31 Dec 2011

2012 in Full Color

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

The New Year will bring a new album by The Famous and plenty of shows to follow. As we close the book on this past year, here’s another look at ‘Come Home to Me’ brought to life in full color.

Bart Bishoff, who directed the video, always had a vision for a color version with a few new looks. If you can spot what’s new, let us know.

Our collaborations with Bart, trombonist Charlie Wilson, who also helped record several tracks on our last album, and Joe Goldmark heard on the pedal steel, will continue into the New Year. They are great friends, artists and performers.

We are truly thankful for all of our Friends of The Famous, especially as we’ve been away from playing live shows while gearing up for a year to come full of new material and several surprises.

Happy New Year and here’s to great days ahead.

20 Aug 2011

The Other Side of Summer

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

thefamousatgiantsWe’ve just about made it to the end of Summer and this was an excellent one in a variety of regards.

Playing at AT&T Park for San Francisco Giants BrewFest was another great experience.

Here’s a photo of Vic and Laurence taken by a true Friend of The Famous… Richard Brewer-Hay. It was a great day all around.

We also played several other events, some parties for friends at non-traditional venues — so don’t ever hesitate to ask, we just might show up for your event — especially, as we get new material ready for shows in the Fall and some forthcoming recordings.

Some of our new songs in the works are harder-edged Classic Country than we’ve ever embarked upon and we can’t wait to play them for you before long.

Several surprises are in-store as well with a handful of new covers we’re putting our stamp on for when you see us next.

Thanks to all who came out to our live shows and inscribed themselves in the book of The Famous.

See you soon.

7 Jun 2011

Festival Season

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

The Summer has brought The Famous to a variety of festivals around Northern California and beyond.

vic_oldironsidesA good deal of them, beer-related. Several of these events have been hosted by breweries.

One specific beer-related event we were thrilled to play for a second straight year was the San Francisco Giants BrewFest at AT&T Park on 7/23 before the Giants beat the Milwaukee Brewers.

Giants fans are the best in baseball and we had a great time performing at Seals Plaza next to McCovey Cove.

Congrats to all that won in our first Giants trivia contest and thank you everyone for making it a great afternoon.

Our love of craft beer and classic country have found great harmony together in pockets across the Bay Area and we’ll for sure be cranking out more beer drinking music for you in the coming months.

See you soon as we gear up for what will be an eventful Fall.

19 May 2011

Saturday (5/21) in Santa Rosa

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

Friends and beer lovers… we’re back in Santa Rosa for a special show this Saturday, May 21 at the Russian River Brewing Company.

It’s a Free Show, (All Ages)… the music starts at 9 p.m., and Pliny the Elder --  the legendary award-winning double IPA from the RRBC — will be flowing.

We always play two full sets — several hours of our own music and some Classic Country hits of years past.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s our song celebrating the man and the beer.

Over the years, Vinnie and Natalie -- the founders of the RRBC -- have been super to The Famous and it’s always a great vibe in Santa Rosa.

Russian River Brewing Company

725 4th Street -- Santa Rosa, CA, 95404

Free  — (All Ages) -- *Show starts at 9 p.m.*

2-Full Sets — Saturday, May 21

In case you want to take it with you… MP3 download of The Pliny Song at:

http://thefamous.bandcamp.com/track/the-pliny-song

Enjoy the song and enjoy the beer with us this Saturday in Sonoma County. See you soon.

5 May 2011

Slim’s (5/12) and the South Bay (5/13)

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

Next to playing raucous live shows, the other thing The Famous loves most is getting a call the week of a big show and told to string up the guitars and make that show a big party.

The Famous - Promo FadedIt doesn’t get much bigger than Slim’s in San Francisco.

Thursday, May 12, we’ll be opening for Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers.

 Slim’s — 333 11th St., San Francisco, 94103

Doors at 7:30 p.m. (Show at 8 p.m.)

Tickets and more info:

http://www.slims-sf.com/

Like The Famous, RCPM are fiercely independent and according to Paste Magazine, “proof that the crazy, reckless, restless, swaggering soul of American rock is still burning a hole in the night sky.”

Fans of The Refreshments will recognize Roger Clyne from his days as that band’s front man, and now with a new album, ‘Unida Cantina’, RCPM are touring the U.S. with The Famous asked to join the SF show.

The very next night, Friday the 13th, we’ll be in the South Bay at the Britannia Arms in Cupertino. (1087 S. De Anza Blvd.)

It’s a 9 p.m., 21+ show ($5 cover) with Fragile Stage, Divine Artistry and The Devil’s Sunday Best on the bill. The Famous play second on the bill, around 10 p.m.

