Graphs by Danny R

I had some time on hand so I made some graphs. We actually created them when we were filming the music video. The first on is "The Amount of Light on Us it takes to make Us Ugly" and the other one is "The Amount of People That Can Fit in a Van by Their Age." I'd like to point out some things...

In the first graph, everyone loses after a lot of light.

Then in the second graph, you can actually fit a lot more babies in a van but I didn't have anymore push pins.

Your graph maker,
Danny

Check out the Music Video

Hello wonderful people,

Just wanted to let you know that as of today (Tuesday) the "Fall Right Now" music video is available for your viewing pleasure. So take a digital scroll on down to this link:

Click me... I dare you!

Have a great time. If you enjoy your viewing experience then please by all means share us with your friends, your family, your co-workers, strangers on the street or anyone else you see or hear throughout the course of your day.

Be well!

Josh

Subway vs Danny

I have a secret.

Now that we are all friends, I will be honest and let you know that I hate Subway. No, not the CTA (although, Chicago could definitely make that better too) but the food place, Subway. All in all, I really don’t mind the food. I mind how it is put together. Subway is a child. They know they sell sandwiches but they don’t know how to put them together. I don’t understand why I have to tell them what I want on it, I appreciate the option but I not a sandwich artiest. I am a sandwich eater. Listen Subway, you make the sandwiches and I will eat them. Why do I have to be the chef and the customer? Thanks for nothing.

Even your colors are horrible. Green and Yellow. Name one good green and yellow thing! Even the Green Lantern looks silly.

Also, if you don’t know what to get always order the number 1. The number one is the best that is why it is number one, if it wasn’t good it would be number 10. McDonalds number 1 is the Big Mac meal while Burger King is the Whooper.
Take good care and eat well.

Cheers,
Danny R.

The band, NBC and Brooklyn this Wednesday

The band and I just found out that NBC New York is going to be doing a segment on us during our trip to the big apple/New Jersey this upcoming week. We're playing at Freddy's Backroom on Wednesday, April 22 at 9pm and we would LOVE any friends, family or hobos you could send our way. Freddy's is an awesome little bar (known to some as the BEST bar in Brooklyn... check out their website for credentials on that matter) and the NBC camera crew will be there for the entirety of our performance. So get to Brooklyn or call a friend to hang out in your stead. We know, we know! Brooklyn is not Manhattan. However, it is just a short little train ride (right?) and bam! You're in Brooklyn. The drinks at Freddy's aren't expensive AND the last segment this NBC crew did was this one on the Ting Tings backstage at Jimmy Fallon. Radical even though Jimmy Fallon is kind of sucking.
Ok, so get to the borough of Brooklyn, Kings County (that's true, I checked) this Wednesday at... let's say 8:30pm or call a friend and let's all sing Kumbaia together at Freddy's.

Later you saucy minxes you,

Josh

J&tEP Newsletter #1!

Josh and the Empty Pockets Newsletter #1

Music Video Madness!
We just finished filming our first music video for the song "Fall Right Now", and we're really excited. An editor's cut of the video should be available for viewing in late April, so make sure to keep checking in on the Blog, Myspace and Facebook for more information, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and videos from the filming. Of course, if you just can't wait to see it, you can check out WTTW at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 to see Josh and Erika spin a sneak preview on Chicago Tonight!
- Read More

Josh and Erika on Chicago Tonight
That's right, folks, Josh and Erika will be appearing on the daily Chicago news program Chicago Tonight. They'll be playing a few songs, answering a few questions, and providing a sneak preview of the brand-spankin'-new music-video for "Fall Right Now". Tune in to WTTW at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 to catch all the Empty Pocket madness! You can also check out the show from the Comcast WTTW On-Demand folder, so you can watch Josh and Erika when YOU please.
- Read More

Exclusive Content is Coming!
Are you on the mailing list? No? Well, you'd better sign up quick, because Josh and the Empty Pockets will soon be offering exclusive content to our loyal mailing list subscribers. All you have to do is give us your e-mail address, and we'll give you the key to our bountiful content vault, where all your Empty Pocket dreams can come true. Already on the mailing list? Don't worry, you'll be getting your link as soon as the content is online, you early adopter, you. What kind of content are we talking about here?
How about exclusive:

• Live Recordings
  
• Interviews
• Contests
• Video
• Seriously Awesome Stuff

Sounds great, doesn't it? Of course it does, so make sure to sign-up for the the Empty Pockets Newsletter and secure yourself in the ranks of the awesome.

We have a lot of stellar stuff up our respective sleeves, so keep your eyes to the Internet and your ears to the radio, and always remember: Empty Pockets make for full friendships.

Peace!
-Nate Bellon(bass)

The Long and Winding Film ( or Lights, Camera, Rock! )

Day 2 of the Empty Pockets music video can best be described as follows: AWESOME!

Sunday morning found us incredibly tired. We played the night before at Norton's, and we all were feeling the drag as we went through our morning work before the shoot.

Danny's likes his coffee.

More make-up. More hair-dressing. More costuming. More fun.

