A quick one...

Hey all,
Well, things continue to be busy here at the Gaito Camp. I had a delightfully long week up at West Street Digital with André. We got eight of the 15 songs pretty much completely finished (including Beard of Bees, Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza, Hobart the Emu, Asparagus and Glass, Marco, Strumkin Versus (which I might just shorten to Versus...hmm), ...realities..., and Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly). Tracy and I have been working on the cover art - which is becoming an ambitious project and I have been working on the bonus Sandwich disc as well. On top of that, I have been trying to do some marketing stuff - which is not my favorite thing - I know it is essential - but it seems very time consuming - I am trying to make it fun though -my friend IngaDahling! will begin helping me on the marketing piece on 9/1 and I can't wait for the help - it will be fun working with IngaDahling!

Anyway, I will probably be glued to my laptop tonight and tomorrow (email me and say hello - I can use the encouragement :-)!) and then it is back to the studio on Monday and Thursday, at least) Tracking Dan Bailey's bad ass drums on Thursday so that will be a total blast!

Well, I should go back to pushing my wares and bringing my special kind of joy to the world ;-).

Be well,
Mike

And the winner of the Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Giveaway is:

Frank Briggs has won the Deluxe Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Package including a Gaitoplexicon Records T-Shirt, Mug, Messenger Bag and Mouse Pad! (retail value over $80.00). Congratulations to Frank! Thanks to all who preordered early - you have gotten this project moving full steam ahead! And if you simply must have these items they are available for purchase at Schpronk.com.If you haven't preordered yet, there's still time. Click on the preorder link at the bottom of this entry to find out more!

A note about our winner, Frank Briggs:

I first met Frank Briggs when he came to play at the University of Maine at Farmington in 1996. He was drumming for Mike Keneally and Beer for Dolphins who had come to UMF to perform for the University's Spring Fling event. The outdoor venue provided many challenges, one of which was Frank's charts blowing away in a vortex of tornado if you will. Even so, much fun was had by all and these events we documented in Mike Keneally's song, Potato and Frank and I were immortalized in the following verse:

We went to Maine 'cause we're friends with Mike Gaito

And Briggs's charts flew away in tornado

And I was up all night writing potato

Australia

Potato

- by Mike Keneally from the album Sluggo!

So, years passed...and a few weeks ago, Frank and I reconnected via the odd cultural phenomenon known as myspace. Frank is an amazing musician and drummer and an incredible guy. He has a new CD coming out in October called China Ranch. Frank has a great outlook on music and the importance of supporting independent artists. Please check out his music. You can hear it on his web site and his myspace page (be sure to check out his excellent blogs too!)...while you're there you can also get the latest scoop on China Ranch.

All that's left to say is, "Congratulations and Yay, Frank!!!"