Cryns #3

Nervousness

toby — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 05:08:38 +0000

Tonight I played at a house party. It was awesome. The hosts were cordial, and the attendees were wonderfully-supportive. There were all sorts of other bands there. As such, the between show chatter surrounded band-related stuff with a healthy dose of cover-band hatin’. Thank you! It was refreshing to have those conversations. I felt at home with those people.

For my set, I blasted through many of the songs from Faraway Farm and ended with Kirsten Dunst, per Tony’s request.

I noticed that I wasn’t really nervous at all, and I don’t know why. 10 years ago, I would have been shitting bricks at the thought of standing in front of a bunch of people in a basement playing my own music. I also warmed up in front of the neighbors from my back porch before leaving and didn’t feel nervous about that either. Maybe it’s confidence; maybe it’s a sense of a bigger world. Honestly, I kind of miss feeling nervous before shows.

Con El Sol – The Speakeasy Heroes

toby — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:57:35 +0000

The Speakeasy Heroes were the predecessor to my Minneapolis outfits. If we could travel back in time to the year 2000, we would see a young grunge outfit transforming into something special. We were greater than the sum of our parts. I have not quite been able to capture and release the magic of that band since. On the whole, the music I am writing today is vastly superior to the music I was writing back then, but sometimes a good band trumps good music.

We were able to reunite for the first time in 12 years and performed a couple of songs at my wedding. Here is a clip of us playing Nate Cryns’s Con El Sol.

We released an LP that summer, complete with songs written and recorded that summer. Pretty neat! Ask nicely, and I might send you a copy.

Plugging

toby — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:48:04 +0000

“Just keep plugging.” That’s what I keep telling myself.

It was a grind on Saturday, but I am so pumped about what I am working on.

In the past, I have posted everything as I have recorded it. This time I am taking inspiration from Charlie Van Stee‘s and LETRON‘s respective forthcoming albums in that I am keeping a tight lid on things. I did share a recording with my bass player and collaborator, but no response…go figure. Haha!

It was neat to hear LETRON’s Heels recently. I had no idea what she was working on all the last year, but I knew she was working. It was awesome to be surprised by the inventiveness of the recording in its polished format.

The Grind of Writing and Recording

toby — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 23:07:03 +0000

Writing and recording music is one of those things, like reading an academic article or raising a child, that provides very few tangible benefits in the moment. But the outcomes can be wonderful and romantic.

So it is that I have been writing all day, grinding out notes and lyrics and melodies and chords in the hopes that by dinnertime I will have something to record. I do.

I am trying some things I have never tried before. Wish me luck as I dive deep into it this evening.

My Goals With This Website

toby — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:40:32 +0000

Cryns.com is a mess right now. It lacks focus. Sure there is all sorts of great content on the site, but so what? I need to focus.

So, I am going to restart this engine. It will start focused and stay focused. My focus will be doing what I do best – telling stories through music. Songwriting drives this machine.

All of the old website content that you have come to love will be accessible on this site via search, but the main navigation will be disappearing. In its place will be a recent account of the next Cryns #3 adventure.

I have found that truly personal successes in life are few and far between. Herds rule this Earth of ours. They are the driving force for almost everything around us. Herds are responsible for great structures and horrible wars. Herds create things, but rarely can individuals rightly take credit for the things herds create.

Writing and recording music is my escape from the herd. My escape from this horrifyingly simple and unstoppable momentum. It is an opportunity to be responsible for something. It is my creation.

We are starting an adventure right here and now.

Are you with me?

Halloween 2011 Photos

toby — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:04:20 +0000

We are on Spotify!

toby — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:36:12 +0000

To answer your question… Yes, we are on Spotify! Both Cryns #3 records are rocking, Faraway Farm is currently blaring in my stereo. Rock on, Lucy!

Now only if The Fullerenes would get on board…

Randy Napoleon Secret Show Today!

toby — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:28:21 +0000

For the last week or so, I have been planning a secret show starring nationally-reknowned jazz guitarist, Randy Napoleon. The invitations have already gone out, however I know that some of the invitations disappeared into the internets. If you are reading this and would like to attend, call me on my cell, and I will send you an invitation.

Awesomeness Possibly Coming to a House Near You!

toby — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:42:43 +0000

I have a show in the works that, if it happens, will be totally awesome. It will take place in the Friendly Confines of my house and will feature a totally rocking jazz guitarist. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12. It will be invite-only due to space restrictions, so be sure to hit me up if you are interested in attending.

I will be opening up the show with some piano stylings in the vein of Cryns #3.

Miladic Video Directed by Fifi 3PO

toby — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 11:56:56 +0000

I just watched the new Miladic video. Wow!

It was directed by the master of fancy names, Fifi 3PO, who also directed Run. Run! Run!!! RUN!!! RUNNNN!!!!