We put out a call for people to come be in the music video, and the response we got was incredible. We didn't expect to see so many people come out, nor did we expect so many of you to stick around so late. What an incredible experience that was for all of us. Everyone that came made the difference in the video, and it's going to be great because of your energy and dedication.

People are starting to arrive!

The crowd's getting larger. You folks rock!

We proceeded to do take after take after take, switching camera angles and doing close-up hand-held shots that Jewel, the DoP, did masterfully. A hazer pumped some misty-stuff into the room. I'm not quite sure how it works, but it's a sweet effect.

Filming a scene with the awesome crowd

The Pritzker Cheerleaders were in for a second day of filming! These ladies were great. They really showed a professionalism that is often hard to find, and really rose to every challenge with a smile. Thank you so much, girls!

The Pritzker team after a long two-days of shooting. Rock-sauce!

And on we shot. We shot and shot and shot.

Then, I think we did some more shooting.

Josh gets a quick adjustment between shoots. Luda was grand!

Skateboarders! Yeah, dudes. You guys were awesome!

Jewel (the DoP) skated around the set, too. It was great.

Finally, we had shot enough. The director called it a wrap, and we all had a good cheer.

The awesome crew of the music video. A few aren't pictured here.

The shoot was such a great time, and I'd like to take this space to once again thank the awesome crew, the wonderful director, the Pritzker cheerleaders, and all the folks who showed up to be in the video. The Empty Pockets felt the love that day, and it was excellent.

Look here for information on the release of the music video, as well as where you'll be able to catch it on-line.

Rock rock on,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Danny vs Music Video

Music Videos are cool but ours is better. Naw, I can’t say that. I haven’t seen every music video. Maybe there is one with real dinosaurs. That would be better.

It was hard but it was also a lot of fun. I never really knew what I was supposed to be doing except when I was drumming. Ratko, the director, would say, “Danny, look higher,” and I would, and I guess that was good enough because after that he would say, “excellent.”

We shot for two days at my elementary school, Park View, and I can’t say I had more fun one day than the other. When we wrapped up on the first day, some Park View students saw us filming outside and wandered into the building to see what was going on. They knew a music video was being shot but they didn’t know for what band so I walked passed them and talked about Fall Out Boy. One of the girls gasped with excitement and I thought I saw tears of joy. That made me laugh but she and a bunch of her friends came back the second day to be extras and we took many pictures together.

I was really glad my brother, Adam, and his wife, AKA my favorite sister in law, Liz, stopped by. It was nice to see them. They didn’t want to be in the video and when I said, “Who is going to represent the family?” They said, “you!” A bunch of Adam’s stuff is in the video too, such as the speakers on the side of the stage. So thanks, Adam. Your speakers looked spectacular.

I’ll probably write more about Fantastic Phill, Jule, the DP, and Tommy, Ug. So many people we worked with were so great. I doubt they will ever read this. Oh, Lesile and Jori came, best fans ever!!!!

Cheers,
Danny R

The Low Carb Diet ( or Choke This! )

The Pocket Rocket, a '77 Dodge Tradesman with a Dodge 7.2-liter 440, can be a daunting vehicle to drive. Sometimes, she is just going to do what she's going to do. This is the story of one of those days:

Josh, Greg and I were packing up the Rocket for the music video shoot, which we were going to be doing the next morning. We filled her to the gills with musical gear, and we were all ready to go relax a little bit before our crazy weekend of filming and playing. Of course, this is when the Rocket decided to act up, and not start.

Something has gone wrong!

We could smell gas, so the fuel pump was working. I pulled a wire off the distributor and found spark on turn-over, so that wasn't the problem. What the hell?

A short disclaimer: I have never owned a vehicle with a carburetor before. Every vehicle, including my 1980 Chevrolet Citation, was fuel-injected. The carburetor was a device that was, in my mind, slightly mysterious. I understood the basic operation inside the engine, but I've never dealt with one directly on a vehicle that I've owned or been in charge of the maintenance of. (Carburetor? Learn here!)

So, I pulled the cover off the engine, which is inside the vehicle itself, and started poking about. Perhaps some Ether, I thought. Maybe the spark is weak and the ether will help her take off. Well, turns out I was pretty wrong, although closer to the right track than not. Danny's neighbor, is a retired mechanic, and offered to come over and have a look for us. Upon sticking his head into the cab of the van, he instantly located the problem.

Ah, here's you're problem, kid. You have no idea what's going on.

Danny's neighbor declared that our choke was stuck closed, and proceeded to un-stick it for us. While Greg and Josh chatted outside, He showed me all the workings of the mysterious carburetor, including the bent choke-flap that might cause some sticking problems in the future. He was incredibly kind about my lack of knowledge, and even cleaned and adjusted the carb for us. So, now we know, and knowing is half the battle!

Describing the operation of the choke on the carburetor to me

Thanks of your help and knowledge, Danny' neighbor. The Empty Pockets really appreciate you getting us back on the road. Plus now we know what to keep an eye on whilst we're out in the wild again. Hurray for carburetors!

-Nate Bellon-bass

Music Video Madness! (or Smile for the Camera!)

