A Mad, Mad World

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010

First things first. We’re still here making music largely because you all come to shows, listen to our tunes, buy swag and generally cheer us on. Thank you!

Please enjoy this free mp3 of our hit “High Seas Lament” as we say good by to 2009.

’09 was good to us, geo-political turmoil and collapsing financial markets aside. We played the most gigs in a year so far. Several of our shows gave us the opportunity to rock very large crowds of revelers. We released our third CD, “Skull & Magpies” to good reviews and garnered radio airplay across the US and in Canada, Australia, UK and Europe. Our online and digital sales have been respectable. We’re still receiving residuals for our 2007 TV show placement. Not bad for an oddball, rowdy folk, roots indie band.

We will begin 2010 in the recording studio working on the first of two CDs planned — a collection of choice vintage tunes. After that we’ll continue our adventures on the high seas in a follow up CD to “Skull and Magpies“. Look for release parties and related excitement. Of course we plan to play as many gigs as we can throughout the Bay Area. And we’re working with a booker to set up mini tours outside of California to expand our circle of friends and fans. Plenty of crazy, good fun ahead.

Wishing you a new year filled with music and love,

Mags

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The Mad Maggies’ mascots are a tiding of magpies and “Death” – our memento mori beanie baby.

As you can imagine, Death especially enjoys this time of year. He suggested I post these fascinating celebrations of things skeletal.

• The oldest instrument discovered is a flute made from the wing bone of a griffon vulture some 40,000 years ago!

• 7 Wonders of the (Un)Dead World: Global Ossuaries — very large assemblages of bones. Part kitsch, part morbid, part profound commentary on the mysteries of existence.

• The offical website of the Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic. Don’t miss the chandelier made from all the bones of the human body!

This is a short tourist’s youtube of the Sedlec Ossuary:

• Bonfire is a translation of the Irish “tine cnámh” (CHIN-e kuh-NAW*V) meaning bone fire. The farmers slaughtered at this time of year in preparation for the long Winter. On Oiche Shamhna (EE-HUH HOW-NA), October 31st, each village built a large ritual fire on which the animal bones were thrown. All household fires were extinguished and then each household took from the village bonfire to restart their hearths. We’d call it a community building exercise

• Death is always on stage with us, sometimes sitting downstage by the tip basket, sometimes up high on a speaker. Check him out next time you come to one of our shows.

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Already 2009 has been busy. Our first gig of the year was at Ashkenaz in Berkeley. This was our triumphant return to this venue and boy did we make sure that people got a taste of what they had been missing.

Tara Linda organized “Wild Accordion Women” (co-produced with Down Home Music). This Accordion Babes event showcased more talented female accordion players from the Bay Area. As we know, accordionist Mad Mags is very talented as she writes and arranges the majority of our tunes, plays with great style and looks wonderful as she does it!

The other acts really warmed up the audience for us, It has to be said that we got the place jumping; seats were for coats and nothing else! Everyone was taken by the music and just let us do what we do best- play well, play out and play often!

Marin Music Live also saw a protracted performance with other local world musicians. Once again we showed how it is done. Our friends Djiin also played – there is talk of us playing together in the future. It is hoped that video taken at the event will be shown on a local access Comcast station – dates unknown as yet but stay tuned! The event was free to all and we hope that the publicity will help secure more gigs.

We made out and as such a large group of mad musicians this is no mean feat! Go Van Gogh threw us a musical gauntlet and we accepted. The Make Out Room in San Francisco hosted this Klezmer battle of the bands. There was dancing, merriment and a fun time was had by all. JB and I took the boxing theme rather seriously and came armed with boxing gloves. I even dropeed my skirt to reveal leggings and boxing shorts- sorry you missed this gig now? There was no knock out but we are hoping for a rematch as we would like to flex our musical muscles with this fine band once again!

THE event of February is our upcoming release party which is on February 7^th and promises to be a night of pirates, folk music, shanties, costumes and recreations of days of yore. More details will be posted nearer the time. The event ties in with the piratical theme of our newest CD, Skull and Magpies. Costumes are not optional and the visual extravaganza that is to be our evening of musical mayhem should not be missed.

Here is a review of the new CD from our fan, Alex:

“A big big thank you for my CD. It looks absolutely amazing! I love the artwork, the new logo and the new songs.
Studio simply cannot imitate the dynamics of a live band playing in front of a crowd of cheering audience. I would say your new album is a perfect teaser for people who can’t wait to see you playing live. I am definitely one of them. Favourite song – it must be: Morning Star! ”

Come and see what he is raving about! Choose your own favourite from Skull and Magpies.

And we’ve been podcast. BilgeMunky.com played “Rough Music” (listen to show 65 ) and Wild Wilson has spun us several times on his show in Minnesota.

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