Children Of Mercy

Newsbites: Lotte Kestner has you covered; Thom Carter is a monster; Shawn invades PDX; & more

2011-05-30T11:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day everyone! But, as a friend of mine pointed out, "happy" seems kind of dark. Anyway, here we are. Hopefully most of you are like me, and work as a servant to the government, and get this day off to relax, blog, and watch kids throw tantrums over the mandatory sharing of crayons.

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Anna-Lynne Williams has a great new album coming very soon! She will be releasing a large collection of cover songs under Lotte Kestner enitled, Stolen CD. This will be the second release from her recently started label Saint Loup Records. The album will has been completely self produced, and self released. That's the Children of Mercy spirit! You can pre-order it now on the Trespassers William site. And if you haven't checked out Saint Loup Records first official release from Sergius Gregory, check out my review at Fensepost, and go get it. Now. You will not regret it!

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Shawn Fogel trampled into the city of Roses to shoot his video for Golden Bloom's "Rhyme To Reason" with acclaimed directer Alicia J. Rose. If you remember back a few weeks, Fogel set out in regular COM fashion and started a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to shoot this video. Well it is coming right along folks! And even better, it features always hilarious and genius Timmy Williams of Whitest Kids U Know fame. So, obviously, the video shows great promise to be excellent. Until then, check out Shawn's other amazing video Doomsday Devices, which features another fine COM contributor Alan Cohen.

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Off and on I have been working on a series of blogs entitled The 8 Headed Monster That Is Thom Carter for Staring At The Walls: A Cultureless Existence. This is the accompanying blog to Workerbee Records, run by our dear friend Edward Bignar. And Thom Carter is none other than the wonderful Menhirs of Er Grah, who's song "Child Of Mercy", was an obvious influence. But, Thom has several monikers, and I wanted to a review (in short) on each one. So I have been doing that. Sadly, it has taken me forever to finish them off. It has actually taken me so long, that he has created two more monikers. But, today I managed to pull together Part VII, and hope to have VIII out very soon. You can check them all out at Staring At The Walls.

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the Children of Mercy compilation album received some nice praise by Unplug The Jukebox's Paul Lane while featured on Nick Mann's fabulous podcast, Is This Thing On? You can listen to the entire podcast from their website. Special praise went to Jaakko and Phil The Tremolo King. Lotte Kestner and Factory Kids faired pretty good as well. Nick and Paul are wonderful people! And I definitely recommend making Is This Thing On? a regular listening to all.

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Contributor Cyndi Kimmel wrote a view nice review of Eternal Summer's recent performance in Pullman, WA for my homebase of blogging, Fensepost. Which, in turn, is the 5 year old brain child of other fellow contributor Andy Fenstermaker. Cyndi has been writing off and on for Fensepost for a while, and always has something spectacular to share.

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Our friends Bobby Joe Ebola and The Children Macnuggits are officially on the road. They will be doing several shows through the end of July. And believe me, they are going fucking everywhere!! Check out the full list HERE. Hell, they are even playing in my hometown of Kelso, WA. As well as two dates in Portland, and in a couples days the will be attending the Do Ya Hear Ye! Festival in Chattanooga, TN. Keep on rockin' homeboys!!

Also traveling the country is our good friend Bodi, on the previously mentioned Never Ending Gun Show Tour. He will be out and about through the end of June. See where he is at HERE.

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Well kids, there it is! Lots of stuff to check out. As always, the Children of Mercy are doing fascinating things. Great people. Great times. Take care all!!

Newsbites: iTunes!; Jess in Wonderland; Longview Love; in stores in Portland; Brlog Records = Free!

2011-05-27T08:52:00.000-07:00

Compilation now available on iTunes & CD Baby!

While it's been a couple weeks since the blog has had some good updates, it is definitely not due to lack of events. So many things have been happening lately. It's would almost be hard to find a place to begin....if it weren't for one huge piece:

Children of Mercy compilation album is now available on iTunes. Yes my dear children, we have finally made it. After a bit of struggle and solemn waiting, we are finally available on Steve Job's wet dream. Here you can actually download each track by itself if that is your preferred route of listening. So head over to iTUNES and pick up the album today! We already received a fabulous buyer review

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But for what might be even more exciting, or dear friend Jess Gulbransson is currently in the running for a Wonderland Award from the elite of the strange, Bizarro Central. The preliminary rounds of voting have started now, and will run until July 31st. He is nominated for his fantastic book, which came out long before ours did, 10 Boots Stomping 20 A Human Face 30 Go To 10. You can pick up the book yourself at Amazon as well! This is an excellent way for you to support one of our own children of mercy.

10 Boots Stomping 20 A Human Face 30 Go To 10

If you don't already know, Jess was a contributor three times over for our book. He designed the fabulous cover (which features a whitened shadow man figure of the familiar Phil The Tremolo King), was one half of Couer Machant featured on the comp (which received rave reviews in DrunkenWerewolf Magazine), and, of course, he contributed his gift of words to the project with his terrific essay "Bucket Lists Are Bullshit". And he has continued to support and spread the word about Children of Mercy every chance he can get. So let's support him as well!!!

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I received a very nice feature in The Kelso-Longview Daily News. This was my hometown, so it was pretty cool to see my ugly mug plastered across the entertainment section. You can find it on-line at TDN.com.

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If you live in the fine city of Portland, Oregon, you can now pick up your very own copy of Children of Mercy in stores! The esteemed independent book store Ready Frenzy has consigned with us! As has my favorite record label/store/superheroes Tender Loving Empire! There have been a few personal milestones in the process of creating this book, and having The Mees and TLE family support this project is definitely one of them. And Reading Frenzy is one of the most perfect independent book stores I have ever stepped foot in. This brings our tally of in store locations to 7 between Portland, Spokane, Omaha, and Martha's Vineyard. All independent. All very lovely.

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The Cryogenic Strawberries will be holding a contest for the album cover for their new release Stand Up and Be Different. The Winner will be chosen by their facebook fans. If you think you have an aidea, start submitting today by either posting it on their Facebook Page directly, or by e-mailing your own submission to vicarlem@gmail.com.

As you all should know, The Cryogenic Strawberries are featured on the COM compilation, and band member Edward Bignar donated a fine essay to the book. His label Workerbee Records has been absolutely crucial to the development of the Children of Mercy compilation album.

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Our dear friend and contributor Roberto Vodanovic has some FREE MUSIC to share with you all! Courtesy of his Croatian based net label, Brlog Records, he has tons of music, including some of his own as well as a special guest appearance from our other dear friend Phil The Tremolo King! Head on over to the Brlog Records Site. Roberto performs as Copor, but appeared as himself on the COM compilation and as a contributor of beautiful prose to the book.

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So we have a three way going on here. Not like that. Better. I recently wrote an Artist Spotlight piece for Soul Distraction for MusicGeek.org. As you should know, Soul Distraction is the home group for our lovely contributor/web designer/goddess of all things Mercy, Elsa Faith. And MusicGeek.org is the brainchild of another terrific contributor, Matt Montgomery. Check it out HERE.

It makes my heart skip several lovely beats when I see the esteemed Children of Mercy working together. The one's with publications, blogs, pens and papers, have taken their time to write on some of the other musicians involved with the project. Phil The Tremolo King has definitely made his rounds. He has now worked with several of his fellow contributors to help spread the word of his music. This is one of the most wonderful things I have found while doing this project. Friends helping friends. I am very happy to call all of these fine people involved with Children of Mercy, just that, my friends!

