch them on their final tour.  March in Lawrence for you locals.

Just a little fyi to let you know we’ll be on Fame Games again this week!  The song that made it through this time is City Lights.  Feel free to vote using the link below and if you’re in any of the markets below then tune in on your radio.

Radio stations that air Fame Games:

KGHP-FM     89.9   Seattle, WA
WFNX-FM   101.7  Boston, MA
KFFG-FM     97.7   San Jose, CA
WRVE-FM    99.5   Albany, NY
WZEW-FM   92.1   Mobile, AL
WXEG-FM   103.9  Dayton, OH
KWMT-FM   92.9   Tucson, AZ
WKRH-FM   106.5  Syracuse, NY
KENZ-FM    101.9  Salt Lake City, UT
WVOD-FM  99.1    Norfolk-Portsmouth NC
KVSF-FM    101.5  Albuquerque, NM
KPTL-FM    106.3  Des Moines, IA
WCYY-FM  94.3    Portland, Maine
WQKE-FM  93.9    Burlington, Vermont
KKMG-FM   98.9    Colorado Springs, CO
OCI-FM     101.6   Costa del Sol, Spain
OCI-FM      94.6    Costa Blanca, Spain

Christmas is just around the corner and I just heard about another cool giveaway over at Backstage.  They’re the folks who brought us free music from great bands like Hello Kavita, Dualistics, and of course The Autumn Film.  They just posted a new giveaway of some Christmas tunes (I’m a sucker for Christmas music) from Oh Starling ( Dan Craig & Jessica Sonner ) and they’re really good.  So whilst you wait for more 2SA tunes, enjoy these!  Free for a limited time so get em while they’re hot!

Joy by Oh, Starling

PS Follow Backstage on Twitter to hear about any new giveaways that might pop up.