We’re in the process of writing new songs, reinventing our live shows, and prepping for a super-fun fall season. In case you didn’t know, we’re located in Portland, Oregon and we’ve been meeting/playing/hanging out with several very cool bands.
So… We have a couple upcoming shows that we definitely want to invite you to because they are going to be something special.
TUESDAY, September 6th at Backspace in Portland with our great friends SO GOOD and SuckerForLights. These two bands are totally talented, frighteningly contagious, and extremely cool people. This Backspace show will be ALL-AGES and we’re planning on some extra fun, too! (*wink *wink *wink…etc.) RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251504154870813
WEDNESDAY, October 19th at Hawthorne Theater in Portland. This show is with the exceptionally synth-popular electro-dance band Blood on the Dance Floor. We’re opening this show, followed by our good friends, SO GOOD, New Years Day, Angelspit, and finally, Blood on the Dance Floor! This show is ALL-AGES as well, but will probably sell out, so get tickets from US (askyouingray@gmail.com [di$count!) or from the venue early!!! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235601209814878
Thank you for your support! If you are interested in having us PLAY some fun shows at your venue/house party/dance party, email us at askyouingray@gmail.com! Thanks, friends!
So… since we love making music, writing songs, having fun, and making videos, we’re starting a totally NEW thing called ‘REQUEST SONGS!’ We’re accepting TOPICS from you, our fans/friends and we’re totally writing a song about it! (and if you’re lucky, we’ll make a VIDEO to go along with that!
All you have to do is write to us with a random topic here on our site, on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/askyouingray), or email us at askyouingray [at] gmail.com and we’ll do it!
This first video, Undersea Office Life, was requested anonymously… but its about an octopus eating a sandwich and his desk job. Totally random.
As independent artists, we want to share our songs with you as SOON as we have them ready to be heard! So… here is one of our latest songs, Sidelines, for you to enjoy! Tell us what you think! If you want to hear Sidelines LIVE, come to one of our upcoming shows!
Make sure you LIKE us on facebook. You’ll hear about our upcoming shows FIRST, and you can check out our page to see cool things we’ve found online. www.facebook.com/askyouingray
I hit the play button on an embedded music player on their Myspace page and I hear some pickup notes that seem to me a promise that the following music will be an adventure. The crash cymbal rings out and instantly I am overcome with a sense of nostalgia and wonder as I am eagerly listening to the busy drums and the waves of rhythmic synth. This leads me into a straight and simple, yet beautiful female vocalist singing a somber melody while the beats carry on in an intricate language. The drums pull back, as a harmony joins in and there are bells foreshadowing behind it. The song plunges back into the chorus when lead singer Austin Tofte’s vocal part take the lead.
This song, called Silhouettes, never gets old for me. I could listen to it for days.
Nick and I first stumbled onto Swimming With Dolphins back in our early days as a band. We instantly became captivated by the technical rhythms, synth lines and the compelling vocal style. We looked through some of pictures and saw vintage beach themed photos and shots of the band members playing synthesizers. More importantly, what we saw was another two-man band making electronic music just like us. We saw that it was possible and it motivated us to press forward.
When we lived in Chicago, we went to see Swimming With Dolphins when they came through with The Ready Set. We stood in the crowd amongst younger folks and listened as Austin played on his own. He told us that his former band mate Adam Young couldn’t make it that night. We were astonished to hear that his live set was incredibly close to his recordings. We couldn’t believe that he pulled it off by himself. Again we were encouraged and inspired. We approached him after the show and talked to him for a bit about his music. He was modest and incredibly nice. We walked away from that show with a sense of deep respect and appreciation for Austin and his music.
The other day Nick pulled up a new YouTube video of a live Swimming With Dolphins set and a short written interview. Below is the video.
It’s great to see how Austin has progressed with his act. His new songs are killer. I can’t wait to hear his next album. I can already tell I like the direction. He also has a live drummer. Nick and I have noticed that this makes a huge difference with electronic music played live. Sometimes recorded drum tracks lose some beef when they are played in a large room. We’ve seen other electronic bands like Playradioplay! and Ming and Ping use a live kit and the result is a bump that you can feel in your chest.
Swimming With Dolphins is coming to Portland on March 23rd at Backspace. If you are in the area and you like what you’ve heard, be sure to make it out. We will be there for sure. If you are not in Portland, check out their Myspace for tour info.
Austin, we love what you are doing and support you! If you ever want to play a show, give us a shout!
-trey
Also check out Swimming with Dolphin’s website HERE.
Back in the city of our electro-band creation, Fort Collins, Colorado, we’ve been honored by great friends of ours by being included on a local compilation CD. Everyday Joe’s coffee house is a local Fort Collins cafe that also hosts some sweet shows. Without their support and invitations to the stage, we would not be where we are today.
The compilation CD is available for ANY donation, but we encourage you to give as much as you feel its worth, since it does go to good cause.
