We got a new logo, made by the lovely Chelsea Maida. As soon as I have a hi-res copy, rest assured it will be spammed everywhere. Until then, you’ll just have to order the new MATT WIXSON’S FLYING CIRCUS record from Community Records Dot Org and see it posted on the back.

Speaking of that, NEW MATT WIXSON’S FLYING CIRCUS RECORD!

So Matt Wixson has a band. They’ve been playing shows for quite a while now. They’ve played Disasterfest and Block Party. They’ve made probably the best parody t-shirt I’ve ever seen. And a week from today they’ll be hitting the road once again (click here for tour dates). And with that, in conjunction with our best buds down at Community Records, we bring you MWFC’s first release, JEFFY.

Click HERE to order the physical copy from Community Records.

AND AND AND AND AND AND AND AND

Click the cover below to download it for free!

And as always, make sure to check out what else is going on in our FREE MUSIC section! And make sure to keep in touch! Like our Facebook Page for even more up-to-date news regarding the Open Hand family!

Matt Wixson’s Flying Circus – Jeffy (8.4.2011)
1. They Can’t Fix Me
2. Perpetual Emotion Machine
3. The Architect
4. People of Zee Wurl, Relax!
5. I Have A Thing
6. Drinking Hymn of the Republic

Linter Notes:
JEFFY, the very first release (and very second recording) by MATT WIXSON’S FLYING CIRCUS. While attempting to come up with a title for this EP, Mike suggested we name it as if it were our child. The first name out of his mouth ended up the title. None of us know a Jeffy. I don’t think anyone really does. Anyway, here’s some information that may be useful in the process of enjoying this release. Thanks! — MWFC

THEY CAN’T FIX ME is about a friend of mine who kind of had a mental catastrophe. It scared the hell out of me, because there was nothing I could do to help, and I was sure I would be there, too, one day.

PERPETUAL EMOTION MACHINE is about a two-way street of loneliness. It’s about the unfulfilled desires to have someone special and to be someone special to someone else. This was previously released by Matt as a solo song.

THE ARCHITECT is about control and failure. It’s about taking the chance to let other people in, and how if you decide to go it alone you have no one else to blame for the outcomes of things. If you think this sounds a bit like Against Me! in the beginning, but I promise it owes more to a Lily Allen song.

PEOPLE OF ZEE WURL, RELAX! is basically about the conquering of desire. It’s about living in the moment and then coming to regret choices made. It’s about Buddhism.

I HAVE A THING is about straight guys and the gay songwriters they love to torment. We’re stoked about our bud Bud’s trombone solo.

DRINKING HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC is a parody of drinking songs. It is also a drinking song. This definitely has more instruments on it than any other song on the EP, thanks to Matt’s melodica and Mark, Adam, and Bud from CbJ.

Matt Wixson’s Flying Circus is:
Matt Wixson – guitars, vocals, keys
Mike Land – drums, vocals, percussion
Josh Young – bass guitar, vocals

Additional Musicians:
Bud Koltys – trombone
Mark Van Baak – tenor sax
Adam Gill – trumpet
Produced by MWFC and Ben Wixson
Engineered by Ben Wixson

In loving memory of Mitchell Dubey. Special thanks to: the Land household, the Wixson family, Josh’s mother, Jerry Cottec, Aaron Hibbert, Greg Rodrigue, D-Ray, We Are The Union, Rob Bates, King Django, CbJ, Lindsay Sanderson, Markie Tilton, Downtown Brown, Paranoia Dance Party, Jay Reed, A Billion Ernies, CJ Curran, Ren Dickson, Seized Up, ATG, Evan Roy, Larry Firmin, Informant, Sonic Boom Six, every single person reading this, and lastly Ben Miotke and the other drunk bitches.
Download: CommunityRecords.org and OpenHandRecords.com
Keep Up: mattwixson.tumblr.com and facebook.com/mattwixsonmusic
Contact: mattywixson@gmail.com