Good Day everyone!

Newsbites: Anna-Lynne Radio; Thunder Power; Press Love; & more!

2011-05-14T09:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Folks! Been a lot going on as of lately. We are desperately seeking to spread the word about this project, and to get the book into the hands to as many people as possible, and do all we can to get some funds to those who truly need it.

And with that, let's take a look at some of the cool things our very own Children of Mercy have been up to, and some cool developments from within the COM world!

-- Anna-Lynne Williams will be the host on the Guest List segment for the awesome on line station, Strangeways Radio. Tune in on Sunday May 15th from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. Pacific Time. Visit the Strangeways website to tune in! Who knows, maybe she might cut a track from the Children of Mercy compilation!

-- Corbett Redford and Dan Abbott, better known as Bobby Joe Ebola & The Children Macnuggits, have officially kicked off their "Ring Around The Bullshit" Tour. And in about 10 days, the illustrious duo will be leaving their beloved home base in the bay area, to travel across the land! They will make their way to the east coast, and all the way back home to Northern California. They will also be making a stop in my hometown of Kelso, WA! Which, unfortunately, I will not be able to attend. Damn. Anyway, check out the official listing of dates and locations HERE.

-- Congratulations to our good friend Will Silvey Simons and his band Thunder Power on their kickstarter success! They managed to raise 2,000 dollars to aid in the recording of their first full length album. Excellent work guys! Find them on Facebook to learn more about this exciting project!

-- The next issue of DrunkenWerewolf Magazine is now available, and will feature an album review for the fantastic album 11, by our very own Phil The Tremolo King. Visit the DrunkenWerewolf site to pick up your copy today!

-- The next issue of Sergeant Sparrow Magazine will be hitting the shelves very soon as well! And excitedly enough, it will contain a very nice big feature on Children of Mercy. Angel, Spencer & company at Seargant Sparrow have been extremely supportive of this project since it's inception. We owe them alot. So watch out for the magazine's release coming to their website very soon! And while you're there, how about picking up some fancy Sgt. Sparrow slippers! Or maybe a Swamp Angels CD? There is so much, definitely check it out.

-- We received some very nice coverage from the blog Parasites and Sycophants. What nice folks over there!

-- And....I am a bit late on getting this one out, but our dear friend Will Silvey Simons (previously mentioned as lead man behind Thunder Power) scored us a spot on Omahype.com last month, that I am only now realizing. It's a quick one, but rumor has it we could be receiving our very first full fledged book review from this stie. Here's to hope! For now, check this out.

So that will be it for now. But, lots of exciting stuff to come. A new blog will be up very soon. A special post featuring all the recent love we have been receiving from the great country of Indonesia. It has been stellar. Much for blog and press love to come in the (hopefully) near future. Cheers everyone!

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month!

2011-05-07T10:27:00.000-07:00

So this is a pretty important month for those of us within the Children of Mercy spectrum, but it is even more important for the thousands of men, women, & especially children around the globe who are suffering every day from cystic fibrosis.

It is Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month.

If ever there were a time to think of others, May is the time to do it. Whether you are supporting our project with book purchases, donating directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or Cystic Fibrosis Trust, or supporting other organizations (i.e. Emily Schaller's Rock CF Foundation), ANYTHING you can do, from donations, to donating your time, to simply informing others on this terrible disease, is exactly what is needed to be done in order to one day make this disease a thing of the past. Advancements are being made, but not without the efforts of some, and the struggles of so many. (Click on any of the links above to find out how you can help.)

As I type out these words, one little boy is stuck in my thoughts. The little boy who has been dubbed the official child of mercy, Gordon-Hjalmar Nyberg, who has been stricken with Cystic Fibrosis, and suffers day in and day out. He was the reason that Children of Mercy became focused on the fight for CF. And as I sip my coffee and type luxuriously on my laptop amongst my own three children, little GH is sick...again. At such a young age, this little guy, as well as his parents Colleen & Ola, have suffered through more than I will ever know. This is what motivates me. Independent music is a passion I will always follow, but hunting down the day that we only look at CF as a thing of the past will be something I will never give up on. And if I can continue to find a way to use the things I love, to support those who need it the most, why the hell not?

And mother's day is right around the corner. So, on that note, I want to share with you an introduction to Cystic Fibrosis written by one of my favorite moms, Colleen Nyberg. These words appear within the pages of Children of Mercy. Please read it carefully, and think long and hard about helping out in any way you can. Thank you.

Introduction to Cystic Fibrosis

By Colleen Nyberg

Even while my son was still growing inside me, I began to develop hopes and dreams for my child. I thought about the life we would be bringing into the world, and what characteristics and values we would place importance on (creativity, intelligence, kindness and respect for all, honesty, etc.). I had originally been hoping for a little girl but when the doctor told me we would be having a son, I realized it didn´t matter; I just wanted a healthy baby. That was all that was important. Unfortunately, that was not to be. My son was born with a genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis (CF).

A little background information: Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease that affects thousands of people worldwide and has no cure. It mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems but can also lead to problems in other parts of the body. In order to have Cystic Fibrosis, one must have inherited 2 of the cystic fibrosis gene (one from each parent). This defective gene causes the body to create a thick, sticky mucus that fills up the lungs and causes life-threatening lung infections. It also blocks the pancreas so the natural enzymes cannot help the body break down and absorb food properly. Just 50 years ago, children with Cystic Fibrosis rarely lived through their elementary school years but advances in research and treatments have lengthened the life expectancy of people with CF. Today, the average life expectancy is 37 years old.

Our son, Gordon-Hjalmar, was diagnosed at 6 months of age after severe weight loss (failure to thrive) and numerous testing. The life we live today is very different from the one I had envisioned during my pregnancy. An average day for my 2 year old son consists of several medications that are taken 3 times each day, extra vitamins taken daily, fat supplements taken several times per day, as well as inhalation treatments and physiotherapy that is done twice daily to help strengthen his body and expel phlegm. While his lung function is currently pretty good, he is pancreatic insufficient which means that he must also takes replacement enzymes with all his meals and snacks and also eat a high fat diet. We have a whole team of people we work closely with (a nutritionist, a physiotherapist, counselors, nurses, and Drs) to keep my son as healthy and strong as possible but hospital visits are a part of life for a person with Cystic Fibrosis, and we have had a few. In fact, whenever we step onto the children´s ward of the hospital, we are greeted warmly by a staff that knows us well.

While our life is different than the one we had anticipated, in many ways our little boy is just like any other 2 year old. He is curious and active and eager to explore the world around him. He loves to run and jump and play make believe. He enjoys looking at and listening to storybooks. He loves listening to music, dancing to music, and most of all, making his own music.

I admit that some days are overwhelming and emotional and just plain hard to get through but then I look at my sweet baby boy and find the strength to do what must be done and help him fight for the chance to grow up, experience the adventures of life, and make his own dreams a reality. With love and strength and determination, we live each day with the hope that one day CF will stand for Cure Found.

The following book is a project of love from creative individuals from all over the world. They have generously donated their various talents in an effort to raise funds and awareness for this devastating disease. I send heartfelt thanks to each and every one of them.

find this introduction in Children of Mercy: Tales and Teachings From the World of Independent Music.

