Friday, November 21, 2008

Automatic Buffalo - YouTube montage video

I have no idea who created this, but it's kinda neat, no?

Sunday, October 05, 2008

THREE NEW AARON SOLO SHOWS

Hey all,

2001-01-15 @ Les Zygomates

2001-05-18 @ The Somerville Theater


2001-08-10 @ TT The Bear's

The TT's show is probably the "must-have" show of all the solo shows posted so far.

So what are you waiting for?

Please leave comments if you're enjoying what you hear!

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

40+ SHOWS TO STREAM!

For anyone who hasn't been over here in a while, here's what's up so far:

1. There have been a few tweaks to the page layout, but nothing overwhelming - some new menu options, etc.

2. There are about 40 live full-band shows available to STREAM LIVE via a flash player if you're at home or work and don't want to have to download the files or bring them with you if you want to listen to them.

If you want to download, though, you're still able to do that - most of the shows have been uploaded as individual .mp3 files (at least 160 kbps), and as ZIP files in both .MP3 and lossless .SHN format.

3. There are currently also 8 solo Aaron shows, which can also be streamed.

4. There are a handful of other shows that you can download but not stream yet, though those should be fixed up by the end of the week.

5. There will be brand new shows (band and Aaron solo) never before put on the archive posted as soon as I get the other stuff fixed up first.

I'll have more updates as things change!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Layout changes, new content

Hey all,

As you probably notice, there's a slightly different look and feel to the Archive.

The goal is to slowly upgrade the bootleg sections so that you can stream shows via the website, so you can listen to them at home or work without having to download files (which you'll still be able to do, too, if you want to make your own CDs or put them on your MP3 players). So far the 1999 and 2000 shows are pretty much finished, with the rest to follow.

A lot of the file names have been changed, too, from their previous directories. The song names will be the titles of the files, rather than the date-coded, confusing-looking file names I used before. When you're downloading, just be careful not to save files over each other!

Additionally, I've been diving into my collection of MiniDiscs in order to pull out the rest of the shows that have never been put into circulation before ... and there's some good stuff, believe me. (Anyone remember the Monday night Les Zygomates show in 2000?)

The other portions of the site that haven't been finished yet will also see some changes, but the music is the priority. I assume it's what most of you are primarily interested in, so stay tuned for more shows in the coming days and weeks!

I'll also try to work out some of the bugs in the HTML. For instance, there are problems with the pull-down menus in Internet Explorer, but they work fine in Firefox and Chrome, so I don't know what's up. If you're using IE, click on the year header in the sub-menu for the live stuff, and you'll be brought to another menu. You'll end up in the same place, just via a different route. Sorry about that.

Finally - as always - please give me feedback if you love the layout, hate the way it looks, find mis-named files or dead links, want to contribute your own photos or recordings, or anything else of the sort. I can't promise immediate action (unless it's positive reinforcement!), but it's stuff I like to know before moving too far forward. E-mail, blog comments, or whatever! I'd love to hear from you!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

NEWS, AARON SOLO SHOWS UPLOADED

Hey all,

Long time no see! There hasn't been much going on until recently, so here's the latest scoop:

Aaron Perrino is back! The Belgium experiment apparently came to a conclusion, he and his family have returned to Boston. Welcome home!

Additionally, original TSD drummer Shawn Sears also relocated back to the city.

I haven't heard anything about anything, for the record (so don't ask if I know something but won't share - I promise, I know nothing), but I believe I speak for all TSD fans when I confess that my New Year's Eve schedule is wide open right now. Hint hint.

In terms of shows that are upcoming, Bostonians - remember that Dear Leader is playing at TT The Bear's at the end of the month (the 26th and 27th).

And a short notice reminder, Ryan Dolan's excellent new band, Hiss and Chambers, is at the Middle East Upstairs on Thursday night.

I'm completely putting these words in his mouth, so this isn't from the man himself, but I'm sure Jim Gilbert would like to remind you that there's more to the internets than porn and the Drudge report, and you can find lots of great stuff over at www.plus1tv.com, so go check it out.

