An Empty Pockets Holiday ( or Holiday Music Doesn't Have to Suck )

The snow is on it's way and the holiday season is in full swing. That, of course, means it's time for Christmas music playing on home radios, blasting from car stereos and being piped into every major shopping center in the nation. Josh and the Empty Pockets are proud to say we can be heard during this holiday season through fine listening devices everywhere with our tasty single "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home." We're spinning on Sirius XM's "Radio Holly" as well as on Y94FM (Syracuse, NY), The Mix 98.7FM (Jackson, MS), Star 92.9FM (Burlington, VT) and The New Mix 97.7FM (Bakersfield, CA). We think that's awesome!

What if you can't listen to any of these fine radio or satellite stations and would like to have Josh and the Empty Pockets throw you some holiday ear-love? Why, you can contact your local station and request they play "Baby It's Cold Outside/Baby Please Come Home!" Below is a (very) brief list of stations, along with their request line telephone numbers, Facebook and Twitter. Let them know you want Josh and the Empty Pockets to make your holidays ROCK!

Denver, CO - 101.1FM KOSI - (303) 631-2101 - [ Facebook ]

Chicago, IL - 93.9FM WLIT - (312) 591-9548 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Fort Wayne, IN - 95.1FM WAJI - (260) 467-9500 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Jackson, MS - 98.7FM WJKK - (601) 956-0102 - [ Facebook ]

Buffalo, NY - 96.1FM WJYE - (716) 644-9696 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Long Island, NY - 94.3FM WMJC - (631) 955-0943 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

New York, NY - 106.7FM WLTW - (800) 222-1067 - [ Facebook ]

Syracuse, NY - 94.5FM WYYY - (315) 421-9494 - [ Facebook ]

Cleveland, OH - 102.1FM WDOK - (216) 578-1021 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Cincinnati, OH - 93.3FM WAKW - (513) 542-9393 - [ Facebook ] [ Twitter ]

Don't forget to come on out to The Snuggery [ Facebook ] in Chicago on Wednesday, December 8 for a rockin' Josh and the Empty Pockets acoustic show starting at 9 pm. That's at 6733 N. Olmsted Ave, in the Edison Park neighborhood.

Zip it up and zip it out,
-Nate Bellon(bass)

Throw Down Your Review (or The Banjo's from Africa?)

I really dig non-western music, from gamelan to J-pop, Irish folk-music to Siberian women's choirs. I get a large sampling of music from my local library and find the rest online and I often subject my friends to it, bobbing my head and emitting cries of joy at a particularly difficult or odd part. I've more than once been caught jamming at a red-light to traditional Tuvan throat singing.

Of course, I listen to a lot of western music as well and pay special attention to the groups that use non-western influences in their music. A favored western band that utilizes a lot of non-western musical forms and musicians is Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, so when I saw "Bela Fleck: Throw Down You Heart" show up on my Netflix queue, I knew I had to watch it. Besides, it had received the Audience Award at both South-By-Southwest and the Vancouver Film Festival, so it couldn't be a disinteresting trip into ethno-musicology set to a snore-track. So I set it up, popped some popcorn and immersed myself into the music of Africa.

This film is awesome. We join Béla Fleck on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album with some seriously ripping African musicians. He travels to four African countries: Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali. Along the way, he works with a wide array of musicians – from local villagers who play a twelve-foot xylophone, to a family that makes and plays the akonting (thought by many to be the original banjo), to international superstars such as the Malian diva Oumou Sangare.

The music on this documentary can be stirring and joyous or somber and liltingly sad, but it's always incredibly heartfelt. Aside from learning the history of the banjo and being introduced to unfamiliar-yet-familiar instruments, like the akonting and the xhalam (an African variation on the lute), there are also plenty of familiar instruments played in unfamiliar ways, like the blisteringly fast guitar playing of Oumou Sangare from Mali. One of my favorite moments of the whole movie happens in the village of Nakisengi in Uganda, where the village musicians assemble themselves around a giant twelve-foot long xylophone that's played with a mixture of hands and wooden stick-mallets. Twenty or so musicians, six of them playing the xylophone, create a beautifully thick and rich music that Bela weaves his banjo intricately and respectfully through.

Assembling the giant xylophone

Part of what makes this documentary so moving is that Bela is not on a mission to show the citizens of Africa his (astounding) banjo chops, but to learn techniques, scales and musical motives from the musicians there and integrate them into his own playing. He's constantly seen with a pencil and staff paper, diligently transcribing anything that hits his ear. For Bela Fleck or world music fans, this film is highly recommended, and there is also a CD available from iTunes and Amazon that contains recordings done in Africa featuring the musicians and musics from the movie. It will quickly be finding it's way into my collection and perhaps yours as well.