Children of Mercy Now Available on CDBaby!!!

2011-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hello folks! Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you all know that the Children of Mercy compilation album is now available at CDBaby.com. And soon enough, Steve Jobs will proudly host us on a little place called iTunes. What a stellar gentleman he is! But, for now, pick your copy at CDBaby or from our website which features a link directly to The Beechfields Record Label where you can pick buy one as well. Cheers!

Newsbites: Architects+Heroes+Jess; Bobby Joe Ebola; Aussies Love Factory Kids;

2011-04-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

- Attention Portlanders! Our very own child of mercy Jess Gulbranson will be competing in this unusually awesome event. It all happens this coming Friday, April 29th, at the Architects + Heroes Records Showcase of pure and raw talent. They will be having a Laptop Battle. This is a competitive event for laptop musicians match their skills against one another in front of judges in a single elimination style. This is where are dear friend Jess will be showing off his talents you have previously heard as one half of Couer Machant on the Children of Mercy compilation album with their beautiful track "She's Somebody's Daughter". The event will also feature live spinning from DJ's such as Audioelectronic, DJ Stephen R., Business 8, and Chris Alice. The event starts at 9 p.m. and will go way past the midnight hour, till around 2:30 a.m. And coolest news of all....it's FREE!!! For more information, check out the A+H Records website for the skinny on what is going. If you are in the Portland area, make your way over here to support Jess doing what he does best!

- Our friends from Bobby Joe Ebola & The Children Macnuggits, featuring child of mercy Dan Abbott, have released an amazing new video for the latest single from their fantastic triumphant return to the music scene of an album entitled F. I have loved these guys since I was a teenager, and it was such an honor to have Dan become a part of this project. Check out the video for "Poly" on Youtube, and prepare yourself for some serious laughs. And even better yet, the boys are hitting the road this summer on an extensive tour that hits just about everywhere! Including my hometown of Kelso, Washington. Wherever you may be within the mainland U.S., there is a chance that these guys will be raving and pillaging your community with their fine craftsmanship and PhD in "make you think hilarity" they have mastered. They put it best when they say, "Just because we're laughing, doesn't mean we're joking". To see if Bobby Joe and company will be near you, check out their TOUR SCHEDULE.

- And just because I like to show off how awesome the children of mercy really are, I thought it pertinent to tell everyone that Factory Kids are booming and rising up on the Australian Indie Radio Charts. Factory Kids appear on the compilation, and membersTim Chaplin and Christina Marie collaborated on a piece for the book as well. This is a well deserved spot for these awesome musicians. Congratulations Factory Kids

That's the news as we have it. It is Tuesday night, and in about and hour or so I will be sitting down to tune into Motion Granted Radio with our near friend Martin Lanphear here in lovely Spokane, WA. And as always, the book is available for purchase from the Children of Mercy website. Go HERE to pick up your copy today. And be sure to be on the look out on Facebook for exclusive offers and discounts, coming soon! Cheers everyone!

Newsbites: Thunder Power; Mock Trials; The Pristines; Bangkutaman!

2011-04-21T19:56:00.000-07:00

Some terrific news is coming your way! Some folks need some help with making albums (or films), and others have some to sell cheaply, or even give them away for absolutely nothing! Check it out!

- Contributor Will Silvey Simons has a band. A great band. They are Omaha's own Thunder Power! And they are looking to put out their first full length album this summer! But, they need your help! And just as we did for Children of Mercy, and so many other members the COM family have done, they've turned to Kickstarter! They've gotten a pretty good jump start on the fundraising, but they still only have 3 weeks to raise about $1,400 in order to afford some well deserved studio time. Will and his band rock in extreme amounts! Please consider donating their Kickstarter Page.

- And as I have previously stated, another contributor of ours is on Kickstarter, and is in desperate need of some help as well. Chris Eaves and his partners at SoundSkript are looking to raise some massive funds to support the production cost of their film Mock Trials: A Mockumentary. They only have 3 weeks left to raise $12,500. And they still need alot of funds, or the film may not make it into production. Please consider helping this project. I desperately want to see this film get made! P.S. There have been tentative plans made that might be the inclusion of Children of Mercy in the film in some way shape or form! Check out their Kickstarter Page.

Wanna hear some good tunes? Well, check this out:

- Jon Hardy has discovered the beauty of Bandcamp, and has begun offering up 3 digital versions of three albums from his band, the legendary indie rockers The Pristines, at extremely low prices. As little as $1 on a pay as wish scale. And trust me, these albums are worth twice their weight in gold! Check out the Bandcamp page to pick up a few digitalized copies!

AND

- Our friends at Bangkutaman, featured on the Children of Mercy compilation and essay submission by frontman J. Irwin, have released a very nice EP entitled Catch Me When I Fall, and have released it for the wonderful price of FREE! Just check out this post at SeaIndie to get yourself a very nice digital EP from Indonesia's finest indie act to date!

That's all for now. More news surely to come very soon!

Newsbites: Motion Granted Tomorrow; Bodi: Comedy and Condoms; Fringe Vintage/Fathers and Sons; DrunkenWerewolf

2011-04-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody! I know we just did an update yesterday, but a few wonderful things have popped up just in the last 30 hours or so. Here they is:

- Though it's not new, I still want to reiterate that I will be appearing on Motion Granted Radio on KYRS 92.3 in Spokane....TOMORROW NIGHT!!!! Tune in at kyrs.org at 8:00 p.m. to hear yours truly sit in with Martin Hall Lanphear, spin a few tracks, and say some long winded and nervous words about Children of Mercy.

And now the even newer, newsy news:

- Our lovely hip hop wordsmith/philanthropist/COM contributor Alex Hallet, a.k.a. Bodi (formely know as Alexipharmic) has some more cool things happening. He's discovered the (other) glory of condoms. and comedy. Firstly, or man has entered a contest sponsored by Magnum Condoms in an effort to raise $2,500 for Mercy Corp. He spits some sweet bars while cruising around Fort Collins to showcase his amazing talents. You can help! It's really easy. Just go to the YOUTUBE video, and "Like" it. That's it! And tell everyone you know!

And.....

Our man will be featured in an indie comedy film entitled The Rude, The Mad, and The Funny featuring Marky Mark's big brother Arthur Wahlberg and some other very fine actors. I'm not positive what Alex will be doing in the film. I believe he may be acting as an amateur comedian. No matter, this is looks like an awesome project that deserves some support! Check out the trailer HERE. And check out the WEBSITE.

- Fringe Vintage is fucking awesome. For some, this isn't news. For those less informed, and/or outside the Portland, Oregon area, this is an amazing vintage clothing store/venue/recording studio based in the city of roses. You may recognize this wonderful place form the liner notes of the Children of Mercy compilation album. Our dear friends from Westfold donated their unreleased track "Scene-O-Matic", which was recorded live at Fringe Vintage. And what are they up to now? Well, they have released a wonderful album by a wonderful group entitled Fathers and Sons. This group is especially special to me, and also happen to have members who are roommates/collaborators with Westfold themselves. And, beyond all that, it is an amazing album! Check it out HERE. This is absolutely not to be missed!

- Everyone remember our spot on the DrunkenWerewolf Magazine blog? Which would lead to a positive album review in DrunkenWerewolf Magazine? Well, our dear friends across the pond have officially launched their full fledged, and totally awesome website! And the blog feature is up there. So stop by the SITE, and order a copy of the current issue in which we received our very first album review! But, hurry they will sell fast! They're only 5 bucks, and absolutely amazing!