Finally, I appreciate everyone's patience. I know a lot of people knew I had this stuff, but for whatever reason I hadn't gotten around to posting it yet. I still have a few neat odds and ends to post, but with Aaron's green light, I present to you "The Aaron Perrino Solo Shows" section of the archive. Eight shows so far, with a little more to come! Enjoy, and spread the word!

Friday, June 20, 2008

MESSAGEBOARD UPDATE

The Dear Leader site expired briefly and the entire site (including the very popular messageboard) was down. While it was down, I set up a new board just in case people wanted to stay in touch.

Long story short, the Dear Leader site is back up, and I anticipate most people continuing to use it, as it's an established entity. I'm going to keep the Archive messageboard up, though, as a backup to the Leaderboard, and in case anyone wants to leave comments or suggestions, share memories of the shows posted, or anything else anyone might want to say about the TSD legacy.

So feel free to join up and post freely.

Rock!

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

FAREWELL AND GOOD LUCK

Gosh, take a little vacation away from a computer for a few days and big news breaks!

In Aaron's own words, from the Dear Leader messageboard:

Several people have asked so I figured I'd let you all know that I am moving to Antwerp at the end of this month. I took a job at an Advertising Agency there and will try it out for a few years. I plan to take advantage of their socialized way of life like 6 wks vacation and subsidized childcare. I also intend on making my first self produced solo record there. Dear Leader will continue to play the occasional show and make a new record at some point in the future. Thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout the years and obviously this isn't goodbye just see you later.

Aaron


So, there you go.

It's both sad and exciting - for Aaron, for his past and present bandmates, for his family, for us as fans - but so is life. So Aaron, here's to you and to all of the great memories we've had and hope to have once again in the coming years. May Belgium treat you as well as Boston has, and may your family find great happiness and success overseas. We will all miss you!

On a personal note: Aaron, thanks for everything. The fact that you happen to be in a band whose music I really enjoy is secondary to the fact that you are and always have been a really great and generous person. Though various conversations may not have seemed like much at the time, believe me - they counted. I'm proud to call you a friend.

Good luck, buddy.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

UPLOAD: SAM ADAMS BREWFEST, COLLEGEFEST SHOWS

The Sam Adams Brewfest show took place on July 27, 2000 at the Sam Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain and features the only known performance of "Some Kind of Home" (does anyone know of another time it was played?)

CollegeFest at Hynes Convention Center took place, as I remember, during the "Countrymen" sessions. The sound is a little iffy on this one, as the stage was set up in a big convention hall surrounded by jackals trying to get free keychains and posters from companies nobody ever wanted to deal with outside of a "hey, look! free stuff!" kind of atmosphere. Not to editorialize, of course ... :)

Enjoy!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

UPLOAD: MIKEY DEE BENEFIT, LIVE AT TT THE BEAR'S 2000-05-04

I don't think this has been available previously here on the Archive, and it's long overdue to go into circulation. It's from the Mikey Dee benefit show, live at TT The Bear's - May 4, 2000.

This is an outstanding recording of a terrific show, and you're sure to want to have it in your collection.

In the coming days, I'll also be (re)posting the New Year's Eve, Sam Adams Brewfest, and the CollegeFest shows (all from 2000).

Also, I have a CD that says "Baltimore / Florida" on it, but I don't remember where I got it. Does anyone recall any details on this disc or either of these shows? I want to upload them, but I want to make sure I have some sort of documentation for them first.

At any rate, grab that Mikey Dee benefit show - you're going to love it, I promise.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

UPLOAD: PHOTO SECTION

Well, that took entirely too long.

The PHOTO SECTION is now active. I still have some odds and ends and new submissions to sort through, but my back catalog is pretty much now online. It takes a little time to load up, depending on your internet connection, so please be patient. Also, the photo page looks significantly better in Internet Explorers, so if you usually use Firefox ... my apologies :)

Monday, February 25, 2008

UPLOAD: TWO KENDALL CAFE RECORDINGS

These had been uploaded in the archive's previous life, but somehow escaped being re-uploaded until now.

Recorded almost one year apart at the now defunct Kendall Cafe, these are the truest acoustic shows that the band ever played.

As always, we hope you enjoy them!

2000-02-22 Live at the Kendall Cafe
2001-01-23 Live at the Kendall Cafe