On Thursday, February 25, we’re stoked to be playing a show with one of my pals from law school, Erin Rodgers, and her band, Kennedy Bakery. Also on the bill is Christian Staehely, who I’d never heard of, but who turns out to be kind of interesting: he’s a Princeton graduate who was also a 39th-round draft pick in the 2008 MLB draft. Now he plays minor-league ball for the Seattle Mariners. The above link to is for his Myspace, so you should check out his tunes. Fair warning: one of them is a dead ringer for Weezer’s “Say It Ain’t So.”

Details:

2/25 | Rudyard’s Pub | 10 PM | $5 cover | 21+

 
Final note: I’ve updated our show listing. We’ve got two shows at Rudz in March, including an exciting opening gig with the dude from Beulah.

Hey!

We’re playing on Friday. With Fired for Walking. And Mr. Gnome. Show is at Rudyard’s Pub (map). We’re the first band, and we go on around 10 pm.

And later that night, we hear there’s potential for snow.

There’s nothing quite like the tradition of leaving the house all bundled up to see the Bright Men of Learning, and then the next morning…snow covers the earth like a warm blanket of rock ‘n’ roll goodness. You tip toe downstairs, reach deep in your stocking, and grab two asprin before sitting down in a soft chair to remember the previous night’s catchy-as-hell musics.

Yep. We’re playing twice this coming weekend.

Saturday, November 7th, we’re opening a set at Rudz for two bands that generally rock a lot harder than we do—Ghost Town Electric and 500 Megatons of Boogie. To match their intensity, we’re planning to play a set with a bit more giddy up than you’re probably used to seeing from us, so definitely come out for less kind and gentle BMOL.

Cover is $5 and the show starts at 10:30. We’re the first band, so don’t dawdle.

Ah, but what if that’s too late? Then check us out at Big Star Bar the next day. One of Jman’s friends is having a party there and inviting all her friends to hang out. She also invited us to be the entertainment. This being a public place, you’re invited, too. At this second show, we’re planning to give listeners a preview of our upcoming record. We’ll probably play all but one or two of the 14 songs we’ve recorded. Because we’re the only band we might actually play a couple of sets. And our pal ADR is going to be spinning records, too.

Thankfully, the Sunday show should start in the early evening. Doors open at 4 pm, and admission is free.

FInally, I should note that if you miss us this weekend, you can catch us at the Westheimer Block Party on Sunday, November 15. We’re scheduled to play the 5:50 pm slot at Helios upstairs.

The other night, Ben and I separately ventured out to see Woozyhelmet and Young Mammals rock out at Mango’s. The show was to have been headlined by Thee Oh Sees, but they cancelled due to illness. Given the last minute loss, the show price was quickly reduced to zero. Given that price, I resolved that I would still attend.

Unfortunately, two other bands were also added to the bill, which wouldn’t have been so bad if I wasn’t 35 years old and could stay awake past midnight. Woozyhelmet didn’t go on until 11:45, so I wasn’t able to stick around and watch Young Mammals.

Lucky for me, I was still able to read about the show and see some choice photos thanks to our pal Ramon Medina and his review at 29-95.com.

Here’s me in the Polo cap and GNR shirt (Ramon called a “fucking hipster”! in the caption).

And here’s Jay Crossley from Woozyhelmet (left) with another pal of ours, Mr. Dunnock. Notice anything interesting about Jay’s shirt?

Mango’s was awesome, by the way. I hadn’t been there in six or seven years, but I was very pleased to see the considerable improvements. I can’t wait to play there.

Since I’m in a rock band, my dreams might very well come true quite soon.

It’s been a long time since we’ve played a show. It’s been an even longer time since we released any music. This Friday, we plan to end both droughts with a show at Rudyard’s celebrating the release of our new Champion Sound EP. This is what it will look like.

As for what it will sound like, well, it was recorded live to 8-track with my former roommate and recording savant, John Sears. So it’s going to sound like three lo-fi, classic-rock jams. Two of which we’ve never, ever played during a show.

And speaking of the show, we’re pleased to be playing with some good friends: The Jonx and Al Hendrix’s new band Side Arms. Plus, our pal ADR will be supplying jams before the show and between sets. You must attend this show, right?

What’s all this gonna cost? Well the EP is $2. The show is $3. For $5 you get the full BMOL experience. Can you do any less?

I look forward to seeing you there.

Note: The above mentioned EP does not include any of the 14 tracks we recently wrapped up recording in Austin. That will come early next year. We hope.

We’ve got a small feature in this week’s Houston Press promoting our show at Rudyard’s this Friday night. It should hit the stands Wednesday, but you can read it right now online.

We’re pretty excited to be playing with our pals in Fired for Walking. It’s their CD release party, and they’re excited as hell.

Here are the details:

FRIDAY, September 26
Rudyard’s (1020 Waugh)
$5.00
Mr. Castillo (d.j.) – 9 p.m. and all night
Novox – 10 pm
Bright Men of Learning – 11 pm
Fired for Walking – 12 pm

About a month ago we played at the Mink for the first time, and now we’re starting to make it a habit. First, I played a short set of Rod Stewart covers. Now, this Sunday, we’ll be throwing down with O Pioneers! and a couple of great bands who are visiting from Ohio.

The best part? This show actually starts kinda early. How does 8:30 p.m. sound? Perfect, right?