LYRICS:
They Can’t Fix Me
I realize the situation at this time can’t be verified
But I know if I was you and I was standing in your shoes I’d be terrified
The only thing that I’m good for is pointing the blame
But I have no one to scream at and nobody to blame this time
Got no solutions, all I have is motivation and energy
I feel so powerless, I just wish that I could do anything
And I just and I just and I just and I just wanna help
So that everyone’s better prepared when I need it myself
I can’t fix you, they can’t fix me
I can’t fix you, and that’s terrifying
___________________________________________________
Perpetual Emotion Machine
I’m getting tired of being put up with
Like I’m not too much of a pain
And I’m getting sick of the passive relationships
Nobody cares either way
And you could go a month without me
Or you could see me everyday
I’m just a lukewarm feeling, an inoffensive gray
I’m getting bored of withholding affection
For anyone other than me
And I’m getting rather annoyed at the way
I’m alone when I go out to eat
Because my heart is overflowing
But no one’s there to catch the spill
I’m just a fire burning that you won’t ever feel
And so I need someone to love me
Like I need someone to love
How convenient that I fit the bill
The only one to plug into
This equation of isolation
This simulation of masturbation
___________________________________________________
The Architect
Back a long long time ago
Several billion years or so there was a god
He knew all there was to know
He made the universe just so but it was flawed
Maybe he felt a little rushed
Maybe a week was not enough to get it right
Maybe the limits of the limitless
Are cleared if you just give it one more night
It’s such a shame
When the architect lets the building fall to flame
No one can edit so no one takes credit
And no one takes the blame
Back an hour or two ago
Somewhere on an empty road there was a man
Who had a drink and had a smoke
Who had the inside of a joke, who had a plan
With his stable full of friends
Like better means to bitter ends, he headed home
With so much at his fingertips
The good and bad relationships, he was alone
It’s such a shame
When the architect lets the building fall to flame
No one can edit so no one takes credit
And no one takes the blame
___________________________________________________
People of Zee Wurl, Relax!
Another night of happy moments
Another morning of regrets
Another week of losing focus
On becoming somebody I can respect
I tell myself that it’s the last time
But I know that I’m going to be here again
Another night of feeling sorry
But you don’t understand what for
Abuse of mind, abuse of body
In an attempt to simply satisfy the soul
I tell myself that it’s the last time
But I know that I’m going to be here again
This pounding punishment
Not sure I deserve this
This pounding punishment
None of this is worth this
Whoa, na na na I can’t break out
Another night of self-indulgence
To reaffirm that I’m a man
One more return to my old weakness
Cuz after all, yeah after all, I’m just a man
I tell myself that it’s the last time
But I know that I’m going to be here again
This pounding punishment
Not sure I deserve this
This pounding punishment
None of this is worth this
Whoa, na na na I can’t break out
Another night of mutilation
Another twisting of the knife
Another night of deprivation
In this day-in, day-out hangover life
___________________________________________________
I Have a Thing
I have a thing for guys who have a thing for chicks
I swear it’s not intentional, attraction never is
You have a thing I can’t and you love to show it off
You have a thing for playing games like I have a thing for loss
And I’m getting deeper, deeper
I have some things to teach, you have some things I could correct
And you’ll end up a better man and I’ll end up a wreck
I have some things called wounds, you have a thing called salt
It’s either let you rub it in or not talk to you at all
And I’m getting deeper, deeper
You have a thing for me having a thing for you
I have nothing to justify the things we put me through
And I’m getting deeper, deeper
___________________________________________________
Drinking Hymn of the Republic
Oh I can drown my sorrows in the bottom of a glass
I kind of feeling like dying but instead I’m getting smashed
You say that it’s unhealthy, I say blow it out your ass
Tonight I’m getting drunk
Cuz I can drown my sorrows in the bottom of a glass
I kind of feeling like dying but instead I’m getting smashed
You say I have a problem, I say no one fucking asked you
Tonight I’m getting drunk
Pour me pour me more tequila

