Photo: Michael Basu/DigBoston

Last week, a panoply of Boston area performers turned up for DigBoston’s “Last Call”.

Aloud was joined by groups like Kingsley Flood, Mellow Bravo, Mean Creek, You Can Be a Wesley, The Boston Pops, Viva Viva, and many others to talk about the last year and the one coming up.

Champagne was sprayed, beer was on tap, and a good time was had by all over at the DigBoston compound.

Head over here to read DigBoston’s whole piece and see some festive photos.

We’ll see you all in 2012. Have a happy new year, eh?

Lesson 1

Our trip through the Southwest has been neglected. I am lazy, but it’ll get done, damnit!

Till then, our adventure through Texas continues…

Our next day in Austin was our first day off during SXSW. We were up on the early side so we could catch the Dig’s Boston to Austin party. The whole thing was a surreal experience for us. There were a lot of friends from home we hadn’t seen in months there. Specifically, I remember seeing Banditas, Static of the Gods, Mean Creek, and Kingsley Flood; I know I saw Viva Viva, but anything beyond that gets hazy. Adam Duritz was around again, and I spent some time talking to him and some folks about his and RSL‘s showcase on Saturday, Smoke and Sand. (Unfortunately, I wound up missing this showcase and I’m supremely bummed. Mike popped by and said it was awesome.) We walked in just in time to catch Banditas, a band I hadn’t seen before, who were great and I think would be a fantastic on a bill with Gwyneth + Monko (hint hint).

Photo: Michael Basu

The second of six EPs released by Brendan Boogie—Songs From The Armory Vol. 2—is now available! The latest EP contains the Brendan/Henry joint “Younger Man’s Game”, which was debuted at last year’s Armory Residency.

The EP—which also includes contributions from Tad McKitterick of Sidewalk Driver, Marc Pinansky of Township, and Jason Dunn of The Luxury—is free to download for the whole month of February. (Click here to download and listen to the whole thing.)

To commemorate the release of the EP, Henry will be performing an acoustic set with Jason Dunn at The Rosebud on Saturday, February 12. Joining them for the evening are Sidewalk Driver, Oranjuly, and the master of ceremonies himself(‘s band): Brendan Boogie & the Best Intentions.

Saturday, February 12, 2011 – 9pm
The Rosebud
381 Summer St, Somerville, MA 02144
w. Sidewalk Driver
Brendan Boogie & the Best Intentions
Oranjuly
Henry Beguiristain + Jason Dunn

…And for a behind the scenes video of that hazy day at the Weekly Dig offices for that slumber party/cover shoot, watch the video shot by Killer Suit Creative Media below.

Photo: Anna Mazurek

Henry and Jen speak with Time Out Boston

Henry and Jen spoke with Jessie Rogers at Time Out Boston. During the phone interview they covered the nuances of living in a minivan for a few months, working on Exile, a few road stories, and on a new-found sense of community with other touring acts:

Jen: There actually are some really awesome people out there, and a lot of them are in bands making good music and they’re trying to hit the road just like we are and make a living out of it. Why not support them? That’s kind of how it’s going to have to be. It’s not about the traditional record contract anymore….

You can read it in its entirety at the Time Out Boston site by clicking here: timeoutboston.com/music-nightlife/music/49113/interview-aloud

The homecoming show – don’t take our word for it

Poster by Erin Genett

For those of you still firmly entrenched in the “maybe” pile, we understand. Solely going on our word that this is going to be an amazing show would be totally irresponsible and negligent. It’s not enough that this is Aloud’s first show back from tour, nor that This Blue Heaven is releasing their long awaited video for “Slow Dance Slow”, nor that One Happy Island is releasing an EP.

You’re serious folks and there are a lot of good shows going on this Saturday (which will not be listed here because we’re a right bunch of jerks). In lieu of cloning technology destined to be mired in ethical and judicial conflicts for decades, you require due diligence on this matter. You want more sources, verification. We get it.

Below the jump are a bunch of other intelligent people—such as yourselves—telling you why you just need to come to this show. Aloud resumes the Exile tour shortly after this gig, and you may not see them around these parts till later this year (and to make it crazier, this show may sell out… grab tickets, you fools).

Exile is going to State!

