imbasile

Did I mention that Robin Gibb is still alive and well on Hooper...

Wed, 23 May 2012 23:08:01 -0400

Did I mention that Robin Gibb is still alive and well on Hooper St in Brooklyn USA?

The vigil continues…

Tue, 22 May 2012 22:18:42 -0400

The vigil continues…

thefamilyrecords: Casey Shea recently dropped in to record a...

Mon, 21 May 2012 19:57:32 -0400

thefamilyrecords:

Casey Shea recently dropped in to record a session at Ardent Studios in Memphis, TN. Check out his acoustic version of “Pretty Good Shape, For The Shape I’m In.”

He also talked with Ardent about which audiobook he’s listening to on the road (hint: it’s a music icon) and good ol’ rock and roll.

Also, if you’re an East Coast fan, we’ll be announcing some co-headlining show dates soon, with a mystery band. Hint #2: They’re a “logical” choice! For now, here are Casey’s remaining shows this month: May tour.

If you’re having trouble sleeping lately, you’ll be happy to know that Casey Shea put up a new video of his “singing” abilities………………

Robin Gibb is alive and well here on Hooper St.

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:57:19 -0400

Robin Gibb is alive and well here on Hooper St.

Everyday there’s a dude singing Beatles songs in the...

Mon, 21 May 2012 12:29:25 -0400

Everyday there’s a dude singing Beatles songs in the tunnel under 14th St. to 7th Ave … he’s pretty awesome. He just stops singing when he gets to a high note he knows he won’t be able to hit. Today, he was singing this … Classic Robin Gibb.

BTW … if you watch this more recent live clip of the tune, you’ll more than likely see my friend Nick Webber in the cell phone commercial that precedes it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSxuvNGSrmc

So long Robin…

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:36:48 -0400

So long Robin…

For the last ten years or so, whenever I get invited over for...

Thu, 17 May 2012 12:06:26 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

For the last ten years or so, whenever I get invited over for dinner at Andy Fitzpatrick’s house, I know I’m in for a good bite of Roast Chicken. Andy’s roast chicken is, without question, without peer. Except for mine of course, but I pretty much do it the way he showed me so it doesn’t count. Lately Andy has been inviting over the band for some light rehearsing and … roast chicken. The other day our good friend Rob stopped by with his flip cam and made this little movie of us celebrating Irving Berlin’s birthday. To be honest I had never heard this tune. Needless to say I’m glad I know it now. Wow. Really, no one writes music like this anymore. Except for Andy I guess. Anyway, this is the first of some videos we’ll be putting out, creatively titled, The Roast Chicken Sessions. We hope you like it!

P.S. I’m playing with Andy at The Scratcher this Sunday.

P.P.S. Mother Feather mentioned in NBC New York this morning.

P.P.P.S. Casey Shea is playing the House Of Blues tonight in Dallas. Check it out if you’re down south!!!

P.P.P.S. Tonight is opening night of Hairspray!!!!

P.P.P.P.S. This concludes today’s installment of Self Aggrandizement According To Matt Basile.

Civics 101: Jury Duty

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:55:31 -0400

Hi,

Right now I’m on writing to you from something called “reccess” here at 111 Centre St. in picturesque downtown New York City. I’m here at the criminal courthouse on the 6th floor, room 631, because I am attempting to fulfill something called my “civic duty” in a process known as “jury duty.”

Let me tell you, it’s pretty much as awesome as you’ve heard. Because this is the “criminal” as opposed to the “civil” court, I am currently being screened to be a juror in “criminal trial.” Shockingly this “criminal trial” involves an Hispanic man of limited English proficiency who has been charged with something called “possession with intent to sell.” The Assistant District Attorney says that the accused was in possession of “approximately five twists of cocaine and had attempted to sell said twists to an undercover police officer.”

One by one those of us seated in the jurors box get asked if we can foresee ourselves being unable to act as “impartial” jurors in such a trial. Two seats down from me is a guy who on first glance bares a striking resemblance to Snoop Dog. Whoah, for some reason the DA just totally skipped over that dude. The guy next to me, the Financial Advisor Hedge Fund dude from Boston, is certain that while he does sympathize with the idea that we may be misdirecting funds in something called “the war on drugs” he is nonetheless sure that he can separate his brain from his sympathizing parts and be an impartial juror. Ditto from the part-time farmer /part-time professor senior citizen who you just know took part in some awesome demonstrations in the ‘60’s. She actually is going on about civic duty and how we must all follow the law as the judge delivers it to us. Really? Granny?

One can’t help but pause and take in all of the woman in general and men of color working either as Judge or law enforcement, DA etc. who are upholding a bunch of laws about “drugs” that are about to completely ruin this man’s life as if … oh, never mind.

