Russian Tsarlag/Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn split 7" available NOW

Two longtime and long distance comrades on one piece of wax. Random marble-colored vinyl with full color pro printed covers. $5 ppd.

Russian Tsarlag is Providence musician/filmmaker/artist/Kinky Noise Records CEO Carlos Gonzalez. Tsarlag contributes what could be considered the soundtrack to a late-night teenage creep cult pep rally; his most plugged in and power chorded ripper yet. It's the perfect progression from his "Community Death Tube" LP (Night People) and split 12" with Blue Shift (Rare Youth). Kind of reminds me of early Chrome without the tacky electronics.

Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn is the ongoing project of What's YR Damage?'s Nelson Hallonquist. His side slows things down, way down, with a warped out analog burner. Thick synths, oscillations, finger piano, and the contents of a warbled tape found in a public garbage are utilized, in which two men contemplate a body transcending experience via the metaphysics of sports. Weird shit.

Preview: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn "Ultra Cultural Bummer" / Russian Tsarlag "The Master's Speech"

West Palm Beotch Records - Drop Down Menu

Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn/Russian Tsarlag split 7" $5.00 Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn/Russian Tsarlag spit 7" + 3 LLLR cd $8.00 Lesson Lesson Lesson Relearn - 3 cd-rs $5.00

Also available is a new Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn CD-r. Dense, blown-out electronics with few melodies. It can be downloaded below, or purchased (full color packaging, uncompressed music). All three LLLR cd-r's (Potentials, The Smiling at Technology EP and Things Have Never Been Better) are available for $5 ppd or $8 ppd with the RT split 7"
Download Lesson Lesson Lesson Relearn - Potentials

The sounds of What's YR Damage to come...

WYD?@SXSW


What's Yr Damage? - INC @ SxSW 2009 from Breathmint on Vimeo.

Smiling at Technology EP review

My good friend Adam Prince posted a review of the Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Smiling at Technology EP. For the review, and a ton of other art-related writings, click this, bro.

SXSW

Returned from SXSW late yesterday afternoon. A really great time was had by myself and the What's YR Damage? team. Unyielding gratitude goes to Rat Bastard for asking us to play. I recorded sets from Laundry Room Squelchers, Darker Florida, Sanguine Piss, Ryan Jewell and Lazy Magnet. I should be able to put the What's YR Damage? set up later in the week.

Download: INC @ SXSW

SXSW was actually a blast for my first time going. Saw lots of great bands (Silver Apples, Devo, Woods, Frodus reunion, the whole INC showcase), some not-so-hot ones, and didn't sleep for about two days since our hotel was overbooked despite us having a reservation. Got to eat more burritos and tacos than I'll want for a long time (and I love burritos and tacos), hang out and swim in my underwear at Barton Springs, see old friends, and just generally have a great weekend that was much needed.

Looks like WYD? is trying to pull it together to do a tour in August. If we can pull off playing shows in Miami and Austin in the last two months, the prospects for this are looking bright. Stay tuned.

3 more INC sets

Here are three more INC sets.

Byron House - This turned out really well. Full blown intensity, complete with Carlos's witty between song banter. One of the best Byron House sets I've seen in a long time.

My [Left] Uterus - Hands down the best MLU set I've ever seen. Unfortunately the audio is kind of jacked. I walked in right as they were about to start, and couldn't see the settings on my recorder. About 3 minutes in, it gets very loud and sounds correct. Still a shredder.

Soft Creatures - This is the soundtrack to the places we'd rather not go. Talk about haunting...!

Download: Byron House, My [Left] Uterus, and Soft Creatures at INC 2009

What's YR Damage at INC 2009

Below is a set by What's YR Damage? recorded last week at the 2009 International Noise Conference. It's a bad trip into a creep vortex.

I'll upload other face shredding sets by Byron House, My [Left] Uterus, and Soft Creatures sometime soon.


What's YR Damage? - Live at INC 2009

LLLR-Sweat Leaf Revolution

Here are covers of Black Sabbath and The Beatles.

Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn

New EP.

Here is a new Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn. It's probably the best thing I've done in a long time. I am very pleased with it. Of course, I think it's better with headphones and in the dark. I apologize if you do not use a Mac, but I uploaded the files in .m4a format to avoid quality loss. If you want mp3s, just email me and let me know. The final cover art may differ for physical copies. Enjoy!

*Note: I have added MP3 versions for those not on a Mac.



Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Smiling at Technology EP (Apple Lossless version)
Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Smiling at Technology EP (Mp3 version)

Damage in Oh Nine.

Looks like What's YR Damage? will be playing a Rat Bastard curated showcase at the 2009 SXSW. I'm sure there are a ton of good bands on it. We'll also be playing Friday night of the International Noise Conference. Gettin' stoked.

New Haves & Thirds videos and old music.

