the substars » recording

Burgers, Bars, and Cold (RPM 2010)

ben — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:02:09 +0000

So, I did a record for RPM 2010 back in February. The heretofore live incarnation of the substars hadn’t gotten together in a while and remains largely preoccupied with other things, so this is an anachronism of sorts. It was mostly me and some instruments in my spare bedroom. Not all that different from Real Time in that respect, really, but that made it all the more striking to me how different it felt to make. I guess a lot has changed since then.

To me, Real Time was about self-actualization, being interrupt-driven, playing life like a game of Whac-A-Mole and being worn down by it. Buildings was more about the now, how moments strike one as meaningful because they’re transient and flawed rather than despite it. If you buy any of that, then I present to you Burgers, Bars, and Cold, which I’d say is about losing and regaining perspective amidst what feels like a cyclical existence.

And that’s semi-officially the third album from the substars. No fancy cover art or physical packaging for this one, which is not the only way in which it is something of an odd duck, but maybe you’ll get a kick of it nonetheless.

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ER-1s and Heartburn

ben — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 19:45:09 +0000

We are back in the saddle for the RPM Challenge. Fear our digestive beatmaking might.

your keep your gut locked down, you lose

the substars’ christmas party

ben — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:36:31 +0000

Just wanted to post a quick holiday update so the fish wearing a leather jacket and cat ears gets bumped off the top of the page. (We’re still skeptical, by the way, that fish really enjoy being petted, but would be happy to look over any peer-reviewed articles that make a convincing argument.)

So while it may have appeared to be a slow quarter around these parts, we do have a few things cooking. Six Hours From Milwaukee is set to appear on the RPM 2008 rock sampler, along with some of our favorite RPM acts including Angie Fights Crime, Sister Savage, and Broken Promise Keeper. I guess that’ll be happening in January, and I’ll probably grab a few discs in case anyone is interested.

September 27 @ Terminal Bar w/ Flink, Ryan K Sutter

ben — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 04:34:55 +0000

September 27, 2008 9:00 pm

September 28, 2008 2:00 am

We are getting back down to business this Saturday, September 27 with a rousing rock show at the Terminal Bar in northeast Minneapolis. Bringing tha noize along with us will be Ryan K Sutter (formerly of Trumpet Marine) and Flink. We’ll play some new stuff. Ryan’s got a whole new thing going on. And Flink has been on my list of bands to play a show with sometime since I played with the The Traces and we’re finally doing it. Sometimes dreams do come true.

the substars w/ Flink and Ryan K Sutter
September 27, 2008 – 9 P.M.
Terminal Bar
409 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

9:00 Ryan K Sutter
10:00 the substars
11:00 Flink

Parking: there are metered spots all over that are enforced until 10. But I think 1st Ave NE behind the bar is not metered and people tell me there are usually free spaces.

Come or we will cry!

return of the substars

ben — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:40:48 +0000

So, this site has been so neglected to the point where even spambots aren’t commenting anymore, but I am excited nevertheless to announce that the substars will again compete in the RPM Challenge in February 2008.For those who haven’t been following along, the Real Time LP is the product of the 2007 RPM Challenge, which dares participants to record an album during the month of February. Last year was a blast–we highly recommend it–and hopefully this year will be similarly fruitful, and maybe even see us coming up with some music that you might find pleasant to listen to. So stay tuned!