Waxing Brazilian

In yet another instance of the band being completely asleep at the switch, the "Martha" CD was heralded by Brazilian power pop site Powerpopstation as one of the top 50 albums of 2012. Meaning of course, TMBC is somewhere between 40 and 50 on the list. Because if it were in the 30s, we'd say "top 40" and so on.

This happened January 1st. We're announcing it April 11th. The front office has got to get organisized.

Here's the full list.

"Martha" CD on Best of 2012 List

Apparently, we got so caught up in all that end-of-the-world nonsense that we completely missed this December 20th development. That's the only thing that would explain how we missed the band's Martha CD being named by Absolute Powerpop as one of the top 100 albums of 2012. The full list is here.

(If only a provider like Google had a service that monitored Internet keywords and sent alerts to an email address of your choice when keywords you care about showed up in online content. Well, someday...)

"Also, they don't sound like The Lumineers..."

We're late posting a January review of the band's Martha CD courtesy of Terry Flamm's Broken Hearted Toy blog. Find Terry's review here. Much love to the reviewer for taking the time to go deep into the album, and for the complete absence of any reference to The Lumineers.

Hey, Mike B. is wearing a hat in this photo from a recent Chicago show! That makes the band Bohemian, right?

We love you: pay what you want for the “Martha” album

It’s been nearly a year since the release of the band’s “Martha” CD. It’s also the season of love.

To mark these two converging realities, we’re pleased to offer a pay-what-you-want download of the entire “Martha” album via The Mike Benign Compulsion’s bandcamp page. We'll be sharing the love with this offer through Valentine's Day, 2013.

The suggested download price is $8.99. Seriously, though, pay what you want. We won’t be offended if you pay less, or pay nothing at all. In fact, we’ll find joy in the fact you downloaded and listened to the album.

Our goal is for those who haven’t heard Martha to hear Martha….and love her. Because it’s Valentine’s Day. Almost. And then it won’t be anymore. 

Greetings from The Birthing Room

Welcome to the room where the last five years’ worth of songs began their lives.

Coffee. Guitars. Old couches. The right light. The Mac. Paul Biemann’s Rickenbacker bass on loan.

 

The ward has been busy of late. The incubators are lined up and fully occupied. Proud and sleep-starved parents and rarely seen relatives mark the glass with breath and fingerprints. They point and wave and talk like idiots—the way many talk to dogs and the elderly.

And the babies have names like:

Before The Blast

I Don’t Have a Clue

It’s Official

Long Slow Sad Demise

Gadfly
We Swore We’d Never Change

Dog Whistle Words

Meanwhile, the ones born in the previous few months have been passed on to their very modern (all males) family for further development. These kiddies have names like:

Boyhood Idol

Your Heroes

Bay Window

Professional Jealousy/Saw Your Post

Changing Color

Mrs. Kean

Martha, We

You Say It’s Over

In the capable hands of Mike Koch, Joe Vent and Brian Wooldridge, these little guys and gals are smiling, rolling around and pulling themselves up to walk along the furniture. A few have already gone off to the Daniel James McMahon Finishing School for Viable Songs in Rockford, Illinois; more will join them in February and March.

It’s enough to make a proud parent cry. And an unfortunate reader cringe.

Proving again there are few things worse than a metaphor extended beyond the bounds of reason and taste.

Really ought to get that bass back to Paul.

--Mike B.

Thanksgiving Saturday with Miles Nielsen and The Compulsion

Thanksgiving weekend is one of those hit or miss times of year to play a gig. Some folks have had their fill with the overeating and shopping nonsense and are ready to get out of the house and rock. Others are out of town, in the process of traveling back from relatives or too exhausted from overeating and shopping nonsense to go out.

We opted to roll the dice. Hence this Saturday's program at The Down & Over Pub in Bay View (for non-locals, that's on the southeast side of Milwaukee). Cover is $7.

TMBC is pleased to be joined again by the terrific Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts. They're the headliners, taking the stage around 11:15 pm. Need more info? The band's website has loads of songs and video on it. Though we'd suggest their recent Popdose Red Pill Session and a "making of" video for the gorgeous "Sink or Swim." (Scroll all the way down for the video.) We've seen Miles and crew a bunch and they always deliver a great show. Damn good guys, too.

The Mike Benign Compulsion goes on around 10. It's the band's final show before the world ends next month. And then after the world ends, the band probably won't be playing again for a few more months while we plug away at Album #3. 

The Dick Satan Trio opens the show at 9 sharp with high-quality instrumental surf rock with go go dancers type stuff. 

Join us, won't you?

--Mike B.

Peter Case Band Show Cancelled

The Peter Case Band's show at Shank Hall on Saturday, November 3rd has been cancelled. TMBC was slated to open. Apologies for any inconvenience.

Please join us for The Compulsion's final live performance in 2012: Saturday, November 24th at The Down & Over Pub in Bay View. This spectacular triple bill features Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts and the Dick Satan Trio. TMBC takes the stage second, around 9:15.