Yes, I am in JAPAN

Hey Guys-
Great to hear from so many of you via email here on the road in Japan. Thanks for the love on the "Bizarre Love Triangle" cover. I've always been a huge New Order fan. It was sort of an experiment and I just happened to hit "record" at my studio.

I'm blogging from Tokyo right now. It's been an amazing week traveling around Japan. I started in the mid-section of the island in Himeji, Japan and then visited Kyoto. The food has been terrific, having delved into Sukiyaki style bbq, traditional sushi, and Japanese BBQ (which is similar to Korean BBQ). I am a total foodie. The fish is the freshest I have ever tasted and the Japanese eat toro tuna (from the fish belly and very expensive), like it's chicken. It's ubiquitous and I now I cannot go back to regular sushi I normally eat in New York. My hotel in Tokyo is something out of "Lost in Translation." I have an amazing view of the Tokyo Tower and central Tokyo.

Some photos I took are below. I'll have some new songs released here on myspace as soon as I get back to New York. The patience and support means so much. I have a great feeling about this new material from the studio. Stay tuned...

All Love from Tokyo,
-Alex

POSTED FROM TOKYO, JAPAN AT 9:44 AM

All Good

yes, I am alive and well...in fact, very caffeinated and writing a ton of new material. It's dramatic, it's lyrically inquisitive, it's...., well you will hear soon.

I love you all. There should be a bunch more MTV spots coming up. Still working on the details and such, but keep your eyes and ears peeled for all that.

-Alex

Ruminating and new ideas

Hey Everyone-

I just climbed out of my studio after several days and many French Presses full of Italian coffee. I had been on the road non-stop for nearly 2 years and this is truly the first time I've had no tour dates coming up for the moment. I really want to spend some time with these new songs and new ideas. Sometimes I have felt rushed to release new material and get an album out as soon as possible, but the bottom line is that the music means everything, not timing. I have some topics on my mind that are coming out in these songs and I'm eager to share it all. I have contemplated the struggle of seeing people do things they don't want to be doing in their life. I am thinking about niches, if that makes any sense. I want to hone these songs and shape them just right.

I've also gotten to spend some time out of New York. I've been traveling a bit with a guitar on my back, just thinking and writing, observing and ruminating. I'll be taking some trips later in the summer to Asia and Europe. It has been a long time since I have been to both locales for it not part of a tour.

...Being in the studio has its drawbacks though. I feel I need to drum up my own support and be my own motivator. I need you all. The relationship we have keeps my heart-rate constant.

All Love,
~AN

Photos from Oregon Sessions

Hey Hey My Babies...here are a few shots from Oregon. I had been hanging with my long-time pal Justin King at his studio and home in the mountains of Eugene, OR. It was a pretty killer week with a lot of new inspiration found. More news on the songs soon.

-A.N.

POSTED FROM BROOKLYN, NY AT 10:47 AM

PHOTOS:

in the mountains

hey guys...currently in Denver. Working on some new material with musical friends and off to Oregon tomorrow to hang with my pal Justin King at his {not-so} humble abode in Eugene, OR. It's more like a musical castle. We'll be clunking our heads together, writing, recording, drinking plenty of vino and just breathing fresh air in the high mountains of Oregon. The last time I was out there with the band we had an absolute blast and the scenery is more beautiful than anywhere one can imagine.

I'll have some photos and sounds shortly, but all is ok. I've been half in a cave lately gathering myself. I'm sorry about that. Love to you all...rest assured that what is coming will be significant.

-A.T.N.

POSTED FROM DENVER, CO AT 10:45 AM

Notes from New York

Been feeling a little weird lately. The boys and I had a great tour that spanned a lot of miles and met some great fans (old and new) on the road. But, my mood has felt a little burned out. I don't know whether it's the release of fatigue immediately after a record release when there has been so much planning to make the new album successful. I can't say really. I've been doing the "artist thing" for 7 seven years. It's been quite a road, literally and figuratively. I've had enough frustrations to want to quit about every month. But, for some reason, I'm still at it and I guess I can say things have been good. We've got an amazing group of fans worldwide, I've traveled the world, and have had some pretty cool opportunities along the way with press, TV, and other forms of noteriety.

But, so much goes into all of this that the immediate rewards aren't always apparent. It's difficult and most of the time, it's the artist himself who has to proverbially drum up his own support to keep the motivation going strong. I've always said, "the phone won't ring unless I make the call." I think that's still true. Nothing happens unless the "pursuer" makes it happen. Sometimes, it's hard. Sometimes, I feel tired about having to be my own biggest fan.