In the wake of an enlightening post from a blogger in Seattle about how lists are ultimately the enemy of art, our friends at Playground Boston have taken a different tack and instead of naming their Top 5 albums from 2010, they put their five favorite albums on a basketball team. We’re happy to announce that Exile has been named point guard for Pete’s 2010 All-State Team.

A bold departure from the style they’ve employed in past seasons, but with the kind of vision and decisiveness you want in a floor general. What it lacks in speed and muscle it makes up for in guile, creating a bleak landscape for opponents out of dreary melodies and haunting echoes, all flung with deadly timing.

To read the whole danged thing, click here: www.playgroundboston.com/2011/01/11/the-starting-5-best-local-international-releases-of-2010/

Henry and Songs From the Armory in the Dig

Photo: Michael Basu

This week’s cover of the Weekly Dig features Henry with a menagerie (and one facsimile) of Boston area songwriters who worked on Brendan Boogie’s Songs From the Armory EPs. For those not brave enough to venture out into the Snowpocalypse™ to grab a copy, you can read the article on ye internets by clicking on this here link: www.digboston.com/listen/2011/01/brendan-boogie/

The first of six monthly EPs was released on January 1, and is available for free download until January 31st here. Henry’s song co-written with Brendan, “Younger Man’s Game”, will be featured on a future EP.

Below: behind the scenes pictures from the photo shoot at the offices of the Weekly Dig!

Exile makes moves in the New Year.

Photo: Jennifer Beguiristain

Exile has received some love in the New Year, beginning with WZLX’s Boston Emissions. Last week, Exile made the program’s top 10 Favorite Records of 2010. Last night on the show, the record and the band were at the receiving end of some really kind words from the show’s host Anngelle Wood, Weekly Dig‘s Arts and Entertainment Editor Hilary Hughes, and Ryan’s Smashing Life‘s own Ryan Spaulding during a pow-wow about the Beast of the Northeast CMJ showcase. Some excerpts:

Hilary: …They’ve also been pushing themselves with every single record that they’ve made. And Exile, recently, is a very kind of dark—it’s a great graduation for them in terms of the direction that they’re moving in with their songwriting.

Ryan: I think there’s a lesson to be learned there, they have a good time, but also are in this so that, in the [longrun] they can do this and be, y’know, happy, and they can do what they want to do. I think that’s a great lesson. That one band, in particular, they stand out for me for being pros.

To hear the whole thing (including a rundown of the 2010 Boston Music Awards) click here to head over to the streaming archive of last night’s show. You should listen to this town’s awesome music from the whole show, but if you’re in a rush, it’s the second part around the 12½ minute mark.

Both Exile and Fan The Fury were featured on one of CD Baby’s Featured Playlists (Franklin’s Funhouse). Check it out! Buy both! Twice!

Lizard Lounge tickets…

Saturday, Jan 29th

…are now available for Aloud’s homecoming show via Brown Paper Tickets. There have been murmurs that this show may sell out. Make sure you’re not left out in the cold for what promises to be an amazing show: not only is it Aloud’s only Boston area show for a while, not only is One Happy Island is releasing an EP, but This Blue Heaven is now debuting their long awaited music video for “Slow Dance Slow”. Oranjuly, presumably, has something up their sleeves as well.

Here’s the ticket link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/144031

…and, hell, here’s the Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149403048443406

Beware the Ides of March

Save the date, Dallas: Aloud will be returning to you on Tuesday, March 15. The band will be the featured performers at the Pass the Mic series at LaGrange. The night begins at 8pm and there is no cover! If you enjoyed watching Aloud at the Lakewood (and, since you’ve gotten this far in the text, we assume you did), bring along your friends!

Not in Dallas? Never fear: the next leg of the Exile US Tour starts at the end of February. Click here for details on all the shows.

Photo: Mark Jenko (courtesy of Ryan's Smashing Life)

In the funny papers (virtual or otherwise).

Ryan’s Smashing Life posted the photographic evidence from the Beast of the Northeast CMJ showcase at Arlene’s Grocery last month. The pics—snapped by Mark Jenko—can be found here: www.rslblog.com/2010/11/aloud-at-cmj.html

Henry had the opportunity  to speak with Brad Newman of the Amarillo Globe-News last week to talk about the tour and the writing process on Exile. Here’s an excerpt:

“[We] added only what we thought was absolutely necessary to the sound of the song.” The finished project, “Exile,” features the band’s sound at its very essence, Beguiristain said. ”It was fun to leave certain things up to chance,” he said. “It was an interesting approach.”

