Morphine, Elliot Smith, Air, Wilco, Otis Redding, Dan the Automator, M. Ward, Beatles, Pinback, Al Green, Neil Young, The Shins, Uncle Tupelo, Modest Mouse, Transportation, Built to Spill, The Roots, Radiohead, Bob Dylan, Spoon, Taj Mahal, Band of Bees, Pink Floyd, Seepeoples, Gomez, Iron and Wine, Beck, Old Micheal Jackson, Blind Melon, The Album Leaf, The Band, Sly and the Family Stone, The Frames, Jeff Buckley, Spearhead, Talking Heads, Ani Difranco, Led Zepplin, Kris Delmhorst, Tom Petty, Jimi Hendrix, Arcade Fire, Johnny Cash, Beta Band, Stevie Wonder, The Cure, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Jayhawks, Tom Waits, The Flaming Lips, The Clash
* DEATH OF THE TOY SOLDIER...............
I'm excited to announce that my next solo record "Death of the Toy Soldier" is finally done and ready for release! I spent many months working on this thing and would like to thank Nick Peterson for all his great work and patience at Track and Field studios as well as everyone that contributed their musical talents to the effort. I was blessed to have an all-star cast of musicians backing me up and helping to bring my ideas to fruition. A very heart felt thank you to Steve Murtaugh (transportation/work clothes/hundredair), Scott Nurkin (birds of avalon/dynomite brothers), Mitch Rothrock (dynomite brothers), Phil Van Kampen (mingus young/kid stereo type), Tyler Harrington (mr. k and the famous/mingus young), Joe Waddell (mingus young), Darryl White (red smokes white), Paul Coleman (mingus young), Mary Johnson (pawnshop ruby), Paul Finn (kingsbury manx/spider bags), Adam Nolton (caltrop/red smokes white), Ben Didsbury (Vital Might/ Ownership of the Head) and Mike Lyons. I'm currently looking for a label to properly put it out but I have pressed copies for friends so if you would like one let me know._________________________________* NEWS...
SCARLET RIDER (in which I play bass and violin) DEBUT ALBUM IS DONE! It's self titled and pretty freakin fantastic. You all go thank Allison for finally recording her songs._______________________________MINGUS YOUNG did record an album I swear! What has happened to it I don't know. Last I heard it was STILL in the mixing stages. So stay tuned.__________________ *HIStory...Born outside Los Angeles in the late seventies but raised in Massachusetts, Brendan Rice picked up his first instrument, the violin, at age four. By age ten he had toured England playing with a Massachusetts youth orchestra. At eighteen he picked up the guitar and started writing and composing his own songs while soaking in the classic sounds of the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder. Living in Boston in the late nineties and attending music production school, Rice was exposed to a wider palette of influences ranging from Radiohead and Built to Spill to the Pixies and Morphine. Immersing himself in the Boston music scene over the next few years, Rice played with several popular area acts including Boston Music Award winners -Three Day Threshold. 2003 saw the release of his first solo recording, the EP ‘Trial by Fire’ which featured two guest appearances by Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley. Indie-Music.com called ‘Trial by Fire’ “an impressive if overly ambitious first effort”. Looking to escape the cold and high cost of living in Boston but wanting to transplant to a nurturing music scene, Brendan looked south to Chapel Hill, NC. For last four years he has made Chapel Hill his home while playing and touring with over a dozen different bands as either band leader or multi-instrumentalist side man. In 2007 and early 2008 he recorded three full length records to be released later this year by three different acts. One with Mingus Young as guitarist/violinist, one with Scarlett Rider as bassist/violinist and the solo LP “Death of the Toy Soldier”. With help from members of the Chapel Hill music community, the LP ‘Death of the Toy Soldier’ was realized. Full of songs both political and personal, the record is layered both lyrically and musically with an emphasis on texture. Utilizing the opportunity that comes from incorporating so many diverse musicians, the record’s 10 tracks are stylistically expansive while still retaining a unifying sound. *THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT MUSIC!!!!!
Without any hesitation or second thought, "Death of the Toy Soldier" is going to be among my top 5 cd's of the year. If it gets exposure, my list will be over-shadowed by scores and scores of others' superlatives. Brendan, this music is some of the finest put out in this area.
My current favorites are Interrogation Mark, and Without Warning. SWOOON!!!