So that is the news for now folks! Don't forget to tune in tomorrow night at 8, and absolutely don't forget to head on over to childrenofmercy.net and get your copy of the book and album if you haven't done so already! Cheers everyone! See you soon!

Newsbites: Motion Granted Radio; Print Love; Cleemann; Amazon & more!

2011-04-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! Got a some cool news from the Children of Mercy world to share with you all. So, let's begin!

- As I mentioned in the last post, I will be appearing on the lovely independent music showcase program Motion Granted Radio on KYRS 92.3 here in Spokane on Tuesday April, 19th from 8-10 p.m. (pacific). Just two days away. And you can listen yourself on line from wherever you are at kyrs.org. The station actually just updated their streaming capabilities, and is much easier to navigate with, and you can actually hear it! So that's good, right? Tune in as Martin Lanphear spins a few tracks and picks my brain about the project we have all come to love!

- And there is more love coming out way via a few fine publications. In fact, we were recently featured in The Pacific Northwest Inlander in the "Buzz Bin" section. Sure, they spelled my name wrong, but they love is felt. You can view it on line HERE.

And more love is to come very soon. TRAX Magazine, a highly praised and well circulated music publication in Indonesia has developed a very nice feature that should be printed very soon. Our good friends from the brilliant indie pop rock band Bangkutaman, featured on the compilation, can be thanked for hooking us up with this love. Thanks guys!

And equally exciting is our potential inclusion in the next issue of Sergeant Sparrow Magazine!! This is very exciting both on a personal level, and, of course for the project. I have loved Angel Russell as a musician for years. We had one of those unknown "friend of a friend of a friend" sort of connection. So, when I contacted her, you can imagine how excited I was to have her jump on board with this project. Her label/magazine/radio show/store hook ups have been absolutely fantastic. And best of all, Angel and SSM editor Spencer Thurlow donated a wonderful historical piece in the book as well. Sergeant Sparrow has been absolutely amazing to us in the past, and now they are looking to throw us in their publication. This is definitely very exciting news. Check out Sergeant Sparrow's website to see all the amazing things these beautiful people have to offer. We're even on the front of the page for the moment! Also, you can check out this feature I wrote on them for Fensepost. Excellent!

- I wanted to share this awesome podcast with you! Please check out the Twin Cities's Radio Noir. You will not be upset. This specific episode features one of our very own teammates, and dear friend of mine. Cleemann, the generous man who created an original track ("Independent") for the compilation album, tells us about his process and plays a few beautiful tracks on this feed. I swear to you, it's absolutely captivating! This man is the definition of art. And he can be very nicely observed by his lovely wife Jeanne Betak Cleemann, who has been my muse during the process of making this book, in her contribution in Children of Mercy. Our hero also recently played a couple nice sets down at SXSW. The sky is truly the limit for this wonderful family!

- I am proud to announce that Children of Mercy is officially available on Amazon. Unfortunately, it is a bit overpriced in comparison to the personal sales we are doing. But, hey, it's good to have options, right? And a Kindle version of the book will be in development soon as well. Exciting stuff, but again, this is simply an option and another way for us to get the word out.

- If you haven't made your way over to Kickstarter to help out our dear friend Chris Eaves and Soundskript Entertainment get their film Mock Trials: A Mockumentary made and out to the world, DO IT NOW! It will make you feel good! I promise! There are only 4 weeks left raise about $12,000 more dollars. Every little bit helps! Let's do this people!

Well, my second large coffee is just about finished, and my heart is beginning to race. On this lovely Sunday, this is my cue to wrap this thing up. Tune in for even more news to come. Don't forget about Tuesday's radio show, and THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT CHILDRENOFMERCY.NET. Thank you all. And have a splendid day! Cheers

Newsbites: Anna-Lynne interviews Sadistik; Phil on Crossroads; Motion Granted; more!

2011-04-13T17:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody! I've decided that it would be a shame just let this blog space go to waste since we have a nice fancy website. So, I've decided that I would use this space for announce some of the upcoming events in the COM world. And mostly, showcase our lovely contributors in their latest efforts to express themselves artistically. So let's begin!

- Anna-Lynne Williams did a wonderful interview with Seattle based MC Sadistik at identitytheroy.com. Sadistik will be hitting the road this summer as part of the cross-country Neverending Gun Show Tour, which also happens to feature another one of our contributors, Alex Hallet, a.k.a. Bodi. And not only can you catch the show in your area, you also have about 6 more days to help fund them via their Kickstarter page!

- And back to Anna-Lynne Williams, her newly founded record label, Saint-Loop Records, has had their first release. Sounds Like People from Sergius Gregory was released earlier this month. I wrote a review for the album at fensepost.com (if you don't know already, this is my regular writing grounds, a site ran by one of our own contributors Andy Fenstermaker).

- Phil The Tremolo King has a fancy new animated video for his track "Who Let The Sunshine In" from his latest album on Norman Records, 11. Check it out on YouTube. And in other Tremolo news, our man will be featured in on Crossroads with Bob Rice on 92.3 KYRS Thin Air Community Radio in Spokane Washington on Sunday June 5th at 2 p.m. If this sounds at all familiar, it is rightfully so. Bob Rice has been extremely supportive of COM. I appeared on his program in January just prior to the release of the compilation album, and he has continued to play our tracks, and announce any COM news. I believe this is going to be a great mesh up! Details from the show can be found the Crossroads page on the KYRS website.

- And speaking of KYRS....I will be on the air next week there as well! Not with Crossroads, but on another fine program that has been extremely supportive of us. I will be appearing on Motion Granted, hosted by Martin Lanphear. The show airs this Tuesday, April 19th, at 8 p.m. I will most definitely be making another announcement for this as the time nears closer. You can learn more about Motion Granted at their page as well.

- Chris Eaves and his teammates at SoundSkript Entertainment still desperately need your help in raising over $12,000 to create their film Mock Trials: A Mockumentary. They only have about a month left on their Kickstarter campaign, and could still use a lot of support. Please donate in anyway you can! Go HERE now!

While I'm sure more of our artists are doing wonderful things out there and deserve some play time, I don't want to overload you all with too much fun. Watch for more updates to come!

And please don't forget - the book and compilation album are available NOW at childrenofmercy.net

Cheers!

Updates...

2011-04-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

So the book has been out to the public for about a week. I find myself lost without any preparation. Sure, there are several blogs and newspapers across the globe that need to be informed, but that still doesn't seem to be enough to occupy my time I would usually spend on working towards getting this book into circulation. In essence, I am simply sitting by a computer waiting for an order to be placed, so I can head into the office/mail room/my basement and get the order ready to ship as soon as possible. What else is a guy to do?

I have been crunching the numbers a bit, and we are actually doing some very nice work for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. I never really set a goal to achieve, but I think we are on the right track to achieve a very nice amount of cash for these worthy charities. So that is good.

Our people are seeing a great amount of success as well. Our very own contributors Shawn Fogel and Alex "Bodi" Hallett have successfully taken part in their own Kickstarter campaigns, and, well, were successful! Shawn Fogel will be now be shooting a video in Portland thanks to the funds raised. And Bodi will be touring the country with an extra bit of cash to help along the way thanks to those funds raised. This is excellent news! Both artists are phenomenal in their own right, and most definitely deserve any and all success they may obtain. Keep checking back here for more updates on Shawn's video, and Bodi's tour (including dates!)