You can read the rest of the piece here. Aloud debuts in Amarillo, Texas this Sunday, November 28 at The 806. London-based Ray Tarantino will also be performing at the show.

Aloud has also been featured this week as WomensRadio‘s podcast The Plug in their Thanksgiving soundtrack. Click here to list to the podcast, featuring the very bouncy “Counterfeit Star”.

Exile US tour update.

Aloud just wrapped up the first half of the tour, with upwards of 6,000 7,800 miles logged and a nearly week-long jaunt through California behind them (which you can read all about here in Notes From Underground). Remaining dates on the Exile tour are now stretching into January of 2011! The latest dates to come through in the last week or so are listed below.

Aloud is currently making their way through Arizona and are slated to head through New Mexico and Texas next. Dates in the Southeast US are currently being booked, so keep your eyes peeled and on the performances page for the latest, as well as details on the shows listed above. And hey, tell your friends, eh?

Photo: Jess Hodge, for the Weekly Dig (digboston.com)

Aloud is less than a week into their US tour behind Exile, and things are going well by all accounts. The gang started off the tour with a trip to the 2010 CMJ Music Marathon in New York. Beast of the Northeast, a showcase sponsored by Ryan’s Smashing Life, Boston’s Weekly Dig, and annie*rock, went down at Arlene’s Grocery last Friday afternoon. Jess Hodge, from the Dig, took some photos at the show, which can be found here.

Another date has been added to the schedule: Atlanta on Tuesday, December 14 at Smith’s Olde Bar. The Exile tour is going on through the end of December and some of January, so if you don’t see your city listed keep checking back!

“Darkest Days”, off of Exile, has been featured in the latest Boston Band Crush sampler. The November edition features 22 other Boston artists and—best of all—is a free download! Head over to the Boston Band Crush site for details and a download link. Then enjoy an hour-twenty of Boston’s best.

And now, a video update from somewhere in Western Pennsylvania:

At long last, the third full length album Exile is available for sale to the general public (that’s you) today! You can currently buy a copy on CD through the Aloud store and CD Baby, or digitally through Bandcamp and several other digital vendors like iTunes and Napster.

Folks have been asking about the best way to help Aloud out, and here it is: we ask that you consider buying the CD directly from us in the Aloud store or downloading through Bandcamp. This ensures that everyone gets the most bang for their buck. A download through Bandcamp also allows you the option of downloading in a variety of formats, from mp3 to lossless—*hint hint, audiophiles*—and includes the album’s digital booklet.

Still need convincing? Here’s what everyone’s been saying about Exile:

…or “Tuesday Morning Round-Up, Pt. 2: Wednesday”

In advance of tomorrow’s album release show at Church for Exile (*cough cough link to Facebook event page here*), Aloud has been getting some love from Boston today.

This week’s issue of the Weekly Dig features a glowing review of Exile that’s left everyone blushing. Here’s an excerpt:

Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain have made a name for themselves with the searing vocals and straight-forward rock efforts of 2008′s Fan The Fury. With Exile… Aloud has delivered a stunning, multifaceted opus, proving that Beguiristain can do more than bust guitar strings and de la Osa is hardly just another girl screaming into a microphone.

Go pick up a free copy of the to read the rest. It’s worth it for the Dig’s kickass feature on pies alone.

This Blue Heaven‘s singer MacKenzie Outlund’s weekly Wednesday Duologues features a chat (as in G-Chat) with Jen. Click here to read it and quite possibly find out about German strippers who may or may not be at the show tomorrow. (SPOILER ALERT: there will be no German strippers at the album release show. All strippers will strictly be of Québécois descent.)

Anything else? Why, yes! C. D. on Songs over at Boston Band Crush has posted a song review of Old Soldier. Reviewer C. D. Di Guardia was among the first to hear a very rough mix of Old Soldier back in November of last year during an interview for the Performer cover story featuring Aloud. Click here to read what he thinks of the finished product close to one year later!