Art Energy

Father's Day got me thinking of responsibility to my new daughter Jonesy. Helping her on her way to realization of the universe. To feel and be a vessel of creativity just like Daddy does but in her own special way. This takes a lot of energy.

SplitRed/MissingMen

Last week I had a chance to see some friends play the North Star Bar. They opened for Mike Watt and the Missing Men. Thanks again everyone for a good time!

Snapin'

Sunday I did the first version. Today I did it again. This one is much better.

Snapin' by Jim Coughlin

Kites and Sun

Its boring to me just to document all the time. Luckily I haven't really heard for a while "get your camera and take a picture of this Jim." I don't feel that that's why I always take a photo. I've been happily shooting with this crappy webbie cam that Sony makes. Its portable not complicated to operate. I enjoy abstracting the simplest scene and extract the color and texture that's in front of me. Having the ability to move the camera and create moving images is a bonus in this situation. Now I'm confronted not only by the image but what direction I'd like to move the camera, how its going to zoom in and out or just stay stationary on a moving object.
For added pleasure I've been able to sneak some music into the videos. I've always loved sneaking music into a visually occupied viewer. The image is often what keeps someone in their seat while, before you know it, they are injected into the song. Its easier to dismiss a song or music if they are just listening and not relaxed or captivated by something at that second.
The subject in this instance was the fourth of July 2010.
The first one includes some fireworks (5:04) that a friend of mine was firing off in the adjacent neighborhood to the east of fairmount park and we just happened to catch it! I also had a kite tied to my belt for a long time.
The second video is a song I wrote about my wife Beth when we first started dating.
Enjoy

Sendatzaile

Really dives into it

Made the Magic Happen

Last night was an extremely magical night. The last performance of Full of Sharp Places took place at the Philadelphia Magic Gardens. If you don't know about this place yet just hit the link.
Beyond the obvious aesthetic and history of this place and the amazing person that is Isaiah, I believe that this is one of the best musical venues in Philadelphia. Every note and vibration caries around the curved tile walls and then shoots right out into the sky. While performing the four of us were really able to wip the notes through the outside maze of tile brick and bottles. The threat of rain loomed over us only to start up 10 minutes after we finished. Thanks for everyone that made it and if you couldn't I'm sure there'll be another incarnation of such music in the future.
Thanks to Beth for shooting. I think she really understood the space and the sound through the maze enough to take some real nice footage.


I'll add more footage as I go just check it out through my youtube account.

Given Me Know Wa Wa

Phil Spector, George Harrison, and the mental frustration I put myself through on a daily basis I owe this to.

Alone with the cats

The house has been quiet do to E.M.S.C. going to school and leaving me to my own devices with the cats. New minimal soundings. Excited for where this might take me. Recently lost interest in all the pedals and chords that have taken over my studio. This may only be temporary. More to come soon...

Porkchop 12/10/9

This is what we got before the batteries died. Thanks for everyone that put up with the cold. At least it wasn't a blizzard right?

Back Room

Reissued "Back Room" from 1999 available now.

Track Listing
1.Bounce Downs
2.On the Way
3.Danced So Much I Wanted to Puke
4.Excelsior
5.Puff
6.Blue
7.High Way Stereo

email jimsinspace at gmail dot com for your copy!

I'll have plenty at future shows...

SoupCooler @ Pork Chop Thurs. Dec. 10th

Show quickly planned
BuildmoreShrines just added to the "Dock Space."
This one's going real well. I can't wait to play this!

Broken Hands Broken Glass

While I've been waiting for my co-patriots to return from their summer vacations and start the grind of possible performances of recent Soupcooler sounds, I found myself reviewing old projects.
This one is with a taperecorder/feedback/treated guitarist named Germ. We recorded this in a damp basement back in 2004-ish. Enjoy.
1. untitled #1
2. untitled #2
3. untitled #3
4. untitled #4

Elements Drift

I'm starting a new chapter of technology. A new member to the recording process is here, the new zoom R16 (I'll spare you the tech deets. You can read em yourself). I've only started to tap into it's capabilities. For the past 10 years I've been expressing myself through 4 tracks and now I'm presented with 8 tracks of independent mixdown magic. Check out the new tune as of today!
Elements Drift.mp3

Cool Off the Presses

I have officially completed my recent Soupcooler release, "Full of Sharp Places." Everything was recorded and mixed here at Opal Productions.
There are 10 tracks:
1. Bat Erritmo
2. Mamuz Jositako
3. Its Not Enough
4. Sendatzalle
5. Erribererriko Errige
6. Balea
7. Opal Kalea
8. Aldatze
9. Oker Erauntsi
10. Basurde Nekatuta Every cover is a little different. I have hand silk screened and spray stenciled every cover. Every album is numbered in this limited 100 copy edition.
Distribution is going to happen through me for now. Cost for each limited edition CD is $10.

Free delivery inside Philadelphia. I can mail copies if needed elsewhere. Email me jimsinspace@gmail.com for all requests.

I've already started work on new material. More posts on that progress to come.

Opal Kalea

Opal Kalea.mp3

Aldatze

Aldatze.mp3

Strange Weather

Ok, it has been a while but I had a bad taste in my mouth with all the "mob" crap that was going on from phillies to pinatas. In the beginning of December Red Ox ventured up to Brooklyn to Mark Goodman's Strange Weather studio. It was definitely a learning experience. We hope to finish our album in the next few months and let it speak for itself. In the meantime here are a few photos from the 3 days of work we put in there.