So you should totally come. Here are the details:

SUN / AUG 17
@ THE MINK
3718 Main Street
HOUSTON, TX
GHOST TOWN TRIO
TIN ARMOR
O PIONEERS!!!
BRIGHT MEN OF LEARNING
8PM $6

We played a show last night, and I’d say things went awfully swell. Normally, I’d have posted here and on Myspace & Facebook before the show to give you a bit of warning. But I got married last Saturday, so you’ll forgive me if I let things slip a bit.

Anyway, Chris Gray wrote our show up in Wednesday’s Houston press, and it was an exceedingly positive and well-written piece. There was only one problem: the article said someone else (i.e., not me) writes all our songs.

Ben Murphy is our guitar player, and he has a well-deserved local reputation as the unparalleled songwriter and singer for his former band, Lucky Motors. Gray was apparently aware of Ben’s reputation, but he didn’t know that I am actually the singer and principal songwriter in BMOL. The best/worst part about the error is that this is not the first time it’s been made.

Friday, before the show Chris set things right and was pretty damn gracious about it:

Apologies to Houston’s esteemed Bright Men of Learning for my ongoing cluelessness; I plan on seeking help just as soon as I have health insurance again. Here’s the deal: I have now reported twice that the Men – part of an excellent, twangish, 75% local bill at the Mink tonight with Papermoons, Wild Moccasins and Valdosta, Georgia’s Ninja Gun – are fronted by one Benjamin Davis Murphy.

This is not the case. Murphy plays guitar and cowbell, quite well by all accounts, while Marshall Preddy shoulders the responsibility/honor of fronting the Pavement-loving rockers. Thanks to the kind souls at Hands Up Houston for setting me straight, and further apologies to Murphy and Preddy for the amount of grief this has no doubt caused them, both from each other and the other three guys in the band whose names I don’t even know. But seriously, the Men don’t play near as often as they should, so if I were you I wouldn’t wait around until next time.

Oh, and now that it’s Saturday, I can report that show went great. We got a lot very positive feedback from a lot of folks, confirming what I’ve known for a while now: this is the best band I’ve ever played in.

We’re especially grateful to Mink sound man, Dunnock, who made all four bands sound great despite the great variance in sounds and styles. And today, Dunnock had some nice things to say about our performance:

It was my second time seing them last night. After seing them at the proletariat, I was sold – they are a really great band. However, this time i was blown away. I’m not trying to hug up on their balls or anything, but ben murphy is a freakin wizard and marshall has such a good voice and his songs are classy and fun.. another thing is, they have 3 guitarists and it doesn’t annoy me at ALL.. Normally bands with three guitar players make me wanna drink.. in a bad way.

Finally, I have to say all three of the other bands were totally great:

• I had not seen openers Wild Moccasins before, but the local band was surprising on a number of levels. They had nearly flawless musicianship, awesome boy/girl vocals, and some sophisticated arrangements. And they all look younger than 20. Their confident, yet utterly dorky enthusiasm infected the rest of the show.
• Ninja Gun turned out to be a pretty swell alt-country band in the vein of Uncle Tupelo and Slobberbone. A perfect bill-mate for us, in other words. They provided the evening’s only true rock moments, and they turned in a couple of fearless covers of the Beatles and Tom Petty.
• Paper Moons played last, and they were a nice way to wind down the evening. I have no idea how two guys can generate all the sounds they make, but it all sounds like expert, bittersweet pop. And, Jesus, their drummer is good, plus he brings the harmonies.

Best show in a long time. Can’t wait to play the Mink again.

This Sunday we’re proud and pretty damned excited to be playing the Rudz Bike Bonanza. What exactly is it? Well, it’s a benefit show for a local non-profit bike shop and some recently injured riders trying to pay for their medical bills. There’s a lot going on:

• bike swap meet
• cycling side events
• beer provided by Real Ale and New Belgium
• bands starting at 7:30, including Bright Men of Learning, Bring Back the Guns, and Spain Colored Orange.

All this can be yours for a $5 suggested donation.

Where: Rudyards British Pub (rudyards.com)

Time: 5 – 12 pm. Bands start at 7:30.

This Saturday afternoon, the Bright Men of Learning are playing outdoors at the Shady Tavern in the Heights. If, like us, you’re kinda old and can’t hang with the late night shows so much anymore, you should definitely come out. This rare afternoon show is a perfect opportunity to see us play the rock music.

One odd thing about this show is that we don’t know who we’re playing with. Nor do we know exactly what time we’re playing. That’s because it’s a Secret Saturday Show. I’ll let the people behind SSS explain:

Secret Saturday Shows is a collective bringing Houston, Texas a new way to see shows. Every Saturday between the hours of 2 and 5 there will be 3 – 4 bands performing live at our outdoor location. The venue is Shady Tavern at 1206 W. 20th in the heights. Doors will open at 12 noon with djs playing till the bands.ALL SHOWS ARE FREE.There is beer and wine available.

The bands playing will know they are performing but will not who else will be playing. Schedules will never be posted because they will always be the same time. The plan here is to start a community of music lovers who come out and check out music. Not a band, but music in general. Who knows who you might see. Shows are going to be a mix of genres.

SHOWS EVERY SATURDAY RAIN OR SHINE. there is a nice room the show will move to if it rains. also, smoking is allowed since it is outside and the tavern has WIFI. what more do you need on a saturday afternoon?

So that’s the deal. Again with the details:

Saturday 1/26 @ the Shady Tavern
1206 W. 20th in the heights
FREE