At the moment, I'm home in New York and off the road. I like it. I can breathe and breathe deeply. I'm working on some new song ideas and so far, it's really coming through. I want to sit on these ideas for a bit and not record them until I've really sculpted these songs carefully. I've got some new influences and inspirations and I feel good about it. I'll also be doing some traveling. I'm still figuring out my locales, but I'm planning on Japan this summer. I want something different. I've toured Europe and have traveled extensively there. I lived in Italy for a year, but Asia is new ground to me.

So, what's my point? I'm not entirely sure. Just some thoughts out-loud I guess. I'm happy, but admittedly tired. Sometimes an artist needs a push from more than himself. Along the way, the band and I have had some tough shows and some long nights on the road. It's wears on me (and probably them too). This is a tough pursuit and the rewards don't always equal the energy input and personal investments. I think that can always be a difficult combination...working harder than what will come back to you. But, for some reason, I still maintain a level of self-efficacy that I hope will push me to press on...I hope you all will be behind me.

Alex

yes

DAN: HAPPY TO BE BACK IN SAN FRANCISCO

From Charlotte

APRIL 4, 2008
THE EVENING MUSE
CHARLOTTE, NC

Hey hey-
The boys and I rocked Charlotte, NC last night with our new friend Vienna Teng. She was terrific and it was very cool to see some old friends we had met on the road awhile back. Charlotte was great. It poured, it thundered, we got soaked. But, the show was killer. We stripped the set-up down a bit from the normal electric tones...My voice was feeling a little raspy, but I pushed through.

About to leave NC and we're on our way to Atlanta. Got to run. Me need coffee!

SETLIST:

ALOUD
HOLIDAY
AMSTERDAM AVENUE
WAIT FOR ME
A LETTER
STAY WHERE YOU ARE
SUNRISE FALLS
DIONYSUS

Notes from Los Angeles

Hey All-
Just finished the west coast tour run and have had a day to clear my thoughts here in Los Angeles. It was really a great week that started in Seattle, hit Vancouver, then down to Portland (where we picked up our bro Justin King), then down to San Francisco, and finished in L.A. at the Troubadour.

We hit snow and sleat in northern California and totally muddled our van up with road "goop." We never ate a healthy meal, except when we went for really solid Mexican food in Seattle with our friends Kyle and Mandi Stevens. I also ate well when I got sushi in L.A. The road has an odd way of exciting me as well as draining me literally at the same time. There are moments of pure elation followed by "I want my bed."

But, we’ve played hundreds of shows all over the place and at this point, I’m quite used to it. Throughout the time on the road I’ve been continuing to write and really have some cool ideas for some new material. I’ll hash them out in the coming weeks. I’ll be back to NYC later today. I’m battling a bad flu/cold thing. My throat burns, I’m coughing with conviction, and my head is stuffed like a balloon.

I’ll be home in NYC for 2 days, then we drive down to Charlotte, NC for the southeast turn.

Here are some photos:

Oregon

Hey Guys-

on the tour road and thought i'd stop by and drop some love on the blog...things have been going very well, but it's been raining like crazy. we really had a blast in Seattle, Vancouver, and last night in Portland. The shows have been killer and the people have been amazing. So great to see so many of you at the shows thus far.

i'm hanging in Eugene, OR with our buddy Justin King at his studio and house up in the Oregon mountains. it's pretty unbelievable and we're enjoying some gorgeous Italian coffee at the moment. the house reminds me of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

So, off to San Francisco in a little bit...I hope all of you are well. We've got some great shows coming up this week including tomorrow 3/27 in San Francisco with Justin King and Ari Hest. We'll then be back at the Troubadour on Friday 3/28 in Los Angeles.

Love to you all...the support keeps me going on this windy and pebble-laden road.

Alex

record release / some thoughts

Hey Hey...

The boys and I really had a ball last week in New York for the record release party at the Mercury Lounge on 3/13. It was pretty amazing seeing so many of you out there. It’s been a long winter with ups and downs...i’m always trying to push the new music in all the good ways we can. There is a brand new www.alexnackman.com up if you have not seen the new website.

If you haven’t picked up the new album "Still Life Moves" yet, I hope you will. Go to iTunes or www.alexnackman.com or www.amazon.com, etc, etc, etc...There are just some stories on this album I really want you to hear. I also want to hear your feedback. So, please drop an email anytime to alex@alexnackman.com

I’m not some elusive artist that never responds. Many of you already know that I get back to everyone.