Hey lil bro! I'm not one of your top 8..what's up with THAT!!!! I miss you! MY house still looks awesome and I am painting!! living room and kitchen. Can't wait to see you again. Keep rockin!!! love you tons
Totally off the subject of music, although I love love your new CD - like 900 billion kudos to you for being such a rock star brother. And thanks for the add. Hope the rest of the stint home went well.
hello brendan! i got your cds in the mail, thanks!! things have been crazy here, but im in the process of getting it to our local music director i'll keep you posted
Sick brahh, hook the kid up with a copy. Sounds like you survived the trials (by fire) and have come out stronger for the expirience. really impressive.
BRENDAAAAAAAAAAN! Your songs are STUNNERS, EACH ONE of them!!! I'm going to listen back through them again to pick which to feature on my profile first. Right now (since it's currently playing), "Interrogation Mark" is leading the pack by 22 head bounces (love the sounds ~1:30 and again ~3 minutes in. The 2nd half is my favorite!)
Others are close behind, but "Sun Killed the Moon" with Mary Can'tGoWrongWithHerBeautifulVoice Johnson is probably my 2nd favorite. Your voice is a nice surprise since I'm not sure I've heard it singing, at least not when I knew it was you. I also love that introduction and the early entry of your violin.
Ghost Writer - whoa, the 2nd half of that, beginning ~2:40 really launches the piece! Come to think of it, your songs start strong and finish even stronger.
All birthday wishes happily accepted. I'm too old and don't have enough friends to be choosy about the quality of the birthday wishes. Thanks, my jive speaking old friend! I'll soon get to return the favor!
Brendan! I was dropping by to say hello, and to say I've missed seeing you out and about! ...And to let you know I've posted some old photos at www.Fotki.com/TemmplesofGrey . You may have seen some of these, because I think I emailed them to Phil, etc. before I began posting photos on Fotki.
It says your last login date was 4/4/07. So what's up with that, eah? -Hope all's well, yes?!
Frankly, I think the violin is more unique (and swoon-worthy), but I know you wanted to work on guitar skills. You've obviously mastered the violin. So here's a pic with guitar. Go take a look at lots more posted at WWW.FOTKI.COM/TEMPLESofGREY . ...And then come out to a show!
Hey you, Thought I'd pop over & say hey. Glad to hear that you're writing & laying it down in the studio. I want a CD when you're done so let me know. Rocky & I are doing great. We're loving our new house as we get all settled in & I do all the unpacking. :) I hate moving, but I'm glad that is the last one for a while. Hopefully I'll be able to tear Rocky away from work some time soon & get up to see you. We definitely miss hanging out. Take care of yourself...
Thank you for my very first myspace birthday greeting of 2007. Top notch performance. I will be in NC for couple weeks starting next Tuesday. "You aint lying!"
Hey, greetings from Denmark...
It was GREAT meeting you...Hopefully I will see you again soon!
I actually just wanted to wish you a great trip! Enjoy yourself, the sun, and have a wonderful time...
Bacio,
-Olivia
yo! Can't make basketball tonight. It's biking season again and I'm all up on that shit. Next Wednesday looks better. Besides, I can't really think about basketball after Sunday nights game vs. the Dohyas.
Doh.
much love for my homey.
phil
what's up homey! I have to work one last Monday night so you should come visit me at the bar. First round's on me. Miss you and love you brother. What you up to Tuesday? Wanna hang?
phil
hey!
i forgot to tell you that I gave the mingus young cd to the local music director a while back. you are in the computer at wknc! oh and you can look here http://wknc.org/studio/search.php, and type in "mingus young" to see how many times you've been played.
Hey,
Glad to hear that things are going well for you. Hopefully, we'll get up there sometime soon. We've got to get the money together for the flight & stuff. Don't worry, it is definitely a priority. Keep in touch & good luck w/ the new album. I can't wait to hear it.
Hey Brendan,
How are things going in your neck of the woods? We got the wedding video so we finally heard your playing. ;c) You did an amazing job!!! Thank you again for being a part of our big day. We miss you!
Be gone bad dreams, for my self esteem has been restored! Man, I'm zonked! I shall take a nap and dream only of this lucky # 8. Good times, good times.
Thanks for hookin The Vital Might up dude, Can't wait tot Chill in March. Let's talk soon so you can tell me how many hawaiian shirts to put in my suitcase.