This past Saturday evening, I was the recipient of a very great surprise party for my 26th birthday. Many friends (quite a few traveled good distances, which I am so grateful for) and family gathered together for a really nice evening, which was beautifully accented by a 2 song Haves & Thirds performance. Apparently the second song will never be played live again.

Enjoy!





Next I've uploaded the last studio session of What's YR Damage? songs. I think this must've been early or middle 2005. Two songs were previously released on a split 3" CD with Puke Attack. Not sure many people heard it, as I think we made only 100 or so. The other four songs were supposed to be the always-planned-but-never-realized What's YR Damage + Dead/Bird split LP.

I've always been a little hesitant to put these songs on the internet because the recording is pretty bad. Our buddy Josh Dobbs did it, and while I think he is certainly adept when it comes to recording, as he's shown many times with plenty of bands, we were young and had no idea what we wanted it to sound like. It should've been a little more blown out, a little more in the red, and our amps should have worked properly. I'm mostly disappointed in the recording because I think the songs were actually pretty good. After this period, we pretty much gave up on conventional song writing and recording methods. I'm hesitant to say we only played improvisational or free form music after this period, because we pretty much played that type of stuff live anyways. Whatever, enjoy the music if you can:

What's YR Damage: The Last Studio Session

WYD? + Newton split cassette coming soon.

What's YR Damage? ersatz Greg made it out to Nick and Fran's wedding in Portland on August 8th. The above image is from the wedding reception. The next evening the three young men that are not Newton played a What's YR Damage? set at the Pocket Sandwich along with harsh favorites Newton, Yellow Tears and Ahlzagailzehguh (who we unfortunately missed due to an early departure for San Francisco the next morning).

The What's YR Damage?/Newton split cassette will be released by Breathmint Records soon. I am very happy about this. We have known Newton for many years, so it only makes sense to finally share a release. He's one harsh dude. Even when he isn't playing music. Here is our side of the split. The first new WYD? recording in sometime. Expect more to come.

What's YR Damage? - Rocky Butte Oregoners

Skeleton Damage

Here's a video of Skeleton Warrior + What's YR Damage? live in Tampa a long time ago. Justin Clifford Rhody played (and also uploaded the video) along with Glen or Glenda. A ton of the usual Tampa Creeps played, too.

bludfezt

Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Live at Bloodfest - 08/02/08


Back from Bloodfest last weekend... wow, it was completely amazing. So many great bands (Lazy Magnet, Russian Tsarlag, Then & Than, The Oals, Limp Lungs, Blood Mountain, Newton + Slow Owls, Skeleton Warrior, and other amazing ones that I probably forgot!). Easily one of, if not the best Lazy Magnet set I've ever seen. Same with Then & Than. Newton was in prime form. It felt incredible just to be back with all of those dudes doing what we all do best. I've alluded to it in the past, but I'll be blunt: The "Florida and Beyond" connection is one of the best things to happen to music in a very, very long time. Sometimes I stop and think about where we all were six years ago and how far we've come, and honestly, how much of an impact it's had. I wouldn't trade these experiences for anything in the world.

The above video is Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn (half of, at least) accompanied by Todd Lynne on drums. It was a fun set. Who needs more than 1:30 of that racket anyways? In any case, expect a cassette on Ted Records before the end of the year and a split 7" with one of my favorite artists ever shortly thereafter.

If you don't have the most recent Lazy Magnet recording "Is Music Even Good," you should get it immediately. Jeremy Harris is one of the most capable musicians I've ever met, and this recording is set to blow minds. I've been listening to it non-stop since International Noise Conference 08. As incredible as it is, I've got a feeling it's just the tip of the iceberg. Corleone Records has you covered.

Surprise, surprise! The dudes are back! What's YR Damage? will be playing with Newton this Saturday in Portland, OR. There also a lot of other great bands playing. I think it's at a place called the Holy Mountain, and the show is done by a gentleman named Gordon. If that makes sense, then you probably know what's up. Unfortunately I've never been to Portland, so I don't know much about the show. Good chance What's YR Damage? will be playing on Tuesday August 12th in Oakland with Cellblock, Social Junk and Big Nurse. I guess we'll see.

I know I've neglected this blog since right after INC. There are a lot of recordings of things from the past I want to put up, as well as new stuff. I've been busy with my visual arts lately. If you're going to be in the Miami area tomorrow night (Thursday August 7th), a video of mine will be shown at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami in the Optic Nerve X program. It'll also be shown from about mid-September to mid-October in the MOCA lobby.

More to come when I return from my West Coast trip in about a week and a half!

Lesson Lesson Relearn/Soft Creatures split.. fulllll thang

It's out and ready for INC. Trade/buy a copy there. 45 minutes long. I'd say this is less of an adventure in sound and more like a trip to the grocery store; completely necessary. A taste of things to come. It embraces the age old question of "Do you get softer with age or do you get better with age?" Both bands choose an answer and laugh at it.

Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn/Soft Creatures split

New releases 11-19-07

As usual, all of these are available as cd-r's from me. Just get in touch. Trades are preferred, but you can purchase them for $4/ea.



Download: Haves&Thirds - Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young

This international genius returns with his third full length, showing more focus now than ever before. Haves&Thirds is one of my favorite artists (recorded and live), and it is more than a pleasure to release something for the mysterious hooded man. You'll love this, there's no doubt about it. Plus, there's an OALS cover. Am I serious? Hell yes.

Check out previous releases on Cephia's Treat, Kinky Noise, and Obelisk.



Download: Zachary Granger Moldof - A Contest is Eminent

A Contest is Eminent documents a performance organized by Zach Moldof. There's no doubt that this man knows exactly what he's doing. Controlling the uncontrollable, listening to the unlistenable (or maybe unlistening to the listenable). Just when you ask yourself, "When does this start?" you've wasted valuable minutes, and might want to kick it back to the beginning. Nerds will certainly hear some John Cage and David Tudor in here. I think it sounds a little bit like Pengo at some points. But honestly, it stands on its own with out reference points. Just check it out and blast off into outer space.

This is the type of recording you'll want to discover and rediscover time and time again. Please believe.


Download: What's YR Damage? - No Thanks
This has been available since the most recent International Noise Conference, but what good does availability do without the knowledge of it? This is an attempt to get this recording to see the light of day.

This is the one and only full length recording by What's YR Damage?. It was recorded right before INC 2006 by Mr.1/2s&1/3s himself on analog 4 track, completely live in the Trung Party Palace. A much more physically free and sonically restrained Damage than ever before, No Thanks. documents one of the most important periods of that band, showcasing the young men doing exactly what they wanted to at that specific point in time.

Those that saw the band on their last tour know what they're in for. Those that didn't should find out.

Amusing.

Check the "Added: days ago" and "number of views." Someone's looking out for me.

In other news, I'll be getting the internet and cable television at my house today. I'm hoping my productivity with go through the roof while I edit sounds/layouts/etc. for cd-r's and digital versions for the blog while consuming as much contemporary rubbish as my brain can handle.

So, expect Zachary Granger Moldof and Haves&Thirds cd-r's up here this weekend for real, as well as a bunch of promised WYD? junk. Adam is sending me a box of odds 'n ends cassettes we used, so those will make their way up here at some point. I think we're going to do a cd-r collection of these cassettes for International Noise Conference titled "Rough Times." Chances are, the digital version will be posted here before the year's end.

Got the Soft Creatures songs for the LLLR split. Holy crap, it's really good stuff. I'll probably post a couple of tracks this weekend. The split will feature top notch packaging courtesy of Jotch2812.

If you're in Gainesville there are some total shredders playing on Saturday, you MUST attend this show:

ACTION RESEARCH 8

In person:
Gaybomb -- the return of the magnetic strip abuser, from Charleston, SC
Otolathe -- cricketronics, from Tampa
Pairs -- one man pushes drums through electronics and vice versa, from Tampa
Often -- record collage, new to Jacksonville
Hal McGee -- longtime jack of all noise trades
Ironing -- microcassettes, tapes, radio, and records, ridden like a bull
M.A.S.S. & Adikt -- new pair mixing turnatablism with sax, beats and real time sampling and electronic manipulation

Not In person:
Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn -- West Palm Beach

Saturday, November 17 at 9PM
@ Tim & Terry's <------note different location from past shows!
1417 NW 1st Ave
Gainesville, FL

LLLR will be playing via telephone thanks to electronic wizardry of Mr. Ironing.

There's a Florida weekend tour planned for Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn at the end of December. Orlando/Tampa/Sarasota/maybe Miami? Sure is a good reason to get out of south Florida, and hopefully spread some music around.

New Whats YR Damage?, etc.

Download: What's YR Damage? - Cactus Up Yr Asstus

Cactus Up Yr Asstus is an accidental tape collage made by the members of What's YR Damage? sometime between 2003 and 2004. We used tape manipulation live, and I can only guess that this was a source tape for that. The first two and a half minutes are a WYD? song that never developed out of the practice space. There's lots of random sounds, talking, radio sounds, testing of instruments and pedals and other bands. Sometimes we liked to record bands that played right before us and then play them while we were setting up. I can deduce that there are recordings of The Franchise, Deadbird, and maybe New Flesh or possibly Animal Husbandry here. There are some parts of this tape that defintiely stump me. But over all, its an interesting listen.

Soon I'll be uploading the WYD? Back to Being Banned at the Backbooth cassette, the WYD? Afraid of the Magic Wand cassette, and the full length titled No Thanks.