But, there is still one more out there (and it's a big one)....SoundSkript Entertainment wants to shoot a film. Our very own Chris Eaves is involved with this phenomenal cast of characters and filmmakers based in Portland, OR. The film, with writing from Mr. Eaves, is currently titled Mock Trials: A Mockumentary. And....well, you know what? Just head on over to their Kickstarter page and watch the awesome video they put together, and be sure to drop a couple bucks off in their direction. They need around $12,000 in just over 30 days. With our help, and track record, hopefully we can make this possible!

*****

So if by some chance you are reading this, and you haven't made your way over to childrenofmercy.net and picked yourself up a copy of the book.....what are you waiting for? It's there! This has been an actual grassroots movement that has come to be a success. Now all we need is to sell some books! So get on over there, and tell your friends to come along as well.

And stay tuned in for some more press love coming soon, and a radio spot coming soon as well! More information to come. Cheers!

Website Up and Running!! Book Release April 2nd!!

2011-03-30T20:25:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's been almost three weeks since I've updated the good ole blog, but it is with good reason! The official website, Childrenofmercy.net is now up and running thanks to one of our lovely contributors, Elsa Faith, who has generously donated an abundance of time in creating a portal for fans to pick up a copy of the book and compilation album. As well as learn a bit about the project as well. It looks awesome, and I recommend everybody stop on over to the site and look around.

And pre-order the book now! Or place your order on April 2nd.....which, if you haven't noticed, is the official release date of Children Of Mercy: Tales and Teachings From the World of Independent Music. The book will be available from the website for those purchasing within the United States. For all you fine folks in Europe and Asia, you can pick up a copy at the UK based music co-operative Sotones Records website. Our lovely contributor and recording artist Anja McCloskey and her lovely team at Sotones has graciously agreed to act as our overseas hosts of the book. This will relinquish a bit of shipping costs, as well as making shipping time much faster when coming from across the pond.

And of course, we are hitting the major outlets as well. The book will be available on Amazon sometime in the near future, and a Kindle version is in the works. The compilation album will soon be available on CDBaby and iTunes in the near future as well. Stay tuned into the website for dates!

The book will also be available in stores in selected cites. Soon if you live in Spokane, WA, Portland, OR, or Martha's Vineyard, MA, you might be able to walk into some of the finest independent book and music stores and find it on the shelf. Again, details to come to the website very soon!

So, a bunch of great things are happening! Stay tuned to childrenofmercy.net for all the exciting events. And of course, stop by here as well. I'll try and come around more often! Cheers!

Coming soon

2011-03-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

So if you take a look to your left, you will see the final cover for Children of Mercy: Tales and Teachings From The World of Independent Music. I am very excited to finally be able to share this with you. The book is hitting the printing process this weekend, and will be on digital shelves very soon. Many details are being worked out to have the book on physical shelves in independent book stores, as well as media giants like Hastings and Borders (if there are any still around), across the country in places like Spokane, Portland, Omaha, Martha's Vineyard, etc. And maybe in your neck of the woods? But, at the very least, expect the final product to be available on Amazon with a date to be announced soon.

I will also be setting a website in the near future where you will be able to purchase the book as well as the compilation album directly from me and Marquette Publishing! But, no matter how you purchase it. Remember, 100% of all profits and royalties from this book and album will go to both the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation here in the U.S. As well as half going to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust in the UK. We are actually expected to make our first donation to this fine organizations very soon with the few sales we have received from the compilation album. I'm very excited to finally do a bit of good!

But, until the book can be shoved into your shelves and littering your coffee tables, check out some of the fine press we have been receiving from across the globe:

We had two spots on LA Talk Radio on Troy's Room. We were featured on March 1st and March 8th. Did you miss them? Well have no fear! You can visit the SITE and stream both the episodes at your own leisure! It was also an honor to share the waves with Soul Distraction. The band in in which our very own contributor Elsa Faith is the frontwoman. Good things all around!

Issue 16 of DrunkenWerewolf Magazine featuring a review of the Children of Mercy Compilation has hit shelves in the UK, and you can pick up a copy on line as well. Check out the DWM Blog to see how you can pick a copy for yourself no matter where you live!

We've received continuous support from the fabulous indie radio program Motion Granted, on KYRS 92.3 in Spokane, WA. The show's DJ, Martin, has been extremely generous with airplay. I recommend you check out his show every Tuesday night. You might just hear a bit of Jaakko or Robin Grey or Lotte Kestner pop up at any given moment!

And speaking of KYRS programming, Bob from Crossroads has never faltered in promoting the show with great pride. I also recommend his show every Sunday as well! Terrific tunes all around (Coming this Sunday: Lukas Nelson on the line! Yeah, that's Willie's boy!).

We will have even more exciting news to share as the book nears complete distribution. Until then, be sure to check out all the great artists involved with this project, as well as all those who have been supporting this project through any avenue they can seem to conjure up. Watch for constant updates on the Facebook Fan Page as well! Cheers!

Updates!

2011-02-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

A cake that my wonderful wife Melissa had made for the record release.

With things kicking into gear pretty quickly, it has almost been tough to keep up with it all.

But, I guess the biggest news thus far would be that the book going to press very soon! I have been meeting with our wonderful publishers at Marquette Books in Spokane, WA. A release date is still TBA, but it will soon be available on line via Amazon.com and other routes. As well as in a few local bookstores across the US, especially in the Pacific Northwest. All of this is still in the pre-planning phases, but moving along rather rapidly.

And....the compilation is out and available to you the people courtesy of The Beechfields Record Label. You can pick it up HERE! And if you happen to be in the Inland Northwest region, you can also pick up a copy at 4,000 Holes Record Shop in Spokane, WA.

We've been recieving some great radio and press nods lately. And if more to come. Here is where you may have heard about us lately:

I did an interview with jakartabeat in the great country of Indonesia.

We had a feature in on DrunkenWerewolf Magazine's blog. And an review of the album will appear in issue 16, which hits stands on March 1st.

KYRS 92.3 here in Spokane has been a great help. We have been featured twice on two great programs now - Crossroads with Bob Rice and Motion Granted with Marin Hall-Laphear. Two wonderful programs you definitely need to check out! Follow the links to the shows to hear them! And tune in tomorrow (Feb. 27th) at 1 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) to hear a few more tracks on Crossroads!

And coming up......we are going to be featured in two consecutive editions of Troy's Room on LA Talk Radio. Tune in on the website on March 1st and March 8th to hear what Troy has to say! And another bonus, you can stream past shows at any time after the show airs on the link provided. So if you can't make it at the right time, you can still hear the love!

And soon.....we will be featured in another great Indonesian publication, TRAX Magazine, as well as on their website. More information when it becomes available!

.....and hopefully more to come!! The team is doing a hell of a job getting the word out about all the exciting updates and love from all over the world. But, we can always do more!

For anyone out there hoping to help out, find how to become a part of the Children of Mercy Street Team. Any and all help will definitely be appreciated! Help us do some good!!

Take care everyone. Until next time...Cheers!

Compilation Album Out Now!!