We’ll be jet-setting this weekend to the west coast for a week-long run. Many details have gone into the tours. More cities will be added soon. Thanks for your patience friends...I’ll keep writing, you keep listening. It means so much.

{Setlist - 3/13 - New York}
-wait for me
-aloud
-sunrise falls
-banking on november
-holiday
-with or without you
-a letter
-something remains
-proximity
-polaroid face
-thoughts of paris

SHOWS:


3/23 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
3/24 - Vancouver, BC - Railway Club
3/25 - Portland, OR - Dante’s
3/27 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
3/28 - Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

Love As Always...
-Alex

New Album OUT TODAY!

Go on, grab it. "Still Life Moves" has been released. It's out today March 4. There is also a brand spankin' new www.alexnackman.com. So, enjoy these new toys.

I have a promo in/store this week at Borders out on Long Island, then we kick it back in Manhattan next week on March 13 for the record release party at Mercury Lounge. More tour dates on the schedule, so go check it all out. We're on the move.

BUY THE NEW ALBUM: www.cdbaby.com/cd/alexnackman5

March*

March will be a big month for the boys and myself. The new album is released on 3/4 and we'll be doing a bunch of U.S. tour dates shortly thereafter. Here's a brief run-down. See you all out at the rock show. It'll be great to be doing it all again....

3/04 - "Still Life Moves" released worldwide
3/07 - Borders Bookins & Music (in/store) - Westbury, NY
3/13 - Mercury Lounge - New York, NY
3/23 - Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA
3/24 - Railway Club - Vancouver, BC
3/25 - Dante's Live (Justin King opens) - Portland, OR
3/27 - Cafe Du Nord (Justin King opens, with Ari Hest) - San Francisco, CA
3/28 - The Troubadour (Justin King opens) - Los Angeles, CA

more to come...don't worry, we're working on it all. Trying to cover all the territories. And it's always a little slow getting it al together.

~Alex

POSTED FROM BROOKLYN, NY AT 5:10PM

Films notes & New Album Arrives March 4, 2008

Many of you already know that I'm an enormous film buff. I have a huge DVD collection and I've never used NetFlix. I always buy movies because I want to have them at my desposal whenever I'd like them. After seeing a few "oldies" this past weekend, I felt it necessary to express some of my all-time favs...and those films that all should see.

If you agree or disagree with this list, give me a shout. Oh, and in music news, THE NEW ALBUM WILL BE RELEASED ON TUESDAY MARCH 4! Oh $%&, this is huge! It's called "Still Life Moves" and will comfort your ears thoroughly (at least I hope). Set you calendars. Pre-sale info coming shortly.

On to the films (in no particular order):

- The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Jules et Jim
- Vanilla Sky
- Strangers on a Train
- Shadow of a Doubt (Hitchcock)
- Rebecca
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (amazing score composed by Jon Brion)
- Uncle Buck
- Eyes Wide Shut
- Scent of a Woman
- 8 1/2
- School Ties
- Dazed and Confused
- Cold Mountain

...many others, but that should get you started

-A.N.

XM Satellite Radio Sessions

Hey Hey--
Hope you guys got a chance to hear the XM Satellite Radio Session with "Ted Kelly in the Morning" we did yesterday at the Washington DC studios. Dan and I came down from NYC for an acoustic session. If you missed it, there will be a podcast of this released soon from www.alexnackman.com

We were pushing the new album and having a 'lil interview action at Worldspace UPop Studios of XM, Channel 29.

~Alex
POSTED FROM NEW YORK, NY AT 10:55 AM

notes

I've been getting some really great notes from many of you guys anticipating the new album. i appreciate this very much. it all means so much. there have been some doubts and some up and down moments in the last several months. the record wasn't easy to make (and they never are). but, the contact i get from you all keeps me in check...and gets the ideas in a lucid state.

still writing a few new thoughts in the last two weeks that are staying with me. i find if i can remember the vocal melody of a song idea without having to hear the demo again on my laptop, then it's the making of a good song. working, working, working. stay with me my friends...

~AN




POSTED FROM NEW YORK at 2:24 PM

Live in New York - Mercury Lounge 12/30/2007

DECEMBER 30, 2007
THE MERCURY LOUNGE
NEW YORK, NY

The last of 2007 was pretty slammin'. The boys and I were back at the Mercury Lounge for another terrific night right before New Year's Eve. We were all excited and even hung Christmas lights behind the drum kit for festive purposes only. I decided to down 3 glasses of Disaronno Amaretto before the set...I usually do this to warm the 'ol vocal chords, but this time I was also trying to soothe a sore throat and take some edge off. For some reason, I was a little nervous before this one. I don't really know why for certain. Usually, I'm totally fine and ready to rock. Perhaps it was because the band and I were debuting a few new songs or maybe it was from the fact that we were home in NYC and there are usually more people that know me personally at home in New York. I wanted it to be a good one.

