themagpiecage

jrobbins.bandcamp.com

Automaticity, by J. Robbins

So excited to release these songs into the world today! On January 17 and 18 2021, I went into the Magpie Cage Recording Studio with Darren Zentek (drums) and Brooks Harlan (bass), and Matt Redenbo helping out behind the board, to work up final arrangements and make recordings of several new songs I’d been working on since the middle of 2019. Thanks to the social paralysis brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, this was the first time any of us had made music in the same physical space with anyone else in close to a year. It was a great couple of days, and the immediacy of arranging and recording on the spot, together with the feeling that we’d allowed ourselves to escape for a minute from the crazy-making constraints of pandemic isolation, really gave life to these songs which for months had just been sketches on my computer. “Automaticity” and “Dead-Eyed God” are the first fruits from that session.

Many thanks to Dan Coutant for an excellent mastering (as always) and to Janet Morgan for the use of her awesome photos.

Things that are happening

Hello!

Today, in a matter of hours, I’ll have a chat online with my friend Shawna Potter of War on Women: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/meandering-conversation-

Also, a while back, I posted a 3-song covers EP to Bandcamp as a benefit for legal aid to detained immigrants; that was meant to be a limited release, and I took it down after a couple of weeks. I just re-posted it, this time as a benefit for feedingtexas.org, a state-wide food bank which is helping with disaster relief in the wake of the unprecedented winter storms there.

Aaand I’ve been working on new material - at the end of January I went into Magpie Cage for 2 days with Brooks Harlan on bass and Darren Zentek on drums, to finalize and record several new songs I had been working on at home since late 2019. That was a total blast - it was the first time any of us had played music in the same place with anyone else in almost a year, and the joy of releasing all that pent-up energy really drove the session. The first fruits of that recording, a 2-song digital single, “Automaticity” b/w “Dead-Eyed God,” will be released on Bandcamp March 5th.

Thanks for listening -

In February 2016 I did a brief tour in Europe, playing solo, opening for (and playing unnecessary 3rd guitar in) Daria. Our Berlin show was the last of the tour, in a mysterious basement venue called Trickster. People I knew in Berlin had never heard of it. None the less, it was a great show and we all got a warm and welcome feeling there. Here is my contribution to a benefit comp supporting this most underground of underground venues in a city I hope I will see again. It’s a cover of “First In Line,” by one of my favorite Baltimore bands, Manners Manners, which I worked up at home, pandemic-style.

Source: johnsteam.bandcamp.com

Writing and demoing away in the newly-appointed music room … this is what Album #2 looks like right now.

J. Robbins

(J Robbins)

Source: SoundCloud / J Robbins

SoundCloud music J Robbins Nosferatu J. Robbins Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Discover

(J Robbins)

Source: SoundCloud / J Robbins

SoundCloud music J Robbins Nosferatu J. Robbins Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Discover

(J Robbins)

Source: SoundCloud / J Robbins

SoundCloud music J Robbins Nosferatu J. Robbins Halloween Spitfire Audio

gofundme.com

Biddle Street Music Complex Support Fund organized by James Robbins

Big Crunch Amp Repair, Old Town Lutherie, and Magpie Cage Recording Studio have… James Robbins needs your support for Biddle Street Music Complex Support Fund

Hey everyone - I was kind of hoping to not have to do this, but here we are … between Big Crunch, Old Town Lutherie, and Magpie Cage, we have something very special down here on E. Biddle Street - but it looks like we are going to need some help from our friends to keep it alive through the time of Covid-19. Please help if you can, even if just by sharing this link. Hope everyone is staying safe and sane!

facebook.com

Milestone Workers Relief live stream w/ Mike Watt, J Robbins, Andy The DoorBum, Ceschi, Emotron, Dylan Gilbert, Alright, Taking Meds & more!

Music event in Charlotte, NC, United States by Dylan Gilbert and 16 others on Sunday, April 12 2020 with 182 people interested and 114 people going.

First thing: this is happening. I haven’t exactly felt like bursting into song since the beginning of this pandemic, but I’m glad to be a part of this benefit and it’s been good to exercise the music muscles … good for the brain, good for the soul.

In other news, of course at the moment there are no “in-person” sessions at Magpie Cage. However, I am still here, the studio is still operational, and I’m more than happy to do remote mixing of whatever you’ve got! Remote production/collaborations are possible too (guitar, bass, harmonies, keys, you name it), if you want to get into that. Let’s keep the demons at bay with music, shall we?

Stay safe and sane, everyone.

open.spotify.com

War Inside You

War Inside You, an album by STORM OF VOID on Spotify

mark-adrian asked:

Hi Jay, I was wondering if you co-wrote "War Inside You" with STORM of VOID ? Either way, great job on the vocals.

Hey Mark-Adrian - thanks for writing. I love that band - George and I have been friends for a long time. The music was already written; I contributed the lyrics and vocal melodies. Glad you like it!