2011-02-10T21:44:00.000-08:00

Hello Folks! So, it has been almost a month since the last post, but it has been for good reasons, this I promise. We've had so many great things happening lately, but the greatest of which would most definitely have to be that..............

The compilaiton album was officially released last Tuesday on February 8th. Yes, Phase One is complete! Now all we need to make this that much more successful is for you to get yourselves over to The Beechfields Record Label website and pick yourself up a copy of the album. ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS ALBUM SHALL GO TO THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION AND THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRUST. Just thought that should be bolded and capitalized considering we are finally getting out chance to give to a little bit to the foundations we have always planned to support. So head over to the ------.BEECHFIELDS SITE <----- to pick yourself up a copy for yourself, and do some good!

More news to come in the coming weeks, especially concerning the book's progress as far as publication. Everything is really falling into place. I hope you will continue along with us on this voyage. Take care all.

P.S. See that fancy flyer in the top left. Isn't that sweet? Our good friend and contributor Elsa Faith designed it. She's awesome. Thanks Elsa!

Radio Extravaganza!! Record Releases!! Oh My!!

2011-01-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

This weekends radio extravaganza has officially begun! Last night I ventured down to Pullman, WA to sit in with Cyndi Kimmel on KZUU 90.7 on the WSU campus. It was a whole lot of fun, as well as a great learning experience. Public speaking has never been my fortay, but I think it went rather well nonetheless. With a host like Cyndi, it's hard to go wrong!

And yet there is more!

Tune in tomorrow night (Friday, Jan. 15th) to KJHK 90.7 in Lawrence, KS at 9 p.m. to hear our good friend Matt Beat spin a few tracks from the compilation album and say a few nice words about the project from the student ran University of Kansas station. Matt is a stellar gentleman, an excellent musician, and an overall great human being. We are honored to have him involved with this project. You can stream the show on line HERE.

Then......

Once you have awaken from your all night listening party, be sure to get your ass up by 2 p.m. on Sunday (Jan. 16th) to hear me once again! This time I will be going live with Bob Rice on his show Crossroads right here in my home of Spokane, WA. The show will appear on 92.3 KYRS Thin Air Community Radio! This the premiere radio station here in Spokane. And Bob Rice is a legend in his own right. This is going to be a damn big one folks! You can stream this show on line as well, just go HERE.

3 shows in 4 days folks! This is absolutely incredible! So, why would this be oh so crucial at this point? Well.......

We got an album coming out!

Yes, the Children Of Mercy compilation album will be officially released on February 8th courtesy of The Beechfields Record Label! It is going to be excellent. Our dear friend Michael W. Nestor has gone full force in mastering this album, and making all the arrangements for it's final release! Mark your calanders folks, and watch for more details to come very soon! You can discover more information very soon at The Beechfields website.

That is it for now ladies and gentlemen! Be sure to tune into all of our on air stunts, and save your quarters to pick yourself up a copy of the album in just three short weeks!

And The Beat Goes On

2011-01-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

So, for those who have been following us relentlessly on Facebook, you may have discovered that we recently reached on goal on the Kickstarter campaign. And most recently, we have exceeded it tremendously. We are currently at 112% with a whole week left to go. A real success story if I ever heard one. It is a tremendous feeling to know that funding will not slow this project down. The beat shall go on.

And with that, it has become time to start promoting this project through all routes accessible. Including a bit of radio airplay, and the eventual release of the compilation album from The Beechfields Label. And a little bit of both are going to be happening very soon.

The Children of Mercy compilation album will be released very soon! More details to come shortly. Until then, gear yourself up by checking out all the tracks on the project's Myspace and Bandcamp pages. And remember, you can pre-order the album right now simply by pledging to the Kickstarter campaign, which is still on and could use all the support possible. So head on over HERE, to pledge some cash and make sure you get yourself a copy of the album, the book, or even both!!!

Resurrecting The Radio Star

2010-12-30T13:35:00.000-08:00

I awoke this morning feeling the effects of a late night of whiskey and Scrabble. But, through blurry eyes, I managed to open my e-mail to find that Angel Russell was spinning the Children Of Mercy track list on the Sergeant Sparrow Radio Show on WVVY 93.7 in Martha's Vineyard. And just like that, soberity hit and I was excited. Angel spun about a dozen tracks from the album and spoke so extremely high of the project it made me blush a bit! Thank you Angel!

And on the subject...I am excited to announce that Sergeant Sparrow Records will also be featuring Children of Mercy in their magazine as well! Check out all the details at their website. They are beautiful people! We've also been featured on the front of their site for about a week now! It is truly an honor to have partnered up with these fine folks! Thank you again Angel.

________

And more exciting news is to come. It looks as though I am going to prove once again....I have a face for radio!! Yes, on January 13th, I will be heading to Pullman, Washington to join Cyndi Kimmell in the studio during her set on KZUU 90.7. I will be talking about the project a bit and spinning some tracks with Cyndi. Very excited to make my way down there. Remember, you can stream the entire show HERE. The show will be from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday, January 13th.

But, that's not all folks......

I am also honored to announce that I will be appearing on Crossroads with Bob Rice on KYRS Thin Air Community Radio in Spokane, Washington as well. After a few dozen pestering e-mails, I finally got through to Bob, and he contacted me last week to invite me onto his program during the acclaimed second hour of his program. This one might be a bit nerve racking for me....but it's for the project, and I will do absolutely anything to get the word out there about this beautiful magic we are creating. Bob has put a nice little feature of me and the project on the KYRS Website. The show will be from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, January 16th.

And in related news......

One of our very own contributors, Matt Beat, has promised to spin a few tracks when he picks up DJ duties at KJHK in Lawrence, Kansas. He will be going live on January 15th. More details to comehe time comes closer. So happy we are finally able to tackle middle America! It's a sweet place dontchaknow.
________

So, as you can see, the beginning of the new year is going to be a good one. But, there is still the Kickstarter issues at hand. It would be so nice to be able to walk into the studio at KYRS two days before the campaign ends and tell Bob and the entire city of Spokane that we have reached our goal and they can expect to have a badass book to throw on their coffee table sometime in 2011. But, that can only happen if we can raise $1,000 in just over two weeks! We are doing great so far, but we need to pick up the pace a bit. So find the link on your right, and tell everyone you know to help us out!

_________

That is about all the news for the moment. I shall be joining a couple of our contributors (with special guest Rodney Carr from Lylah Crying) tonight to record a podcast featuring all things Children Of Mercy. Just a fun night with some good friends and wonderful tunes from a wonderful project. More to come on this as well.

I hope everyone has a lovely New Years celebration. 2010 was great. Here's to an even better 2011!

Resolutions & Rewards

2010-12-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

So, Christmas has come and went. As well as Kwanza. All we have left is one more drunken all nighter left to leave 2010 in the ashes of time. It was a good year overall, wouldn't you think? Even with earthquakes, tsunamis, oil spills, war all over the place, cholara outbreaks, recissions, government bailouts, tea parties, GOP takeovers, etc. There is still always something to be thankful for. And there is always a little something to work towards. Some of us call it the "Great New Years Resolution". It is our time to denounce or dispiriting ways and hopefully make ourselves better people. Sure, we may not be able to help everyone we can, but if we all just chose SOMETHING to care about and acted upon it, surely we can make a difference. And as you may have guessed it, this is what I care about, and hope you might consider as well........

