Narco-Terrorists? WTF?

Photo from Myspace

I have to repost this. This was forwarded from the management team of Austin's The Boxing Lesson. Having spent some time with the band when I lived in Austin, I find this completely unfounded and insane:

The Boxing Lesson are Narco-terrorists? Free Jake Mitchell.

Austin,TX (August 20, 2008) You know The Boxing Lesson aren't ones to keep their mouths shut, after several interviews and appearances since the release of their full length LP Wild Streaks & Windy Days. The real truth of the matter is that The Boxing Lesson have kept one of the most important parts of their story a secret. It is with much sadness we make this announcement, but it's time the public knows what is going on.

Jake Mitchell, drummer for The Boxing Lesson and most importantly, a dear friend, will be put in Federal jail at the beginning of Sept for some marijuana growing charges. What makes this story unique and what has enraged every single one of our close friends, is that Jake has been branded by our government as a Terrorist under the Patriot Act. In fact, they have thrown the Narco-Terrorist tag on him. What this does legally for a defendant is mind blowing in terms of the new laws waged against them. If you are branded a terrorist, your wife doesn't get spousal protections and will go to jail. If you are branded a terrorist, each party involved in the crime gets full responsibility for the scope of the crime. Then there are strict sentencing minimums. And remember, we are talking about marijuana here.

It is obvious from anyone who has ever met, hung out with and gotten to know Jake Mitchell, that he is anything but a terrorist. This incorrect and unfair branding on our own US citizen and friend, Jake Mitchell, is a disgrace and this has caused untypical hardships on his life. He has sold his house, lost his cars, and his freedom. We are asking our friends in the media, in bands, in t-shirt screen shops and really, anyone who can help, to send the message of his story to the public eye. We know there was a crime involved but branding him a terrorist has set unfair sentencing guidelines on a person who is anything but a terrorist.

We are accepting PayPal donations to help Jake's mounting legal bills at : freejakemitchell@gmail.com

Jake Mitchell is available for interviews before jail or in jail and has a lot to say right now about the music biz, The Boxing Lesson, the system, playing drums, recording, Fecal Shock, Austin bands, marijuana laws, and life in general. Final performances from Jake Mitchell until he gets out will be next week in Austin,TX!

August 27, 2008 @ Emo's Lounge 101x Homegrown Live show w/ Frontier Brothers
August 28, 2008 @ Carousel Lounge (Monkey Wrench Benefit)

Come out and celebrate life with Jake, before our government intervenes. Fans of The Boxing Lesson have no fear, you can keep hearing your favorite songs live. Keeping the seat warm for Jake Mitchell behind the drums will be Kevin Sparks, a veteran of the Austin music scene, who has played with many bands, including Bad Motivators, Say Hello to the Angels and Megatron Triggerdick. Until next time, we'll see you on the Dark Side of the Moog.

Cheers,

Ryan Cano, Owner
The Loyalty Firm
Management & Publicity
Austin,TX
www.myspace.com/loyaltyfirm

mp3: Dark Side of the Moog

The Boxing Lesson Drop Wild Streaks & Windy Days

Since I left Austin last year, I have been remiss in my coverage of some of those bands that befriended me. Last week, I got my hands on the new release from one of said bands, The Boxing Lesson. Entitled Wild Streaks & Windy Days, this album lives up to its title. Wild is not the right word for the musical roller coaster the songs take you on, but it fits. Opening with a Pink Floyd homage "Dark Side of the Moog", the psuedo-psychedelic keyboard and brooding guitar overtones continually flow through most of the entire album, blending 70's mind-bending rock with the New Wave "wall of sound" explosion of the 80s. Lead singer Paul Waclawsky's plaintive vocals is reminiscent of Catherine Wheel's Rob Dickinson, lilting on the upper registers of his range, then diving back down octaves, all without breaking a stride. Two tracks that break away from the mold are the ultra-catchy pop of "Hopscotch and Sodapop", which reminds me of the kind of song the '80s alternative' bands would put out just so they can get some radio play and the rocky-er "Freedom", a stadium anthem in waiting, with its simple chorus (and call back vocals) and driving rhythm and guitars. While the album is not a total departure from their previous work, its a definite step forward musically, encompassing an array of genres and bringing them together into a sound of their own.

If you are heading down Austin way before or for SXSW, check The Boxing Lesson shows.

2/28: The Parish (CD Release Party!)
3/11-14: SXSW (multiple shows, grab a guide, you'll find them)

Dark Side of the Moog
Freedom

Austin Update

I haven't done much with my former stomping grounds lately, so I thought it would be a good time to catch up with the latest news from Austin.


My friends The Drawing Board have a new song up on their Myspace page. Stick Around is a haunting piano ballad with a definite Rufus Wainwright vibe. Hoepfully more will be coming soon. Check it out and buy their album, Clear to The Far Side of Way Over Yonder and read my review of the album.

A whole slew of bands have recently released or are releasing new CDs in the near future:

AM Syndicate has a CD release party for the new release Liberation December 20th. Take a listen to a track from the album: The Neighbor and His Wife (mp3)

The Boxing Lesson has some rough mixes of some songs from the upcoming Wild Streaks & Windy Days posted. Release party is scheduled for December 15th.

Ghost of the Russian Empire also has some new songs for your listening pleasure and being assembled is a forth-coming yet unnamed full-length album.

Peter and the Wolf released The Ivori Palms earlier this fall. Much like past ventures, this album is very experimental: Where Summer Goes(mp3)

In other news, Oh No! Oh My! song Walk In The Park(mp3) was featured on Showtime's Weeds back in September. Up next for ON!OM!, they are heading over to Europe for their first tour across the pond. After they return to the states, new songs will be written and an album coming thereafter.

Finally, something on the local front, sort of. The Mercers got some air time on WXPN over the summer. I must have missed it. These guys also put together a full-length album Pretty Things Walk this year: Sexy Youth(mp3)