Mark Osachoff’s blog

Anthill - Mark 002

The live music scene in Vancouver is pretty weak as demonstrated by New Music West Industry Showcase that took place last week.  Poor organization, poor attendance etc, etc.  Our showcase (at The Cellar - a club that does Brit Pop nights) had to be moved because the club wanted the dj on by 10:00. "No nothing original here please."

To add to the mix I had to fire our drummer who couldn't cut class 30 minutes to get to the new gig time.  I hired a close personal friend to sit in only to find that our rehearsal space was flooded and all the gear was damaged.  I refused to cancel the show and did the set on my acoustic between bands.  Although I'm a hack on the guitar, I have to say that it was my best show ever.  I'll have at the solo thing.  

Here's an acoustic demo "Grass is Greener" from our upcoming cd:

Grass is Greener

Mark and JJ Festival of Guns

Unfortunately I was not as poetic as Johnny Paycheck yesterday when I quit my job.  Considering all the things I had gotten away with I finally lost it when confronted about $100 worth of gas receipts.  It's time to move on.

With cash low and a record almost finished it will be a time to rally and knock on doors for some support.  I really think this collection of Anthill songs are the best to date.

Here's a demo of an upcoming track, "Things We Do".  

Let me know what you think

Mark

Things We Do Demo

Drive Me Crazy with a Picket Fence

Our previous Demo Picket Fence came out quite well in the studio.  I've attached the final mix here.  This is the unmastered version:

Picket Fence Unmastered

Art of Transformers

I can't believe we're mall people.  We're spending springbreak at the Fantasyland Hotel at the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton.  It used to be the biggest mall in the world and maybe it still is.  Anyway, the people here are into modern rock and good music in general.  It reminds me of what Minnesota may have been like with the scene that happened there.  As for us, today will involve shopping for the new Transformers, Decepticon game for Nintendo DS, going to the wave pool, eating some chain restaurant food and kicking back with a movie in the hotel room.

I keep writing songs.  The album songs are complete, but inevitably some songs come after the fact.  I've attached one here called Only You.  It's pretty homemade, with just me and my guitar and portable recorder.

Happy Easter.

Mark

Only You 2

Anthill

Mark and JJ Festival of Guns

It seems ironic that a person born into a pacifist family would be playing at The Festival of Guns.  Maybe we were never the pacifists we thought we were after all.  Maybe it's just going full circle.

It's been too long since our last show (above) at the Railway Club in Vancouver.  The energy that night was exhilarating and spiritualized.  So much that I was able to admit I was in the midst of breakdown and seemed ok with that notion.  It's always tricky coming off a high.  The time in between has been valuable to create and contemplate.

I sit in my Calgary hotel room today, chain smoking and watching BBC world news.  I particularly enjoyed the Hard Talk interview with a Russian Senator today.  I'll enjoy the drive to Edmonton today listening to Guided by Voices.  In Edmonton I'll likely ponder the potential of my vices and likely settle on some BC bud to take the edge off and fade away.

Human Revolution is an ambitious title for a song.  I have no blueprint or plan as John Lennon so fairly asked for.  Good people will have to fill in the details.  Anthill bassist and producer, Brian Minato is to take credit for the music.  It has elements of the experience of being in a lightly fogged Japenese garden.

We play the Railway again on Saturday April 19. 

Human Revolution unmastered

Anthill

Me & Caroline

It's been a while since the 3 day parties, raves and after hours clubs.  With a six year old boy reading, writing and expanding his creativity our life is consumed with making a home for him and ourselves.  The picture above was taken at a "funky chicken", martini, pick up bar on the weekend - we do still go sometimes. 

Anthill has been recording songs for a new record over the past few months.  The songs are a natural extension of artistic expression, tempered by the demands of keeping a household together.  I confess that sometimes it is bloody difficult but probably similar to many other singer/songwriter's journey.  It has certainly been worth it. 