This collaborative sound byte includes songs from these awesome bands/artists: Candy Claws, Aaron Espe, Jessica Sonner, Ask You In Gray (hey! that’s us!), Aaron Strumpel, The Sunshine House, Lifeboat Etiquette, Luke Flowers, The Blackthorn Project, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, Paper Bird, Dan Craig, You Me & Apollo, and Baily Stauffer & The Katy Janes.
For the download and the WHOLE story about Everyday Joe’s and Love, Everyday Joe’s | Volume 4: We Have A Strong City, Go to THEIR website!
We’re going to be headlining a fun show at the Hawthorne Theater on January 27th, 2011. Grab all of your #PDX friends and come out to dance with us. We’ve got a NEVER PLAYED song that we’ll be debuting LIVE for you, along with some fun dance moves. So… grab your neon digs threads, your dance shoes, and your glow sticks and meet us there!
The show opens up on January 27th at 7PM, ALL-AGES and its only $8 for 5 BANDS!
Ask You In Gray is playing with Tribe of Outcasts, Monody, The Incapacitators, and Flight 19.
Halloween has always been a fun reason to celebrate ghouly ghasts and haunted houses, but on Sunday, October 31st, 2010 there is another reason to get out and celebrate. We’re playing our debut show in Portland, Oregon after a long transition from Chicago. Grab your sweetest costume and your dancing shoes and get down to the Hawthorne Theater at 1507 SE 39th Ave, Portland, Oregon. The doors open at 7pm, $8 and we’re playing with Andrew’s Ave, Times New Roman, and Sam Wegman.
Onto more news… More than 2 years after leaving our families and friends in Fort Collins, Colorado, we’re heading back for a homecoming show on Saturday, November 13th, 2010! It is going to be totally awesome and if you’re in the area, you don’t want to miss it. We’ll be playing songs from our album, From Satellites, a couple new songs, and a cover or two… so get ready. This show is going to be a “Sunglasses” show, so bring some cool shades to dance in. The show is at Everyday Joe’s at 144 S. Mason St, Fort Collins, Colorado. Doors open at 7pm, $5, and we’re playing with our GREAT friends, Delicious Penguins and Monsters And Fairytales. GET TO THIS SHOW!
We’re also booking for the late fall , winter, and early spring, so if you’ve got a house show, venue, coffee shop, or dance party, email us. We’re ALWAYS down for some fun: askyouingray@gmail.com.
I woke up today knowing that at some point today I needed to make a post but I still hadn’t figured out what to write about. I opened up my laptop and clicked my faithful Stumble button in hopes that I might find some inspiration. This video was the first thing that popped up.
This video was really inspiring for me which I LOVE. I was so stoked about the music that I imediately went to the bands website and read this:
“…Is reality just an illusion? An artist builds a machine to find out and breaks through the fabric of space and time. Then he runs like hell…”
How thought provoking. Cinnamon Chasers is a band from London that sound authentically 80′s. Their site describes them as an “alternative electro/ indietronica act” who is experimenting with philosophy which is proven in this music video.
The video depicts a couple who seem to be playfully infatuated with each other in a sexually charged, care-free relationship. During a spontaneous road trip they are confronted with an important decision after receiving the check at a diner. From that point the video plays through three different outcomes all which end up… well watch the video and see.
The music is incredible and it sets the tone for this sort of bittersweet situation. Its really awesome to see footage of a connection between the guy and the girl matched with their rebellious young lifestyle. The song compliments these sort of surreal moments and casts a shadow over the excitement of new love, implying that no one is perfect. Might I add that near the end of the video the couple visits Oregon’s famous Cannon Beach. Haystack Rock is clearly seen in the background as they run in the sand on a beautiful sunny afternoon.
Upon further investigation I found that this song is not unlike the rest of their music and I would encourage one to visit their site and preview some other songs on their new EP. If it suits you, their album is rather cheap and can be purchased on iTunes, emusic, and amazon.com.
Thank you, Cinnamon Chasers, for your contribution to electronic music. You have our attention.
TUESDAY, September 6th at Backspace in Portland with our great friends SO GOOD and SuckerForLights. These two bands are totally talented, frighteningly contagious, and extremely cool people. This Backspace show will be ALL-AGES and we’re planning on some extra fun, too! (*wink *wink *wink…etc.) RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=251504154870813
Tuesday, September 27th at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland with our totally awesome friends, SuckerForLights and a special guest! Kelly’s Olympian is an awesome bar/venue with a killer system. Get in early, grab a drink and get ready for some fun music! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=194386487292223
WEDNESDAY, October 19th at Hawthorne Theater in Portland. This show is with the exceptionally synth-popular electro-dance band Blood on the Dance Floor. We’re opening this show, followed by our good friends, SO GOOD, New Years Day, Angelspit, and finally, Blood on the Dance Floor! This show is ALL-AGES as well, but will probably sell out, so get tickets from US (askyouingray@gmail.com [di$count!) or from the venue early!!! RSVP here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235601209814878