Then there is the resident “colossal a@$#ole” who previously had tried to convince the Judge to relieve him of jury duty on account of the fact that he couldn’t hear what was being said while the translator was WHISPERING in Spanish. Now he’s yammering on about how he’s “very involved in the Police Department and under no circumstances would he question the honesty of someone working in Law Enforcement.” Whoah. I know. But that’s really what he said. I swear. It took almost all the strength I have not to wipe almost all of my private parts on his Kenneth Cole sportcoat you just know his (ex)wife found for $74.99 at Century 21 back in 2003. The best part was when the Judge, who is incidentally, a living breathing monument to the phrase “I’ve heard it all” asks, “So, Mr. Bullsh_______er, exactly what kind of work do you do with the police?” To which Mr. Bullsh_______artist exclaims, “Oh well, you know, fundraising and events. I’m influential in the police fundraising and I work very closely with Commissioner Kelly.” To which I was not the only person who was not a bailiff who actually laughed out loud. How many people make the bailiff laugh out loud? What a prick. I mean … Yeah, you’re so tight with Commissioner Kelly. And I play bass in Mother Feather! Ha! Oh, wait, I do. Hang on, lemme think of something cooler than playing in Mother Feather … Tick Tock. Hmmmmm. Oh, yeah, here’s what I shoulda said, “Yeah, you’re so tight with Commissioner Kelly. And I play bass in Mother Feather and we’re putting out an awesome self produced EP next month that you should totally stay tuned about.” Anyway. Everyone totally hated that guy so much you could feel it in the air. No wonder he’s … oh never mind.

Then it’s my turn. I’m pretty nervous actually. Because I have not done hard drugs in almost 20 years, I start by mumbling something about ‘Ummmm, what are twists?’ To which everyone really laughs. They are, if you didn’t know, small paper wrapping of cocaine. Then the judge and the DA and I talk nonchalantly about regressive laws and how yes it is technically possible to determine if the DA, self-referenced here as “The People,” has proven a series of facts and how said facts would theoretically relate to the law as dictated by the judge but that if the law itself is misinformed, wrong, dumb or whatever, what’s the point of all of us spending all this time and energy and money talking about sending a guy to prison for selling a few “twists.” Twists. Please.

Alas, the experience of being amongst a well sampled sampling of society was interesting and enlightening. Lots of people live out their supposed stereotypes. Fortunately for the future, today I would say that at least half of the prospective jurors ultimately came out and said something to the effect that “this is lame dude. Your drug laws are lame dude. And I don’t wanna be a part of it.” At least that’s what I sounded like because I was playing the part of the aging rocker dude who says dude a lot on account of living so long in Southern California where I used to snort blow like it was going out of style. In fact, I tought it did go out of style. But I guess I was wrong.

In related news, Casey Shea is driving around the country by himself. You should try to catch him if you can …

Mwah!

Heading into tech rehearsal for Hairspray…. Who says you...

Tue, 15 May 2012 17:13:27 -0400

Heading into tech rehearsal for Hairspray…. Who says you can’t get healthy snacks in Harlem????

What Duck Dunn.

Sun, 13 May 2012 11:41:21 -0400

What Duck Dunn.

Ahmadinejad Kind Of Getting Back Into Old R.E.M. Again

Thu, 10 May 2012 18:10:56 -0400

Ahmadinejad Kind Of Getting Back Into Old R.E.M. Again

Brendan Benson at Bowery Ballroom … And yes, the...

Sat, 05 May 2012 23:02:59 -0400

Brendan Benson at Bowery Ballroom … And yes, the Shea’s are in rare form.

You can tell me how awesome my new shirt is in person at 11pm...

Fri, 04 May 2012 21:16:26 -0400

You can tell me how awesome my new shirt is in person at 11pm when I’ll be playing with _______ at The Living Room.

Before that I’m bringing the rock to Vivaldi with Jeff Litman!

En route to Mother Feather rehearsal… What’s wrong...

Wed, 02 May 2012 19:34:30 -0400

En route to Mother Feather rehearsal… What’s wrong with this picture???? Apparently we’re playing Kumbaya during an acoustic set in the SOFAR Tent at the Nova Festival, July 7th, in a place called “The United Kingdom.”

Welcome to Times Square! I mean, Williamsburg, I mean, what???...

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:18:08 -0400

[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Welcome to Times Square! I mean, Williamsburg, I mean, what??? My rent is totally going up next year… :(

Promotion 101: The Last Peep Show

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:41:16 -0400

Hi,

Right now I’m listening to Ian Brown’s My Way for about the four thousandth time this morning.

And clearly I made a pretty awesome breakfast too.

In related news, the War On Women continues with some new news about the Secret Service that you can read by clicking pretty much anywhere on the rest of this sentence.