Word to the Brett,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Throw Down Your Heart on Amazon [ link ]

Throw Down Your Heart on IMDB [ link ]

Official Site [ link ]

Awesomeness is Back in Style (or Gaffer's Guff a Gaffe)

Awesomeness. For awhile, it seemed that awesomeness was on the run, that it was all tapped out. A thick malaise lay across the land, rivers of lameness threatened to tear the land asunder. Just as everything looked it's same-old-day-grey, the sky cracked open, and a thick beacon of awesome shot through, spilling it's glittering gift upon the earth. Boredom dissolved, disinterest faded into non-existence and "ennui" changed to "Oh Yeah!"

What is it that has summoned such vivid awesomeness? The newest Josh and the Empty Pockets Music Video, shooting this week! And the thing that makes it even more awesome than the simple word can convey? You could be in said music video.

All you have to do is head to this website [ link ] and check out the information provided. You could be involved in the experience of a lifetime, something that's sure to create great memories and stories you'll share for years to come. Plus, who could resist so much concentrated awesomeness? Nobody, that's who.

"A tale of the power and passion exhibited, infused and expressed through the exquisite notes of music. "

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Rocking Out with the Orphans (Or Centralia, Sweet Heart O' Mine)

A drive through scenic Centralia, Illinois, nestled deep within southern Illinois, one thought comes consistently to mind: Wow, these people are all about orphans. Signs are posted at nearly every intersection in some neighborhoods, lauding the accomplishments of the orphans, heaping on the praise and adulation. It's enough to be confusing to a poor city boy until one learns that the mascot of the Centralia High School is the Orphans. How did they come by such a unusual moniker? Well, the story I was told was that long ago, the Centralia High School found themselves involved in a basketball play-off. The program lacked funding (but not spirit), and so the basketball team members showed up in whatever they usually played in, a mish-mash of shorts and shirts that one could barely recognize as a "branded team". Gazing upon the players of this rag-tag bunch of loveable misfits, legend has it the announcer uttered "These kids look like a bunch of orphans!" In true Mid-western fashion, that barbed insult was adopted as the delightful mascot for Centralia High School and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Empty Pockets were pleased as punch when the Centralia Orphans asked us to come rock out at the Tailgate party for their Homecoming Football game against the Wesclin Warriors. So we hopped in the van and headed down south, around five hours, to party the night away with the fine people of Centralia. And an awesome night it was! Not only was there a party, complete with delicious food, fun games and some sweet prizes, but the Centralia High School Rock 101 program made a rockin'-good appearance as well, putting the seal on Rocktober and pushin' it down, old-school. They even gave us some totally sweet Centralia Orphans football jerseys! (Photos to come, look for 'em!)

After rocking out for the fine Tailgaters and diving into some delicious food, we got to watch the Centralia Orphans pound the living daylights out of the Wesclin Warriors, 62 -21. How often do you get to say the phrase "We watched some Orphans beat the snot out of a bunch of Warriors?" At least once, my fine friend. At least once.

More? You want more?

We had a great time partying with the Orphans and fine folks of Centralia and we hope to be invited back next year. Special musical props go to CHS music director Kevin Devany for his awesome half-time show featuring the music of our much-loved hero, Micheal Jackson. We had a great time, Centralia, and thanks to Hannah for searching us out!

Peace, love and pancakes,

-Nate Bellon(bass)

An Empty Pockets Book Report (or The Blogg on the Dogg)

In my ramblings through the library, I often come across something that jumps off the shelves and into my hands, screaming to be checked out. Such a situation occurred when I came upon my latest hard-cover conquest, Tha Doggfather: The Times, Trials and Hardcore Truths of Snoop Dogg. I clutched it close as I checked out, filled with anticipation of the Hardcore Truths I would learn about Cordozar Calvin Broadus, the man and the legend.

These truths were pretty hardcore.

Snoop talks about his time in the Rollin' 20 Crips, his frequent interactions with the judicial system, and his famed 1993 murder trial, in which he was charged in connection with the murder of a man shot by Snoop's bodyguard. He also talks about his love for Long Beach and his mother, and his rapid rise from a music-loving young man to one of the most influential G-funk rappers ever. Snoop proves to be a effective street-philosopher, offering not only the facts of a situation as seen by Snoop, but also a the overall negatives and positives of the situation wrapped into a lesson. The book is written in the conversational tone of Snoop Dogg and can prove to be an awkward read at some points where the vernacular becomes unclear, but it proves to be a satisfyingly good stylistic decision throughout.

Having recently pulled "Doggystyle" out of the musical mothballs, Snoop's Doggy Dog's premier 1993 album bloomed with salient connections in the history provided by the book, especially tracks like "Murder Was The Case They Gave Me" and "Lodi Dodi". It will surely find itself back into my regular rotation for some G-funk enjoyment with the Doggfather.

If you're a fan of Snoop, this is a must read. It was published in 1999, so it is a bit dated, but it proves to be a fun read with the Snoop Dogg style we've all come to love. Co-author David Seay colors the book with a subtle brush that allows the flavor to be 100% Dogg.

"No one knows more of the truth about the life, and no one tells it more like it is, than Tha Doggfather, Snoop Dogg."

-Nate Bellon(bass)

Snoop Dog on Wikipedia: [link]

Doggystyle on Wikipedia: [link]

The Book!: [link]

J&tEP Newsletter!