More Info:

http://www.barbrocks.com/?display=shows

In San Francisco or the South Bay, consider joining us for two very cool nights of music.

–The Famous

27 Apr 2011

Road Movie to Marrakech

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

A Friend of the Famous living in Morocco was driving through the Palmerie in Marrakech while blasting ‘Get You Back’ from our first album and wanted to take you along for the ride.

While we may not be playing Morocco anytime soon, we do have a few shows in the coming weeks to tell you about.

This Friday, April 29th, we’re playing a party open to everyone at the Speakeasy Brewery in San Francisco.

Note — It’s a Happy Hour show, they welcome people starting at 4 p.m. for a brewery tour and we play around *6 p.m. *

They’re on the edge of the City… (a.k.a. off 3rd Street in Hunter’s Point) — 1195 Evans Avenue — San Francisco, CA 94124 — More info at http://www.goodbeer.com/

Also, Friday, May 13th we return to The Brit in Cupertino… then do our annual Spring Show at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa on Saturday, May 21st.

See you soon.

14 Mar 2011

The Pliny Song

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

Friends, Romans, Countrymen… behold — an homage to Pliny the Elder — the man, and the legendary award-winning double IPA from the Russian River Brewing Company.

Several years ago Vinnie and Natalie, the founders of the RRBC, were looking for an alt-country act to help kickoff the music nights at their brewpub in downtown Santa Rosa.

The Famous got the call, and ever since, they have been the most gracious hosts a band could hope for, thus proving our old adage… be nice to us, and we just might write a song for you. This song is a tribute to a great beer that before you die, you must try.

We’ve put out a digital tip jar, of sorts, where you can download the song and pay what you want — or just take it — it’s your call. No matter what, pass on the good word.

MP3 download of The Pliny Song at:

http://thefamous.bandcamp.com/track/the-pliny-song

By the way, we’re back in Santa Rosa for a special show on Saturday, May 21 at the Russian River. Just a heads up. Enjoy the song, enjoy the beer and enjoy life. We’ll see you soon.

17 Jan 2011

What’s Coming Up

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

A new year brings many new things for The Famous. First, we’re taking a few months off from playing live shows while we’re in the studio working on some new music.shoot

The very next thing you’ll hear from us is an ode to Pliny the Elder. The song, about both the man and the beer, will be mixed at New, Improved Recording in Oakland.

A video will accompany the song’s release soon after.  

Also, a while back on our Facebook wall, many folks gave us their suggestions for cover songs and perhaps that too, will be part of some recordings forthcoming.

If you haven’t yet ‘friended’ The Famous on Facebook, click over (right here in fact) and do us the favor.

Our music video for ‘Come Home to Me’ is still popping up on HD Net and other video shows.

Last year was a blast and we were honored to perform at variety of shows and meet many good people along the way.

We’ll see you at a live show soon, but in the meantime check back here every once and awhile for a fix.

-- Laurence, Vic, G.D. and Chris

11 Dec 2010

Holiday Music

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

During the holidays, music fills the air while also polarizing the masses. There are people who prefer ‘Let it Snow’ to ‘Let it Be.’

show3610Some folks seek out Sleigh Bells, others Slayer.

Which works for you? ‘Frosty the Snowman’ or Hot Hot Heat?

The Rankin/Bass ‘Snow Miser’ or Elliott Smith’s Heatmiser?

‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ or ‘Cum on Feel the Noize?’

This stupid list could go on and on, and feel free to add to it, but you get the point. 

Some people truly enjoy Holiday tunes… while others would rather suffer ball peen hammer on wrought iron fence-inducing tinnitus, to the endless barrage of the maudlin sap blanketing shopping mall sound systems everywhere.

But enough of all that.  It’s been a fun year for us, playing a variety of great shows with the likes of The Toadies, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Drag the River and at the SF Giants BrewFest at AT&T Park.

Next year will be even better. Thank you again for being true Friends of the Famous and Happy Holidays. 

–Laurence, Vic, G.D. and Chris

11 Nov 2010

The Famous Show: Recipe Contest

Author: laurence | Filed under: News

The Famous take you inside the Brown Sugar Kitchen with chef Tanya Holland for a special Southern Cooking Recipe Contest.

Check out the video and enter to win by emailing us, or better yet, posting your favorite Southern food recipe on our wall… 

http://www.facebook.com/TheFamousMusic

Also, make sure to Friend us on Facebook when you get a chance. Winner will be chosen by random drawing. We were at the studios of New, Improved Recording during the ‘Pliny the Elder’ session for this filming. 

We return to the East Bay for an upcoming show on Thursday, Dec. 2nd at the Starry Plough in Berkeley.

More details to come, but in the meantime… get us your favorite recipe for a chance to win.