Dave Balson: News

I've just released a new song, written awhile ago and recorded this summer by Alex Chiger at the legendary Church Studio in Tulsa. To listen, click the player at the top of the page or click on the Music tab to the left. Click on the song name for more info and lyrics. It's free to download and you're welcome to share it with whomever you want however you want. If you like it, please share it.

It sounds amazing (hats off to Alex) and I'm glad to have something new to give you. It's been more than six years since I released Talk is Sheep and I'm working hard to find the time and resources to release the third album in the next year. I hope this track conveys the quality of the music I want to bring to you.

Thanks for being patient and may this make the wait a little more worth it.

 

-Dave

Two recent godless columns:

 

I went to The Amazing Meeting 9 in Las Vegas this summer. It's the world's largest skeptics conference (you'll just have to take my word for it). This article covers the conference, the skeptic movement, and includes interviews with James Randi, Eugenie Scott and Pamela Gay.

 

http://tinyurl.com/DENTAM82511

 

I also met some Mormon boys last week. We had a nice time together:

 

http://tinyurl.com/DENMormon

I'll be doing a set at the Elbo Room in Chicago this Sunday (8/7) at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $8 here: aftonshows.com/davebalson or $10 at the door (I think).

It's 21+ and may be the last show I do this summer. Come out if you can.

Click the Calender button on the left for more details.

Thanks

So some of you smart, savvy folks may have discerned that I have been paying for this website for quite a few years but have updated it a grand total of three times (the previous post being just about old enough to send off to preschool).

What could cause an otherwise decent and sensible man to waste both your time and his money?

One answer is that I'm a bit of a Luddite and quite easily distracted. About a year went by where I forgot the password I need to update this site and the password to the email account they send the forgotten password to. 

Another is that I hadn't done anything groundbreaking musically for a while. A third album has been just around the corner longer than I'd like to admit. While I've been more productive in the past few years than ever before, there have been no great announcements for fans of my music. 

The best answer is that I'm dumb (or at least behind the times). But I hope to be just a bit smarter.

I'm still writing, playing and (slowly) recording music. I'm also studying and practicing journalism. A slightly more in-depth description of both ventures follows. But the point is, I'm now going to use the site to post articles/columns and other writing in addition to music-related stuff.

I will now take questions.

ARE YOU SLOWLY GIVING UP ON YOUR MUSIC?

No. Don't be stupid. I have been writing, practicing and performing since "Talk Is Sheep" (which one can still purchase by clicking the "Buy" button on the left, or at iTunes, or Napster, or anywhere one usually goes for music on the Net). There is a new album on its way, but it could be a year or more until completion.

The good news is all of my new material is much, much better than anything I've previously released. I say that with pride and without reservation. The bad news is recording requires investors and fewer and fewer streets are paved with gold these days. (At this point, I want to direct my wealthier visitors to the "Contact" link on the left.)

I have less time to devote to booking shows than I'd like, as I'm also closing in on my degree. I play a few shows a year, each one an effort to stay just sharp enough for the next one. But I'm usually available for booking, so please contact me if that's your angle.

Next question.

JOURNALISM?! and a follow-up: WHEN DID YOU LET THE MAN GET YOU DOWN?!!?!

Yes, I'll take those in order. I should say straight out that anyone who thinks the term "Lame-stream Media" is a deliciously clever and pungent turn of phrase is unlikely to be a fan of my brand of journalism.

I believe journalism can be a fine art, a public service and fucking fun, to be frank.

I've been writing and reporting as a journalist for a couple years, won a couple awards and enjoyed almost every moment of it. I'm currently Opinion Editor for the Daily Eastern News, the student-run daily newspaper of Eastern Illinois University.

I do mostly opinion writing (columns, editorials and the like), but have also reported on delusional people (the Tea Party, vaccine denialists), assholes (search youtube for "Dave Balson interviews Shirley Phelps-Roper) and smart people (read my upcoming article, which I'll be posting in the coming week).

I'm a firebrand liberal with very little patience for the new-age crowd, an athiest and a Jew, a devotee of free speech devoted to criticizing blathering bullshitters, and probably a little bit funny sometimes.

Journalism isn't cable news anymore than cable news is journalism. Journalism isn't dying; it's alive and well and I hope that this website will feature some shred of evidence for that. 

In any case, keep coming back. 

It's almost 2:30 a.m. No more questions.

I'll be playing at Elbo Room on Dec. 20.
Click "Calander" for details.

I'll be playing at Bill's Blues Bar in Evanston on June 20th! Click "Calendar" for more info.

Welcome (back). It's been a bit, but I come bearing gifts.
I've released a rare demo cut of the new song "Divinity". You can listen to it, download it, dance, kiss and sin to it here: http://www.davebalson.net/music-29.html Feel free to drop me a line in the Guestbook and tell me what you think.

New show dates are in the process of being booked. I'll post them here when I have them. At the top of this page, you can sign up for my email list. I obviously won't share your email, nor do I intend to swamp you with some inane bi-daily newsletter. I'll use it to let you know about new music and show dates.

I've offered a lot more music for free streaming and downloading on the Music page, and fixed the Talk Is Sheep link on the Buy page.

Thanks for coming. Happy New Year!
(say it with me: "Ex-President Bush" mmm, doesn't that feel nice?)
I hope we'll be hearing from each other soon.

Thanks,
Dave Balson
dave@davebalson.net
http://blogicallevity.blogspot.com/

I've finally switched over to a new server so I can offer you, my wonderful fans, a place to find the old music, a bit of new & unreleased tunes, up to date news and shows, and most importantly, a place to interact with me, other fans, and be a part of the music.

Keep checking back here, as I will be adding things all the time and hope to give you a new song from the next album.

Thank you, and may the new site be worthy of you all.
Don't be a stranger!
-Dave