In all honesty, it's been a long 2007 filled with plenty of truly great times as well as some down moments. I lost my drummer and friend Chris Williams at the end of 2006 and also went through some frustrating industry-related things that made me question all that I was doing. Nonetheless, the band and I had a terrific summer tour between NYC and L.A. and even had a considerable amount of MTV love. We decided that recording a new album in the Fall and Winter of 2007 was the best decision to push things in a further positive direction. We had so many new songs and lyrical ideas...there had to be a place to put it all together.

I get nervous when I venture into a new project, especially an album. There is expectation from those listening and watching and there is also self-expectation. I don't want to fail. I want people to latch onto the songs and understand what I am saying. I want people to really become part of what I'm doing. Those that know me personally and even just on myspace know that I spend a lot of time conversing with email and messages to people...But, pressure to perform and continue to do relevant things create times of uncertainty. All these things probably came to a head on 12/30 at the Merc, when I began the process of infusing the setlist with some of the new material....there is that "Ok, here we go again from the beginning" feeling that one gets when they're starting something new and presenting it to a room full of eager listeners who, mind you, are educated music lovers.

We had a great crowd on hand at the Merc and I hope we're off to a good start now that 2008 has arrived. I hope the audiences grow and the people already involved in my world fall in love with the new songs. The new album will be released in early March.

The support means so much. You all have no idea. Being an artist is thankless 90% of the time...not by the fans of course, but by the nature of the pursuit.

Love Always,
~Alex

Setlist:

HOLIDAY
SUNRISE FALLS
WAIT FOR ME
A LETTER
INDIFFERENCE
AMSTERDAM AVENUE
DIONYSUS
VENICE
OCTOBER
PROXIMITY

encore
---------
STAY WHERE YOU ARE


blurry cell phone photos from merc lounge, nyc

From London with Love

Hey Guys-

In London at the moment. I'm getting to know the town quite well now, having been able to get back to England a couple times a year, at least, for touring and all. Spending Christmas and the holiday here and currently writing down a few new song ideas. I know what you're thinking: "Alex, you have a new album coming soon. What the hell do you mean by new material at this point?" Well, I can't seem to stop I guess. When I have something, I have to write it down. I heard a melody on the plane over from New York and recorded it on my Mac, humming the tune in my seat.

Ok, another cool thing about this trip....Continental Airlines bumped me up to First Class for free. I asked nicely and they just gave it to me. I was astounded. Perhaps my charm is worth even more than I thought.

Anyway, sitting here in cold and sort of rainy Mayfair section of London, near Oxford St. It's gorgeous despite the melancholy weather.

~Alex

POSTED FROM LONDON, GREAT BRITAIN AT 4:02 PM

LIVE in LANCASTER - Chameleon Club

DECEMBER 8, 2007
THE CHAMELEON CLUB
LANCASTER, PA
w/ Tim Reynolds


Had a great time back down in Lancaster, though we almost hit a horse and carriage. This thing came out of no where on a city street while at a traffic light. The band and I have been able to play the Chameleon Club quite a lot at this point. It's just an amazing room with super sound. Although, we did have to wear scarves and coats during soundcheck. The heating inside the venue seemed to be a challenge. The boys and I were with Tim Reynolds on Saturday night, Dec 8. He was terrific.

Dan decided to leave his entire cymbal bag in Manhattan (he realized this small detail when we were 20 miles outside of Lancaster), so we had to make a snap decision to find a music store in Lancaster, just hours before the gig. Next time, I'll try and forget my guitar in San Francisco when we have a show in Boston.

...fortunately it ended well. Now we can laugh. Show was slammin'. Great to see so many of you out there.

-AN


Setlist:

VENICE
SUNRISE FALLS
WAIT FOR ME
AMSTERDAM AVENUE
DIONYSUS
PROXIMITY
STAY WHERE YOU ARE

Pics - from home

a few more pics from the studio. sorry for the lack of tour dates guys, but the new record has to be right. these things always take longer than expected, but c'est la vie...i'll be in london over the holidays, taking a short break from the road and studio. it may give me a chance to reflect a bit and perhaps even work on a few side song ideas. the thoughts never stop, the work never stops, but i guess that's how we maintain creativity. and there's no break from that.

love to everyone. thanks for your patience and every ounce of support.

-Alex