MORE INFO HERE: HTTP://WWW.PARANOIADANCEPARTY.COM

Chris and I have enjoyed the hell out of the last two years of Disasterfests. We’ve both put in a lot of our time, effort, and money, to something that we felt was worth it, and I feel like the end result was beyond what I could have hoped for. However, the harsh reality is that gas is really expensive (especially this year). Bands drive thousands of miles in the summer, and need to break even on some level, otherwise touring becomes an impossibility. Having a one-off fest (like Block Party in New Orleans, or The Fest in Gainesville) would be cool, because people would be able to work, and make money, and save up for what would be more of a weekend trip than a tour stop. But bands tour in the summer, and when you have between six and eight touring bands all coming to the same place at the same time, tours start to overlap, guarantees are compromised and compromised again, and band funds diminish greatly, as was the case last year. Now, I would be totally down with having Disasterfest be a one-off show that people travel to, but being in New England, summer is the only real time the weather would be agreeable for something of this nature, and as we all know, summer is the only real time most DIY bands are able to tour.

Another thing I was unhappy with regarding Disasterfest, was that there were so many touring bands, that I was unable to accurately showcase the awesomeness of the local bands of Massachusetts (and CT), solely due to time constraints. When all was said and done, I had room for maybe four or five local bands (one of which was obviously going to be my band), and both years, we had at least one drop off last minute. There are obviously much more than five good local bands in Massachusetts, and I feel like Disasterfest was almost a disservice to our local scene in that sense.

What I am planning this year is to have a bunch of smaller shows throughout the summer to accommodate all the bands who are still touring to New England. And each smaller show will give me an opportunity to showcase different locals who are working hard to make a name for themselves in the scene that has treated us all so well over the years. I’m not expecting anyone to travel great distances for these shows (as they did with Disasterfest), but since these tours are going all over the place, nobody will really have to. It’s a great opportunity to represent your own area, and your local scene, by showing up to these shows and supporting the touring bands, no matter where you live.

Shows we’ve got so far include:

6/26 – Paranoia Dance Party!, Atlas The Atom Smasher, Fugue, & more @ The Dirty Douglas in Lowell, MA

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181033761947496

7/2 – A Billion Ernies, Caddywhompus, Atlas The Atom Smasher, & more @ The Raven in Worcester, MA

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202257043148378

Shows we’re still working on setting up:

Informant, The Best Of The Worst, This Is A Stick Up, and a few more.

Thank you all so much for all of your support over these past few years.

I love you all, and hope that I can make something bigger and better happen next year for you all.

Love,

Aaron

PARANOIA DANCE PARTY
Paranoia Dance Party will be releasing a brand new full length album entitled “Surroundings” tentatively scheduled for the end of April. They’ve posted two of the songs on their bandcamp page and well… they’re awesome. Two words: Herbert West.

ATLAS THE ATOM SMASHER
Atlas The Atom Smasher just finished up a rocking tour of the southeast in support of their latest EP entitled “Roots Gone Rotten”, including a few dates in Louisiana and Mississippi with Les Doux. Roots Gone Rotten was released March 9th at Atlas’s tour kickoff in Lowell, MA, and can be found on their bandcamp page.

THE BEST OF THE WORST
Earlier this year, The Best Of The Worst worked together with John Komar of Kinarf Music Videos to release a music video for their song “Blood Drive Pride.” Blood Drive Pride is the first track on TBOTW’s side of a split 7″ record with Tomahawk Chop of Long Island, NY, which is available in their WEBSTORE. The Best Of The Worst will also be performing at this year’s Community Records Block Party in New Orleans in April. New Merch is also in the works, but more on that later.

MATT WIXSON
Matt Wixson’s Flying Circus will also be reppin the Open Hand at Block Party this year. Also, Matt started up a tumblr site a while ago, which you should definitely follow if you do the tumblr thing. More up-to-date updates, singles off of upcoming releases, and an army of musicians covering Matt Wixson songs can be found there.

