OzzBash 2018 in Flint TONIGHT!

Hey! I'm playing the drums with Smokesum 'N' Jammsum in a couple hours, kicking off the party known as Ozzbash! Show starts around 9 at the Corunna Road Bar. We're the opener, followed by Fire & Ice, Buzz Bin, and finally Convergence Theory. There's another show tomorrow night as well, though SNJ isn't playing that one, so you'll only have one chance to see our dragon this weekend. 

Static Factory continues to look for a replacement drummer. I've offered to do it myself, but our stage presence goes down like 200% when I'm not up front and thrashing about, so I've been told that isn't an option. If you know any skins-bashers looking to get their dad-metal on, let us know and we'll set something up. We continue to write material that will hopefully become a second album in the future, but it's slow going at the moment. 

Dixon the Dirt might have some new life soon, as well. Robb has expressed some interest in writing some Folk/Country songs under that moniker, and I've already got a handful that I'm happy with, so we might have some other genre music soon, too. 

Peace out, homies!

-Merlin

Two Gigs, Two Bands, One Weekend! (This weekend!)

Hey! I'll be playing two gigs this weekend, the first tonight as the drummer for Smokesum N Jammsum of Flint. If you've ever wondered whether I can play the drums to Pantera songs, or wanted to listen to an original song titled "Vlad the Inhaler," then this is the band for you to see! We go on late tonight as part of the festivities at the Corunna Road Bar in Flint. Our set is at 1230, but there are two other bands (Amica Mea and Saneless!) playing before us, so it's a whole night of music!

Tomorrow evening Robb and I from Static Factory be playing the dinner sets (6-8) before the weekly open mic in Holly at Andy's Place. The open mic starts at 830, come early, bring that guitar, watch us play Fingerstyle Stinkfist to close the sets, and request songs that we haven't rehearsed for this! It'll be hilarious!

SNJ have a few more gigs lined up, and I'll be playing drums for them for the foreseeable future, so check out their FB page if you want to see me smash things with sticks like the caveman that I am!

Cheers!

-Merlin

Next Friday at The Korner Bar in Hamtramck!

I'm looking forward to another Static Factory show with my old friend Brook Pridemoore, currently on tour from his home in Brooklyn, NY. We'll be following Brook acoustic, as this is night of folk and acoustic acts, with a Bangladesh-inspired psychedelic prog band to finish it out! My buddy Matt and his band Poor Player are opening up, and that's not all. A group I'm not familiar with, Brightside, are coming in second and come highly recommended by our old pals from the Phoenix Cafe in Hazel Park. Be at the Korner Bar in Hamtramck` by 8PM on Friday, April 6th to see all these cool bands for a paltry $7 cover. It's going to be sweet. 

We were planning on playing full electric at the show, but our drummer Tommy Blair has decided to part ways with us. He's got a new prog project called The Itch with his friend Alex and some other blokes, and by all accounts they're doing some really cool stuff. I missed their opening show at the same venue in Hamtramck just this past Saturday, but I'm sad I didn't get out to see them. We wish Tom the best, he's been a cool dude these last 12 months. 

That said, we're in the market for a new drummer, it seems. In related news, I think I'm joining a local Flint band playing the drums soon, myself. I'll put up more info if and when things get more "official," but it feels pretty good to slam the tubs again, that's for sure. 

Robb and I will be playing acoustic covers of songs from the 60s to the 90s (it's pretty much classic rock or grunge, though I've been adding 80s tunes lately. . .) at Andy's Place in Holly from 6-8 on Saturday, April 21st. There's a great open mic there every Saturday after these dinner sets, and Daniel from Flash Records & Music Company runs a nice show. Come out and see the local talent, and bring your axe if you want in!

Lastly, the cover image for this post is a new logo I slapped together on an app, and I'm enjoying it, though it isn't quite my ideal vision for SF logos. I've been working with some local artists, but thus far these projects haven't born any fruit for us to post, so I've had to take matters into my own hands. Let me know what you think. 

Until next week, Cheers!

-Merlin

Tonight at the Maidstone Theatre in Ypsilanti!

Starting at 8 PM tonight we will be blasting some rock and roll at the newly remodeled Maidstone Theatre! I'm excited to see how the venue has changed, and we'll be joined by Bud Slawter Band, Beastula, and JDY Band. 

In other news, we've been working on some new tunes, and we've got our newer drummer, Tommy, up to speed on some stuff that's not on Serenity is Far Away, so when you see us live you might catch some of that newer or unreleased material. There's a few songs up on our Youtube if you know where to look, but come see it in living color when you get a chance. 

Merlin (and perhaps Robb?) will be playing some acoustic covers in Holly at Andy's Place in March. Stay tuned for more details on that, and come request Pearl Jam songs, because I'm going to be playing them anyway! Cheers!

Tonight at the Boat Bar in Ortonville!

Static Factory is kicking off the 3rd round of the battle of the bands hosted by The Local Scream Radio show! Come see 5 bands blast some rock and roll, and come by 8PM to see us get the ball rolling! Hope to see you there!

We've also got some new videos coming to youtube, beginning with The Fixers live at the Phoenix Cafe in Hazel Park. I've got our full set from that show, so there's more coming where that came from. Check it out and be sure to subscribe and like it and all that whatnot.