The Children of Mercy Kickstarter campaign has raised 52% of the required funds to make this project happen. So half of the cash has been pledged, in just over half the time. This is obviously some great news! But, we also have to remember that with Kickstarter, it is ALL OR NOTHING! There are no conselation prizes for coming close, and there is no way to keep even only 99% of the pledges raised. The money raised here will almost cover the entire printing cost, and is extremely important to any success this project will have. And of course, once the book becomes a published product, all applicable royalties and proceeds will be going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. So aid for floods in Haiti might be a bit out of reach of some of us to have any direct impact, but we can definitely leave an earmark in Aid towards fighting CF.

But, what would a New Year's Resolution be within a reward? Right? Sure, "being more charitable" is probably the best resolution you can actually make. But, c'mon? Really? Nobody will buy that shit for a minute. So, why not become a part of something that will not only support a good cause, but earn some cool stuff while doing it! Check out these stats for size:

As of now, Children of Mercy has promised Backers this much stuff!

- 37 digital downloads of the Children Of Mercy compilation album!

- 28 limited edition/hand crafted albums!
- 9 copies of the book itself...yes, it's like a pre-order, how can you lose!
- 17 AUTOGRAPHED copies of the book itself (this plus all music options is by far one of the most gainful gifts being offered!!! You would pay so much for than 30 bucks for this if it were a Stephen Hawkings book with music by Justin Beiber wouldn't you?)

- 7 of the most generous backers have earned themselves Autographed books, as well as being automatically included in recieving FREE COPIES OF THE SECOND COMPILATION DISC!!!

- 3 of our most graciously beautiful backers have gotten themselves a PERSONALIZED THANK YOU WITHIN THE PAGES OF THE BOOK, AND EVERYTHING ELSE OFFERED ON THIS CAMPAIGN!! (Again, this is for a $100 pledge, wouldn't you pay ten times more than this if it were a John Grisham book with music by U2?)

......and here is the great news people.....There is plenty more to give away! For your small pledges, there is so much to get. So, on top of trying to drop those pesky pounds you have gained since Thanksgiving rolled around, think about being more charitable. But, you can also lower a bit of the guilt (not from the cheescakes, though) of being greedy by donating to this wonderful cause while still getting some really cool shit.

So, if you've read this, and don't feel intrigued to help in some kind of way, or at least let everyone you have ever known (including that babysitter you used to have the hots for when you were in 4th grade, you remember them right?), then I hope you find a cause worth supporting somewhere, somehow. Because if you don't, well, you must be the one living across the street from the Grinch and Ebanezor Scrooge. So just remember, you're not even hated year round! And your time is over.

Again, I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and you find yourself somewhere warm, probably drunk, and filled with joy when the new year comes along. Take care!

- Ron

In The Spin Zone (Part Deux)!

2010-12-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

And we are at it again folks!! Just as previously stated, Children of Mercy will once again be featured on the airwaves. The Sergeant Radio Show at WVVY 93.7 in Martha's Vineyard will be spinning a few tracks from the COM compilation, as well as throwing in a few nice words about our project. Sergeant Sparrow Records/Magazine frontwoman Angel Russell has been very generous in her contributions, and she deserves a great big digital hug from everyone who is involved with or supports this project. Be sure to tune in tomorrow (Thursday, December 23rd) from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) to support this project, and Sergeant Sparrow Records. You can hear the show streamed online at the WVVY Website.

Watch for a bit more radio presence in the future. There are a few other big ones coming in the near future. Be on the lookout!

Tunes.

2010-12-21T18:05:00.000-08:00

With everything up and running smoothly, I thought it would be a nice gesture to let all you fine people know that you can hear the Children Of Mercy Compilation album on both Myspace and Bandcamp. Follow the highlighted links and begin your journey in sound. Enjoy!

Also the photo you're seeing is a preview of the back half of the sleeve for the physical copies of the compilation album. Isn't it pretty? The design is courtesy of Edward Bignar of Workerbee Records, and as must of you know, the cover art is by the brilliant pop artist Kathie Bayne. Don't forget, the only way to recieve one of these physical bad boys for a long while is to pledge to our Kickstarter campaign. You know you want it! Go and get you one, and make sure your friends help you out by pledging their asses off as well to ensure we reach our goal and everybody recieves their goodies.

Cheers everyone! And the Happiest of Holidays to you all!

Children Of Mercy Love....

2010-12-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

Word of our project here is spreading tremendously. Therefore, I thought it only best to show you what some fine folks are saying about us, and where we are ending up across the global spectrum of independent music (and everything in between). Check it out:

As you may have already known, Cyndi Kimmel spun three tracks from the compilation album on her weekly radio program at KZUU 90.7 in Pullman, WA. If you got a chance to listen to the show...wasn't that lovely? We are currently in the works to do even more appearances with Cyndi. She is a great lady. Check out her playlist HERE.

****

More radio play is set to happen this THURSDAY FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. (EASTERN TIME) ON WVVY 93.7 IN MARTHA'S VINEYARD DURING THE SERGEANT SPARROW RADIO SHOW!! Our dear friend Angel Russell has shown great support for the project, she's even spouted off about us on the Sergeant Sparrow Website. This label is not only supportive, but full of great talent as well. I have been listening to Arman Augusto and all his projects for years. Angel is a hell of an artist herself. All around great people.

****

Portland Oregon's finest music blog, Crappy Indie Music The Blog! had a bit to say about our project, thanks to our dear friend Amber Dawn Loranger. Check it out HERE. We now reside amongst the hipsters!! The same post appeared at PostAmp.

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Robin Grey was kind enough to throw our name around on his WEBSITE. If you are unaware, Robin is the genious behind the track "Mariam's Cake" on the compilation album.

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Thom Carter also showed us some love on his personal WEBSITE. Thom is the man behind the name Children Of Mercy, with his beautiful track "Child Of Mercy" being on the compilation, as well as being the very first contributor to the book! He's pretty awesome.

****

Workerbee Records gave a sweet nod to the project on their WEBSITE. Workerbee's head honcho is the one and only Edward Bignar. Ed has contributed to the book, as well as two of the tracks featured on the compilation (the works of Ira Rat & The Cryogenic Strawberries). He is also the wonderful guy who is giving us a sweet deal on printing the album sleeves for the compilation. As well as giving us some sweet buttons with a nice little twee design. Again....a stellar fellow!!

****

So, as you can see, much love has been shown, and will be shown in the future. But, we are still looking at only 28 days to raise around $1,400 or all these kind words might only be premature. We need to raise these funds from the Kickstarter page in order to make this thing even possible. So, please, tell everyone you know that we are in need of serious help. Here is the link to pass around again:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1989307614/children-of-mercy-tales-from-the-world-of-independ

A big thank you to everyone who has had some nice things to say. And thank you to everyone who has already shown some love via donations to making this project even possible. Let's do some good people! We have the talent. We just need to show we can use it!

Lullabies de Mercy!