THIS IS A STICK UP
This Is A Stick Up is writing in preparation of recording their next release. Any update on upcoming tours is still TBA, but if you live in New York or New England, expect to see some sweaty smelly boys this summer.

LES DOUX
When was the last time I updated this? Anyway, we’ve welcomed a new band to the Open Hand family. They are Les Doux, a three-piece bluesy screamo outfit from Hattiesburg, MS. We haven’t released anything from them yet, but they have a self-titled EP up for stream on their bandcamp site to hold you over until we do. Les Doux played a few dates of Atlas The Atom Smasher’s spring tour, and killed it every night. Look forward to very sweet things from these guys.

Anyway, with summer right around the corner, things are going to start happening more frequently very soon, so expect more updates in the not-too-distant future. Also, feel free to follow Open Hand Records on our new(ish) Twitter account.

I love you all.
<3 Aaron

Here’s two acoustic releases from Stick It Out and That Really Awesome Guy With A Guitar! Lyrics and explanations included with each! Enjoy!

That Really Awesome Guy With A Guitar – When Everyone Else Is Gone (2010)
1. Still Here
2. Lowell Song
3. Snow Symphony
4. Percival Pool Circa 1998
5. Sometimes
6. Live This Dream
7. Here To Play

Stick It Out – Dear Wife, Dear Kids (2010)
1. Self Awareness
2. Dear Wife, Dear Kids
3. It Was For Nothing

Tyler and Ed are both great dudes working hard to create and play great music. I hope you all enjoy both of these releases!

<3

Sorry I haven’t really updated anything in a long while. There hasn’t been too much to report.
But this weekend, we’ll be releasing two free (mostly) acoustic EPs by members of bands you may already know.

The first EP, “Dear Wife, Dear Kids,” is by Stick It Out, the solo acoustic project of Ed Hall from the late A Waragainstsound. It’s a three-track EP, with harshly biting lyrics and explanations included. Stick It Out toured the UK with Ducking Punches shortly after the breakup of AWAS. Since then, Ed has also started a new project by the name of Ignorance Is This.
Stick It Out – http://www.myspace.com/stickitoutukacoustic

The second is “When Everyone Else Is Gone,” by That Really Awesome Guy With A Guitar (TRAGWAG), which is the mainly acoustic solo project of Tyler Bisson from Atlas The Atom Smasher. TRAGWAG has toured multiple times, including a full US tour summer 2009, and a bunch of weekend tours summer 2010. Physical copies of this release were sold/given out this past summer while on tour with Midi & The Modern Dance, and it includes a lot of songs that Tyler generally included in his live sets.
TRAGWAG – http://www.myspace.com/tylerbisson

Lindsay Sanderson’s photos:
Day 1, part 1
Day 1, part 2

Emily Byram’s photos:
Day 1
Day 2
More Day 2
Emily’s Favorites

Mary Jacobs’s photos:
Both days

Mary Jacobs’s photography page: (like on facebook!)
Stuck Lucky, Day 1 & 2
A Billion Ernies, Day 1 & 2

This past weekend, July 24th and 25th, 2010, was a weekend full of friends, family, and fun. From California to Florida to Michigan to New Hampshire, friends from all over the country came together for a weekend of awesome times. Special thanks to Hector, Steve, Jay, and his brother for driving out from Michigan just to attend both shows. Your support is greatly appreciated. I also want to point out that for both dates, people drove up from New Jersey (Gabe, Kyle, I don’t even know who else, but thank you), Mary and Rory came from PA, and Markie, Mickie, Nick, and Weezle came from New Hampshire. So awesome. It fills my heart with joy that in our second year doing this, and in OHR’s second year in existence, people cared enough to make the trip. This is the type of thing that makes me feel that we must be doing something right.

Also, extra props go out to This Is A Stick Up for getting to the Connecticut show after having their van break down two separate times between the two shows.