J&tEP Newsletter, Volume VI

The New Sound Is Coming Round

This summer was a sizzler to be sure but it's about to get hotter in here: Josh and the Empty Pockets are headed into the studio in early September to record their long-awaited (and oft-requested) third album! That's right, Pocketeers, a brand new disc will be soaring your way in no time with new tunes and 92% more Erika. Empty Pockets Producer and Engineer Extraordinaire Rick Fritz will be helming the recording wheel as the lads and lady lay down their highly anticipated third studio album with fan-favorites "You Know I Do" and "All I Need" among others, along with a few brand-spanking new tunes to melt your faces and move your feet. We're all super excited and we're sure you are too! Keep an eye on the upcoming Newsletters, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace for more information on the upcoming album. This is going to ROCK.

The studio is a magical place filled with sunshine and awesomeness

A Summer of Fun

As the summer concert season winds to a close, we here at the Empty Pockets would like to say thank you to every fan who rocked with us this summer, both established Pocketeers and new-comers alike. We'd also like to thank every sound person for helping us to rock to our utmost and every liason, crew member and assorted job-doer for sweating with us and rocking with us. You all make the experience very special and we all agree that Josh and the Empty Pockets couldn't have had nearly as fun and successful a summer without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You all seriously rock. Let's do it again next year!

Here's to the rockin'est summer ever!

Free September Shows!

Friday, September 3 - Hanson Brothers Tap, Northfield, IL: 9:30 pm - 1 am
Saturday, September 11 - J Patricks Irish Pub and Grill, Chicago, IL: 10 pm to 1:30 am
Friday, September 24 - Gruben's Uptown Tap, Plainfield, IL: 8 pm to 12 am

Keep your rock aprons on people, because the new album is hot on the stove!

-Nate Bellon(bass)

J&tEP Newsletter!

J&tEP Newsletter, Volume V

NASCAR + Coca-Cola + Empty Pockets = Sizzling Summer Sensation

Josh and the Empty Pockets live in the fast lane and are slipping it into high gear at the Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday, July 10 for the Coca-Cola Family Track Walk. The walk begins at approximately 3:15 p.m, around the surface of the 1.5-mile D-shaped tri-oval of Chicagoland Speedway and includes not only a ripping concert featuring Josh & the Empty Pockets but also a sweet Q &A with Coca-Cola Family drivers Denny Hamlin, 1999 Sprint Cup Champion Dale Jarrett and 2000 Sprint Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Holy schnikes! Neutral-drop on in and enjoy some healthy lifestyle tips, free Coca-Cola products and rip up the track with Josh and the Empty Pockets!

[ Event Link ] [ More Info ]

Arbor Theatre Summer Music Festival

One of Josh's dreams, aside from being a nationally-acclaimed rockstar/pitcher/economist, a rock-cono-pitchstar if you will, is playing at a Nike Missile silo. Thursday, July 15, witness dreams become reality as Josh and the Empty Pockets play the Arbor Theatre Summer Music Festival at the Arbor Theatre, a former Nike Missile silo converted into a lovely theatre in majestic Vernon Hills. The concert starts at 5 p.m. and includes music by Leah Druzinsky and Cleavland band-buddy Nate Jones. There is a suggested donation of $5, but any and all donations will be accepted. Come on out as we deploy a full payload of rock right into those summer-time blues!

[ Event Link ]

Par-tay in the Park!

Back by popular demand, Josh and the Empty Pockets bring Millennium Park a pocketful of rock on Thursday, July 22 with the WTMX Party In The Park. Held at the gorgeous Park Grill, the Party In The Park is a sure-fired cure for the heat. The show kicks off with Juniper Mays at 4 p.m and the Pockets take the stage at 5:30. So why not kick out of work early and enjoy a beer and a burger, or better yet, bring your boss along and enjoy a bonding experience fused with good times and great music. Rock!

[ Event Info ] [ WTMX ] [ Juniper Mays ]

Let's Get Artsy In Here

Saturday, July 31, the Empty Pockets showcase their artsy side as they rip the Lincoln Park Art and Music Fest a new rock-hole. The Empty Pockets go on at 2 p.m., but the festival goes all day Saturday and Sunday on Racine Ave, between Fullerton and Webster. The fest will be showcasing the talented local artists and musicians that make Chicago a world-wide powerhouse in the artistic community. So don your berets, take a bracing shot of Absinthe and get impressionistic with Josh and the Empty Pockets.

[ Event Link ] [ Lincoln Park CoC ]

More Free Summer Shows!

Thursday, July 8 - Deans Clothing Store, Naperville, IL: 5 - 8 pm

Friday, July 9 - Northfield Library, Northfield, IL: 6 - 8 pm

Saturday, August 14 - Norton's Restaurant, Highland Park, IL: 9:30 pm - 1 am

Saturday, August 21 - DeKalb Corn Fest, DeKalb, IL: 12 - 2 pm

[ Show Listing ]

Enjoy the summer,

-Nate Bellon(bass)