In case you haven’t heard, tonight the indefatigable Andy Fitzpatrick will be celebrating the release of his bran spankin new single The Last Peep Show. Incidentally, it’s already available on something called “iTunes.” You can purchase the song by clicking anywhere on the rest of this sentence. But about tonight … we, as in Jamie, Adnrea and I, will be playing with Andy at a place called Rockwood Music Hall. I’ve never heard of it, but I think it’s on Staten Island. Anyway, if you find it, we go on at 9pm. And while you’re there, be sure to say hi to Andy so he can give you something called a “Download Card” for the Deluxe Download Of The Last Peep Show which features not only the song The Last Peep Show but also one song each from his last two albums respectively and and and and the actual real life demo recording of the song, The Last Peep Show, and wait, that’s not all, if you come tonight you will also get in your download of the Deluxe Download Of The Last Peep Show something called a PDF of the story of how the song The Last Peep Show was written and, wait! that’s not all either, because as part of this special offer you will also additionally get not just the songs and old and the story behind the song but also, get this, the actual SHEET MUSIC for The Last Peep Show, in the convenient PDF format which you can print and put on the music stand of the piano in your grandmother’s house that no one plays anymore because FOX News is always blaring in the background to cover up the sound from granpa’s weed wacker and I am not sure where this sentence stopped making sense. Or something.

See you tonight.

Mwah!

P.S. Jamie and I will also be playing with the lovely “Hand” during the 11pm set at Rockwood.

P.P.S. Someone got a face lift.

Andy Fitzpatrick: The Last Peep Show ~ new single available april 25th

Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:38:00 -0400

Andy Fitzpatrick: The Last Peep Show ~ new single available april 25th:

Check it!!!!

andyfitzpatrick:

I’m excited to celebrate the release of my new single “The Last Peep Show” with a special performance this Wednesday at Rockwood Music Hall. This is the first release from a collection of songs we recorded over Thanksgiving week in Hudson, N.Y.

Rockwood Music Hall
Wednesday April 25th,…

Making some pre Mother Feather / Casey Shea show(s) pasta and...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:41:28 -0400

Making some pre Mother Feather / Casey Shea show(s) pasta and heard this awesome song in the grocery store. Clearly, this is gonna be a great night!

That is, unless I get set on fire …………………………………… ?

Promotion 101: Tonight ...

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:04:00 -0400

Hi,

Dude! I totally agree. It is hyper-lame that Stacy and Adam have decided to bring TextsFromHillary to an end.

For those of you who remember a company called AOL, you should definitely click on one of the parts of this sentence containing the letters AOL.

In unrelated news, it’s another great hair day in camp Casey Shea, and what better way to celebrate than with a show on Rockwood Muzak Hall’s Stage 17? We gon on at 11pm, right after The Chevin (a band name that is proof that English doesn’t always translate to English very well), which probably means we’ll play at 2am.

In related news, you can start admiring my hair tonight at 10pm whereinupon I will be performing with le Mother Feather at le Bowery Electric. Tonight we’ll be a little handicapped while we all raise the flag of rock to a speedy recovery for Lizzie … So come early and sing loud! Yeah, you too!

Finally, if you’re in the Bronx and the Whatevertraingoestothebronx isn’t running, you should go see Mr. Andy Fitzpatrick play a solo set at An Béal Bocht Cafe.

Mwah!

Promotion 101: Friday Night!!!

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:40:44 -0400

Hi,

I know, I totally was going to mean to tell you all about how busy Friday night is going to be for everyone who is named Matt Basile but then I got distracted for like the last 2 and a half hours devouring a pretty awesome turkey burger, with cheddar cheese, fries and a side of the best website ever in the history of websites that are better than this one … yeah, you guessed it, I’m talking about:

http://textsfromhillary.tumblr.com/

In other news, it appears that the indomitable Lizzie, AKA Thin Lizzie, AKA Lizbomania, AKA Trixie, AKA Mother Feather’s Keyboardist / Singer Person is alive and well after giving birth to an alien via her navel, or something.

You can bring her flowers and the chocolate chip cookies I forgot to deliver this morning to the show that this part of this sentence links to!

And then of course, you can witness my deteriorating health when I follow that show with a litte something we like to call Snorefest 2012 with The Casey Shea Band Experience Collective Jamboree … That’s right kids, grab your pillows and come on down to the the world’s 242nd largest adult slumber party at Rockwood Muzak Hall, this Friday the 13th, at 11pm. And, I’ve just been told that Ken Rockwood is giving away free shots of h2O to the first 13 people who bring a Djembe to the show! Sounds like a party if I ever heard of one!

Mwah!

P.S. Help support my retirement fund by purchasing the latest EP from Mother Feather by clicking this part of this sentence!

P.P.S. Help support my retirement fund by purchasing In Your Head, the latest album by Casey Shea (featuring my song No Son Of Ours) by clicking this part of this sentence!

P.P.P.S. Help support my retirement fund by purchasing the For The Grace Of Odd EP from Misty Boyce by clicking this part of this sentence!

P.P.P.P.S. Stay tuned for more new releases and all the exciting ways you can help insure my financial health!