Lastly, Chris Morrill and Jacob Raccuia. Without these two wonderful individuals, neither of these shows could have happened. Find them both on facebook, and thank them. Chris and Jacob got the venues in Massachusetts and Connecticut (respectively), and had a huge part in making each show run as smoothly as it did. I couldn’t have done either show without them, and they deserve a lot of credit. So thanks guys.

Here are some pictures that lindsay took before her camera broke. You can see the rest by adding her on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.sanderson

Paranoia Dance Party:

This Is A Stick Up:

Matt Wixson’s Flying Circus (plus special guests):

Atlas The Atom Smasher:

Fatter Than Albert (now with Andy):

Lindsay’s camera broke at the MA date. These are from Emily Byram (thanks Emily!). The rest of her pictures can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/emilybyram

The Best Of The Worst (Folly Cover f/ Tyler Rosenberg of PDP, and Robbie Allen of TIASU):

Stuck Lucky:

Tyler Healey crowd surfing during A Billion Ernies:

These pictures and more can be found on facebook and various other places. Please don’t e-mail me asking for pictures, I will hate you.

Wendy Dennis of the Wakefield Unitarian Universalist Church had this to say after day 1:

Thanks to every who came – you brought donations to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry and raised funds that willl go to both the food pantry and to the church to the church’s building fund to help keep our building in good shape and available for more concerts and other community events. And, thanks for taking good care of our historic building!

All in all, I think for the most part everyone had a wonderful time. And that makes me super happy. If Disasterfest happens again next year, I hope to see some familiar faces, as I’m sure it will be even more awesome.

Thank you everyone involved for making this weekend a great one for me and all of my friends.

<3 Aaron Hibbert

Odds is a best-of style collection of mismatched and misfit songs, but despite my amusement, Matt wouldn’t call it Keasbey Nights Two. Matt explains everything in this [blog post].
My favorite tracks: Good American, Double Agent, Perpetual Emotion Machine, and Low Standards.

Matt Wixson – Odds (2010)
1. The AV Club
2. Surely YOu Can’t Be Serious
3. Good American (Folkin’ Version)
4. Double Agent
5. Perpetual Emotion Machine
6. You’ll Do
7. Jack’s Good Mood
8. Gaytheist
9. Mr. Ruff and Tuff
10. Very Old Man
11. The Harder They Come
12. Wretched Me
13. Low Standards
14. The Times They Are Remainin’
15. The Man I Killed
16. Mexico
17. The Pancake

Hello fellows and ladies. It’s Tyler from Paranoia Dance Party! I’m sitting here on a Monday night/Tuesday morning, quite unentertained. So I figured, if that chump Joe Scala can post a personal ramble on our beloved record labels website, then I can as well! I bet Aaron forgot he gave me the info harharhar… Anyways, for those of you who care, Paranoia Dance Party has had a lot going on lately as usual. The Summer tour is almost completely booked, and it’s looking awesome thus far. Check out our Myspace page for the dates. On the front of new music, we have quite a bit of it for you. Our first full length album is nearing completion writing wise, and I gotta say, the songs really put the EP to shame. I’m not gonna go into a rant and tell you something like how br00ding and d33p the new stuff is, or how it is unlike anything you have ever heard, nor am I gonna give you a estimated release date, as we our selves don’t even know such details. The most I will say is that we are looking to record sometime near the end of the year, so bear (no not bare. BEAR! like the animal. Didn’t you see the picture?) with us.

Enough shameless self promotion, now time for other Open Hand Records news!

The Best Of The Worst are starting to write more material in the vein of KISS and Michael Bolten. They are gonna be playing a bunch of shows with us this summer so check out their myspace as well.

This Is A Stick Up has decided to quit music in general and persue a collective career in Riverboat gambling. I wish them the best of luck.

The Disregardables are deep in the works of their next album. A Skacore Opera entitled ‘Chex: The Life and Times’

Matt Wixson looks more like Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island than ever.

There you have it. Cold… Hard… Facts…

-Tyler