2010-12-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

CHILDREN OF MERCY VOLUME ONE

1. Child Of Mercy Menhirs Of Er Grah

2. Independent Cleemann

3. Compasses Lotte Kesner

4. Mariam’s Cake Robin Grey

5. Mittens Jaakko

6. The Gamble Of Science Moneytree

7. No Truce Amongst Flies Redmalm

8. Scrapey Boots Factory Kids

9. Cellar Door Ira Rat

10. She’s Someone’s Daughter Coeur Machant

11. I Am Here The Pristines

12. Luna Magna Tutto Roberto Vodonavic

13. Scene-o-Matic Westfold

14. Fractionation The Seldon Plan

15. Shaken But Elated The Cryogenic Strawberries

16. Menjadi Menusia Bangkutaman

17. Afternoon Sun Phil The Tremolo King

18. Far To Fast Before I Got Convenient

You can hear most of these tracks on the Children Of Mercy Myspace page. And the Bandcamp page as well (under construction).

And here is a brilliant video from Before I Got Convenient for their contributed track "Far To Fast" with features our little hero GH. He's the reason we are really doing this. And he has a real presence about him doesn't he? What an amazingly brave kid! Just follow this LINK.

Lastly, DO NOT FORGET!!!!! Tonight, December 16th, from 8 p.m to 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Cyndi Kimmel will be spinning a few of these tracks on KZUU 90.7 in Pullman, WA. You can stream thehow online HERE.

In The Spin Zone!

2010-12-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Our good friend and fellow contributor Cyndi Kimmel has been kind enough to feature Children Of Mercy, as well as a few tracks on her program this Thursday night, 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. on KZUU 90.7 in Pullman, Washington (Home of the WSU Cougars!). You can hear the show live from the station's website, HERE.

Stay tuned as well for another Children Of Mercy appearance courtesy of our friend and partner Angel Russell with Sergeant Sparrow Records. Angel has agreed to show off our project on her program, The Sergeant Sparrow Radio Show on WVVU 93.7 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Here her show live HERE. And when more information arrives, it will be made public!

Can't wait to hear the sweet howls of the Children Of Mercy on the radio? Well, then head on over to the recently created Myspace Page and Bandcamp Page. Thank you so much to Phil The Tremolo King for putting these pages together.

Not sure what exactly your suppose to be hearing? Check out the offical Track List of the first compilation album.

Kickstarter!

2010-12-04T11:39:00.000-08:00

So it is time to get this project going for real. I have created the Kickstarter page with hopes of raising $2,500 to help with the publishing costs of the book. This could be the biggest thing to happen to the project yet! The material is coming in steadily as of lately, so it is time to get serious in trying to fund this thing. And this page is exactly how that can be done. When we reach the goal here, we will be in a very comfortable place to make this dream a reality. So please donate and/or tell everyone you know to do what they can to help out!

Do not lose sight of the main goal as well.....the fight Cystic Fibrosis! Even raising money towards this book will ensure that the fight against CF could someday come to and end with a cure. In the end, this is really what this project is about.

So pass this link around:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1989307614/children-of-mercy-tales-from-the-world-of-independ

Let's do this people!!!

Rocking & Reading CF!

2010-10-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

In the coming days upon us, a beautiful unleashing of independent goodness will be upon you! What does this mean? Well, obviously it means that the Children Of Mercy compilation album is on it's way! Yes, in effort to support the future publication of the book, as well as a way to throw some money down to the good people supporting Cystic Fibrosis, a wonderful collection of independent music will be yours to own very soon. Featuring music from some of the finest acts you should know including the likes of Westfold, Menhirs Of Er Grah, Redmalm, Thunderbunny, The Pristines, Coeur Machant, The Seldon Plan, Cleemann, Bangkutaman, Jaakko, Roberto Vadanovic, Ira Rat, The Cryogenic Strawberries, Money Tree, The Factory Kids, and even more! This is going to be an album you most certaintly don't want to miss. And it also happens to support a great cause, so it can only be wonderful.

And if you didn't notice the beautiful bit of pop art at the beginning of this blog, you must be slow. This beautiful drawing will be the featured album art. It was done by the wonderful artist by the name of Kathie Bayne, and has almost literally become the face of Children Of Mercy. I couldn't be happier.

Stay alert and ready for more details on how you can purchase the forthcoming album. A Myspace Music Page and Bandcamp page are underway, as well as a PayPal, and all the works you will need to order this disc on line.

Be sure to tell your friends what is happening here. This is good stuff. Real good stuff. Join the team!

What is Cystic Fibrosis?

2010-10-10T09:12:00.000-07:00

The below text is taken from the Children Of Mercy Facebook Discussion Board. Colleen Nyberg is the wife of one of our contributors, Ola Nyberg, but more importantly, is the mommy to sweet little Gordon-Hjalmar, who has Cystic Fibrosis. Just for a bit of realism, read the text below, and consider any possible ways of contributing to the finding of a cure for this terrifying disease. People like Ola and Colleen have the strength and love to get by, but they need your help to find the cure.

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Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease that currently has no cure. It mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems of approximately 70,000 people world-wide with around 1,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In order to have Cystic Fibrosis, one must have inherited 2 of the cystic fibrosis gene (one from each parent). This defective gene causes the body to create a thick, sticky mucus that fills up the lungs and causes life-threatening lung infections. It also blocks the pancreas so the natural enzymes cannot help the body break down and absorb food properly. Around 50 years ago, children with Cystic Fibrosis rarely lived long enough to attend elementary school but advances in research and treatments have lengthened the life expectancy of people with CF. Today, the average life expectancy is 37 years old.

Our son, Gordon-Hjalmar, was diagnosed at 6 months after severe weight loss (failure to thrive) and numerous tests. His daily treatments consists of several medications taken 3 times per day, extra vitamins, fat supplements, inhalation treatments taken 2 times per day, physio therapy (twice daily) to help strengthen his body & expel phlem. He also takes replacement enzymes with all meals and snacks and eats a high salt and high fat diet. We continue to hope that one day CF will stand for Cure Found.

- Colleen Nyberg

Introductions

2010-10-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Children Of Mercy official blog. What is Children Of Mercy exactly? Well, in its simplest form, it is a forthcoming compilation book filled with "tales and teachings from the world of independent music". It will be a book for designed with intentions to donate all proceeds to charity. Specifically, charities supporting Cystic Fibrosis. In essence, it will be a collection of essays from over 30 elite members from within the world of independent music. We have writers, artists, entrepreneurs, promotion folks, buttonsmiths, etc. on the project. Almost every aspect of the world/scene/livelihood of independent music will be covered in the most prolific ways imaginable within the forthcoming pages.

What started as a few simple ideas I had while I was sitting on a rickety bunk bend in Doha, Qatar, has now garnered more interest than I could have ever imagined. I've received contributions, and pledges to contribute, from artists all around the world. And the people involved, well they are some of the most beautiful people in the world. I'm not biased....I'm just right.

Now who am I? Compared to the people I have dedicated to this project, I am absolutely nobody. I am just a blogging hack trying to make some new friends, and develop a new sense of being within this fascinating industry. That's all you really need to know about me. Who you need to know, are these folks. HERE (full list of contributors! via Facebook Notes!)

I have also been widely encouraged to "open the floodgates" a bit to all who are serious and passionate about contributing to this project. So, if you are interested in writing, please send your contributions, or ask for more info at:

childrenofmercybook[at]gmail[dot]com

Or if you are somehow else involved with the world of independent music (we need T Shirt people!) and would like to do some good in the world, and get your name out there, please hit me up! And don't forget to check out our Facebook Fan Page

I hope you will continue to follow me and these beautiful folks on this journey to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, and to get their stories heard 'round the world about the beauty of independent music!

- Ron Trembath (project coordinator)