Picket Fence is the latest demo by myself and our bassist/producer, Brian Minato.  It is has the energy of Dakota, by the Stereophonics - a song we have covered for the last year:

P-FenceSept27-07

Drive Me Crazy with a Picket Fence

Anthill is back in the Z-FM Charts in Australia.  Images is currently #5

PROGRAM : World Indie Top 40 Countdown
WEEK    : 31
-------------------------------------------------------
01. "summer nights" - marc billington (independent)
02. "blessing of the curse" - super so far (independent)
03. "feel so right" - donnie williams and park place (chumpchange)
04. "effortless" - constance written by cliff paris and constance
(cliff lake records)
05. "images" - anthill (matchbox recordings)*******************************************
06. "new years eve" - the bard (heartbeat studios)

Z-FM is the largest Country Rock Station Down Under with AM/FM coverage into virtually every part of Australia http://www.isonliveradio.com/  .These folks run a great station and we really appreciate their support.

Anthill's "Images" was the song used in the Matchbox Recordings Big Indie Comeback commercial aired on MTV2 in late July.  Anthill will be a part of the "Independent Blitz" by Matchbox in NME (New Music Express) at the end of August.

Anthill's "Waiting For The Sun" will be featured on Pulse Rated's afternoon show with Benny Longshank (great name!) on August 13th at 15:00 Greenwich Mean Time.  That's 7:00 am Pacific Standard Time time.  You can tune in at  http://www.pulserated.com/. 
Pulse Rated is the world’s leading internet & satellite radio broadcaster playing only the very best music from new, unsigned, and emerging artists from around the world. They are based in Norwich UK.

I'm on Facebook.  You can go to  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=575610943&pwstdfy=4fa004d96efeeb20f7163a307b8dda9d

Upcoming Anthill Shows:
Friday, August 31 The Railway Club
http://www.internationalpopoverthrow.com/about.htm
579 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The line up:
8:30 Danny Echo
9:00 Last Day Lost
9:30 Rocky Jr.
10:00 Anthill
10:30 The Capitals
11:00 Dave Rave
11:30 Broken Condom Babies
12:00 The Yoko Casionos

Hope all is well and you are enjoying the summer/winter if you're down under. 

Thanks

All the best

Mark

http://www.anthill.ca
http://www.myspace.com/anthillcanada

Images

Anthill

Caroline's pictures 051

4 comments

I really like this picture and I really like this woman.  She is crazy so don't be fooled.  I do love her and my life with her.  Did I mention that she is nuts.  Ok, moving right along.

This is "Backwards Song" and it tells you where I'm at in the area of personal developement as it pertains to relationships.  I hope others like me can relate.

BackwardsSongJuly11-07

Anthill_

It's week two of my wife and son's one month vacation in Scotland.  Being a bachelor for the first time in about 6 years has been interesting thus far.  I've managed to stick to my orderly Fraser Crane life.  Go to work, walk my dog, talk about my problems, have the habitual/occasional vices and write and play music - simple life in my mind that I complicate with temporary bits of insanity that luckily seem to pass quickly.  

I miss the cuddles and kisses and I think about them and hope they are happy and safe.  Of course they are sometimes happier than I'd like and sometimes I'm a phone call away at the low points.  I bought my first bit of groceries today:  Tuscan Ham, Provolone and Cornmean Rye Bread - what's wrong with a regular ham and cheese Niles?

I cannot share any more Anthill Demos for now as per producer's request. 

Underground-5n7s

Last time I was in London I was hit by a car.  This time I avoided this with the help of "look left" and "look right" reminders that are painted on the ground  at the crosswalks - no doubt that other tourists have been hit here before.

Our Wed, sem-acoustic show at Tommy Hifiger on Regent street was the swankiest show I've ever played.  There were free cocktails and fancy food served by a professional catering staff.  We received a great response from the crowd and were asked to come back in August for another store opening.

The Thursday show at the Metro Club was sponsored by Billboard Magazine and featured Anthill and 3 other great Canadian Bands: Broadcast Radio, Info Tourist and Kate Rogers. The Metro Club has a lot of history in the London music scene http://www.myspace.com/blowupmetro . After a great show we stayed till 3:00 am dancing to some of the best music I've heard in one night in years.

My hosts that I'm staying with have been amazing and hilarious.  A few days left here to chill out.

Anthill plays The Media Club in Vancouver on Friday July 6 with Lotus Child.

The new songs are coming along nicely

All the best

Mark