The Zachary Granger Moldof CD-r will be posted here early next week. It's really good.

And lastly, here is a video of Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn live at Churchill's in Miami, FL on November 6th. Btw, LLLR is now a two piece. New shit coming up.

New Sounds + More upcoming releases

On the Saturday before Halloween, October 27 2007, I took advantage of sound possibilities by riding my bicycle from my house through downtown West Palm Beach. My original plan was to document the journey on a lively evening, and then repeat it the next morning, comparing the two. What awaited me was crowds of more people than I've ever seen at one time in the downtown area; some sort of street festival in honor of Halloween. A lot of people went as drunks this year. I assume this isn't unusual here even when it isn't Halloween. Of course there was also the obligatory "hot cops," "70's guys," and various racist costumes... such as a young man in black face with an afro wig and two young men in "arab sheikh" outfits (or a supposed romanticized Western version) carrying gas cans. "WTF?" is an appropriate response. In addition, I was mistaken twice, for being dressed as an "environmentalist." Welcome to the South. Class? Tact? I couldn't seem to find any of that.

For some reason, second generation experience has the potential to be more interesting than first generation experience. I believe that my conscious recording method provided unexpected sound quality and results. I don't expect many to endure the 53 minute excursion in its entirety, but surprisingly, it played out naturally with a crescendo, climax, and descrendo.

This is the first in a series of field recordings. Some may become source material for more Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn songs. More than anything, its an excuse to stay busy. Process breeds ideas, right?

Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Halloween Sonic Experience

Also, the man known as Soft Creatures is recording again (what the hell? The whole team is back in one way or another). This is a very good thing. Dude is building upon sounds heard on the "Cry Me a Liver" cassette released via Black Lakes, but this round its a million times better and using even less equipment. Talk about sitting on ideas for a couple of years and then executing them flawlessly... Expect a SC/LLLR split very soon. We're both currently recording for this release. November? December? Whenever. As if anyone is holding their breath anyhow...

mp3z + showz

MP3 links for both releases are current. Scroll down to the first post for them.

I have the art work for the Zachary Granger Moldof CD, just waiting on the music. I have the music for the Haves&Thirds CD, just waiting for the art work. Both will be out very soon.

Tuesday, Nov. 6th @ Churchill's (http://www.churchillspub.com)

Curious Hair, Blood Mountain, LRS, Super Pizza Party, Telepathik Friend, Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn, and plenty of other weird0z. Most likely free!

Shirts VS Skinhedz in Miami/Other updates

October 19th & 20th @ Churchill's Center for the Performing Arts (5501 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL. www.churchillspub.com)

Rad show featuring: Laundry Room Squelchers, Curious Hair, Haha Help, Luciano Guidini, Dino Felipe, Shirts VS Skinheads, Doersam, Omar Roque, Space Bass, Jewish Blood, Psyclone Ranger, Brains!, Max Dance, Flux Forces, Bulimic Playhouse, Peasants with Feathers, Otto Von Schirach (from a telephone or something?), Sasha Weisfeld, Alesh, Dumbo.

Also, new releases from Zachary Granger Moldof, Haves & Thirds, and others before you realize it. Stay tuned, and then tune out.

New releases:

Download: Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn - Things Have Never Been Better

Lesson Lesson Lessen Relearn has popped up now and then since 2004. He released a tape (of which 3 copies exist), and can be heard on two compilations (Night of the Living Dead Bird - Breathmint Records, Pesky Pests at the Party Palace - Black Lakes).

After a post-modern meltdown that lasted from summer '06 to summer '07, which included getting rid of 90% of his records, almost all of his musical equipment, and listening to nothing but "Ready to Die" for six months straight, he drops "Things Have Never Been Better."

The title speaks the truth, and so does the music. It was recorded in one afternoon with the few instruments he thought he got rid of (a mbira, a keyboard, a guitar, and a lot of analog tape sounds) but discovered in boxes after a recent move to sleepy beach town. Sounds of past experiences are used in conjunction with minimal instrumentation to create a deconstructivist rhythm that lasts approximately 25 minutes.

Not that we could ever tell you how to listen to your music, but it's best enjoyed with headphones while spacing out.



Download: Shirts VS. Skinheads - Abilities

Shirts VS. Skinheads is 2/3 of What's YR Damage? playing some pissed off, blown out, trashed out sounds using guitars, electronics, and drums. "Abilities" captures two live sets during the month of August in the year 2007. The last song features Jimmy from Skeleton Warrior laying down something fierce on an old moog, adding a completely different dynamic (and making that set about 3 times longer than the first set featured on the disc).

All releases will be available for free digital download very soon. You know the routine: if you dig it, think about buying it (or trading something for it). CD-r's are $4.

Email if you're interested in trading or purchasing. nelson.hallonquist@gmail.com