Music Video! Music Video! Music Video!

That's basically what Saturday and Sunday felt like. An intensely enjoyable and insightful experience was had by all as we, the Empty Pockets, filmed our first ever music video. It was a lot of laughs, a lot of fun, and a lot of hard work. The crew of the music video was beyond professional, and they were all super-nice people to boot. Everyone was really great and put their shoulder to the wall to make sure the music video turned out to be something we could all be proud of. The honorary Pocket Greg Grabowski was even on hand to document it all for us. Thanks, Greg!

Before we start the photo parade, I'd like to take a second and thank everyone who showed up to be extras on Sunday. We were glad to see a lot of friendly faces and greet some new Pockets fans. You people made the difference. Your energy and hard-work really made the scenes and we love each and every one of you. Thank you so much.

They say a photo is worth a thousand words. Were that true, my old English professor would be forced to call this a 12,000+ word blog. But of course, that never worked in college. Lousy... anyway, let's get started!

We started loading in at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The crew started working furiously, unloading a truck full of camera and lighting gear. The Pockets started unloading all of our various musical instruments and whatnot.

Unpacking stuff in the gym. We had a whole host of musical gear with us, including two different drum sets, a series of different guitars and basses, and lots of cables, mics, and stands.

After unpacking, it was time to get prepped with make-up, costumes and hair-dresssing. Jill was our make-up artist, and she seriously rocked the block. Luda worked our hair as an artist would a block of marble, product her chisel. Thanks for the hard work and dedication, ladies!

While Danny and I were getting our faces on, Josh was hard at work, shooting in the parking lot. He jumped and drove and drove and jumped. Action shot!

And so we filmed. I kept looking at the camera, so I think Ratko was scolding me. It was all in good fun.

Greg! He's an honorary Pocket and rides with us whenever he can to help out and hang out. We love that big fuzzy guy, plus he's got a great eye for photos. Keep up the good work, Newman.

Sometimes the filming got the better of us.

But everyone persevered. Here, the crew works frantically (as they did tirelessly) to get ready for one of the first stage shots of the video.

Sometimes, we had to channel our inner rock-stars, as seen here. Nice job, Pockets!

And on and on we filmed, into the dark of the night. Here we film a shot involving the convertible again. It was kind of cold outside, but everybody rocked their respective blocks in order to pull it off.

Finally, we got to head to our next engagement, a gig at Norton's in Highland Park, where we rocked until 1:30 a.m. A long day drawn to a close of sleep and prep for the next day of shooting.

Stay tuned for Day 2 of the Josh and the Empty Pockets music video shoot, complete with more photo madness! Also, we'll be posting more photos and videos on the Facebook and Myspace pages, so keep checking in.

Till then, keep on rockin' ya'll.
-Nate Bellonbass

Magnolia Cafe - Austin, TX

One of my favorite things to do on tour is eat at cool local spots. In Austin, I ingested a mouthful of heaven. Guy from the Foot Network really knows his shit, apparently, because Magnolia 24 hour Café in Austin, TX was the best diner experience I’ve ever had.

The kitchen is part of the restaurant as you walk in and there are people eating at a bar practically next to the many stainless steel counter tops, grills and their cooks working away. The seating area is wood paneled and painted a fresh sun yellow with framed photographs and art decorating the room.

Our food was incredible. We started with an order of “Martian Potatoes”- skillet potatoes cooked with scallion, jalepeño and melted jack cheese and clearly, the people at the Magnolia Café have been to Mars, because we finished the potatoes minutes after they hit the table. For the entrée, I ordered “LOVE’s Migas” which was eggs scrambled in love butter (garlic and Serrano pepper-infused buttor) with homemade tortillas, grilled onion, tomato, avocado and Monterey-jack cheese. Josh ordered chiken rojas enchiladas, Danny had cinnamony French toast and scrambled eggs and Nate got the “T-Rex” omelet with turkey, cheese, grilled onions, and other stuff. All in all, a delightful experience and I already want to go back to try their cornmeal pancakes with bananas and pecans. Guy Fieri, the Empty Pockets salute you.

Cincinnati and the fine fine Elfers family

Tony Elfers is the man. Our sometimes (and in the future, hopefully all times) rocking guitarist was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and joined us this past Saturday (with 60 of his closest friends and family) for our show at the Comet Bar. Tony tore the place apart with his rock moves and screaming licks. And as you can see by Nate's intense closed-eye singing technique... he also rocked the house. Ha.
We played an hour set and even though the sound was no good (kind of a shitty room sound) I think we pulled off a pretty good show.

Tony's gracious parents Peg and Greg (hell yeah rhyming parent names) let us stay in their home and fed us multiple meals. Wow! What a treat on the road. Sloppy joes and breakfast. Hooray. Tony brought his lovely gal-pal Melanie and they also stayed at the Elfer's Cincinnati home so it was a party the whole weekend long.
We played with toys:
Very nice Eri. We played with even more toys:
And we just had a great freakin' time. Thanks Tony, Peg and Greg! You guys are awesome!

Till next time,

Josh